Krasimir Balakov facts for kids
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Balakov in 2015
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Krasimir Genchev Balakov | ||
| Date of birth | 29 March 1966 | ||
| Place of birth | Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria | ||
| Height | 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Attacking midfielder | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1983–1990 | Etar Veliko Tarnovo | 142 | (35) |
| 1991–1995 | Sporting CP | 138 | (43) |
| 1995–2003 | VfB Stuttgart | 236 | (54) |
| 2005 | VFC Plauen | 1 | (0) |
| Total | 517 | (132) | |
| International career | |||
| 1984–1987 | Bulgaria U21 | 29 | (3) |
| 1988–2003 | Bulgaria | 92 | (16) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2003–2005 | VfB Stuttgart (assistant) | ||
| 2005 | VFC Plauen (player-manager) | ||
| 2006–2007 | Grasshoppers | ||
| 2007–2008 | St. Gallen | ||
| 2008–2010 | Chernomorets Burgas | ||
| 2011–2012 | Hajduk Split | ||
| 2012 | 1. FC Kaiserslautern | ||
| 2014–2015 | Litex Lovech | ||
| 2018–2019 | Etar Veliko Tarnovo | ||
| 2019 | Bulgaria | ||
| 2020–2021 | CSKA 1948 | ||
| 2023–2024 | Septemvri Sofia | ||
| 2024 | Lokomotiv Sofia | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Krasimir Genchev Balakov (Bulgarian: Красимир Генчев Балъков) is a famous Bulgarian former football player and manager. He was born on March 29, 1966. Balakov played as an attacking midfielder, which means he helped create goals for his team.
He was a very important player for the Bulgarian national team. They achieved an amazing fourth-place finish in the 1994 FIFA World Cup. Many people think he was one of the best Bulgarian footballers of his time, second only to Hristo Stoichkov.
Contents
Playing Career: A Football Star
Krasimir Balakov started his football journey in his hometown. He played for Etar Veliko Tarnovo from 1983 to 1990. His talent quickly became clear to everyone.
Moving to Portugal: Sporting CP
In 1990, Balakov moved to Portugal to play for Sporting Clube de Portugal. He played alongside other great players like Luís Figo. During his time there, his team won the Portuguese Cup in the 1994–95 season. This was a big achievement for him and the club.
Success in Germany: VfB Stuttgart
In 1995, Balakov joined VfB Stuttgart in Germany. This is where he became a true legend. He helped Stuttgart win the DFB-Pokal (German Cup) in 1997. They also won the UEFA Intertoto Cup twice, in 2000 and 2002.
At Stuttgart, Balakov was part of a famous attacking group. He, along with strikers Fredi Bobic and Giovane Élber, were called the "magic triangle." They were known for their amazing teamwork and goal-scoring abilities. Balakov played for Stuttgart until he retired as a player in 2003.
Coaching Career: Leading Teams
After retiring as a player, Krasimir Balakov decided to become a coach. He wanted to share his knowledge and passion for football with new players.
Early Coaching Roles
Balakov started as an assistant coach at VfB Stuttgart in 2003. He then took on his first head coaching role at Grasshopper Club Zürich in Switzerland in 2006. He helped them qualify for the UEFA Cup. Later, he managed FC St. Gallen before returning to Bulgaria.
Managing in Bulgaria and Croatia
In 2008, Balakov became the manager of PFC Chernomorets Burgas in his home country. He then moved to Croatia to coach Hajduk Split in 2011. He also had a short time managing 1. FC Kaiserslautern in Germany in 2012.
He continued his coaching career in Bulgaria. He managed Litex Lovech from 2014 to 2015. Then, he returned to his first club, Etar Veliko Tarnovo, as manager in 2018.
Leading the National Team
In May 2019, Krasimir Balakov was given the important job of managing the Bulgarian national team. He led the team for a few months. After this, he managed CSKA 1948 from 2020 to 2021.
More recently, Balakov managed Septemvri Sofia in 2023 and 2024. He also managed Lokomotiv Sofia in 2024.
International Career: Playing for Bulgaria
Krasimir Balakov played for the Bulgarian national team for 15 years, from 1988 to 2003. He played in 92 matches and scored 16 goals. This makes him one of the players with the most appearances for Bulgaria.
His first game for the national team was in November 1988. He played in the 1994 FIFA World Cup, where Bulgaria finished fourth. He also represented his country at Euro 1996 and the 1998 FIFA World Cup. Balakov even played in the qualifiers for Euro 2004 to help his teammates, showing his dedication to the team.
International Goals: Scoring for His Country
Balakov scored many important goals for Bulgaria. Here are some of them:
- In 1992, he scored against Finland and France in World Cup qualifiers.
- He scored against Moldova and Wales in Euro 1996 qualifiers.
- He also scored against Israel, Luxembourg, and Cyprus in 1998 World Cup qualifiers.
- Later in his career, he scored against Northern Ireland, North Macedonia, Germany, and Andorra.
Honours: Trophies and Awards
Krasimir Balakov won many awards and trophies throughout his career as a player.
Club Honours
- Etar Veliko Tarnovo
- A Group: 1990–91
- Sporting CP
- Portuguese Cup: 1995
- VfB Stuttgart
- DFB-Pokal: 1996–97
- UEFA Intertoto Cup: 2000, 2002
- UEFA Cup Winners' Cup finalist: 1997–98
- Bundesliga runner-up: 2002–03
National Team Honours
- Bulgaria
- FIFA World Cup fourth place: 1994
Individual Awards
- FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 1994
- Bulgarian Footballer of the Year: 1995, 1997
- kicker Bundesliga Team of the Season: 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98
See also
In Spanish: Krasimir Balakov para niños
