Nasko Sirakov
Encyclopedia
Nasko Petkov Sirakov is a retired Bulgaria
n footballer who played mainly as a striker.
Part of the Bulgarian team
at the 1994 FIFA World Cup
as it finished fourth, he was one of the most important footballers in the country in the 80's/90's, being a legend at Levski Sofia
, a club he represented in four different spells.
Having surpassed the 300-goal mark as a professional – he was crowned the country's top division
topscorer four times – Sirakov also worked with his main club in directorial capacities.
, the son of professional wrestler
Petko Sirakov, Sirakov started playing as a striker, playing three games for PFC Levski Sofia
's first team in 1980, having joined the club's youth system at the age of 13. In the following years, he developed his game with PFC Spartak Varna
and lowly FC Haskovo
, returning to Levski after two seasons (he also played briefly for the latter club in the 1982–83 season.
In his second stint at Levski, Sirakov began appearing regularly, for example scoring 15 goals in only 19 matches in 1984–85 A PFG, as the capital
team won the league
. From 1986–88, with the club now renamed Vitosha, he helped to another championship, as well as leading the goal charts in both seasons, scoring 64 goals combined – 36 in just 30 matches in the first year, although the championship was eventually lost to PFC CSKA Sofia
, by three points. During this spell, he also won two Bulgarian Cup
s with the club.
Sirakov moved abroad for the first time in 1988, playing for the following three years in La Liga
, with Real Zaragoza
and RCD Español
. Subsequently, he returned to Levski: in the first season upon his return, he netted 26 times in 27 matches, but the club again lost to CSKA.
In the summer of 1992, 30-year old Sirakov signed with Ligue 1
's RC Lens
, but returned to his main club in the following transfer window, helping it to three consecutive league wins, whilst being crowned the competition's topscorer on another two occasions. He finished the 1994–95 season with PFC Botev Plovdiv
, still contributing decisively in Levski's championship win, scoring 12 in only 10 matches.
Sirakov closed his career at the age of 36, after three years with another team in the capital, PFC Slavia Sofia
, winning a double in his last season in professional football, although his league presence was testimonial (one game). During his career in his country, he amassed totals of 294 matches and 196 goals in the top division, the second best achievement after Petar Zhekov
; only with his main club, Levski, he scored 165 times in 205 games, a club record.
Sirakov briefly managed Slavia Sofia in 1997. In the following decade, he worked as director of football
for Levski, being fired on May 7, 2008, and being succeeded by former club and national teammate Daniel Borimirov
.
.
He represented the nation at the 1986 FIFA World Cup
in Mexico
– scoring against Italy
in the group stage (1–1) and helping the national team to the round of 16 – and at the 1994 World Cup
in the United States
: during the latter, as Bulgaria finished in a best-ever fourth position, he played in all the matches, scoring against Argentina
for a 2–0 group stage win, also earning penalties
against Greece
and in the semifinal loss against Italy.
Aged 34, Sirakov was also picked for UEFA Euro 1996 in England
, playing the last of his 82 matches (23 goals) on 13 June, against Romania
, after replacing Luboslav Penev in a 1–0 win.
Immediately after retiring from international play, Sirakov served as assistant to the national team, appearing with it at the 1998 World Cup
.
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 who played mainly as a striker.
Part of the Bulgarian 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...
at the 1994 FIFA 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...
as it finished fourth, he was one of the most important footballers in the country in the 80's/90's, being a legend at 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...
, a club he represented in four different spells.
Having surpassed the 300-goal mark as a professional – he was crowned the country's top division
Bulgarian A Professional Football Group
The Bulgarian A Professional Football Group commonly known as A PFG is the top division of the Bulgarian football league system. The league is sponsored by Victoria FATA Insurance and therefore is officially known as Victoria A Football Group since 2011...
topscorer four times – Sirakov also worked with his main club in directorial capacities.
Club career
Born in Stara ZagoraStara Zagora
Stara Zagora is the sixth largest city in Bulgaria, and a nationally important economic center. Located in Southern Bulgaria, it is the administrative capital of the homonymous Stara Zagora Province...
, the son of professional wrestler
Wrestling
Wrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
Petko Sirakov, Sirakov started playing as a striker, playing three games for PFC 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...
's first team in 1980, having joined the club's youth system at the age of 13. In the following years, he developed his game with PFC Spartak Varna
PFC Spartak Varna
PFC Spartak Varna is a Bulgarian professional football club based in Varna, which currently competes in the East B PFG, the second division of the Bulgarian football league system....
and lowly FC Haskovo
FC Haskovo
FC Haskovo is a Bulgarian football club from the town of Haskovo founded in 1957. The play their home matches at the 7,000-seat Haskovo City Stadium. It is the former team of several noted Bulgarian footballers, including Levski Sofia legends Nasko Sirakov and Stanimir Stoilov...
, returning to Levski after two seasons (he also played briefly for the latter club in the 1982–83 season.
In his second stint at Levski, Sirakov began appearing regularly, for example scoring 15 goals in only 19 matches in 1984–85 A PFG, as the capital
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...
team won the league
Bulgarian A Professional Football Group
The Bulgarian A Professional Football Group commonly known as A PFG is the top division of the Bulgarian football league system. The league is sponsored by Victoria FATA Insurance and therefore is officially known as Victoria A Football Group since 2011...
. From 1986–88, with the club now renamed Vitosha, he helped to another championship, as well as leading the goal charts in both seasons, scoring 64 goals combined – 36 in just 30 matches in the first year, although the championship was eventually lost to 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...
, by three points. During this spell, he also won two 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....
s with the club.
Sirakov moved abroad for the first time in 1988, playing for the following three years in La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
, with Real Zaragoza
Real Zaragoza
Real Zaragoza, S.A.D. is a Spanish association football team from Zaragoza in Spain. Founded on 18 March 1932, Real Zaragoza have spent the majority of their 78 year history in the Spanish top-flight. Real Zaragoza are Spain's 9th highest ranked team in overall league points...
and RCD Español
RCD Espanyol
Reial Club Deportiu Espanyol de Barcelona is a sports club based in Barcelona, Spain. It is best known for its football team. Espanyol currently play in the Estadi Cornellà-El Prat with seats for 40,500 spectators. It was inaugurated on 2 August 2009...
. Subsequently, he returned to Levski: in the first season upon his return, he netted 26 times in 27 matches, but the club again lost to CSKA.
In the summer of 1992, 30-year old Sirakov signed with Ligue 1
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
's RC Lens
RC Lens
Racing Club de Lens is a French association football club based in the northern city of Lens in the Pas-de-Calais department. Its nickname, sang et or , comes from its traditional colours of red and gold. Their primary rivals are their northern neighbors Lille OSC, whom they contest the Derby du...
, but returned to his main club in the following transfer window, helping it to three consecutive league wins, whilst being crowned the competition's topscorer on another two occasions. He finished the 1994–95 season with PFC Botev Plovdiv
PFC Botev Plovdiv
PFC Botev Plovdiv , is the oldest Bulgarian football club from the city of Plovdiv, which currently competes in Bulgaria's second football league, the B PFG....
, still contributing decisively in Levski's championship win, scoring 12 in only 10 matches.
Sirakov closed his career at the age of 36, after three years with another team in the capital, 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....
, winning a double in his last season in professional football, although his league presence was testimonial (one game). During his career in his country, he amassed totals of 294 matches and 196 goals in the top division, the second best achievement after Petar Zhekov
Petar Zhekov
Petar Petrov Zhekov is a former Bulgarian football player, who won the silver medal at the 1968 Summer Olympics.Zhekov was born in Knizhovnik, Haskovo Province, and began his career in F.C. Dimitrovgrad. Later he moved to Beroe Stara Zagora, where he twice became Bulgaria's top goalscorer. Between...
; only with his main club, Levski, he scored 165 times in 205 games, a club record.
Sirakov briefly managed Slavia Sofia in 1997. In the following decade, he worked as director of football
Director of football
"Director of football" is a term describing a senior management figure at a football club, most commonly used in Europe. The exact nature of the role is often unclear and extremely variable and causes much debate in the sports media...
for Levski, being fired on May 7, 2008, and being succeeded by former club and national teammate Daniel Borimirov
Daniel Borimirov
Daniel Boytchev Borimirov is a retired Bulgarian footballer who played mainly as an attacking midfielder.His career was almost exclusively associated with two clubs, Levski Sofia and 1860 Munich, later working in directorial capacities with the former...
.
International career
Sirakov was also a regular for Bulgaria during 13 years, making his debut on 7 August 1983, against AlgeriaAlgeria national football team
The Algeria national football team , nicknamed الأفنــاك, Les Fennecs , represents Algeria in association football and is controlled by the Fédération Algérienne de Football. Algeria's home ground is the Stade 5 Juillet 1962 in Algiers and their head coach is Vahid Halilhodžić.Algeria has qualified...
.
He represented the nation at the 1986 FIFA World Cup
1986 FIFA World Cup
The 1986 FIFA World Cup, the 13th FIFA World Cup, was held in Mexico from 31 May to 29 June. The tournament was the second to feature a 24-team format. Colombia had been originally chosen to host the competition by FIFA but, largely due to economic reasons, was not able to do so and officially...
in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
– scoring against Italy
Italy national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
in the group stage (1–1) and helping the national team to the round of 16 – and at 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...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
: during the latter, as Bulgaria finished in a best-ever fourth position, he played in all the matches, scoring against Argentina
Argentina national football team
The Argentina national football team represents Argentina in association football and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association , the governing body for football in Argentina. Argentina's home stadium is Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti and their head coach is Alejandro...
for a 2–0 group stage win, also earning penalties
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
against Greece
Greece national football team
The Greece national football team represents Greece in association football and is controlled by the Hellenic Football Federation, the governing body for football in Greece. Greece's home ground is Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus and their head coach is Fernando Santos...
and in the semifinal loss against Italy.
Aged 34, Sirakov was also picked for UEFA Euro 1996 in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, playing the last of his 82 matches (23 goals) on 13 June, against Romania
Romania national football team
The Romania national football team is the national football team of Romania and is controlled by the Romanian Football Federation.Romania is one of only four national teams, the other three being Brazil, France, and Belgium, that took part in the first three World Cups.However, after that...
, after replacing Luboslav Penev in a 1–0 win.
Immediately after retiring from international play, Sirakov served as assistant to the national team, appearing with it at 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...
.