Emil Kostadinov
Encyclopedia
Emil Lubtchov Kostadinov (born August 12, 1967 in Sofia
) is a former Bulgaria
n football
striker
, former member of the Bulgaria national team
for which he played in two World Cups
. He shares his birthdate with another legendary Bulgarian footballer Dimitar Nikolov Yakimov (Bulgarian: Димитър Якимов) (born August 12, 1941). Kostadinov gained international prominence after scoring two goals in the last matchday of the Europe
an 1994 World Cup qualification, against the French national team
. His second goal of the match, scored in the very last second of regular time, qualified Bulgaria
to the World Cup finals at the expense of France.
and Luboslav Penev in the late 1980s, helping the team to win 3 times the Bulgarian Championship title, 3 times the Bulgarian Cup
and reach the semi-final of the Cup Winners' Cup.
He played for FC Porto from 1990 to 1994, winning the Portuguese league twice, and becoming popular among Portuguese fans. He also played for Deportivo de La Coruña
, Bayern Munich (winning the UEFA Cup
with them in 1996 and scoring in the final itself), Fenerbahçe, FSV Mainz
, and UANL Tigres
.
Bulgarian Cup: 1987, 1988, 1989
Portuguese Superliga: 1992, 1993
Portuguese Cup: 1991
UEFA Cup: 1996
Turkish Super Cup Runners-up 1996
scoring two goals. He was a member of the Bulgaria national team
from 1988 to 1998. He earned 70 caps
in which he scored 26 goals.
After helping Bulgaria qualify for the 1994 World Cup
, he was a part of the squad that reached semifinals in the finals tournament, again in partnership with Hristo Stoichkov
. He played all 7 games but did not score.
He also played at the Euro 96 and the 1998 World Cup
, both tournaments in which Bulgaria did not reach second round. He scored 1 goal in the 1998 World Cup
against Spain
in the group stages.
Sofia
Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...
) is a former Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
, former member of the Bulgaria national team
Bulgaria national football team
The FIFA Bulgaria national football team is an association football team fielded by the Bulgarian Football Union, a member association of UEFA. The team's home ground is Vasil Levski in Sofia and Luboslav Penev is in charge manager after replacement of Lothar Matthäus...
for which he played in two World Cups
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
. He shares his birthdate with another legendary Bulgarian footballer Dimitar Nikolov Yakimov (Bulgarian: Димитър Якимов) (born August 12, 1941). Kostadinov gained international prominence after scoring two goals in the last matchday of the Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an 1994 World Cup qualification, against the French national team
France national football team
The France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...
. His second goal of the match, scored in the very last second of regular time, qualified Bulgaria
Bulgaria national football team
The FIFA Bulgaria national football team is an association football team fielded by the Bulgarian Football Union, a member association of UEFA. The team's home ground is Vasil Levski in Sofia and Luboslav Penev is in charge manager after replacement of Lothar Matthäus...
to the World Cup finals at the expense of France.
Club career
Kostadinov started his career in CSKA Sofia. There he formed a redoubtable trio with Hristo StoichkovHristo Stoichkov
Hristo Stoichkov Stoichkov , sometimes Stoitchkov; born 8 February 1966 in Plovdiv) is a retired Bulgarian footballer. He is regarded as one of the best footballers of his generation and the greatest Bulgarian footballer of all time. Nicknamed The Dagger , The Dog , The Modern Left...
and Luboslav Penev in the late 1980s, helping the team to win 3 times the Bulgarian Championship title, 3 times the Bulgarian Cup
Bulgarian Cup
The Bulgarian Cup is a Bulgarian annual football competition. It is the country's main cup competition and all officially registered Bulgarian football teams take part in it. It is sponsored by the Bulgarian Corporate Commercial Bank....
and reach the semi-final of the Cup Winners' Cup.
He played for FC Porto from 1990 to 1994, winning the Portuguese league twice, and becoming popular among Portuguese fans. He also played for Deportivo de La Coruña
Deportivo de La Coruña
Real Club Deportivo de La Coruña is a professional football club based in the city of A Coruña, Galicia; founded in 1906 and currently playing in Segunda División...
, Bayern Munich (winning the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
with them in 1996 and scoring in the final itself), Fenerbahçe, FSV Mainz
1. FSV Mainz 05
1. Fußball- und Sportverein Mainz 05 e. V., usually shortened to 1. FSV Mainz 05, Mainz 05, or simply Mainz, is a 1905 founded German association football club based in Mainz, Rhineland-Palatinate. In addition to the football section the 1. FSV Mainz 05 has a handball and table tennis department...
, and UANL Tigres
UANL Tigres
Tigres de la Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, often known only as Tigres or UANL, a Mexican football club that plays in the Primera División. It is one of the two professional football teams of the state of Nuevo León. The team plays home games at the Estadio Universitario, located in San...
.
Honours
Bulgarian League: 1987, 1989, 1990Bulgarian Cup: 1987, 1988, 1989
Portuguese Superliga: 1992, 1993
Portuguese Cup: 1991
UEFA Cup: 1996
Turkish Super Cup Runners-up 1996
International career
Kostadinov played in the 1985 FIFA World Youth Championship1985 FIFA World Youth Championship
The 1985 FIFA World Youth Championship, the ninth edition of the FIFA World Youth Championship, was held in the Soviet Union from August 24 to September 7, 1985. The tournament took place in eight venues — Baku, Yerevan, Leningrad, Minsk, Moscow, Hoktemberyan, Tbilissi and Sumqayit — where a total...
scoring two goals. He was a member of the Bulgaria national team
Bulgaria national football team
The FIFA Bulgaria national football team is an association football team fielded by the Bulgarian Football Union, a member association of UEFA. The team's home ground is Vasil Levski in Sofia and Luboslav Penev is in charge manager after replacement of Lothar Matthäus...
from 1988 to 1998. He earned 70 caps
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
in which he scored 26 goals.
After helping Bulgaria qualify for the 1994 World Cup
1994 FIFA World Cup
The 1994 FIFA World Cup, the 15th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in nine cities across the United States from June 17 to July 17, 1994. The United States was chosen as the host by FIFA on July 4, 1988...
, he was a part of the squad that reached semifinals in the finals tournament, again in partnership with Hristo Stoichkov
Hristo Stoichkov
Hristo Stoichkov Stoichkov , sometimes Stoitchkov; born 8 February 1966 in Plovdiv) is a retired Bulgarian footballer. He is regarded as one of the best footballers of his generation and the greatest Bulgarian footballer of all time. Nicknamed The Dagger , The Dog , The Modern Left...
. He played all 7 games but did not score.
He also played at the Euro 96 and the 1998 World Cup
1998 FIFA World Cup
The 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th FIFA World Cup, was held in France from 10 June to 12 July 1998. France was chosen as host nation by FIFA on 2 July 1992. The tournament was won by France, who beat Brazil 3-0 in the final...
, both tournaments in which Bulgaria did not reach second round. He scored 1 goal in the 1998 World Cup
1998 FIFA World Cup
The 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th FIFA World Cup, was held in France from 10 June to 12 July 1998. France was chosen as host nation by FIFA on 2 July 1992. The tournament was won by France, who beat Brazil 3-0 in the final...
against Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
in the group stages.