EPT![[image loading]](http://www.expertfootball.com/players/stoichkov/stoichkov/national/49.jpg)
Hristo Stoichkov
40 years
France Football Golden Ball 1994
Stoichkov was born in 1966 in Plovdiv, the second largest city in Bulgaria. At the age of 18, as he did not impress any of the big clubs in his country, he was forced to play in the lower divisions. That lasted for an year, when he was "discovered" by a coach of CSKA Sofia, one of the best teams in Bulgaria.
A weird moment in the life of this great player. After a big fight against the opposite team, in the Cup of Bulgaria final of his second season, he (and the entire team) was banned from football for the following season. He did not play any game at the 85/86 season!
Stoichkov played at CSKA Sofia for 5 seasons. At his last season, 88/89, he and his team had an awesome season, going at the semi-final of Uefa Champions League, being defeated by Barcelona. Hristo was amazing that year, and that draw Johan Cruyff's attention over Barcelona, who wanted to sign with him. That was not possible because CSKA Sofia wanted the contract to run out, so he had to play for one more year. At this season Hristo Stoichkov got himself a Golden Boot, as European top scorer, with 38 goals.
He was a very fast and precise player. You can see that by his really fast goals. He doesn't make too much of fansy moves, but that was part of his amazing and very effective style.
![[image loading]](http://www.expertfootball.com/players/stoichkov/stoichkov/barca/1.jpg)
In 90/91 he joined Barcelona. The team that made him known all over the world. He had great success there, winning 4 consecutive spanish titles (90-93), also winning an UCL (92). At that year, he scored a beautiful goal at the Intercontinental final, where Barcelona lost against Sao Paulo (sorry, I had to write about it
).In 1994, Stoichkov lead the Bulgarian team to a very honorous 4th place at the american World Cup, the best placement Bulgaria ever got. At that the tourney, he was one of the responsibles for Germany's elimination, when he scored an amazing freekick goal against the germans. He was also the topscorer of that World Cup, scoring 6 goals and winning the Golden Boot of the tourney.
![[image loading]](http://www.expertfootball.com/players/stoichkov/stoichkov/national/3.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://www.expertfootball.com/players/stoichkov/stoichkov/national/5.jpg)
We can say 1994, individually, was the best year of Hristo's carreer. He won the European Footballer of the Year, got 2nd at FIFA Best player of the year, World Cup Golden Boot, and Best Player of Bulgaria for the 5th consecutive time.
After that he didn't get much more success, and ended his carreer in 2003, playing for D.C united. But we will always remember "Cristo" Stoichkov as one of the best players the world has seen in the last 20 years.
VIDEOS
Lots of his goals for Barça (67mb)
http://s37.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=09JXRQJ1SXPU32RU229ZSTUI7I
3 of his goals at 1994 World Cup (nice video, sadly it repeats itself so much and doesn't show his 6 goals, but only 3) (27mb)
http://s24.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=11L0BLN5HXMT61IJX422OKYFXD
thank you Raidern. Stoichkov was in my view the best European player of the 90's. He was second in that FIFA Best player of the year in '94 simply because Brazil won the World Cup thus Romario got the first place 
. Stoichkov was one of the best left-footed strikers in football history. He was known for his fiery temperament and strong language towards referees 
. The best bulgarian footballer of all time.
