 Georgi Asparuhov in 1969 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Georgi Asparuhov Rangelov | ||
| Date of birth | 4 May 1943 | ||
| Place of birth | Sofia, Kingdom of Bulgaria | ||
| Date of death | 30 June 1971 (aged 28) | ||
| Place of death | Vitinya Pass, PR Bulgaria | ||
| Height | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Striker | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1953–1959 | Levski Sofia | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1960–1961 | Levski Sofia | 23 | (7) |
| 1961–1963 | Botev Plovdiv | 62 | (35) |
| 1963–1971 | Levski Sofia | 176 | (118) |
| Total | 261 | (160) | |
| International career | |||
| 1962–1970 | Bulgaria | 49 | (18) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Georgi Asparuhov Rangelov (Bulgarian: Георги Аспарухов Рангелов; 4 May 1943 – 30 June 1971), nicknamed Gundi, was a Bulgarian footballer who played as a striker.
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]
- ^ Rusev, Rostislav (12 July 2012). "Синя мечта" (in Bulgarian). trud.bg. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
- ^ "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.
- ^ [1]| Europe – Player of the Century.
- ^ "GeorgiAsparuhov – Gundi". Levski Sofia Official Website. Archived from the original on 9 August 2009. Retrieved 22 August 2009.
- ^ "Georgi Asparuhov Stadium" (in Bulgarian). levski.bg.