Hristo Stoichkov

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Hristo Stoichkov
Stoichkov in 2016
Personal information
Full name Hristo Stoichkov
Date of birth (1966-02-08) 8 February 1966 (age 58)
Place of birth Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
Maritsa Plovdiv
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1981–1982 FC Yuriy Gagarin 16 (3)
1982–1983 Hebros Harmanli 32 (14)
1984–1990 CSKA Sofia 119 (81)
1990–1995 Barcelona 151 (76)
1995–1996 Parma 23 (5)
1996–1998 Barcelona 24 (7)
1997–1998CSKA Sofia (loan) 5 (3)
1998
Al-Nassr
2 (1)
1998–1999 Kashiwa Reysol 27 (12)
2000–2002 Chicago Fire 51 (17)
2003 D.C. United 21 (5)
Total 454 (220)
International career
1986–1987 Bulgaria U21 17 (8)
1986–1999 Bulgaria 83 (37[1])
Managerial career
2004–2007 Bulgaria
2007 Celta Vigo
2009–2010 Mamelodi Sundowns
2012–2013 Litex Lovech
2013 CSKA Sofia
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Hristo Stoichkov (

TUDN. A prolific forward, he is regarded as one of the best forwards of all time,[2] and as the greatest Bulgarian footballer of all time. He was runner-up for the FIFA World Player of the Year award in 1992 and 1994, and received the Ballon d'Or in 1994. In 2004, Stoichkov was named by Pelé in the FIFA 100 list of the world's greatest living players.[3]

At club level, Stoichkov spent six years at

European Cup. During his time at the club, he formed a prolific strike partnership with Romário
. Cruyff was largely instrumental in bringing him to Barcelona where he quickly developed into one of the most prolific forwards in the world.

Stoichkov was a member of the

World Cup Bronze Ball. Apart from his footballing talent, he was notable for his on-pitch temper.[4] In his playing career, he was also nicknamed The Dagger (Камата).[5]

Club career

Early career

Stoichkov was born in the city of Plovdiv.

Stoichkov began his football career playing for hometown club

third level
of Bulgarian football.

CSKA Sofia

In early 1985, Stoichkov joined

Lokomotiv Sofia, which CSKA won 2–0.[7]

He continued his progress during

A Group
title winner's medal at the end of the season. He scored 6 league goals that season.

Stoichkov managed to win the European Golden Boot with CSKA by scoring 38 goals in 30 matches during the 1989–90 A Group season.[4]

Barcelona

After five years with CSKA, Stoichkov transferred to

1994 World Cup semi-finals.[4]

Later career

Stoichkov then had a short spell in Italy with

Chicago Fire and D.C. United, winning the U.S. Open Cup (and scoring the first goal in the final) with the former.[4]

International career

Stoichkov debuted for the Bulgaria national team in a UEFA Euro 1988 qualifying match against Belgium on 23 September 1987. He scored his first international goal in his fourth appearance, a 3–2 friendly defeat of Qatar in Doha.[12]

During

Sweden, 4–0.[4]

Bulgaria finished second in the qualifying group for Euro 1996 behind Germany. Stoichkov scored ten goals for his team during the qualifiers, as Bulgaria qualified as one of the best six runners-up. In the first match against Germany in Sofia, Bulgaria were 2–0 down at half-time. Stoichkov equalized with two goals from penalties and Emil Kostadinov also scored for a 3–2 win. Bulgaria lost the second match in Germany 3–1. During the finals, Bulgaria lost 3–1 in the decisive group match against a strong France side; in the other match, Spain won 2–1 against Romania and so the Bulgarians went out. In that tournament, Stoichkov scored three goals in three matches.[4]

He was also part of the squad that was eliminated in the first round of the 1998 World Cup. Bulgaria was not nearly as strong as in previous years, earning only one point in a 0–0 draw against Paraguay and scoring only one goal through Kostadinov in a 6–1 defeat by Spain. Stoichkov retired from internationals in 1999 with 37 goals in 83 appearances.[4] His last game was during the Euro 2000 Qualification against England which ended 1-1 and Stoichkov assisted Georgi Markov for the equalizer goal from free kick goal. In the same game he was substituted with Martin Petrov for whom it was debut with Bulgarian shirt. Ironically, both are Bulgaria's only goalscorers in a UEFA Euro Tournament, Stoichkov was the only Goalscorer in 1996 with 3 Goals while Petrov in 2004 in the 2–1 loss against Italy. Bulgaria failed to Qualify for the Euro 2000 in Belgium and the Netherlands after the game, as they needed a win to have chances to qualify.

He later served as coach of the Bulgaria national team from 2004 to April 2007.[4]

Style of play

"That season [1993–1994] Romário and Stoichkov were a force of nature, blowing everyone and everything to bits."

— Football writer Sid Lowe on the strike partnership at Barcelona.[10]

Stoichkov had explosive pace, and was a creative, tenacious and prolific left-footed

crosser and passer of the ball.[20] Manager Dimitar Dimitrov described Stoichkov as "one of the greatest players of all time" in 2006, and as a player who had "a winning mentality."[21]

Stoichkov was criticised for his work-rate at times,[22] and he also gained infamy because of his aggressive temper on the pitch, despite his talent;[4] he could often be seen arguing with the referee, or with his opponents.[23] At Euro 1996, after Bulgaria's final group stage match against France, he was accused by French defender Marcel Desailly of making insulting remarks about Desailly's race.[24] Throughout his playing career, he was nicknamed The Dagger (Камата).[5]

In 2006, he was sued by a former American University college student whose leg he broke with a violent tackle while playing in a friendly match for D.C. United in 2003. The case was settled out of court in 2007 with undisclosed financial terms.[25] The student's coach called Stoichkov's challenge "criminal". Ray Hudson, who coached D.C. United for whom Stoichkov played at the time, called it a "rash tackle". Following an investigation by Major League Soccer (MLS), Stoichkov was suspended two games and fined US$2,000.[26]

Media

Stoichkov features in EA Sports' FIFA video game series; he was included in the FIFA 15 Ultimate Team Legends.[27][28][29]

In 2018 he published his authorized biography "Hristo Stoichkov. The Story".[30] The official unveiling of the autobiography in November was attended by many footballers, other sportspeople, former Bulgarian presidents Petar Stoyanov, Georgi Parvanov and Rosen Plevneliev as well as former Spanish referee Idefonso Urízar Azpitarte, who had sent off Stoichkov during the first match of the 1990 Spanish Super Cup final and was given the opportunity to symbolically stomp on Stoichkov's foot.[31]

Managerial career

In the 2003–04 season, Stoichkov started a managing career, serving as a forwards coach at Barcelona. After Bulgarian national team manager Plamen Markov resigned in the wake of the team's first-round exit from Euro 2004, the Bulgarian Football Union named him as the new national team manager on 15 July.

Stoichkov's managing career got off to a poor start, with him failing to lead Bulgaria to qualification for the 2006 World Cup. He brought his bad temper from his career as a player to the bench. A couple of proven players quit the team due to personal differences with Stoichkov. The most notable scandal was on 5 September 2005, in a game against Sweden, where he was sent-off for insulting the referee.

The biggest blow to Stoichkov as a manager of the national team of Bulgaria came on 12 October 2006, when Stiliyan Petrov, the captain of the team, announced he would not play for Bulgaria so long as Stoichkov was manager.[32] Petrov was the third player and the second captain in two years to leave the team because of differences with Stoichkov. On 17 March 2007, however, Petrov announced that he had had a private conversation with Stoichkov, in which they were able to work their differences out. As a result, Petrov would return to the team.[33]

On 10 April 2007, the Bulgarian Football Union announced they had accepted the resignation of Stoichkov from his post with the national team. That was as a result of the poor performance of the team at the ongoing

Real Madrid manager Juan Ramón López Caro. On 12 March 2009, Stoichkov visited the Manchester City training ground after requesting a visit.[34]

On 29 June 2009, Stoichkov moved to

South Africa national team manager Trott Moloto named caretaker until a full-time replacement is found.[36]

In 2011, the Vietnam Football Federation invited Stoichkov to become the head manager of Vietnam national team;[37] however, he declined the position. In the 2011–12 season, he worked as an advisor at Russian club Rostov.[38]

In January 2012, Stoichkov was appointed manager of Bulgarian side

A PFG manager of the season following a vote by the professional footballers in the Bulgarian league.[39]
In June 2013, he was named the manager of Bulgarian powerhouse – and former club – CSKA Sofia, but quit one month later after he lost faith in the troubled club.

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[40][41][42][43]
Club Season League National cup League cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Hebros 1982–83 V Group 11 4 11 4
1983–84 21 10 21 10
Total 32 14 32 14
CSKA Sofia 1984–85 A Group 11 0 3 0 14 0
1985–86 0 0 2 2 2 2
1986–87 25 6 2 0 7 1 34 7
1987–88 27 14 4 4 7 5 38 23
1988–89 26 23 7 3 8 7 41 33
1989–90 30 38 5 7 3 2 38 47
Total 119 81 23 16 0 0 25 16 167 112
Barcelona 1990–91 La Liga 24 14 6 2 8 6 38 22
1991–92 32 17 2 1 9 4 43 22
1992–93 34 20 6 1 6 2 46 23
1993–94 34 16 6 1 8 7 48 24
1994–95 27 9 4 5 8 3 39 17
Total 151 76 24 10 0 0 39 22 214 108
Parma (loan)
1995–96
Serie A 23 5 2 0 5 2 30 7
Barcelona 1996–97 La Liga 22 7 6 1 7 0 35 8
1997–98 2 0 1 0 3 1 6 1
Total 24 7 7 1 0 0 10 1 41 9
CSKA Sofia 1997–98 A Group 4 2 1 1 5 3
Al-Nassr
1997–98
Saudi Premier League
2 1 2 1
Kashiwa Reysol 1998 J1 League 16 8 1 0 0 0 17 8
1999 11 4 0 0 1 1 12 5
Total 27 12 1 0 1 1 29 13
Chicago Fire
2000 MLS 18 9 3 1 21 10
2001 17 6 3 2 20 8
2002 16 2 0 0 16 2
Total 51 17 6 3 57 23
D.C. United 2003 MLS 21 5 3 1 24 6
Total 452 219 67 32 1 1 81 42 601 293

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year[12]
National team Year Apps Goals
Bulgaria 1987 3 0
1988 12 4
1989 8 1
1990 4 0
1991 3 2
1992 5 2
1993 6 4
1994 11 9
1995 7 7
1996 5 5
1997 4 1
1998 10 1
1999 5 1
Total 83 37
Scores and results list Bulgaria's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Stoichkov goal.[12]
List of international goals scored by Hristo Stoichkov
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 21 January 1988 Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar  Qatar 3–2 3–2
Friendly
2 9 August 1988 Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway  Norway 1–1 1–1 Friendly
3 24 August 1988
Stadion Hetman, Białystok
, Poland
 Poland 1–3 2–3 Friendly
4 21 September 1988 Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria  Soviet Union 2–2 2–2 Friendly
5 11 October 1989 Yuri Gagarin Stadium, Varna, Bulgaria  Greece 4–0 4–0 1990 FIFA World Cup qualification
6 25 September 1991 Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria  Italy 2–0 2–1 Friendly
7 16 October 1991 Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria  San Marino 2–0 4–0 UEFA Euro 1992 qualifying
8 19 August 1992 Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria  Mexico 1–1 1–1 Friendly
9 9 September 1992 Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria  France 1–0 2–0
1994 FIFA World Cup qualification
10 28 April 1993 Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria  Finland 1–0 2–0 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification
11 12 May 1993 Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria  Israel 1–0 2–2 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification
12 8 September 1993 Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria  Sweden 1–0 1–1 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification
13 13 October 1993 Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria  Austria 2–0 4–1 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification
14 26 June 1994 Soldier Field, Chicago, United States  Greece 1–0 4–0 1994 FIFA World Cup
15 2–0
16 30 June 1994 Cotton Bowl, Dallas, United States  Argentina 1–0 2–0 1994 FIFA World Cup
17 5 July 1994 Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, United States  Mexico 1–0 1–1 (3–1 p. 1994 FIFA World Cup
18 10 July 1994 Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, United States  Germany 1–1 2–1 1994 FIFA World Cup
19 13 July 1994 Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, United States  Italy 1–2 1–2 1994 FIFA World Cup
20 16 November 1994 Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria  Moldova 1–0 4–1 UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying
21 3–1
22 14 December 1994 Arms Park, Cardiff, Wales  Wales 3–0 3–0 UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying
23 26 April 1995
Stadionul Republican, Chișinău
, Moldova
 Moldova 2–0 3–0 UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying
24 3–0
25 7 June 1995 Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria  Germany 1–2 3–2 UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying
26 2–2
27 6 September 1995 Qemal Stafa Stadium, Tirana, Albania  Albania 1–0 1–1 UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying
28 11 October 1995 Boris Paichadze National Stadium, Tbilisi, Georgia  Georgia 1–2 1–2 UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying
29 15 November 1995 Olympiastadion, Berlin, Germany  Germany 1–0 1–3 UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying
30 28 May 1996 Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria  Macedonia 2–0 3–0 Friendly
31 2 June 1996 Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria  United Arab Emirates 2–0 4–1 Friendly
32 9 June 1996 Elland Road, Leeds, England  Spain 1–0 1–1 UEFA Euro 1996
33 13 June 1996 St James' Park, Newcastle, England  Romania 1–0 1–0 UEFA Euro 1996
34 18 June 1996  France 1–2 1–3 UEFA Euro 1996
35 8 June 1997
Neftochimik Stadium, Burgas
, Bulgaria
 Luxembourg 1–0 4–0 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
36 5 June 1998 Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria  Algeria 1–0 2–0 Friendly
19 February 1999 Mong Kok Stadium, Mong Kok, Hong Kong Hong Kong Hong Kong League XI 1–0 3–0 Carlsberg Cup, considered unofficial friendly
37 31 March 1999 Stade Josy Barthel, Luxembourg, Luxembourg  Luxembourg 1–0 2–0 UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying

Managerial statistics

As of 8 July 2013.
Team From To Competition Record
G W D L Win % GF GA GD
Bulgaria 15 July 2004 10 April 2007 Competitive 15 6 6 3 040.00 24 20 +4
Friendlies[a] 14 7 5 2 050.00 24 14 +10
Total 29 13 11 5 044.83 48 34 +14
Celta Vigo
April 2007 8 October 2007 League 16 7 1 8 043.75 18 22 –4
Copa del Rey 1 0 0 1 000.00 1 2 –1
Total 17 7 1 9 041.18 19 24 –5
Mamelodi Sundowns 29 June 2009 16 March 2010 Premier Soccer League 30 16 8 6 053.33 43 24 +19
Total 30 16 8 6 053.33 43 24 +19
Litex Lovech 5 January 2012 31 May 2013
Bulgarian A Professional Football Group
46 25 9 12 054.35 89 38 +51
Bulgarian Cup 8 5 1 2 062.50 14 4 +10
Total 54 30 10 14 055.56 103 42 +61
CSKA Sofia 5 June 2013 8 July 2013 Bulgarian A Professional Football Group 0 0 0 0 ! 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 ! 0 0 0
Career totals League 92 48 18 26 052.17 150 84 +66
Cup 9 5 1 3 055.56 15 6 +9
Competitive 15 6 6 3 040.00 24 20 +4
Friendlies 14 7 5 2 050.00 24 14 +10
Total 130 66 30 34 050.77 213 124 +89

Honours

Player

CSKA Sofia[4]

Barcelona[4]

Parma

Al-Nassr

Kashiwa Reysol

Chicago Fire

Bulgaria[4]

Individual

Records

Manager

Mamelodi Sundowns

Individual

Further honours

  • In November 2003, to celebrate UEFA's Jubilee, he was selected as the Golden Player of Bulgaria by the Bulgarian Football Union as their most outstanding player of the past 50 years.[65]
  • He was named by Pelé as one of the 125 Greatest Living Footballers at a FIFA Awards ceremony in 2004.
  • Eurosport made a voting in 2005 there Fans could decide who was the best Player in the 90s and Stoichkov won the Award.
  • In 2011 he was named honorary consul of Bulgaria in Barcelona. In October 2017 he was removed from the position on the request of the Spanish government over his criticisms of this government (especially the deputy prime minister, Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría) in relation with the Catalan independence referendum, as well as the fact that he lives mainly in the United States.[66]

Barcelona (official)

  1. Copa Generalitat
    : 1991, 1993
  2. Trofeo Ciudad de La Línea: 1991
  3. Trofeo Ciudad de Marbella: 1993
  4. Teresa Herrera Trophy: 1990, 1993
  5. Trofeo Ciudad de Oviedo: 1996
  6. Joan Gamper Trophy: 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997

Notes

  1. Kirin Cup

References

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  59. ^ UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador - UNESCO Champion for Sport
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External links