Hristo Stoichkov facts for kids
Stoichkov in 2016
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Hristo Stoichkov | ||
| Date of birth | 8 February 1966 | ||
| Place of birth | Plovdiv, Bulgaria | ||
| Height | 1.78m | ||
| Playing position | Forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Maritsa Plovdiv | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1981–1982 | FC Yuri 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) |
| 1997–1998 | → CSKA 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) | |
| National team | |||
| 1986–1987 | Bulgaria U21 | 17 | (8) |
| 1986–1999 | Bulgaria | 83 | (37) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 2004–2007 | Bulgaria | ||
| 2007 | Celta Vigo | ||
| 2009–2010 | Mamelodi Sundowns | ||
| 2012–2013 | Litex Lovech | ||
| 2013 | CSKA Sofia | ||
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Hristo Stoichkov Stoichkov (Bulgarian: Христо Стоичков Стоичков; born 8 February 1966) is a famous Bulgarian former footballer. He played as a forward and is often called the best Bulgarian footballer ever. He was recognized as one of the world's top players. In 1994, he won the Ballon d'Or, a huge award for footballers.
Stoichkov played for many clubs, including CSKA Sofia and Barcelona. At Barcelona, he was part of the "Dream Team" and helped them win many titles. He was known for his powerful shots and sometimes for his strong personality on the field. People called him "El Pistolero" (The Gunslinger) in Spain and The Dagger (Камата) in Bulgaria.
He also played a big role for the Bulgarian national team. He led them to fourth place in the 1994 FIFA World Cup. There, he was the top scorer, winning the World Cup Golden Boot. After his playing career, he also became a football manager.
Contents
Playing Career: A Football Star's Journey
Starting Out: Early Days in Bulgaria
Hristo Stoichkov was born in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. He started playing football at age 11 for his hometown club, Maritsa Plovdiv. In 1982, he moved to Hebros Harmanli. There, he scored 14 goals in Bulgaria's third football league.
Rise to Fame: CSKA Sofia Success
In 1985, Stoichkov joined CSKA Sofia. Early on, he got into a fight during a cup final. This led to a ban, but it was later shortened to one year. He returned in 1986 and helped CSKA win the Cup of the Soviet Army.
He quickly became a key player for CSKA. He helped them win the A Group title in the 1986–87 season. In the 1989–90 season, he scored 38 goals in 30 matches. This made him the top goalscorer in Europe, earning him the European Golden Shoe.
Barcelona Dream Team: European Glory
After five years with CSKA, Stoichkov moved to Barcelona in Spain. In his first season, he was suspended for two months. But he still scored 14 league goals. He became a vital part of manager Johan Cruyff's famous "Dream Team."
With Barcelona, he won the La Liga title four times in a row, from 1991 to 1994. He also won the European Cup in 1992. He played alongside Romário and became a fan favorite. Stoichkov was named runner-up for the FIFA World Player of the Year award twice. In 1994, he won the 1994 Ballon d'Or after his amazing performance at the World Cup.
Later Years: New Teams, More Trophies
After Barcelona, Stoichkov played briefly for Parma in Italy. He then returned to FC Barcelona until 1998. He also had a short second time at CSKA Sofia.
In 1998, he signed a two-match deal with Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr. He helped them win the Asian Cup Winners' Cup by scoring the only goal in the final. Later, he played in Japan for Kashiwa Reysol. He finished his career in the United States with the Chicago Fire and D.C. United. With Chicago Fire, he won the U.S. Open Cup.
International Career: Leading Bulgaria to Success
Stoichkov first played for the Bulgarian national team in 1987. He scored his first international goal in a friendly match against Qatar.
1994 FIFA World Cup: A Historic Run
Stoichkov played a huge part in Bulgaria qualifying for the 1994 FIFA World Cup. At the tournament, he was incredible. He scored six goals, making him the joint top scorer and earning the World Cup Golden Boot. He also received the Bronze Ball as the third-best player.
He led Bulgaria to a surprising 2–1 win over defending champions Germany in the quarter-finals. Bulgaria reached the semi-finals but lost to Italy. They finished fourth after losing to Sweden.
Euro 1996 and Beyond
Stoichkov continued to shine in the qualifiers for UEFA Euro 1996. He scored ten goals, helping Bulgaria reach the tournament. In the finals, he scored three goals in three matches.
He was also part of the team for the 1998 FIFA World Cup. Bulgaria didn't do as well this time and was eliminated early. Stoichkov retired from international football in 1999. He scored 37 goals in 83 games for Bulgaria.
Playing Style: A Powerful and Passionate Player
Stoichkov was known for his incredible speed and powerful left-footed shots. He was a creative and determined forward. He could play as a main striker or a second striker, often setting up goals for his teammates. At Barcelona, he and Romário formed a strong attacking duo.
He was also good at taking free kicks and penalties. People described him as a strong and skilled player with explosive speed. He had a "winning mentality" and always wanted to win.
However, Stoichkov was also known for his fiery temper. He sometimes argued with referees and other players. This aggressive side earned him the nickname The Dagger (Камата). In 2003, during a friendly match, he was involved in a tackle that injured an opponent. He received a two-game suspension and a fine for this.
Life After Playing: Manager and Commentator
After retiring as a player, Hristo Stoichkov became a coach. He started as a forwards coach at Barcelona in 2003. In 2004, he was appointed manager of the Bulgarian national team.
His time as manager was a bit bumpy. He didn't lead Bulgaria to the 2006 World Cup. His strong personality sometimes caused conflicts with players, leading some to leave the team. He resigned from the national team in 2007.
He also managed clubs like Celta Vigo in Spain and Mamelodi Sundowns in South Africa. In 2012, he became manager of Litex Lovech in Bulgaria. He was even named the best manager in the Bulgarian league in 2013. He briefly managed CSKA Sofia before leaving. Today, he works as a football commentator.
Personal Life
Hristo Stoichkov is married to Mariana and they have two daughters, Hristina and Mihaela. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he publicly supported COVID-19 vaccination.
In 2011, he became an honorary consul for Bulgaria in Barcelona. However, he was removed from this role in 2017. This happened after he criticized the Spanish government regarding the Catalan independence referendum.
Awards and Achievements
Player Honours
CSKA Sofia
- Bulgarian League: 1987, 1989, 1990
- Bulgarian Cup: 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989
- Soviet Army Cup: 1985, 1986, 1989, 1990
- Bulgarian Supercup: 1989
Barcelona
- Spanish League (La Liga): 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1998
- Spanish Cup (Copa del Rey): 1997, 1998
- Spanish Supercup: 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996
- UEFA Champions League: 1992
- European Cup Winners' Cup: 1997
- UEFA Super Cup: 1992, 1997
Al-Nassr
- Asian Cup Winners' Cup: 1998
Kashiwa Reysol
- J.League Cup: 1999
Chicago Fire
- U.S. Open Cup: 2000
Bulgaria National Team
- FIFA World Cup: Fourth place in 1994
Individual Awards
- Ballon d'Or: 1994 (Best player in Europe)
- European Golden Shoe: 1990 (Top scorer in Europe)
- FIFA World Cup Golden Shoe: 1994 (Top scorer at the World Cup)
- FIFA World Cup Bronze Ball: 1994 (Third best player at the World Cup)
- Bulgarian Footballer of the Year: 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994
- FIFA 100: 2004 (Named by Pelé as one of the greatest living players)
- Golden Foot: 2007 (Recognized as a football legend)
Records
- He is the only football player to win both the European Cup Winners' Cup and the Asian Cup Winners' Cup.
- He holds the record for most league goals in a single Bulgarian top-flight season (38 goals in 1989–90).
- He has the most red cards for an FC Barcelona player (10 red cards).
