Yordan Lechkov

At a glance

Източник: Wikipedia: Yordan Letchkov¹

Football career

Born in Straldzha, Lechkov began playing for Sliven and moved to CSKA Sofia for the 1991–92 season. He then played for Hamburger SV from 1992–93 to 1995–96, followed by Olympique de Marseille in 1996–97. In 1997 he joined Beşiktaş, but left after a dispute with the club’s manager and a disagreement over a fine.¹

Beşiktaş appealed to FIFA after Lechkov returned to Bulgaria and played for the national team without the club’s clearance. FIFA ruled that he could not play for another team without permission. After about three years away from football, he returned to CSKA Sofia in 2001–02. From 2002 to 2004, he was player-coach at OFC Sliven.¹

International career

Lechkov played 45 times for Bulgaria and scored five goals between 1989 and 1998. He scored the winning goal against Germany in the 1994 World Cup quarter-final. Bulgaria went on to reach the semi-finals, where Italy beat them. Lechkov was placed 13th in the 1994 Ballon d’Or standings.¹

He also played for Bulgaria at the 1996 European Championship and contributed to qualification for the 1998 World Cup. He could not play in that tournament because FIFA’s ruling in the Beşiktaş dispute made him ineligible.¹

Public life

After retiring from football, Lechkov became a businessman and politician. He was elected mayor of Sliven in 2003 and re-elected in 2007. In април 2010 г., a district court removed him from office after he was charged with official misconduct. An appellate court restored him in юни 2010 г. He lost the 2011 mayoral election to Kolyo Milev.¹

Lechkov has been vice president of the Bulgarian Football Union since 2005. His conduct as mayor drew criticism, amid disputes over the city’s streets and construction work.¹

He has been vice-president of the Bulgarian Football Union since 2005, and stood for mayor of Sliven in 2011.¹