Georgi_Asparuhov

Georgi Asparuhov

Georgi Asparuhov

Bulgarian footballer

For the football stadium, see Stadion Georgi Asparuhov.
In this Bulgarian name, the patronymic is Asparuhov and the family name is Rangelov.

Georgi Asparuhov Rangelov (Bulgarian: Георги Аспарухов Рангелов; 4 May 1943 – 30 June 1971), nicknamed Gundi, was a Bulgarian footballer who played as a striker.

Quick Facts Personal information, Full name ...

A prolific forward of his generation, Asparuhov was renowned for his finishing, technique and heading ability. He was voted the best Bulgarian footballer of the 20th century[2] and Europe's 40th best player of the century,[3] a position shared with Paolo Rossi. Asparuhov was also nominated for the 1965 Ballon d'Or award, finishing eighth in the final standings.[4]

In international football, Asparuhov made his Bulgaria debut on 6 May 1962 at the age of 19. He made 49 appearances in total, appearing at three FIFA World Cup tournaments, in 1962, 1966 and 1970, and scoring 18 goals.

Asparuhov's career was cut short in 1971 at the age of 28 when he died in a vehicle accident. Levski Sofia's stadium is named in his honour.[5]

Career

Beginnings at Levski

Asparuhov began his senior career at Levski Sofia in the end of 1959–60 season at the age of 17. He made his debut on 5 June 1960 in a 1–0 home loss against Lokomotiv Sofia, coming on as a second-half substitute.[6] His first senior goal came during the following campaign when he scored in a 1–1 away draw against Botev Plovdiv on 28 September 1960.

Botev Plovdiv

In January 1962, Asparuhov joined Botev Plovdiv where he won 1961–62 Bulgarian Cup a few months later. On 13 September 1962, he marked his European debut away at Steaua București with two goals, but Botev lost the game 3–2 in their preliminary round first leg tie of 1962–63 Cup Winners' Cup. A week later, in the second leg of Botev's European tie against Steaua, Asparuhov scored his first-ever hat-trick in a resounding 5–1 home victory. He also scored in a 4–0 away win over Shamrock Rovers on 24 October 1962 and became a top scorer of the tournament with 6 goals.

In October 1963, Asparuhov returned to Levski Sofia.[7]

Return to Levski

Widely regarded as Levski's greatest ever player, Asparuhov played over 230 games for the club, winning three Bulgarian League titles and three Bulgarian Cups. During his time at the club he won the Bulgarian footballer of the year and Bulgarian sportsperson of the year in 1965.

Asparuhov is Levski's third all-time leading goal scorer (153). In 1964–65 season he became the league's top scorer with 27 goals in 29 matches.

Some of the top European clubs at the time sought his services. In the 1965–66 European Cup, Levski played Benfica, with Eusébio in the squad of the Portuguese. When Benfica eliminated Levski in a tight tie, and Gundi having netted 3 of Levski's 4 goals across both legs, Europe began to view him with interest. In fact, he was the first foreign player to have scored two goals at Benfica's stadium. Asparuhov was wanted by Benfica themselves, as well as Italian giants AC Milan. Regarding the latter's offer, Gundi answered that way:

"Tell them there is a country named Bulgaria. In that country there is a team called Levski, they might not have heard of it. But I was born in this team and I will die there."[8]

International career

Asparuhov made his debut for the Bulgarian national team in a friendly match against Austria at Praterstadion in Vienna on 6 May 1962[9] and was named in the 22-man Bulgarian squad for the 1962 FIFA World Cup. He made his World Cup debut in the second group game against Hungary at Estadio Braden Copper Co. in Rancagua on 3 June 1962.

Asparuhov scored his first goals for Bulgaria on 7 November 1962, scoring twice in a 3–1 home victory over Portugal in a 1964 European Nations' Cup qualifying match.[10] Then he top scored for Bulgaria in their 1966 World Cup qualifying campaign with five goals. During the World Cup he scored Bulgaria's only goal in a 1–3 loss against Hungary at Old Trafford in Manchester.

Death

Asparuhov died in a car crash in 1971 along with teammate Nikola Kotkov. Over 550,000 people gathered at his funeral in Sofia.[11] The stadium of Levski Sofia is named Georgi Asparuhov Stadium in honour of the famous striker.

Career statistics

Club

More information Club, Season ...

National team

More information Bulgaria, Year ...

International goals

Scores and results list Bulgaria's goal tally first.
More information #, Date ...

Honours

Club

Botev Plovdiv
Levski Sofia

Individual

International

Bulgaria

References

  1. [1]
    Rusev, Rostislav (12 July 2012). "Синя мечта" (in Bulgarian). trud.bg. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  2. [2]
    "A tribute to the 40th best player of all time Georgi Asparuhov – a genius few know, but few would ever forget". goal.com. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  3. [3]
    | Europe – Player of the Century.
  4. [4]
    "GeorgiAsparuhov – Gundi". Levski Sofia Official Website. Archived from the original on 9 August 2009. Retrieved 22 August 2009.
  5. [5]
    "Georgi Asparuhov Stadium" (in Bulgarian). levski.bg.
  6. [6]
    "Гунди" (in Bulgarian). levski.bg.
  7. [7]
    "Митът "Георги Аспарухов"" (in Bulgarian). temasport.com. 4 May 2018.
  8. [8]
    "В Италия: Гунди отказал $5 млн. от Милан" [In Italy: Gundi refused $5m from Milan] (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 26 January 2017. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  9. [9]
    "Austria vs Bulgaria 2–0, 6 May 1962". eu-football.info.
  10. [10]
    "Bulgaria vs Portugal 3–1, 7 November 1962". eu-football.info.
  11. [11]
    "550 000 се прощават с Гунди и Котков" (in Bulgarian). 24chasa.bg. 30 June 2017.
  12. [12]
    "Georgi Asparuhov Rangelov – Gundi". levskisofia.info.
  13. [13]
    "National football team player: Georgi Asparuhov". eu-football.info.
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