HRISTO Stoichkov, widely seen as Bulgaria's most successful footballer ever, was appointed on July 15 as the new coach of the Bulgarian national football team.

The deputy chairperson of the Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) Borislav Mihailov announced that 38-year-old Stoichkov had agreed to sign a two-year contract with the BFU on his return to Bulgaria on July 23. In the event that the team qualifies for the 2006 World Cup in Germany, the contract will be automatically extended for two more years.

Stoichkov, who was champion of Bulgaria (with CSKA), of Spain and Europe (with Barcelona), holder of the Golden Ball for Best Football Player in Europe in 1994, and the leader of the Bulgarian team that stormed the 1994 World Cup semi-finals, has almost no coaching experience; still, he was unanimously elected by the BFU.

"It's a risk, but he will have assistants and he has great experience as a player," said Mihailov, who was the goalkeeper of the Bulgarian dream team of 1994.

Stoichkov replaces Plamen Markov as national team trainer.

After three consecutive defeats in the Euro 2004 championships in Portugal, the BFU decided that Markov should take full responsibility for Bulgaria's failure. Markov himself refused to renew his contract after its expiration on June 30, saying that "he was not able to work in such an atmosphere."

After the announcement of Stoichkov's appointment, Markov wished him bigger successes.

"I have no doubt about Hristo's ability to lead the squad to the world finals in Germany in 2006. He has grand ambitions, and he knows how to achieve them," Markov said.

Kamata, or The Dagger as Stoichkov is known, at present coaches the youth school in the club that made him world famous - FC Barcelona. Stoichkov will quit this job, and spend most of his time in Bulgaria, Mihailov said.

"I'm sure that with Stoichkov as coach, the national team will qualify for the World Cup in Germany," said Bulgaria's youngest national, 19-year-old Valeri Bozhinov, who plays for Leche, Italy.

"In my opinion, he's the man who can give us the necessary self-confidence. Even in our camp in Portugal he was trying to encourage us in every possible way. He always finds the best approach to any of the footballers," Bozhinov said.

"I'm happy and surprised that the BFU put its trust in me. It's an exciting challenge for me to qualify the team for the 2006 World Championship in Germany," the famous left-footed forward told Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo on July 15.



Stoichkov's first match as a coach is a 2006 World Cup qualifying match with Iceland on September 4. Bulgaria will also face Croatia, Sweden and Hungary in Group Eight.