Georgi Asparuhov
Encyclopedia
Georgi Rangelov Asparuhov (sometimes spelled Asparoukhov), nicknamed Gundi (May 4, 1943 – June 30, 1971) was a Bulgaria
n football
player. He is considered to be among the top Bulgarian footballers of all time.
Asparuhov was a striker
for Levski Sofia
from 1960 to 1961 and 1964 to 1971, and for Botev Plovdiv from 1961 to 1963. He played 245 matches and scored 150 goals in the top Bulgarian division. Some of the top European clubs at the time sought his services. In the 1965-66 European Cup
, Levski played Benfica (with star Eusébio
in the squad). When Benfica eliminated Levski after hard fought 3:2 and 2:2 scorelines and Gundi having netted all Levski goals, Europe began to view Gundi with interest. In fact, he was the first player to score two goals in Benfica's stadium. In the aftermath of this match, Levski grew in popularity in Europe. The rich Portuguese
club wanted to buy Asparuhov, but the communist government of Bulgaria did not allow them to do so.
For the Bulgaria national football team
, Asparuhov featured in 50 games and has 19 goals. He scored the only goals for Bulgaria in Chile '62
and in England '66.
Asparuhov died in a car crash in 1971 with his talented teammate, Nikola Kotkov
. At his funeral, over 550,000 people went to Sofia to pay tribute and their respect to him and to bid him farewell. The present stadium of Levski Sofia
is called Georgi Asparuhov Stadium
in honour of the famous striker.
His rejeciton to AC Milan is one of the most quoted phrases in Bulgaria:
"Има една страна, България. Там има един отбор Левски, може да не сте чували за него. Но аз в него съм се родил, в него и ще умра!" (Translation: "There is a country called Bulgaria. And there's a Bulgarian team, called Levski. You may've not heard of it. But I'm born in this team, and in this team I will die!")
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...
player. He is considered to be among the top Bulgarian footballers of all time.
Asparuhov was a 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...
for Levski Sofia
PFC Levski Sofia
"Levski Sofia" redirects here. For the sports club, see Levski Sofia .PFC Levski Sofia, otherwise simply known as Levski or Levski Sofia, is a professional football club based in Sofia, Bulgaria...
from 1960 to 1961 and 1964 to 1971, and for Botev Plovdiv from 1961 to 1963. He played 245 matches and scored 150 goals in the top Bulgarian division. Some of the top European clubs at the time sought his services. In the 1965-66 European Cup
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
, Levski played Benfica (with star Eusébio
Eusébio
Eusébio da Silva Ferreira, GCIH, GCM , commonly known simply as Eusébio, is a retired Mozambican-born Portuguese football forward. He is considered one of the best footballers of all-time by the IFFHS, experts and fans...
in the squad). When Benfica eliminated Levski after hard fought 3:2 and 2:2 scorelines and Gundi having netted all Levski goals, Europe began to view Gundi with interest. In fact, he was the first player to score two goals in Benfica's stadium. In the aftermath of this match, Levski grew in popularity in Europe. The rich Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
club wanted to buy Asparuhov, but the communist government of Bulgaria did not allow them to do so.
For the Bulgaria national football 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...
, Asparuhov featured in 50 games and has 19 goals. He scored the only goals for Bulgaria in Chile '62
1962 FIFA World Cup
The 1962 FIFA World Cup, the seventh staging of the World Cup, was held in Chile from 30 May to 17 June. It was won by Brazil, who retained the championship by beating Czechoslovakia 3–1 in the final...
and in England '66.
Asparuhov died in a car crash in 1971 with his talented teammate, Nikola Kotkov
Nikola Kotkov
Nikola Todorov Kotkov , nicknamed Koteto was a Bulgarian footballer who played as a striker....
. At his funeral, over 550,000 people went to Sofia to pay tribute and their respect to him and to bid him farewell. The present stadium of Levski Sofia
PFC Levski Sofia
"Levski Sofia" redirects here. For the sports club, see Levski Sofia .PFC Levski Sofia, otherwise simply known as Levski or Levski Sofia, is a professional football club based in Sofia, Bulgaria...
is called Georgi Asparuhov Stadium
Georgi Asparuhov Stadium
Georgi Asparuhov Stadium , also known as Gerena , is a football stadium situated in the Suhata reka neighbourhood of the Bulgarian capital Sofia. It has been the home of PFC Levski Sofia since 1963....
in honour of the famous striker.
His rejeciton to AC Milan is one of the most quoted phrases in Bulgaria:
"Има една страна, България. Там има един отбор Левски, може да не сте чували за него. Но аз в него съм се родил, в него и ще умра!" (Translation: "There is a country called Bulgaria. And there's a Bulgarian team, called Levski. You may've not heard of it. But I'm born in this team, and in this team I will die!")
Statistics
- National team — 50 matches, 19 goals
- Bulgarian championship — 245 matches, 150 goals — 199/125 for Levski, 45/25 for Botev
- Bulgarian Cup — 35 matches, 20 goals — 27/16 for Levski, 8/4 for Botev
- Total club mathes — 326 matches, 209 goals
- European club tournaments — 23 matches, 19 goals — CEC-12, CWC-7
- International club matches — 35 matches, 23 goals — 32/20 for Levski , 3/3 for Botev
- First match — with Levski against Lokomotiv Sofia — 22 September 1960
- Last match — with Levski against CSKA — 28 June 1971
- First goal — for Levski against Botev (1:1) — 28 September 1960
- Last goal — for Levski against Etar — 13 June 1971
- First international cap — 6 May 1962 against AustriaAustria national football teamThe Austria national football team is the association football team that represents the country of Austria in international competition and is controlled by the Austrian Football Association ....
- Last international cap — 12 June 1970 against MoroccoMorocco national football teamThe Morocco national football team , nicknamed أسود الأطلس , is the national team of Morocco and is managed by Eric Gerets. Winners of the African Nations Cup in 1976, they were the first African team to win a group at the World Cup, which they did in 1986, finishing ahead of Portugal, Poland, and...
- All - 388 matches, 231 goals
Honours
- Champion of Bulgaria /3 times/ : 1965, 1968, 1970
- Holder of the National Cup /4 times/ : 1962, 1967, 1970, 1971
- Bulgarian A PFG top scorer /1964-65/ : 27 goals
- Bulgarian sportsperson of the yearBulgarian Sportsperson of the YearBulgarian Sportperson of the Year is an annual award given to the best Bulgarian sportsperson of the year. The winner is selected by authorized journalists. The award was established by the Naroden Sport newspaper and specifically by Aleksandar Yasnikov. It was first given in 1958 to the...
: 1965Bulgarian Sportsperson of the YearBulgarian Sportperson of the Year is an annual award given to the best Bulgarian sportsperson of the year. The winner is selected by authorized journalists. The award was established by the Naroden Sport newspaper and specifically by Aleksandar Yasnikov. It was first given in 1958 to the... - Bulgarian footballer of the yearBulgarian Footballer of the YearBulgarian Footballer of the Year is an annual title awarded to the best Bulgarian football player of the year. The award has been given since 1961, and the winner is elected by authorized journalists from the leading Bulgarian media....
: 1965Bulgarian Footballer of the YearBulgarian Footballer of the Year is an annual title awarded to the best Bulgarian football player of the year. The award has been given since 1961, and the winner is elected by authorized journalists from the leading Bulgarian media.... - Best Bulgarian footballer of the 20th century
- Ballon d'Or 1965Ballon d'or 1965The 1965 Ballon d'Or, given to the best football player in Europe as judged by a panel of sports journalists from UEFA member countries, was awarded to Eusébio on 28 December 1965....
: 8th place - Three times participation on FIFA World CupFIFA World CupThe 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...
Finals : 19621962 FIFA World CupThe 1962 FIFA World Cup, the seventh staging of the World Cup, was held in Chile from 30 May to 17 June. It was won by Brazil, who retained the championship by beating Czechoslovakia 3–1 in the final...
, 19661966 FIFA World CupThe 1966 FIFA World Cup, the eighth staging of the World Cup, was held in England from 11 July to 30 July. England beat West Germany 4–2 in the final, winning the World Cup for the first time, so becoming the first host to win the tournament since Italy in 1934.-Host selection:England was chosen as...
, 19701970 FIFA World CupThe 1970 FIFA World Cup, the ninth staging of the World Cup, was held in Mexico, from 31 May to 21 June. The 1970 tournament was the first World Cup hosted in North America, and the first held outside South America and Europe. In a match-up of two-time World Cup champions, the final was won by... - Quarter-Final with Bulgaria national teamBulgaria national football teamThe 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...
on UEFA European ChampionshipUEFA European Football ChampionshipThe UEFA European Football Championship is the main football competition of the men's national football teams governed by UEFA . Held every four years since 1960, in the even-numbered year between World Cup tournaments, it was originally called the UEFA European Nations Cup, changing to the current...
: 1968 - Holder of an Order of Labour
- Deserved Master of Sports
- Holder of the Fairplay prize /posthumously/ : 1999
- FIFA award: All time best footballer on the planet - 40th place