Dimitar Penev, who is considered one of the most influential figures in Bulgarian football history, has died aged 80. He famously led the national team to the 1994 FIFA World Cup USA™ semi-finals.
Penev made a massive mark in international football as both a player and coach. The central defender participated in the three World Cups — England 1966, Mexico 1970 and West Germany 1974. He also won 13 domestic trophies, the majority of which came with CSKA Sofia, and was twice voted Bulgarian Footballer of the Year.
He went on to have greater success as a coach, leading the iconic team that included the likes of Krasimir Balakov, Emil Kostadinov, Yordan Letchkov and Hristo Stoichkov to a fourth-placed finish at USA 1994.
After an opening 3-0 defeat to Nigeria, Penev’s men defeated Greece and Argentina to reach the knockout stages. There, Bulgaria edged past Mexico on penalties to secure a quarter-final berth where Stoichkov and Letchkov inspired a stunning 2-1 victory over Germany.
Bulgaria were downed by Italy in the semi-finals and were then trounced by Sweden in the third-place match, but the ‘Drunken Summer’ still lives long in the memory.
More success came as Penev guided Bulgaria to UEFA EURO 1996 before he returned to club football, as well as second stint with the national team in 2007.
“I have learned most in my career under Dimitar Penev,” Stoichkov once told UEFA.com.
“Penev gave me a chance – he trusted me all the way when I was a teenager. It is a great honour and a privilege to have worked under him,” Dimitar Berbatov, Bulgaria’s all-time leading goalscorer, added.
