Hristo Stoichkov
Stoichkov (2010)
Christo Stoichkov Stoichkov ( Bulgarian Христо Стоичков Стоичков; born February 8, 1966 in Plovdiv ) is the most successful Bulgarian football player and since 2011 the Bulgarian Honorary Consul in Barcelona.
Stations
Christo Stoichkov played from 1982 to 1984 in Charmanli. He began his professional career in 1984 with 18 years at CSKA Sofia in the Bulgarian 1st league. The strong dribbler and extremely responsive Bulgarian left winger joined in 1990 after three championships and five Cup titles to FC Barcelona in the Primera División.
In five years with the Catalans he was four consecutive Spanish masters. 1994 was going to be successful year. In addition to winning the Spanish league title, he finished with Bulgaria to fourth place at the World Cup in the United States and was, as well as the Russian Oleg Salenko, with six goals World Cup top scorer. In the quarterfinals, the Bulgarians switched off in New York the German national team ( 2:1), the 1:1 equalizing goal scored Stoichkov in a free kick. For this, he was also voted European Footballer of the Year.
After this outstanding season but it seemed as if he had lost his motivation. After poor performances at Barcelona 1995, he was deported to the AC Parma. But only a year later he moved again to Barça. But on his top performance of bygone days he was not able, yet enjoys El Pistolero, as he is called by his Spanish admirers reverently, an exceptional reputation that goes far beyond the ordinary in Barcelona sympathy. He is now regarded as a sort of cult figure, every kid knows and worships at FC Barcelona.
After a weak performance by Bulgaria in the Football World Cup 1998 Stoichkov still loitered by different countries. He had guest appearances in Saudi Arabia, Japan and the United States.
Stoichkov was five times player of the year in Bulgaria, arrived in the national team on 83 missions and scored 37 goals.
In March 2004, Stoichkov was in the FIFA 100, which compiled by Pelé list of the best 125 living footballers recorded
In July 2004, he joined the successor to the retired after the 2004 European Football Championship Plamen Markov as coach of the Bulgarian national team, which he was in charge until 2007.
In October 2006, the well-known even in his playing days as a self-centered Stoichkov founded in Spain one named after him even football club, will compete in one of the lower Spanish leagues.
In April 2007, he resigned as coach of the Bulgarian national team and took over as coach at the Spanish side Celta Vigo relegation. He was released in October 2007.
On 14 May 2009, the Iranian club Abu Moslem reported to have signed a contract with Stoichkov as head coach. Stoichkov changed his mind but due to the political situation in Iran and moved to Mamelodi Sundowns, where he replaced former coach Henri Michel on June 29, 2009. On 17 March 2010, he was dismissed.
In November 2011, his Paisii - Chilendarski University awarded in Plovdiv against considerable protest of individual professors honorary doctorate.
In 2013 Stoichkov was head coach of the Bulgarian championship record CSKA Sofia. Bulgaria's football idol has already left the service at highly indebted 31 -time national champion after a month. The reason he accused the club's management, they gave him as collateral their 6.5 million shares, so he had to fear having to stand up for the deficit of the club.
Achievements
Honours
- European Champion Clubs' Cup: 1992
- European Cup Winners' Cup: 1997
- Bulgarian champion: 1987, 1989, 1990
- Bulgarian Cup winner: 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989
- Spanish Champion: 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994
- Spanish Cup winner: 1997
- UEFA Super Cup: 1993
Awards
- European Footballer of the Year: 1994
- World Cup top scorer: 1994 ( with Oleg Salenko / Russia, both 6 goals)
- Bronze Ball of the World Cup: 1994
- Golden Boot winner: 1990
- Onze d'Or: 1992
- Best foreign player in La Liga, according to Don Balón: 1994
- Best foreign player in La Liga, according to El País: 1992
- Bulgaria's Player of the Year: 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994