Georgi Naydenov (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Georgi Spirov Naydenov (21 December 1931 - 28 May 1970) is a former Bulgaria
n football goalkeeper
and former manager. He is considered the greatest Bulgarian goalkeeper for all time. Between 1955 and 1965 he played in 176 matches for CSKA Sofia. He was honoured as Bulgarian Footballer of the Year
in 1961. Naydenov won the top Bulgarian league, the A PFG, a 8 times (all with CSKA), as well as the Bulgarian Cup
, 3 times (all with CSKA).He was respected for his incredible work ethic and his determination during training and matches alike.
Naydenov featured in 51 games and won a bronze medal at the 1956 Summer Olympics
. He played for his country at the 1962 and 1966 World Cups. Even after he had retired from competing he still remained one of the fittest players in Bulgaria and this made his death all the more mysterious. He Died in Damascus, Syria and initial reports claimed he had suffered a heart attack although members of his family and people close to him suspected he had been poisoned by a Bulgarian interior minister whom he had recently had an argument with regarding the joining of teams Levski Sofia and Spartak Sofia http://www.trud.bg/Article.asp?ArticleId=496365 .
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 goalkeeper
Goalkeeper (football)
In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...
and former manager. He is considered the greatest Bulgarian goalkeeper for all time. Between 1955 and 1965 he played in 176 matches for CSKA Sofia. He was honoured as Bulgarian Footballer of the Year
Bulgarian Footballer of the Year
Bulgarian 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....
in 1961. Naydenov won the top Bulgarian league, the A PFG, a 8 times (all with CSKA), as well as 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....
, 3 times (all with CSKA).He was respected for his incredible work ethic and his determination during training and matches alike.
International career
For the Bulgaria national football teamBulgaria 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...
Naydenov featured in 51 games and won a bronze medal at the 1956 Summer Olympics
1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, which could not be held in Australia due to quarantine regulations...
. He played for his country at the 1962 and 1966 World Cups. Even after he had retired from competing he still remained one of the fittest players in Bulgaria and this made his death all the more mysterious. He Died in Damascus, Syria and initial reports claimed he had suffered a heart attack although members of his family and people close to him suspected he had been poisoned by a Bulgarian interior minister whom he had recently had an argument with regarding the joining of teams Levski Sofia and Spartak Sofia http://www.trud.bg/Article.asp?ArticleId=496365 .
Player
CSKA Sofia-
- Bulgarian League: 8 times - 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962
- Bulgarian CupBulgarian CupThe 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....
: 3 times - 1955, 1961, 1965