Nikola Kotkov facts for kids
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Nikola Kotkov, 1969
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Nikola Todorov Kotkov | ||
| Date of birth | 9 December 1938 | ||
| Place of birth | Sofia, Bulgaria | ||
| Date of death | 30 June 1971 (aged 32) | ||
| Place of death | Vitinya Pass, Bulgaria | ||
| Playing position | Striker | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Lokomotiv Sofia | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1956–1968 | Lokomotiv Sofia | 276 | (142) |
| 1969 | ZHSK Slavia | 10 | (3) |
| 1969–1971 | Levski Sofia | 36 | (18) |
| Total | 322 | (163) | |
| National team | |||
| 1956–1959 | Bulgaria U19 | 16 | (8) |
| 1959–1961 | Bulgaria U21 | 7 | (5) |
| 1961–1969 | Bulgaria | 26 | (12) |
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Nikola Todorov Kotkov (Bulgarian: Никола Тодоров Котков) was a famous Bulgarian footballer. He was born in Sofia, Bulgaria, on December 9, 1938. People often called him Koteto, which means "The Kitten".
Nikola Kotkov was known for being a great striker, a player who scores goals. He had amazing skills, including precise passing and excellent free kicks. He played for the Bulgarian national team and was a true legend in Bulgarian football.
Playing Career
Nikola Kotkov started his football journey at Lokomotiv Sofia. He spent most of his career there, from 1956 to 1969. During this time, he helped Lokomotiv Sofia win the Bulgarian Championship in 1964. This was a huge achievement for the club.
After many successful years at Lokomotiv, Kotkov moved to Levski Sofia in 1969. He continued to play brilliantly there. With Levski, he won the Bulgarian Championship again in 1970. He also helped them win the Bulgarian Cup in the same year. Winning both the championship and the cup in one season is called a "Double".
National Team Matches
Kotkov also played for the Bulgarian national team. He represented his country in 26 matches and scored 12 goals. One of his biggest moments was playing in the 1966 FIFA World Cup in England. This is a major international tournament where the best teams from around the world compete.
Career Highlights
Nikola Kotkov had a very successful career. He played a total of 322 matches in the Bulgarian Championship. In these games, he scored an impressive 163 goals. This shows how good he was at finding the back of the net.
Awards and Recognition
- In 1964, Nikola Kotkov was named the Bulgarian Footballer of the Year. This award recognized him as the best player in Bulgaria that year.
- He won the UEFA European Under-19 Championship with the Bulgarian Under-19 team in 1959. This was an early sign of his talent.
- He won the Bulgarian Championship twice: once with Lokomotiv Sofia in 1964 and once with Levski Sofia in 1970.
- He also won the National Cup twice with Levski Sofia, in 1970 and 1971. The 1971 cup was awarded after his death.
Tragic End
Sadly, Nikola Kotkov's life ended too soon. On June 30, 1971, he died in a car accident. This happened in the Vitinya Pass of the Balkan Mountains. He was traveling with his close friend and teammate, Georgi Asparuhov, who also died in the crash. Their deaths were a great loss for Bulgarian football.
