Georgi Naydenov (footballer, born 1931) explained

Georgi Naydenov
Fullname:Georgi Spirov Naydenov
Birth Date:21 December 1931
Birth Place:Sofia, Bulgaria
Death Place:Damascus, Syria
Position:Goalkeeper
Years1:1949–1950
Years2:1950–1954
Years3:1955–1965
Years4:1966–1967
Clubs2:Spartak Sofia
Clubs4:Spartak Sofia
Caps1:10
Caps2:84
Caps3:176
Caps4:28
Goals1:0
Goals2:0
Goals3:0
Goals4:0
Totalcaps:298
Totalgoals:0
Nationalyears1:1955–1966
Nationalteam1:Bulgaria
Nationalcaps1:51
Nationalgoals1:0

Georgi Spirov Naydenov (Bulgarian: Георги Спиров Найденов) (21 December 1931 – 28 May 1970) was Bulgarian football goalkeeper and manager. He is considered the greatest Bulgarian goalkeeper of all time. Between 1955 and 1965 he played in 176 matches for CSKA Sofia. He was honoured as Bulgarian Footballer of the Year in 1961. Naydenov won the top Bulgarian league, the A PFG, 8 times (all with CSKA), as well as the Bulgarian Cup, 3 times (all with CSKA). He was respected for his incredible work ethic and his determination during training and matches alike.

International career

For the Bulgaria national football team Naydenov featured in 51 games and won a bronze medal at the 1956 Summer Olympics.[1] He played for his country at the 1962 and 1966 World Cups. Even after he had retired from competing he still remained one of the fittest players in Bulgaria and this made his death all the more mysterious. He died in Damascus, Syria and initial reports claimed he had suffered a heart attack although members of his family and people close to him suspected he had been poisoned.[2]

Honours

Player

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Georgi Naydenov . Olympedia . 1 December 2021.
  2. Web site: Смъртта на Георги Найденов - 40-годишна мистерия - trud.bg . 29 August 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110929024832/http://www.trud.bg/Article.asp?ArticleId=496365 . 29 September 2011 . dead .