Georgi Sokolov
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Georgi Apostolov Sokolov | ||
Date of birth | 19 June 1942 | ||
Place of birth |
Sofia, Bulgaria | ||
Date of death | June 27, 2002 | (aged 60)||
Position(s) | Winger / Forward | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1957 |
Spartak Plovdiv | 1 | (0) |
1958–1969 | Levski Sofia | 186 | (58) |
1969 | Dunav Ruse | 7 | (0) |
Total | 194 | (58) | |
International career | |||
1959–1967 | Bulgaria | 14 | (5) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Georgi Apostolov Sokolov (Bulgarian: Георги Апостолов Соколов; 19 June 1942 - 27 June 2002) was a Bulgarian international footballer. A forward with remarkable ball control, imagination, dribbling skills and feints, Sokolov is regarded as one of the most talented Bulgarian footballers of all time.[1] His father was the great Bulgarian goalkeeper Apostol Sokolov who was known as the first one to leave the goal line like modern keepers and was an inspiration for Lev Yashin.[2]
Sokolov spent the majority of his playing career with
Career
Club career
Sokolov started his career with
In early 1958, Sokolov joined
International career
Sokolov played a key role in Bulgaria winning the 1959 UEFA European Under-18 Championship on home soil. He scored goal in the team's opening group stage match against the Netherlands. Bulgaria won the match 3–1. Sokolov also scored against East Germany in the semi-finals.[8]
One month later, Sokolov received his first call-up to the senior Bulgaria squad. On 13 May 1959, he became Bulgaria's youngest ever senior player by appearing in a 3–2 friendly win over Netherlands at Vasil Levski National Stadium aged 16 years, 10 months and 27 days.[9] He participated in the 1962 FIFA World Cup, and scored Bulgaria's first ever World Cup goal, in a 6–1 loss against Hungary.[10]
Legacy
On 25 June 2022
Honours
Club
- Levski Sofia
- 1967
References
- ^ "Да си спомним за футболния чаровник Георги Соколов – Соколето" (in Bulgarian). cao.bg.
- ^ "The Outsider: A History of the Goalkeeper". Jonathan Wilson.
- ^ Georgi Sokolov – FIFA competition record (archived)
- ^ "Соколето имаше най-големи заложби" (in Bulgarian). blitz.bg. 26 June 2007.
- ^ "10 г. от смъртта и 70 г. от рождението на възторжения футболен магьосник Жоро Соколов" (in Bulgarian). temasport.com. 19 June 2012.
- ^ "Най-младите играчи дебютирали за Левски" (in Bulgarian). topsport.bg. 16 April 2007.
- ^ "Левски на 100 - Дебютът в Европа" (in Bulgarian). temasport.com. 21 November 2013.
- ^ "1959: България поваля Италия и грабва титлата!" (in Bulgarian). vsekiden.com. 6 May 2015. Archived from the original on 24 November 2015.
- ^ "Bulgaria 3–2 Netherlands". eu-football.info.
- ^ "Hungary 6–1 Bulgaria". fifa.com. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015.
External links
- Player Profile at levskisofia.info