Georgi Velinov
Encyclopedia
Georgi Velinov Velinov nicknamed Johnny (Джони, Dzhoni) is a former Bulgaria
n footballer
and football manager. A goalkeeper, he was elected Bulgarian Footballer of the Year
in 1981.
Velinov was born in Rousse
on 5 October 1957. He played for PFC Dunav Rousse (1974–1975, four A PFG matches) and PFC Cherno More Varna
(1976–1978, 37 A PFG matches) before joining PFC CSKA Sofia
, of whom he was part of from 1978 to 1987. During his first stay with CSKA, Velinov won the A PFG in 1980
, 1981
, 1982
, 1983
and 1987
and the Bulgarian Cup
in 1981, 1983, 1985 and 1987. Velinov then moved to Portugal
to play for S.C. Braga (1987–1988), Atlético Clube de Portugal
(1988–1989) and Elvas (1989–1990). He returned to Bulgaria and played one more season with CSKA, 1991–1992
, winning the A PFG once more and setting his number of league appearances for CSKA at 285.
Velinov continued his career in PFC Slavia Sofia
(1993–1994, 12 A PFG matches), PFC Sliven (1994) and Botev Novi Pazar
(1995). His career spanned 338 A PFG matches, 33 senior Bulgaria national football team
appearances, 21 under-21
features and 17 junior international games. He was an awarded a Master of Sports honour in 1980 and won the Bulgarian Footballer of the Year prize in 1981.
In 1995–1996, Velinov was the manager of FC Lokomotiv Rousse
; it was under his management that Lokomotiv first managed to defeat their local rivals Dunav, beating them 1–0. The defeat meant Dunav would be relegated to the amateur V AFG
for the first time ever while Lokomotiv would remain in the B PFG
. He has also worked as a goalkeeper coach and as a coach in CSKA's youth teams. In May 2007, he became a liver transplant recipient.
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 footballer
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...
and football manager. A goalkeeper, he was elected 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 1981.
Velinov was born in Rousse
Rousse
Ruse is the fifth-largest city in Bulgaria. Ruse is situated in the northeastern part of the country, on the right bank of the Danube, opposite the Romanian city of Giurgiu, from the capital Sofia and from the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast...
on 5 October 1957. He played for PFC Dunav Rousse (1974–1975, four A PFG matches) and PFC Cherno More Varna
PFC Cherno More Varna
PFC Cherno More Varna , or simply Cherno More is a Bulgarian professional football club from the city of Varna, which currently competes in Bulgaria's top football league, the A PFG....
(1976–1978, 37 A PFG matches) before joining PFC CSKA Sofia
PFC CSKA Sofia
PFC CSKA Sofia , commonly known as CSKA or CSKA Sofia is a professional football club based in Sofia, Bulgaria. The club was officially founded on May 5, 1948. CSKA's abbreviation stands for Central Sports Club of the Army...
, of whom he was part of from 1978 to 1987. During his first stay with CSKA, Velinov won the A PFG in 1980
A PFG 1979-80
-Overview:It was contested by 16 teams, and CSKA Septemvriysko zname Sofia won the championship.-League standings:-References:*...
, 1981
A PFG 1980-81
-Overview:It was contested by 16 teams, and CSKA Septemvriysko zname Sofia won the championship.-League standings:-References:*...
, 1982
A PFG 1981-82
-Overview:It was contested by 16 teams, and CSKA Septemvriysko zname Sofia won the championship.-League standings:-References:*...
, 1983
A PFG 1982-83
-Overview:It was contested by 16 teams, and CSKA Septemvriysko zname Sofia won the championship.-League standings:-References:*...
and 1987
A PFG 1986-87
-League standings:-References:*...
and 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....
in 1981, 1983, 1985 and 1987. Velinov then moved to Portugal
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...
to play for S.C. Braga (1987–1988), Atlético Clube de Portugal
Atlético Clube de Portugal
Atlético Clube de Portugal is a Portuguese football team from Alcântara, Lisbon, founded on 18 September 1942. The club was formed with the union of two clubs – Carcavelinhos Football Clube and União Foot-ball Lisboa. They currently play in the Liga de Honra after gaining promotion in the 2010-11...
(1988–1989) and Elvas (1989–1990). He returned to Bulgaria and played one more season with CSKA, 1991–1992
A PFG 1991-92
-League standings:-References:*...
, winning the A PFG once more and setting his number of league appearances for CSKA at 285.
Velinov continued his career in PFC Slavia Sofia
PFC Slavia Sofia
PFC Slavia Sofia is a Bulgarian football club founded on 10 April 1913 in Sofia. Slavia's ground is Slavia Stadium with a capacity of 15,992. The team's colours are white and black....
(1993–1994, 12 A PFG matches), PFC Sliven (1994) and Botev Novi Pazar
Novi Pazar, Bulgaria
-External links:*...
(1995). His career spanned 338 A PFG matches, 33 senior 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...
appearances, 21 under-21
Bulgaria national under-21 football team
The Bulgaria national under-21 football team represents the under-21 football team of Bulgaria and is controlled by the Bulgarian Football Union. The team competes in the European Under-21 Football Championship, held every two years....
features and 17 junior international games. He was an awarded a Master of Sports honour in 1980 and won the Bulgarian Footballer of the Year prize in 1981.
In 1995–1996, Velinov was the manager of FC Lokomotiv Rousse
Lokomotiv Ruse
Lokomotiv Ruse was a Bulgarian football club founded in 1930. It was disbanded in 2002 due to financial difficulties.- Honors :* Winner of the Cup of the Ministry of Railways * Quarterfinal in the Bulgarian National Championship...
; it was under his management that Lokomotiv first managed to defeat their local rivals Dunav, beating them 1–0. The defeat meant Dunav would be relegated to the amateur V AFG
Bulgarian V AFG
The Bulgarian V Amateur Football Group is the third level of the Bulgarian football league system. While the first division and the second division are professional, the third division V AFG is amateur division...
for the first time ever while Lokomotiv would remain in the B PFG
Bulgarian B Professional Football Group
The Bulgarian B Professional Football Group or simply B PFG is the second level of the Bulgarian football league system, below the A PFG and above the Bulgarian V AFG. The B PFG is formed by two groups, running in parallel , where in each group are participating 10 teams...
. He has also worked as a goalkeeper coach and as a coach in CSKA's youth teams. In May 2007, he became a liver transplant recipient.