The golden era of Bulgarian football was available in two eras. The first one was during the 1960s that they could qualify in 3 consecutive World cup tournaments. Although there were many great players in that team like Asparuhov, Yakimov, Bonev, Kolev and Penev but they could not go farther than the first round. The time had passed for two decades until their glory years were appeared once again after Emil Kostadinov shocked French football’s fan with shooting winning goal in the last second in the WC 1994 qualification round. Moreover, Stoichkov, Balakov and Letchkov all were the most important players to lead Bulgaria winning fourth place in the final tournament. Their players have mostly been from CSKA Sofia that is the greatest club in history of Bulgarian league while Levski Sofia was just a number one instead in the recent decades.
Bulgaria
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Location : Southeastern Europe
European Championship Participation : 2 Times (1996, 2004)
World Cup Participation : 7 Times (1962, 1966, 1970, 1974, 1986, 1994, 1998)
Achievement : None
Most Caps : Borislav Mihaylov (102 Games)
Top Scorer : Dimitar Berbatov (48 Goals)
The Greatest Player Ever : Ferenc Puskas
1. Georgi Naydenov
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Date Of Birth : 21 December 1931
Position : Goalkeeper
Height : 179 cm
Major Club : Spartak Sofia, CSKA Sofia
Caps : 51 Games
World Cup Participation : 1962, 1966 (5 Games)
Club Honours : 8 Times Bulgarian League
3 Times Bulgarian Cup
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : 1961 Bulgarian Footballers of The Year
Class : Prince Silver
2. Aleksander Shalamanov
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Date Of Birth : 4 September 1941
Position : Right-Back
Height : 178 cm
Major Club : CSKA Sofia
Caps : 42 Games
World Cup Participation : 1966, 1970 (5 Games)
Club Honours : 3 Times Bulgarian Cup
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : 2 Times Bulgarian Footballers of The Year (1963, 1966)
Class : Prince Silver
3. Trifon Ivanov
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Date Of Birth : 27 July 1965
Position : Center-Back/Left-Back
Height : 181 cm
Major Club : CSKA Sofia
Caps : 76 Games
World Cup Participation : 1994 (7 Games)
Club Honours : 2 Times Bulgarian League
1 Time Austrian League
1 Time Bulgarian Cup
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : 1996 Bulgarian Footballers of The Year
Class : Prince Silver
4. Manol Manolov
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Date Of Birth : 4 August 1925
Position : Center-Back
Height : Unknown
Major Club : CSKA Sofia
Caps : 57 Games
World Cup Participation : ( Games)
Club Honours : 12 Times Bulgarian League
5 Times Bulgarian Cup
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : 1958 Bulgarian Footballer of the Year
Class : Prince Silver
5. Dimitar Penev
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Date Of Birth : 12 July 1945
Position : Center-Back
Height : 176 cm
Major Club : CSKA Sofia
Caps : 90 Games
World Cup Participation : 1966, 1970 , 1974 (9 Games)
Club Honours : 7 Times Bulgarian League
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : 2 Times Bulgarian Footballers of The Year (1967, 1971)
Class : Prince Gold
6. Stefan Bozhkov
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Date Of Birth : 20 September 1923
Position : Defensive Midfielder
Height : Unknown
Major Club : CSKA Sofia
Caps : 53 Games
World Cup Participation : None
Club Honours : 10 Times Bulgarian League
3 Times Bulgarian Cup
International Honours : 1956 Olympic Games Bronze Medal
Individual Achievement : None
Class : Prince Gold
7. Hristo Bonev
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Date Of Birth : 3 February 1947
Position : Attacking Midfielder
Height : 179 cm
Major Club : Lokomotiv Plovdiv
Caps : 96 Games (47 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 1970, 1974 (6 Games With 2 Goals)
Professional Scores Record : 185 Goals/ 410 Games
Club Honours : None
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : 3 Times Bulgarian Footballers of The Year (1969, 1972, 1973)
Class : Prince Silver
8. Dimitar Yakimov
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Date Of Birth : 12 august 1941
Position : Playmaking-Attacking Midfielder
Height : 176 cm
Major Club : CSKA Sofia
Caps : 67 Games
World Cup Participation : 1962, 1966, 1970 (6 Games)
Club Honours : 7 Times Bulgarian League
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : 1 Time Bulgarian League Top Scorer
CSKA Sofia Greatest Player Ever
Class : Prince Gold
9. Dimitar Berbatov
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Date Of Birth : 30 January 1981
Position : Striker
Height : 188 cm
Major Club : Bayer Leverkusen, Tottenham Hot Spurs, Manchester United
Caps : 77 Games (48 Games)
World Cup Participation : None
Professional Scores Record : 194 Goals/ 436 Games
Club Honours : 7 Times Bulgarian League
International Honours : 1 Time English Premier League
1 Time Bulgarian Cup
1 Time English League Cup
2008 FIFA Club World Cup
2009 UEFA Champion League Runner-Up
Individual Achievement : 6 Times Bulgarian Footballers of The Year (2002, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009)
1 Time PFA Team of The Year
2009 Bulgarian Personality of The Year
Bulgaria All-Time Top Scorer
Class : Prince Silver
10. Hristo Stoichkov
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Date Of Birth : 8 February 1966
Position : Second Striker/ Left-Wing-Forwarder
Height : 178 cm
Major Club : CSKA Sofia, Barcelona
Caps : 83 Games (37 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 1994, 1998 (10 Games with 6 Goals)
Professional Score Record : 269 Goals/ 550 Games
Club Honours : 3 Times Bulgarian League
4 Times Spanish La Liga
4 Times Bulgaria Cup
1 Time Copa Del Rey
1990 European Golden Shoe
1990 World League Top Scorer
1992 European Cup Winners
1994 European Cup Runner-Up
1997 UEFA Cup Winners Cup
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : 2 Times Bulgarian League Top Scorer
4 Times Bulgarian Footballer of The Year
1989 European Golden Boot
1992 Onze d’Or
1992 Silver Ball European Footballer of The Year
2 Times Silver Ball FIFA World Player of The Year (1992, 1994)
1994 Spanish La Liga Best Foreign Player
1994 FIFA World Cup Golden Shoe
1994 FIFA World Cup Bronze Ball
1994 FIFA World Cup All Star Team
1994 Silver Ball Onze d’Or
1994 European Footballer of The Year
1996 European Championship Team of The Tournament
UEFA Jubilee Award (Bulgaria)
Class : Queen Silver
11. Georgi Asparuhov
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Date Of Birth : 4 May 1943
Position : Forward
Height : 184 cm
Major Club : Levski Sofia
Caps : 50 Games (19 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 1962, 1966, 1970 (8 Games with 1 Goal)
Professional Score Record : 150 Goals/ 247 Games
Club Honours : 3 Times Bulgarian League
4 Times Bulgarian Cup
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : 1 Time Bulgarian League Top Scorer
1965 Bulgarian Footballer of The Year
1965 Bulgarian Sportsman of The Year
Levski Sofia Greatest Player Ever
IFFHS Bulgaria Greatest Player Ever
Class : Prince Gold
12. Apostol Sokolov
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Date Of Birth : 23 October 1917
Position : Goalkeeper
Height : Unknown
Major Club : Levski Sofia
Caps : 57 Games
World Cup Participation : None
Club Honours : 4 Times Bulgarian League
4 times Bulgarian Cup
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : None
Class : Prince Silver
13. Boris Gaganelov
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Date Of Birth : 7 October 1941
Position : Center-Back/ Left-Back
Height : 178 cm
Major Club : CSKA Sofia
Caps : 51 Games
World Cup Participation : 1966, 1970 (4 Games)
Club Honours : 6 Times Bulgarian League
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : None
Class : Prince Bronze
14. Georgi Dimitrov
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Date Of Birth : 14 January 1959
Position : Center-Back
Height : 187 cm
Major Club : CSKA Sofia
Caps : 77 Games
World Cup Participation : 1986 (4 Games)
Club Honours : 5 Times Bulgarian League
6 Times Bulgarain Cup
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : 1985 Bulgarain footballer of the Year
Class : Prince Silver
15. Kiril Ivkov
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Date Of Birth : 21 June 1946
Position : Center-Back
Height : Unknown
Major Club : Levski Sofia
Caps : 44 Games
World Cup Participation : 1974 (3 Games)
Club Honours : 5 Times Bulgarian League
5 Time Bulgarian Cup
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : 2 Times Bulgarian Footballer of The Year
Class : Prince Silver
16. Stiliyan Petrov
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Date Of Birth : 5 July1979
Position : Defensive Holding Midfielder
Height : 180 cm
Major Club : Glasgow Celtics, Aston Villa
Caps : 91 Games
World Cup Participation : None
Club Honours : 4 Times Scottish League
3 Times Scottish Cup
3 Times Scottish League Cup
1 Time Swiss Cup
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : 2003 Bulgarian Footballers of The Year
Class : Prince Silver
17. Yordan Letchkov
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Date Of Birth : 9 July 1967
Position : Box-To-Box Midfielder
Height : 180 cm
Major Club : Hamburg
Caps : 45 Games
World Cup Participation : 1994 (7 Games)
Club Honours : 1 Time Bulgarian League
1 Time Turkish Cup
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : None
Class : Prince Silver
18. Krasimir Balakov
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Date Of Birth : 29 March 1966
Position : Playmaking-Attacking Midfielder
Height : 176 cm
Major Club : VFB Stuttgart
Caps : 92 Games (16 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 1994, 1998 (10 Games)
Club Honours : 1 Time DFB-Pokal
1 Time Portuguese Cup
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : 2 Times Bulgarian Footballer of The Year (1995, 1997)
1994 FIFA World Cup All-Star Team
Class : Prince Gold
19. Emil Kostadinov
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Date Of Birth : 12 August 1967
Position : Right-Wing-Forwarder
Height : 177 cm
Major Club : CSKA Sofia, FC Porto
Caps : 70 Games (26 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 1994, 1998 (10 Games)
Club Honours : 3 Times Bulgarian League
1 Time Portuguese League
3 Times Bulgarian Cup
1 Time Portuguese Cup
1996 UEFA Cup
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : 1993 Bulgarian Footballers of The Year
Class : Prince Bronze
20. Ivan Kolev
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Date Of Birth : 1 November 1930
Position : Left-Wing-Forwarder
Height : 169 cm
Major Club : CSKA Sofia
Caps : 75 Games (25 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 1962, 1966 (5 Games and No Goal)
Club Honours : 6 Times Bulgarian League
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : 1962 Bulgarian Footballers of The Year
Class : Prince Silver
21. Nasko Sirakov
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Date Of Birth : 26 April 1962
Position : Second Striker
Height : 182 cm
Major Club : Levski Sofia
Caps : 75 Games (25 Goals)
Professional Scores Record : 216 Goals/ 343 Games
World Cup Participation : 1986, 1994 (11 Games With 2 Goals)
Club Honours : 4 Times Bulgarian League
4 Times Bulgarian Cup
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : 4 Times Bulgarian League Top Scorer
Levski Sofia All-Time Top Scorer
Class : Prince Bronze
22. Petar Zhekov
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Date Of Birth : 10 October 1944
Position : Striker
Height : 178 cm
Major Club : CSKA Sofia
Caps : 44 Games (25 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 1966, 1970 (4 Games and No Goal)
Club Honours : 3 Times Bulgarian Cup
Professional Scores Record : 253 Goals/ 353 Games
International Honours : 5 Times Bulgarian League
Individual Achievement : 6 Times Bulgarian League Top Scorer
1969 European Golden Shoe
1969 World League Top Scorer
CSKA Sofia All-Time Top Scorer
Bulgarian League All-Time Top Scorer
Class : Prince Silver
Conclusion of Squad
GK : Georgi Naydenov, Apostol Sokolov
DF : Aleksander Shalamanov, Dimitar Penev, Georgi Dimitrov, Manol Manolov, Trifon Ivanov, Kiril Ivkov, Boris Gaganelov
MF : Dobomir Zhechev, Jordan Letchkov, Stiliyan Petrov, Krasimir Balakov, Dimitar Yakimov, Hristo Bonev
FW : Georgi Asparuhov, Ivan Kolev, Emil Kostadinov, Nasco Sirakov, Hristo Stoichkov (Captain), Petar Zhekov, Dimitar Berbatov
Explanation of Squad
Georgi Naydenov is a lot better than Mihaylov and Sokolov. Dimitar Penev was one of the best defenders to come from Eastern Europe in his era. Manolov was known for his very reliability. Shalamanov is one of the best right-backs ever in history of Balkan Peninsula football. The only weakness in this first Xi is left-back. Bulgaria has never had even international-class player in this position. Ivanov is selected for this position, he was a left-foot center-back. Bozhkov is the only world-class defensive midfielder in history of Bulgarain football. Yakimov is on the left-midfielder and Bonev is on the right-midfielder. This couple occasionally switch to perform as side-midfielder. Asparuhov will be on the right-side forward whil the captain Stoichkov will be on the left. Berbatov is a finisher.
Manager
Dimitar Penev
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Year Of Birth : 12 July 1945
Major Team : Bulgaria
Major Achievement : 3 Times Bulgarian League
4 Times Bulgarian Cup
1994 FIFA World Cup Fourth Place
Individual Achievement : None
Class : Prince Silver
Stadium
Vasil Levski
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Opened : 1953 (Newest Renovated In 2002)
City : Sofia
Capacity : 43,632 Seats
Field Dimension : 105x68m
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Statistics
Players By Decades
1930s : -
1940s : 1
1950s : 4
1960s : 4
1970s : 3
1980s : 2
1990s : 5
2000s : 3
Players By Club
CSKA Sofia : 16
Levski Sofia : 3
Other : 3
_____________________________________________________________
The Greatest Bulgarian Footballers of All-Time
1. Hristo Stoichkov
2. Georgi Asparuhov
3. Hristo Bonev
4. Dimitar Yakimov
5. Krasimir Balakov
Bulgaria
Location : Southeastern Europe
European Championship Participation : 2 Times (1996, 2004)
World Cup Participation : 7 Times (1962, 1966, 1970, 1974, 1986, 1994, 1998)
Achievement : None
Most Caps : Borislav Mihaylov (102 Games)
Top Scorer : Dimitar Berbatov (48 Goals)
The Greatest Player Ever : Ferenc Puskas
1. Georgi Naydenov
Date Of Birth : 21 December 1931
Position : Goalkeeper
Height : 179 cm
Major Club : Spartak Sofia, CSKA Sofia
Caps : 51 Games
World Cup Participation : 1962, 1966 (5 Games)
Club Honours : 8 Times Bulgarian League
3 Times Bulgarian Cup
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : 1961 Bulgarian Footballers of The Year
Class : Prince Silver
2. Aleksander Shalamanov
Date Of Birth : 4 September 1941
Position : Right-Back
Height : 178 cm
Major Club : CSKA Sofia
Caps : 42 Games
World Cup Participation : 1966, 1970 (5 Games)
Club Honours : 3 Times Bulgarian Cup
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : 2 Times Bulgarian Footballers of The Year (1963, 1966)
Class : Prince Silver
3. Trifon Ivanov
Date Of Birth : 27 July 1965
Position : Center-Back/Left-Back
Height : 181 cm
Major Club : CSKA Sofia
Caps : 76 Games
World Cup Participation : 1994 (7 Games)
Club Honours : 2 Times Bulgarian League
1 Time Austrian League
1 Time Bulgarian Cup
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : 1996 Bulgarian Footballers of The Year
Class : Prince Silver
4. Manol Manolov
Date Of Birth : 4 August 1925
Position : Center-Back
Height : Unknown
Major Club : CSKA Sofia
Caps : 57 Games
World Cup Participation : ( Games)
Club Honours : 12 Times Bulgarian League
5 Times Bulgarian Cup
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : 1958 Bulgarian Footballer of the Year
Class : Prince Silver
5. Dimitar Penev
Date Of Birth : 12 July 1945
Position : Center-Back
Height : 176 cm
Major Club : CSKA Sofia
Caps : 90 Games
World Cup Participation : 1966, 1970 , 1974 (9 Games)
Club Honours : 7 Times Bulgarian League
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : 2 Times Bulgarian Footballers of The Year (1967, 1971)
Class : Prince Gold
6. Stefan Bozhkov
Date Of Birth : 20 September 1923
Position : Defensive Midfielder
Height : Unknown
Major Club : CSKA Sofia
Caps : 53 Games
World Cup Participation : None
Club Honours : 10 Times Bulgarian League
3 Times Bulgarian Cup
International Honours : 1956 Olympic Games Bronze Medal
Individual Achievement : None
Class : Prince Gold
7. Hristo Bonev
Date Of Birth : 3 February 1947
Position : Attacking Midfielder
Height : 179 cm
Major Club : Lokomotiv Plovdiv
Caps : 96 Games (47 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 1970, 1974 (6 Games With 2 Goals)
Professional Scores Record : 185 Goals/ 410 Games
Club Honours : None
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : 3 Times Bulgarian Footballers of The Year (1969, 1972, 1973)
Class : Prince Silver
8. Dimitar Yakimov
Date Of Birth : 12 august 1941
Position : Playmaking-Attacking Midfielder
Height : 176 cm
Major Club : CSKA Sofia
Caps : 67 Games
World Cup Participation : 1962, 1966, 1970 (6 Games)
Club Honours : 7 Times Bulgarian League
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : 1 Time Bulgarian League Top Scorer
CSKA Sofia Greatest Player Ever
Class : Prince Gold
9. Dimitar Berbatov
Date Of Birth : 30 January 1981
Position : Striker
Height : 188 cm
Major Club : Bayer Leverkusen, Tottenham Hot Spurs, Manchester United
Caps : 77 Games (48 Games)
World Cup Participation : None
Professional Scores Record : 194 Goals/ 436 Games
Club Honours : 7 Times Bulgarian League
International Honours : 1 Time English Premier League
1 Time Bulgarian Cup
1 Time English League Cup
2008 FIFA Club World Cup
2009 UEFA Champion League Runner-Up
Individual Achievement : 6 Times Bulgarian Footballers of The Year (2002, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009)
1 Time PFA Team of The Year
2009 Bulgarian Personality of The Year
Bulgaria All-Time Top Scorer
Class : Prince Silver
10. Hristo Stoichkov
Date Of Birth : 8 February 1966
Position : Second Striker/ Left-Wing-Forwarder
Height : 178 cm
Major Club : CSKA Sofia, Barcelona
Caps : 83 Games (37 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 1994, 1998 (10 Games with 6 Goals)
Professional Score Record : 269 Goals/ 550 Games
Club Honours : 3 Times Bulgarian League
4 Times Spanish La Liga
4 Times Bulgaria Cup
1 Time Copa Del Rey
1990 European Golden Shoe
1990 World League Top Scorer
1992 European Cup Winners
1994 European Cup Runner-Up
1997 UEFA Cup Winners Cup
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : 2 Times Bulgarian League Top Scorer
4 Times Bulgarian Footballer of The Year
1989 European Golden Boot
1992 Onze d’Or
1992 Silver Ball European Footballer of The Year
2 Times Silver Ball FIFA World Player of The Year (1992, 1994)
1994 Spanish La Liga Best Foreign Player
1994 FIFA World Cup Golden Shoe
1994 FIFA World Cup Bronze Ball
1994 FIFA World Cup All Star Team
1994 Silver Ball Onze d’Or
1994 European Footballer of The Year
1996 European Championship Team of The Tournament
UEFA Jubilee Award (Bulgaria)
Class : Queen Silver
11. Georgi Asparuhov
Date Of Birth : 4 May 1943
Position : Forward
Height : 184 cm
Major Club : Levski Sofia
Caps : 50 Games (19 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 1962, 1966, 1970 (8 Games with 1 Goal)
Professional Score Record : 150 Goals/ 247 Games
Club Honours : 3 Times Bulgarian League
4 Times Bulgarian Cup
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : 1 Time Bulgarian League Top Scorer
1965 Bulgarian Footballer of The Year
1965 Bulgarian Sportsman of The Year
Levski Sofia Greatest Player Ever
IFFHS Bulgaria Greatest Player Ever
Class : Prince Gold
12. Apostol Sokolov
Date Of Birth : 23 October 1917
Position : Goalkeeper
Height : Unknown
Major Club : Levski Sofia
Caps : 57 Games
World Cup Participation : None
Club Honours : 4 Times Bulgarian League
4 times Bulgarian Cup
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : None
Class : Prince Silver
13. Boris Gaganelov
Date Of Birth : 7 October 1941
Position : Center-Back/ Left-Back
Height : 178 cm
Major Club : CSKA Sofia
Caps : 51 Games
World Cup Participation : 1966, 1970 (4 Games)
Club Honours : 6 Times Bulgarian League
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : None
Class : Prince Bronze
14. Georgi Dimitrov
Date Of Birth : 14 January 1959
Position : Center-Back
Height : 187 cm
Major Club : CSKA Sofia
Caps : 77 Games
World Cup Participation : 1986 (4 Games)
Club Honours : 5 Times Bulgarian League
6 Times Bulgarain Cup
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : 1985 Bulgarain footballer of the Year
Class : Prince Silver
15. Kiril Ivkov
Date Of Birth : 21 June 1946
Position : Center-Back
Height : Unknown
Major Club : Levski Sofia
Caps : 44 Games
World Cup Participation : 1974 (3 Games)
Club Honours : 5 Times Bulgarian League
5 Time Bulgarian Cup
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : 2 Times Bulgarian Footballer of The Year
Class : Prince Silver
16. Stiliyan Petrov
Date Of Birth : 5 July1979
Position : Defensive Holding Midfielder
Height : 180 cm
Major Club : Glasgow Celtics, Aston Villa
Caps : 91 Games
World Cup Participation : None
Club Honours : 4 Times Scottish League
3 Times Scottish Cup
3 Times Scottish League Cup
1 Time Swiss Cup
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : 2003 Bulgarian Footballers of The Year
Class : Prince Silver
17. Yordan Letchkov
Date Of Birth : 9 July 1967
Position : Box-To-Box Midfielder
Height : 180 cm
Major Club : Hamburg
Caps : 45 Games
World Cup Participation : 1994 (7 Games)
Club Honours : 1 Time Bulgarian League
1 Time Turkish Cup
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : None
Class : Prince Silver
18. Krasimir Balakov
Date Of Birth : 29 March 1966
Position : Playmaking-Attacking Midfielder
Height : 176 cm
Major Club : VFB Stuttgart
Caps : 92 Games (16 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 1994, 1998 (10 Games)
Club Honours : 1 Time DFB-Pokal
1 Time Portuguese Cup
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : 2 Times Bulgarian Footballer of The Year (1995, 1997)
1994 FIFA World Cup All-Star Team
Class : Prince Gold
19. Emil Kostadinov
Date Of Birth : 12 August 1967
Position : Right-Wing-Forwarder
Height : 177 cm
Major Club : CSKA Sofia, FC Porto
Caps : 70 Games (26 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 1994, 1998 (10 Games)
Club Honours : 3 Times Bulgarian League
1 Time Portuguese League
3 Times Bulgarian Cup
1 Time Portuguese Cup
1996 UEFA Cup
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : 1993 Bulgarian Footballers of The Year
Class : Prince Bronze
20. Ivan Kolev
Date Of Birth : 1 November 1930
Position : Left-Wing-Forwarder
Height : 169 cm
Major Club : CSKA Sofia
Caps : 75 Games (25 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 1962, 1966 (5 Games and No Goal)
Club Honours : 6 Times Bulgarian League
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : 1962 Bulgarian Footballers of The Year
Class : Prince Silver
21. Nasko Sirakov
Date Of Birth : 26 April 1962
Position : Second Striker
Height : 182 cm
Major Club : Levski Sofia
Caps : 75 Games (25 Goals)
Professional Scores Record : 216 Goals/ 343 Games
World Cup Participation : 1986, 1994 (11 Games With 2 Goals)
Club Honours : 4 Times Bulgarian League
4 Times Bulgarian Cup
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : 4 Times Bulgarian League Top Scorer
Levski Sofia All-Time Top Scorer
Class : Prince Bronze
22. Petar Zhekov
Date Of Birth : 10 October 1944
Position : Striker
Height : 178 cm
Major Club : CSKA Sofia
Caps : 44 Games (25 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 1966, 1970 (4 Games and No Goal)
Club Honours : 3 Times Bulgarian Cup
Professional Scores Record : 253 Goals/ 353 Games
International Honours : 5 Times Bulgarian League
Individual Achievement : 6 Times Bulgarian League Top Scorer
1969 European Golden Shoe
1969 World League Top Scorer
CSKA Sofia All-Time Top Scorer
Bulgarian League All-Time Top Scorer
Class : Prince Silver
Conclusion of Squad
GK : Georgi Naydenov, Apostol Sokolov
DF : Aleksander Shalamanov, Dimitar Penev, Georgi Dimitrov, Manol Manolov, Trifon Ivanov, Kiril Ivkov, Boris Gaganelov
MF : Dobomir Zhechev, Jordan Letchkov, Stiliyan Petrov, Krasimir Balakov, Dimitar Yakimov, Hristo Bonev
FW : Georgi Asparuhov, Ivan Kolev, Emil Kostadinov, Nasco Sirakov, Hristo Stoichkov (Captain), Petar Zhekov, Dimitar Berbatov
Formation XI
![Image]()
Explanation of Squad
Georgi Naydenov is a lot better than Mihaylov and Sokolov. Dimitar Penev was one of the best defenders to come from Eastern Europe in his era. Manolov was known for his very reliability. Shalamanov is one of the best right-backs ever in history of Balkan Peninsula football. The only weakness in this first Xi is left-back. Bulgaria has never had even international-class player in this position. Ivanov is selected for this position, he was a left-foot center-back. Bozhkov is the only world-class defensive midfielder in history of Bulgarain football. Yakimov is on the left-midfielder and Bonev is on the right-midfielder. This couple occasionally switch to perform as side-midfielder. Asparuhov will be on the right-side forward whil the captain Stoichkov will be on the left. Berbatov is a finisher.
Manager
Dimitar Penev
Year Of Birth : 12 July 1945
Major Team : Bulgaria
Major Achievement : 3 Times Bulgarian League
4 Times Bulgarian Cup
1994 FIFA World Cup Fourth Place
Individual Achievement : None
Class : Prince Silver
Stadium
Vasil Levski
Opened : 1953 (Newest Renovated In 2002)
City : Sofia
Capacity : 43,632 Seats
Field Dimension : 105x68m
_____________________________________________________________
Statistics
Players By Decades
1930s : -
1940s : 1
1950s : 4
1960s : 4
1970s : 3
1980s : 2
1990s : 5
2000s : 3
Players By Club
CSKA Sofia : 16
Levski Sofia : 3
Other : 3
_____________________________________________________________
The Greatest Bulgarian Footballers of All-Time
1. Hristo Stoichkov
2. Georgi Asparuhov
3. Hristo Bonev
4. Dimitar Yakimov
5. Krasimir Balakov
roud:
