NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Football in Bulgaria

Football has deep roots in Bulgaria. The striker (wearing red jersey) has run past the defender (in white jersey) and is about to take a shot at the goal, while the goalkeeper positions himself to stop the ball. ...

About ten Swiss sportsmen were invited to become teachers of gymnastics at the high schools and pedagogical schools in Bulgaria in 1893-94. One of these individuals was George De Regibeaus, who introduced a game with a big ball to the male high school in Varna, and after that the Bulgarians began referring to it for a short period of time as a 'ritnitop' (in Bulgarian, 'ritni!' means 'kick!', and 'top' was most probably an abbreviation of 'topka', meaning 'ball'). Afterwards, the game made a step forward as the Swiss Carl Champeau made the students of the First Sofian High School aware of the game. The teachers from Switzerland, Allois Buhnter and Jacques Fardel, published the rules of the game in 1897 in the 'Uchilishten pregled' magazine ('Review of the school' in Bulgarian). Gymnastics is a sport involving the performance of sequences of movements requiring physical strength, flexibility, and kinaesthetic awareness, such as handsprings and handstands. ... 1893 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... 1894 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... 1897 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ...

In the meantime, the first gymnastic societies were established in 1895 and 'Yunak' ( in Bulgarian, 'hero' ) was the result of their union in 1898. In the early years of the 20th century, the popularity of the game was growing amongst the Bulgarian adolescents. There were a lot of young Bulgarians, who went to the lycea of 'Galatasaray' and 'Robert College' in Istanbul so as to continue their education there, and the Bulgarian football organiser Blagoi Balakchiev was one of the founders of the football club 'Galatasaray'. On the other hand, Sava Kirov was the originator of the 'Football Club' in the summer of 1909 in Sofia, and it is considered that this is when Bulgarian football became official. The societies Botev and Razvitie united on April 10, 1913 and the result was the establishment of FC Slavia. One of the most popular football teams, FC Levski, was set up on May 24, 1914. The Bulgarian national sport federation, which controlled and headed the football in Bulgaria until September 9, 1944, was founded on December 16-17 1923. 1895 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... 1898 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999 in the... Galatasaray SK Logo Galatasaray Spor Kulübü (Galatasaray Sports Club) is a Turkish sports club based in İstanbul which is most famous for its football section. ... This article is about the city. ... 1909 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... The city of Sofia (Bulgarian: София), at the foot of the Vitosha mountain, has a population of 1,208,930 (2003), and is biggest city and the capital of the Republic of Bulgaria. ... April 10 is the 100th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (101st in leap years). ... 1913 is a common year starting on Wednesday. ... PFC Levski Sofia is a Bulgarian football club established on May 24, 1914 and playing in the capital, Sofia. ... May 24 is the 144th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (145th in leap years). ... 1914 is a common year starting on Thursday. ... September 9 is the 252nd day of the year (253rd in leap years). ... 1944 was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... December 16 is the 350th day of the year (351st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... December 17 is the 351st day of the year (352nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1923 was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ...

The Bulgarian national team made its debut on May 21, 1924 at the Olympic Games in Paris, when they lost the game against the Austrian Wonderteam by 0-6. However, they were about to make the biggest surprise the following week, because 15 minutes before the end of the match between Bulgaria and Ireland the result was 0-0. Unfortunately, the referee did not allow this to happen and did not react as he should have when the Irishmen scored the winner from an obvious off-side. The national team won the Balkan Cup in 1932 in Beograd and again in 1935, this time in Sofia. May 21 is the 141st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (142nd in leap years). ... 1924 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... For months before the Olympic Games, runners relay the Olympic Flame from Olympia to the opening ceremony. ... The Eiffel Tower has become a symbol of Paris throughout the world. ... The Balkans Cup was an international tournament played on and off between 1929 and 1980 between countries from the Balkan region. ... For other uses, see Belgrade (disambiguation). ... 1935 was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

At this time, the Bulgarian national team had to experience its biggest defeat: the disastrous 0-13 loss in Madrid against Spain. Coat of arms Plaza de España (Spain square) Madrid, the capital of Spain, is located in the center of the country at 40°25′ N 3°45′ W. Population of the city of Madrid proper was 3,093,000 (Madrilenes, madrileños) as of 2003 estimates. ...

There were a lot of brilliant footballers in Bulgaria before the WWII like the two brothers Mutafchievi: Nikola and Dimitar, Todor Mishtalov, Aleksandar Hristov, Asen Peshev, Asen Panchev, Mihail Lozanov, Lyubomir Angelov - Staroto, Georgi Pachedzhiev - Chuguna. Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ...

After the war, Bulgarian football did not stop developing and on May 5, 1948 the most successful Bulgarian football team was born - PFC CSKA Sofia, and when Krum Milev was the coach of the team, they became champions eleven times. CSKA has reached the semi-finals of the European Cup twice, and on one occasion the semi-finals of the European Cup Winners Cup. May 5 is the 125th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (126th in leap years). ... 1948 is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... PFC CSKA Sofia is the football club of the CSKA sports club of Sofia, Bulgaria, founded on May 5, 1948. ... Champions League Logo The UEFA Champions League is an annual international inter-club football competition between Europes most successful clubs, regarded as the most prestigious club trophy in the sport. ... The Cup Winners Cup was a football club competition between the winners of the European domestic league cups. ...

There were also many spectacular footballers in the 1950s like Ivan Kolev, Krum Yanev, Manol Manolov, Stefan Bozhkov, Georgi Naidenov, Panayot Panayotov - Gatzo, Kiril Rakarov, and most of them were part of the 'Bronze' olympic team, who came third in the Olympic Games in Melbourne in 1956. Melbourne is the capital and largest city of the state of Victoria, and the second largest city in Australia, with a population of 3,488,750 in the Melbourne metropolitan area (census 2001 [1]) and 52,117 in the City of Melbourne (which covers only the central city area). ... 1956 was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Twenty years later the Bulgarian national team was again very close to the top, but lost 1:4 from Hungary in the final. In the same year (1968) Bulgaria played two quarter-finals for the Euro '68 and although they couldn't manage to do anything against the future European champion, they came 5th in Europe. 1968 was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ... 1968 was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ...

One of the greatest Bulgarian footballers, Georgi Asparuhov, played in the 1960s and he became a legend very fast. He died in 1971, and was voted posthumously the Best Bulgarian footballer of the century. 1971 is a common year starting on Friday (click for link to calendar). ...

Bulgaria participated in the 1962 World Cup in Chili but they had to leave the competition very fast because they couldn't get to the next stage. The same thing happened in England in 1966, 1970 in Mexico, and at the WC 1974. The Bulgarian national team managed to pass the first stage in Mexico 1986 although they didn't manage to win a game, and they were then beaten in the quarter-finals by the host of the World Cup. In 1962 the Football World Cup returned to the continent of South America. ... chili may refer to: chili (capsicum) - the fruit and plant of any one of several species of the genus Capsicum chili con carne - the common name for a spicy stew-like dish chili powder - a spice mix containing cumin, dried ground peppers and other spices, traditionally used to flavor this... Royal motto: Dieu et mon droit (French: God and my right) Englands location within the UK Official language English de facto Capital London de facto Largest city London Area - Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population - Total (2001) - Density Ranked 1st UK 49,138,831 377/km² Religion... 1966 was the year that the Football World Cup went back to the country that first conceived football: England. ... The 1970 Football World Cup was held in Mexico. ... The 1974 Football World Cup was held in West Germany. ... The 1986 Football World Cup was held in Mexico. ...

Meanwhile, Bulgaria became the U21 Euro champions in 1959, 1969, and 1974. 1959 was a common year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1969 was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1969 calendar). ... 1974 is a common year starting on Tuesday (click on link for calendar). ...

A new star was shining, this time in the late 80s and the early 90s, and it was called Hristo Stoitchkov, the most successful Bulgarian footballer. He won the European Cup with his team FC Barcelona in 1992. Hristo Stoitchkov Hristo Stoitchkov (Bulgarian: Христо Стоичков) (born February 8, 1966, in Plovdiv, Bulgaria) is one of the most renowned left-footed football (soccer) players. ... Champions League Logo The UEFA Champions League is an annual international inter-club football competition between Europes most successful clubs, regarded as the most prestigious club trophy in the sport. ... FC Barcelona, also known as Barça, is a sports club in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain with sections in many different sports. ... 1992 is a leap year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Probably the most important date for Bulgarian football is November 17, 1993, when Emil Kostadinov scored two goals against France in Paris and that's how Bulgaria managed to qualify for the World Cup in the USA in 1994. Under the management of Dimitar Penev - Stratega, the Bulgarians made a furore and eliminated the world champion, Germany with a shocking 2-1 win. There were really a lot of people celebrating the win in Sofia, Varna and some other cities in Bulgaria and the people was very happy with their golden boys. Then the Bulgarians played against Italy in the semi-finals, but with the score 2-1 for the Italians the referee from Cameroon stayed perfectly still when there was an obvious foul against the Bulgarians in the Italian penalty area. Hristo Stoichkov became the joint top scorer of this World Cup by scoring 6 goals along with the Russian Oleg Salenko. November 17 is also the name of a Marxist group in Greece. ... 1993 is a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... Emil Kostadinov (born August 12, 1967 in Sofia) is a Bulgarian football striker. ... The Eiffel Tower has become a symbol of Paris throughout the world. ... The 1994 Football World Cup was held in the USA. It was won by Brazil, who beat Italy 3-2 on penalties, after the game and extra time ended 0-0. ... The city of Sofia (Bulgarian: София), at the foot of the Vitosha mountain, has a population of 1,208,930 (2003), and is biggest city and the capital of the Republic of Bulgaria. ... This article is about a city in Bulgaria. ... In Association Football (soccer), the penalty area (also known as the 18-yard box or penalty box), extends 18 yards (16. ... Oleg Salenko (born October 25, 1969 in Leningrad, Soviet Union) is a Russian soccer striker, who set a World Cup record by scoring five goals in one game, for Russia against Cameroon on June 28, 1994. ...

In 1996, the team qualified for the Euro '96 for the first time in history, and they beat the future European champion Germany with 3-2 in Sofia on June 7, 1995. 1996 is a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... The city of Sofia (Bulgarian: София), at the foot of the Vitosha mountain, has a population of 1,208,930 (2003), and is biggest city and the capital of the Republic of Bulgaria. ... June 7 is the 158th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (159th in leap years), with 207 days remaining. ... 1995 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The end of this glorious generation of these football magicians came in France `98, when the Bulgarians didn't manage to beat anyone and got back in Bulgaria with a disappointing series of 1 draw and 2 defeats. Football in Bulgaria had its golden years back in the early 1990s, when the Bulgarian national team won the Bronze medal in the USA in 1994, beating the Germany in the quarter-finals 2-1. 1998 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... 1994 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ...

They also took part in all the World Cups from 1962 to 1998 except for WC '78 and WC '82, and the results from these tournaments look like this: The 1994 Football World Cup was held in the USA. It was won by Brazil, who beat Italy 3-2 on penalties, after the game and extra time ended 0-0. ... The 1986 Football World Cup was held in Mexico. ... 1968 was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ... 1959 was a common year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1969 was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1969 calendar). ... 1974 is a common year starting on Tuesday (click on link for calendar). ... 1977 was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1977 calendar). ... 1979 is a common year starting on Monday. ... For months before the Olympic Games, runners relay the Olympic Flame from Olympia to the opening ceremony. ... 1968 was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ... For months before the Olympic Games, runners relay the Olympic Flame from Olympia to the opening ceremony. ... 1956 was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1932 is a leap year starting on a Friday. ... 1935 was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1976 is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Football World Cup (official name: FIFA World Cup) is the most important competition in international football (soccer). ... 1962 was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1998 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... The 1978 Football World Cup was held in Argentina. ... The 1982 Football World Cup was held in Spain. ...

Bulgaria participated also in the Euro '96 playing 3 matches: 1 win, 1 loss, 1 draw. 1996 is a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ...

1957 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The city of Sofia (Bulgarian: София), at the foot of the Vitosha mountain, has a population of 1,208,930 (2003), and is biggest city and the capital of the Republic of Bulgaria. ... 1982 is a number and represents a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar Events January January 6 - William Bonin is convicted of being the freeway killer. January 8 - AT&T agrees to divest itself of twenty-two subdivisions January 11 - Mark Thatcher, son of the British Prime... May 21 is the 141st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (142nd in leap years). ... 1933 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... Coat of arms Plaza de España (Spain square) Madrid, the capital of Spain, is located in the center of the country at 40°25′ N 3°45′ W. Population of the city of Madrid proper was 3,093,000 (Madrilenes, madrileños) as of 2003 estimates. ... The captain of an association football team is mentioned in the Laws of the Game purely in connection with the toss of the coin prior to kick-off for choice of ends and to determine who kicks off. ... Hristo Bonev (born February 3, 1947 in Plovdiv) is a former Bulgarian football (soccer) player, the all-time leading scorer for the Bulgarian national team. ... 1923 was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... FIFA logo (usage restricted): For the Good of the Game Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) is the international governing body of the sport of association football (called simply football or soccer). ... 1924 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... UEFA logo The Union of European Football Associations, almost always referred to by the acronym UEFA (pronounced you-AY-fuh), is the administrative and controlling body for European football. ... 1954 was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1924 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Vladislaus, Wladislaus, Ladislaus or Ladislas (Polish: Władysław, Czech, Russian: Vladislav, Hungarian: László) is the name of several kings and dukes of Poland, Hungary and Bohemia. ... This article is about a city in Bulgaria. ... 1925 was a common year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ...

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