Hristo Stoichkov Stoichkov is a retired Bulgarian professional football player and currently a football commentator for TUDN. Famous for his excellent goal scoring ability, he is considered the greatest Bulgarian football player in history.
Stoichkov was globally recognized as runner-up for the FIFA World Player of the Year award in both 1992 and 1994, and he won the prestigious Ballon d’Or in 1994. In 2004, Pelé He entered the FIFA 100, a list celebrating the greatest living players in football history.
File
- Full name: Hristo Stoichkov Stoichkov
- Stage name: Hristo Stoichkov
- Date of birth: February 8, 1966
- Age: 58 years old
- Place of birth: Plovdiv, Bulgaria
- Nationality: Bulgaria
- Occupation: former Bulgarian professional football player
- Height: 1.78 m
- Parents: Stoichko Stoichkov and Penka Stoichkova
- Siblings: Tsanko Stoichkov and Petya Stoichkova
- Spouse: Mariana Stoichkova
- Children: Mihaela Stoichkova and Hristina Stoichkova
- Relationship: Married
- Net worth: 40 million USD
Early life and education
Hristo Stoichkov was born on February 8, 1966 in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, to Stoichko and Penka Stoichkov. He has two siblings: an older brother, Tsanko Stoichkov, also a former soccer player, and a younger sister, Petya Stoichkov.
Stoichkov studied at the “Vasil Levski” National Sports Academy in Sofia, where he honed his sports skills. He is ethnically Bulgarian, although his specific religious beliefs are not made public.
Career
Hristo Stoichkov began his football journey with his hometown club Maritsa Plovdiv when he was just 11 years old. In 1982, he moved to Hebros Harmanli, where he demonstrated his scoring ability with 14 goals in Bulgaria’s third division.
His career took a significant turn in early 1985 when he joined CSKA Sofia, one of the top clubs in the country. However, his temper emerged during the 1985 Bulgarian Cup final, where a brawl led to an initial lifetime ban that was later reduced to a one-year suspension.
Despite this defeat, Stoichkov still flourished at CSKA, winning the European Golden Shoe in the 1989–90 season after scoring 38 goals in 30 matches.
In 1990, Stoichkov moved to FC Barcelona, earning the nickname “El Pistolero” (The Gunslinger) due to his sharp finishing ability and fighting style of play. He became a key member of Johan Cruyff’s “Dream Team”, the team that dominated Spanish football by winning four consecutive La Liga championships and the 1992 European Cup.
At Barcelona, Stoichkov forged a deadly attacking partnership with Romário and cemented his reputation as one of the world’s most prolific strikers. After a short spell in Italy with Parma, where he scored seven goals, he returned to Barcelona and played until 1998, further cementing his legacy at the Catalan club.
Stoichkov also made an indelible mark on the international stage. He debuted for the Bulgaria national team in a UEFA Euro 1988 qualifier against Belgium on 23 September 1987 and scored his first international goal in a friendly match against Qatar.
His crowning moment came at the 1994 FIFA World Cup, where he led Bulgaria to a remarkable fourth-place finish. Stoichkov won the tournament’s Golden Boot as top scorer with six goals and was awarded the Bronze Ball for being the third best player, behind only Romário and Roberto Baggio.
Moving into coaching, Stoichkov began his managerial career as strikers coach at Barcelona during the 2003–04 season. In July 2004, he was appointed coach of the Bulgarian national team but faced many challenges, failing to secure qualification for the 2006 World Cup.
His coaching journey then took him to South Africa, where he managed Mamelodi Sundowns, then to Vietnam, where he turned down an offer for the national team.
In 2012, Stoichkov returned to Bulgaria to manage Litex Lovech, being recognized as PFG Manager of the Season in 2013. However, his short tenure with former club CSKA Sofia ended shortly after due to disagreements with the club’s management.
Social Media
Instagram handle: @hristo8oficial
Personal life
Hristo Stoichkov is married to Mariana Stoichkova and they have two daughters together, Hristina and Mihaela. The couple has had a stable and long-term relationship since their marriage.
In addition to his sports career, Stoichkov also actively campaigns for public health. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he publicly supported vaccination efforts in Bulgaria, demonstrating his commitment to the health and well-being of his community.
Net worth
Hristo Stoichkov’s exact net worth is not publicly confirmed, but some sources estimate it to be around $40 million. His wealth stems from his successful football career, lucrative contracts and football commentary work.
Stoichkov is widely regarded as one of the greatest Bulgarian footballers of all time, having played for prestigious clubs such as FC Barcelona, where he achieved legendary status.
