View source for Hristo Stoichkov

{{Short description|Bulgarian footballer (born 1966)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{family name hatnote|
[[Stoichkov]]|[[Stoichkov]]|lang=Bulgarian}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Hristo Stoichkov
| image = Stoichkov in 2016.jpg
| caption = Stoichkov in 2016
| fullname = Hristo Stoichkov
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1966|2|8|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Plovdiv]], [[People's Republic of Bulgaria|Bulgaria]]
| height = 1.78m
| position = [[Forward (association football)|Forward]]
| currentclub = 
| youthyears1 = 
| youthclubs1 = [[FC Maritsa Plovdiv|Maritsa Plovdiv]]
| years1 = 1981–1982
| clubs1 = FC Yuriy Gagarin
| caps1 = 16
| goals1 = 3
| years2 = 1982–1983
| clubs2 = [[FC Hebros|Hebros Harmanli]]
| caps2 = 32
| goals2 = 14
| years3 = 1984–1990
| clubs3 = [[PFC CSKA Sofia|CSKA Sofia]]
| caps3 = 119
| goals3 = 81
| years4 = 1990–1995
| clubs4 = [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]]
| caps4 = 151
| goals4 = 76
| years5 = 1995–1996
| clubs5 = [[Parma Calcio 1913|Parma]]
| caps5 = 23
| goals5 = 5
| years6 = 1996–1998
| clubs6 = [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]]
| caps6 = 24
| goals6 = 7
| years7 = 1997–1998
| clubs7 = → [[PFC CSKA Sofia|CSKA Sofia]] (loan)
| caps7 = 5
| goals7 = 3
| years8 = 1998
| clubs8 = [[Al-Nassr FC|Al-Nassr]]
| caps8 = 2
| goals8 = 1
| years9 = 1998–1999
| clubs9 = [[Kashiwa Reysol]]
| caps9 = 27
| goals9 = 12
| years10 = 2000–2002
| clubs10 = [[Chicago Fire FC|Chicago Fire]]
| caps10 = 51
| goals10 = 17
| years11 = 2003
| clubs11 = [[D.C. United]]
| caps11 = 21
| goals11 = 5
| totalcaps = 454
| totalgoals = 220
| nationalyears1 = 1986–1987
| nationalteam1 = [[Bulgaria national under-21 football team|Bulgaria U21]]
| nationalcaps1 = 17
| nationalgoals1 = 8
| nationalyears2 = 1986–1999
| nationalteam2 = [[Bulgaria national football team|Bulgaria]]
| nationalcaps2 = 83
| nationalgoals2 = 37<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20151125044251/http://www.fifa.com/fifa-tournaments/players-coaches/people=58455/profile.html Stoichkov: A gifted bad boy]. FIFA.com</ref>
| manageryears1 = 2004–2007
| managerclubs1 = [[Bulgaria national football team|Bulgaria]]
| manageryears2 = 2007
| managerclubs2 = [[RC Celta de Vigo|Celta Vigo]]
| manageryears3 = 2009–2010
| managerclubs3 = [[Mamelodi Sundowns F.C.|Mamelodi Sundowns]]
| manageryears4 = 2012–2013
| managerclubs4 = [[PFC Litex Lovech|Litex Lovech]]
| manageryears5 = 2013
| managerclubs5 = [[PFC CSKA Sofia|CSKA Sofia]]
}}
'''Hristo Stoichkov Stoichkov''' ({{langx|bg|Христо Стоичков Стоичков}}; born 8 February 1966) is a Bulgarian former professional [[Association football|footballer]] and current football commentator for [[TUDN]]. A prolific [[Forward (association football)|forward]], he is widely regarded as the greatest Bulgarian footballer of all time. He was the runner-up for the [[FIFA World Player of the Year]] award in 1992 and 1994 and received the [[Ballon d'Or]] in [[1994 Ballon d'Or|1994]]. In 2004, Stoichkov was named by [[Pelé]] in the [[FIFA 100]] list of the world's greatest living players.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/3533891.stm |title=Pele's list of the greatest |publisher=BBC Sport |date=4 March 2004 |access-date=15 June 2013 |archive-date=19 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181019205959/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/3533891.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

At the club level, Stoichkov spent six years at [[PFC CSKA Sofia|CSKA Sofia]] and became the top goalscorer in Europe in 1990, receiving the [[European Golden Shoe]]. In 1990, he joined [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]], where he earned the Spanish nickname "El Pistolero" ({{lit|The Gunslinger}}) and was part of [[Johan Cruyff]]'s "[[FC Barcelona#Dream Team|Dream Team]]," which won four consecutive [[La Liga]] titles and the 1992 [[European Cup]]. During his time at the club, he formed a prolific strike partnership with [[Romário]]. Cruyff played a crucial role in bringing him to Barcelona, where he quickly developed into one of the most prolific forwards in the world.

Stoichkov was a member of the [[Bulgaria national football team|Bulgaria national team]] that finished fourth at the [[1994 FIFA World Cup]], where he emerged as the top scorer with six goals, earning the [[World Cup Golden Boot]]. He was ranked as the third-best player at the World Cup, following Romário and [[Roberto Baggio]], and received the [[Golden Ball (FIFA)|World Cup Bronze Ball]]. In addition to his exceptional footballing talent, he was known for his fiery temperament on the pitch.<ref name="FIFA">[https://web.archive.org/web/20151125044251/http://www.fifa.com/fifa-tournaments/players-coaches/people=58455/profile.html "Stoichkov: A gifted bad boy"]. FIFA.com. Retrieved 18 March 2015</ref> During his playing career, he was also nicknamed ''The Dagger'' (Камата).<ref name="Profile of an Icon">{{cite web|url=https://www.football365.com/news/profile-of-an-icon-hristo-stoichkov|title=Hristo Stoichkov Profile of an Icon|date=11 November 2015|access-date=11 November 2015|archive-date=13 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151113053209/http://www.football365.com/news/profile-of-an-icon-hristo-stoichkov|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Club career==
===Early career===
Stoichkov was born in the city of [[Plovdiv]].

Stoichkov began his football career playing for his hometown club [[FC Maritsa Plovdiv|Maritsa Plovdiv]] at the age of 11. In 1982, he transferred to [[FC Hebros|Hebros Harmanli]], where he scored 14 goals in the [[Bulgarian V AFG|third level]] of Bulgarian football.

===CSKA Sofia===
In early 1985, Stoichkov joined [[PFC CSKA Sofia|CSKA Sofia]]. At the beginning of his five-year tenure at CSKA, Stoichkov (who later became known for his short temper) was involved in a fight during the [[1985 Bulgarian Cup Final]], which resulted in an initial lifelong ban that was later reduced to a one-year [[CSKA Sofia#Disbanded|suspension]].<ref>[http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story/_/id/968067/first-xi:-a-burning-hatred?cc=5901 First XI: A burning hatred – ESPN FC] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111016001101/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story/_/id/968067/first-xi:-a-burning-hatred?cc=5901 |date=16 October 2011 }}. Soccernet.espn.go.com (13 October 2011). Retrieved on 10 June 2013.</ref> He made his comeback for CSKA on 30 April 1986, in a 3–1 away victory over [[OFC Sliven 2000|Sliven]] in a match of the [[Cup of the Soviet Army (1983–1990)|Cup of the Soviet Army]]. On 21 May, Stoichkov opened the scoring in the tournament final against [[PFC Lokomotiv Sofia|Lokomotiv Sofia]], which CSKA won 2–0.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.temasport.com/news/view/%D0%A8%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%BF%D0%B8%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8+%D0%B3%D0%BE%D0%BB+%D0%B2+%D0%B4%D1%8A%D0%B6%D0%B4%D0%B0+%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B8+%D0%98%D1%86%D0%BE+%D1%81%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%BB+%D0%BD%D0%B0+%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%B1%D0%B5%D0%B4%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B0/news:38963|publisher=temasport.com|title=Шампионски гол в дъжда прави Ицо символ на победата|date=23 March 2016|language=bg|access-date=24 March 2016|archive-date=7 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160407014343/http://www.temasport.com/news/view/%D0%A8%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%BF%D0%B8%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8+%D0%B3%D0%BE%D0%BB+%D0%B2+%D0%B4%D1%8A%D0%B6%D0%B4%D0%B0+%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B8+%D0%98%D1%86%D0%BE+%D1%81%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%BB+%D0%BD%D0%B0+%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%B1%D0%B5%D0%B4%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B0/news:38963|url-status=live}}</ref>

He continued his progress during the [[1986–87 A Group|1986–87]] season, becoming a regular on the left side of CSKA's attack. Stoichkov earned his first [[Bulgarian A Football Group|A Group]] title winner's medal at the end of the season, scoring 6 league goals.

Stoichkov went on to win the [[European Golden Shoe|European Golden Boot]] with CSKA by netting 38 goals in 30 matches during the [[1989–90 A Group]] season.<ref name="FIFA"/>

===Barcelona===
After five years with CSKA, Stoichkov transferred to [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]]. In his first season with the club, Stoichkov was suspended for two months for stomping on a referee's foot,<ref>[http://www.heraldscotland.com/the-singular-genius-of-the-mad-boy-hristo-1.856232 The singular genius of the mad boy Hristo] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140412004917/http://www.heraldscotland.com/the-singular-genius-of-the-mad-boy-hristo-1.856232 |date=12 April 2014 }}. heraldscotland.com (16 April 2007)</ref> but he still managed to score 14 league goals and an additional six in the [[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup|European Cup Winners' Cup]]. He became part of manager [[Johan Cruyff]]'s "[[FC Barcelona#Dream Team|Dream Team]]" and contributed to one of the most successful eras in the club's history, winning [[La Liga]] four consecutive times (from 1991 to 1994) and the [[UEFA Champions League|European Cup]] after defeating [[U.C. Sampdoria|Sampdoria]] in the [[1992 European Cup Final|1992]] final.<ref name="Dream">{{cite news|title=Barcelona v Milan revisited: The night in 1994 the Dream died|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2012/mar/28/barcelona-milan-champions-league-1994|work=The Guardian|date=10 April 2015|access-date=14 December 2016|archive-date=7 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211007122050/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2012/mar/28/barcelona-milan-champions-league-1994|url-status=live}}</ref> During his time at Barcelona, he became an idol among the club's fans and played alongside [[Romário]] in the attack. Stoichkov was also known for ensuring Romário attended training sessions on time, as the latter often indulged in late-night festivities.<ref name="Lowe"/> Stoichkov was twice named runner-up for the [[FIFA World Player of the Year]] award, in 1992 and 1994, and he won the [[1994 Ballon d'Or]] after leading his national team to the [[1994 World Cup]] semi-finals.<ref name="FIFA"/>

===Later career===
Stoichkov then had a brief spell in Italy with [[Parma Calcio 1913|Parma]], scoring a total of seven goals, before soon returning to [[FC Barcelona]], where he played until early 1998. He also had a second stint with [[CSKA Sofia]] in the spring of 1998.<ref>{{cite news| title =Честит рожден ден на Христо Стоичков| publisher =[[Bulgarian Football Union]]| date =8 February 2019| url =https://bfunion.bg/news/45802/0| access-date =1 August 2020| archive-date =6 March 2022| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20220306091526/https://bfunion.bg/news/45802/0| url-status =live}}</ref> In April 1998, he signed a two-match contract with Saudi Arabian club [[Al Nassr FC|Al-Nassr]], helping them win the [[Asian Cup Winners' Cup]]. In the semi-final against Kopetdag, he earned a penalty and assisted the winning goal, and in the final against Suwon Bluewings, he scored the only goal in the 12th minute. For those two games, Hristo received ${{formatnum:200000}}. He subsequently went to Japan to play with [[Kashiwa Reysol]], before finishing his career in the United States with the [[Chicago Fire Soccer Club|Chicago Fire]] and [[D.C. United]], winning the [[U.S. Open Cup]] (and scoring the first goal in the final) with the former.<ref name="FIFA"/>

==International career==
Stoichkov debuted for the [[Bulgaria national football team|Bulgaria national team]] in a [[UEFA Euro 1988 qualifying]] match against [[Belgium national football team|Belgium]] on 23 September 1987. He scored his first international goal in his fourth appearance, a 3–2 friendly defeat of [[Qatar national football team|Qatar]] in [[Doha]].<ref name="international_goals">{{cite news|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/stoichkov-intlg.html|title=Hristo Stoichkov - Goals in International Matches|access-date=9 February 2016|work=RSSSF|archive-date=10 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220710163341/https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/stoichkov-intlg.html|url-status=live}}</ref> 

During [[1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|qualification]] for the [[1994 FIFA World Cup]], Stoichkov scored five goals, helping Bulgaria qualify for its first major tournament since the [[1986 FIFA World Cup|1986 World Cup]]. At the tournament finals, he was awarded the [[World Cup Golden Boot]] as the joint top goal scorer (alongside [[Oleg Salenko]]), netting six goals, and he also received the [[Golden Ball (FIFA)|Bronze Ball]] award. Stoichkov led Bulgaria past [[Germany national football team|Germany]] in the quarter-finals with a 2–1 shock result, as Germany were the [[1990 FIFA World Cup|defending champions]]. In the semi-finals, Bulgaria lost 2–1 to [[Italy national football team|Italy]], and they subsequently fell to [[Sweden men's national football team|Sweden]] in the third-place play-off, losing 4–0.<ref name="FIFA"/>

Bulgaria finished second in the qualifying group for [[UEFA Euro 1996|Euro 1996]] behind Germany. Stoichkov scored ten goals for his team during the qualifiers, helping Bulgaria qualify as one of the six best runners-up. In the first match against Germany in Sofia, Bulgaria was 2–0 down at half-time. Stoichkov equalized with two penalty goals, and [[Emil Kostadinov]] also scored, resulting in a 3–2 victory. Bulgaria lost the second match in Germany 3–1. During the finals, Bulgaria lost 3–1 in the decisive group match against a strong [[France national football team|France]] side; in the other match, [[Spain national football team|Spain]] defeated [[Romania national football team|Romania]] 2–1, leading to Bulgaria's elimination. In that tournament, Stoichkov scored three goals in three matches.<ref name="FIFA"/>

He was also part of the squad that was eliminated in the first round of the [[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998 World Cup]]. Bulgaria was not nearly as strong as in previous years, earning only one point from a 0–0 draw against [[Paraguay national football team|Paraguay]] and scoring just one goal through Kostadinov in a 6–1 defeat by Spain. Stoichkov retired from international football in 1999 with 37 goals in 83 appearances.<ref name="FIFA"/> His last game was during the Euro 2000 qualification against England, which ended 1–1; Stoichkov assisted [[Georgi Markov (footballer)|Georgi Markov]] for the equalizing goal from a free kick. In the same game, he was substituted for [[Martin Petrov]], who made his debut in the Bulgarian shirt. Ironically, both are Bulgaria's only goalscorers in a UEFA Euro tournament: Stoichkov was the sole scorer in 1996 with three goals, while Petrov scored in 2004 in the 2–1 loss against Italy. Bulgaria failed to qualify for Euro 2000 in Belgium and the Netherlands after that match, as they needed a win to keep their chances alive.

He later served as coach of the Bulgaria national team from 2004 to April 2007.<ref name="FIFA"/>

==Style of play==
{{Quote box|width=30%|align=right|quote="That season [1993–1994] Romário and Stoichkov were a force of nature, blowing everyone and everything to bits."|source =— Football writer [[Sid Lowe]] on the strike partnership at Barcelona.<ref name="Lowe">Lowe, Sid (2013). "Fear and Loathing in La Liga: The True Story of Barcelona and Real Madrid". p. 288. Random House</ref>}}  
Stoichkov possessed explosive pace and was a creative, tenacious, and prolific left-footed [[Forward (association football)|forward]]. Primarily used as a [[Striker (association football)|striker]], he was also capable of playing in a [[Playmaker|creative]] role or as a [[second striker]], thanks to his ability to provide [[Assist (football)|assists]] for teammates,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sport.repubblica.it/calcio-dal-mondo/sport/riviviamo-le-grandi-sfide-individuali-del-passato/3879680?refresh_ce|title=Caclcio Dal Mundo|trans-title=Football from the World|website=repubblica.it|publisher=La Repubblica|language=it|access-date=7 April 2015|archive-date=6 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150406120358/http://sport.repubblica.it/calcio-dal-mondo/sport/riviviamo-le-grandi-sfide-individuali-del-passato/3879680?refresh_ce|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/hristo-stoichkov_%28Enciclopedia-dello-Sport%29/|title=Stoichkov, Hristo|website=treccani.it|publisher=Enciclopedia Treccani|author1=Marino Bortoletti|access-date=3 January 2016|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304235435/http://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/hristo-stoichkov_(Enciclopedia-dello-Sport)/|url-status=live}}</ref> forming a strike partnership with Romário at Barcelona. Occasionally, he played as a left [[Forward (association football)#Winger|winger]] during his time at the club, although he was also capable of playing on the right.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/club/history/detail/card/hristo-stoitxkov|title=Hristo Stoichkov|website=fcbarcelona.com|access-date=7 April 2015|archive-date=7 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130207053337/http://www.fcbarcelona.com/club/history/detail/card/hristo-stoitxkov|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/champions-league/8541598/Manchester-United-v-Barcelona-six-of-their-best-showdowns.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/champions-league/8541598/Manchester-United-v-Barcelona-six-of-their-best-showdowns.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Manchester United v Barcelona: six of their best showdowns|work=The Telegraph|access-date=10 April 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In his early years, he also played as a left full-back. A powerful, physically strong, and technically gifted player, Stoichkov was known for his explosive acceleration, dribbling ability at speed, and his tendency to take unpredictable, powerful shots on goal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1995/07/29/potenza-di-hristo-solo-un-assaggio.html|title=Potenza di Hristo Solo Un Assaggio|trans-title=Just a taste of Hristo's power|website=repubblica.it|publisher=La Repubblica|language=it|date=29 July 1995|access-date=7 April 2015|archive-date=3 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403014851/http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1995/07/29/potenza-di-hristo-solo-un-assaggio.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1994/05/16/ora-dell-implacabile.html|title=L'Ora Dell'Implacabile|trans-title=The hour of the unstoppable|website=repubblica.it|publisher=La Repubblica|language=it|author1=Leonardo Coen|date=16 May 1994|access-date=7 April 2014|archive-date=2 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302090152/http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1994/05/16/ora-dell-implacabile.html|url-status=live}}</ref> As the top goalscorer at the 1994 World Cup, he was also renowned for his prowess at taking [[Direct free kick|free kicks]] and [[Penalty kick (association football)|penalties]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1994/07/12/stoichkov-adorabile-spaccone.html|title=Stoichkov, L'Adorabile Spaccone|trans-title=Stoichkov, the adorable boaster|website=repubblica.it|publisher=La Repubblica|language=it|author1=Fulvio Bianchi|date=12 July 1994|access-date=7 April 2015|archive-date=3 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403054938/http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1994/07/12/stoichkov-adorabile-spaccone.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and he was also an excellent [[Cross (football)|crosser]] and passer of the ball.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/03/italy-v-bulgaria-no-longer-the-fantasista-football-of-old/|title=Italy v Bulgaria: No longer the fantasista football of old|website=forzaitalianfootball.com|author1=Marco Jackson|date=27 March 2015|access-date=7 April 2015|archive-date=4 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150404182115/http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/03/italy-v-bulgaria-no-longer-the-fantasista-football-of-old/|url-status=live}}</ref> Manager [[Dimitar Dimitrov (football manager)|Dimitar Dimitrov]] described Stoichkov as "one of the greatest players of all time" in 2006 and as a player who had "a winning mentality."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ru.uefa.com/insideuefa/news/newsid=388454.html |title=Legends doing national service |publisher=UEFA.com |last1=Saffer |first1=Paul |date=26 January 2006 |access-date=4 November 2019 |archive-date=2 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191202201751/https://ru.uefa.com/insideuefa/news/newsid%3D388454.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Stoichkov faced criticism for his work rate at times,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1994/12/20/anno-di-hristo-genio-dei-pigri.html|title=L'Anno di Hristo, Genio Dei Pigri|trans-title=The year of Hristo, Genius of the lazy|website=repubblica.it|publisher=La Repubblica|language=it|date=20 December 1994|access-date=7 April 2015|archive-date=29 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240629110425/https://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1994/12/20/anno-di-hristo-genio-dei-pigri.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and he gained a reputation for his aggressive temperament on the pitch despite his evident talent. He could frequently be seen arguing with referees and opponents alike.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/566890/Hristo-Stoichkov|title=Hristo Stoichkov|website=britannica.com|publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica|author1=Jeff Wallenfeldt|date=2 May 2015|access-date=7 April 2015|archive-date=8 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150408075850/http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/566890/Hristo-Stoichkov|url-status=live}}</ref> During [[UEFA Euro 1996|Euro 1996]], after Bulgaria's final group stage match against [[France national football team|France]], Stoichkov was accused by French defender [[Marcel Desailly]] of making insulting remarks regarding Desailly's race.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/06/19/sports/IHT-french-take-their-revenge-on-bulgaria.html|title=French Take Their Revenge on Bulgaria|work=[[New York Times]]|first=Ian|last=Thomsen|date=19 June 1996|access-date=16 October 2019|archive-date=16 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191016111842/https://www.nytimes.com/1996/06/19/sports/IHT-french-take-their-revenge-on-bulgaria.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Throughout his playing career, Stoichkov was often referred to by the nickname ''The Dagger'' (Камата).<ref name="Profile of an Icon"/>

In 2006, Stoichkov was sued by a former [[American University]] student whose leg he broke with a violent tackle during a friendly match for [[D.C. United]] in 2003. The case was settled out of court in 2007 with undisclosed financial terms.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/09/AR2007100902282_pf.html|title=AU Player Settles With Club, MLS, Stoitchkov|newspaper=The Washington Post|first=Steven|last=Goff|date=9 October 2007|access-date=4 May 2010|archive-date=11 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111093727/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/09/AR2007100902282_pf.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The student's coach described Stoichkov's challenge as "criminal." [[Ray Hudson]], who was the coach of D.C. United at the time, referred to it as a "rash tackle." Following an investigation by [[Major League Soccer]] (MLS), Stoichkov received a two-game suspension and a fine of US$2,000.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/26/AR2007022601339_pf.html|title=Player Hurt in United Scrimmage in '03 Seeks Damages|newspaper=The Washington Post|first=Steven|last=Goff|date=27 February 2007}}</ref>

==Media==
Stoichkov appears in EA Sports' [[FIFA (video game series)|''FIFA'' video game series]], having been included in the ''[[FIFA 15]]'' Ultimate Team Legends.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.easports.com/fifa/news/2014/fifa-15-player-ratings-fut-legends|title=FIFA 15 Player Ratings - FIFA Ultimate Team Legends|publisher=EA Sports|access-date=10 April 2015|archive-date=2 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402180715/https://www.easports.com/fifa/news/2014/fifa-15-player-ratings-fut-legends|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>[http://www.ultimateteam.co.uk/2014/09/10/fifa-15-new-legends-ratings-stats/ "FIFA 15 New Legends Ratings & Stats"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150410065911/http://www.ultimateteam.co.uk/2014/09/10/fifa-15-new-legends-ratings-stats/ |date=10 April 2015 }}. Ultimate Team. Retrieved 10 April 2015</ref><ref>[http://allaboutfifa.com/top-5-legends/ "Top 5 Legends FIFA 15"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150514113336/http://allaboutfifa.com/top-5-legends/ |date=14 May 2015 }} www.allaboutfifa.com. Retrieved 9 May 2015.</ref>

In 2018, Hristo Stoichkov published his authorized biography titled *Hristo Stoichkov: The Story*.<ref>{{cite web |author=M3 Web |url=https://www.novinite.com/articles/192968/Famous+Bulgarian+Footballer+Hristo+Stoichkov+Published+his+Memoirs |title=Famous Bulgarian Footballer Hristo Stoichkov Published his Memoirs |publisher=Novinite.com - Sofia News Agency |date=5 November 2018 |accessdate=7 August 2022 |archive-date=9 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231109184937/https://www.novinite.com/articles/192968/Famous%20Bulgarian%20Footballer%20Hristo%20Stoichkov%20Published%20his%20Memoirs |url-status=live }}</ref> The official unveiling of the autobiography took place in November and was attended by numerous footballers, other sports figures, and former Bulgarian presidents, including Petar Stoyanov, Georgi Parvanov, and Rosen Plevneliev. Notably, former Spanish referee Ildefonso Urízar Azpitarte, who had sent off Stoichkov during the first match of the 1990 Spanish Super Cup final, had the opportunity to symbolically stomp on Stoichkov's foot during the event.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.sportal.bg/news.php?news=754448|title="Христо Стоичков - Историята" бе представена - президенти и шампиони уважиха Камата|work=sportal.bg|date=5 November 2018|access-date=22 July 2019|archive-date=2 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200802003727/https://www.sportal.bg/news.php?news=754448|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Managerial career==
In the 2003–04 season, Hristo Stoichkov began his managerial career as a forwards coach at Barcelona. Following the resignation of Bulgarian national team manager Plamen Markov after the team's first-round exit from UEFA Euro 2004, Stoichkov was appointed as the new national team manager on July 15, 2004.

However, his tenure as manager got off to a rocky start, as he failed to lead Bulgaria to qualification for the 2006 World Cup. Stoichkov's fiery temperament, which had characterized his playing days, carried over into his coaching style. This led to several proven players quitting the national team due to personal conflicts with him. A notable incident occurred on September 5, 2005, during a match against Sweden when Stoichkov was sent off for insulting the referee.

The most significant setback in his management came on October 12, 2006, when Stiliyan Petrov, the team captain, announced that he would no longer play for Bulgaria as long as Stoichkov was at the helm. This marked the third player and the second captain to leave the squad due to disagreements with Stoichkov. However, on March 17, 2007, Petrov revealed that he had a private conversation with Stoichkov, where they were able to resolve their differences, leading to his return to the national team.<ref>[http://www.uefa.com/news/newsid=466913.html Petrov steps back from Bulgaria] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112181352/http://www.uefa.com/news/newsid=466913.html |date=12 November 2013 }}. UEFA (12 October 2006).</ref><ref>[http://www.uefa.com/news/newsid=517486.html Petrov returns to Bulgaria fold] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112181009/http://www.uefa.com/news/newsid=517486.html |date=12 November 2013 }}. UEFA (19 March 2007).</ref>

On 10 April 2007, the Bulgarian Football Union announced that they had accepted the resignation of Stoichkov from his position with the national team. This decision was a result of the team's poor performance in the ongoing [[UEFA Euro 2008|Euro 2008]] qualifying campaign, which was followed by widespread criticism and debate regarding the manager's capabilities. The specific match that intensified pressure on Stoichkov was the 0–0 home draw against [[Albania national football team|Albania]], despite the fact that the Bulgarians generally controlled the game and struck the post twice. He had a brief and disappointing tenure as manager at [[Celta de Vigo|Celta Vigo]], where he was dismissed following the team's decline into the lower reaches of the [[Segunda División|Spanish Second Division]].

On 29 June 2009, Stoichkov moved to [[Mamelodi Sundowns F.C.|Mamelodi Sundowns]], replacing [[Henri Michel]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=soccer&id=4294616 | location=London | work=ESPN | title=Stoichkov named coach of South Africa's Sundowns | date=29 June 2009 | access-date=10 June 2013 | archive-date=29 June 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240629110425/https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=soccer&id=4294616 | url-status=live }}</ref> On 16 March 2010, he resigned from Mamelodi Sundowns, and the former [[South Africa national football team|South Africa national team]] manager [[Trott Moloto]] was appointed caretaker until a full-time replacement could be found.<ref>[http://www.psl.co.za/article.asp?id=336944 Hristo Stoitchkov not to renew contract] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303230404/http://www.psl.co.za/article.asp?id=336944 |date=3 March 2016 }}. psl.co.za (17 March 2010).</ref>

In 2011, the [[Vietnam Football Federation]] invited Stoichkov to become the head manager of the [[Vietnam national football team|Vietnam national team]];<ref>{{cite news|title=Stoichkov considering Vietnam offer|url=http://www.espnfc.com/story/912832/bulgaria-legend-hristo-stoichkov-considers-offer-to-coach-vietnam|publisher=ESPN|date=10 April 2015|access-date=10 April 2015|archive-date=15 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150415011636/http://www.espnfc.com/story/912832/bulgaria-legend-hristo-stoichkov-considers-offer-to-coach-vietnam|url-status=live}}</ref> however, he declined the position. In the 2011–12 season, he served as an advisor for the Russian club [[FC Rostov|Rostov]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Stoichkov parts company with Rostov|url=http://m.goal.com/s/en/news/2789167/|publisher=Goal|date=10 April 2015|access-date=10 April 2015|archive-date=4 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190204174506/http://m.goal.com/s/en/news/2789167/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In January 2012, Stoichkov was appointed manager of the Bulgarian side [[PFC Litex Lovech|Litex Lovech]], replacing [[Lyuboslav Penev]], who left to become the manager of the Bulgaria national team. In May 2013, Stoichkov was recognized as the [[A PFG]] Manager of the Season following a vote by professional footballers in the Bulgarian league.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://topsport.ibox.bg/news/id_833084138 | location=Sofia | work=topsport.bg | title=Стоичков е треньор №1 в "А" група, втори е Стоилов, а трети – Петев | date=18 May 2013 | access-date=25 May 2013 | archive-date=16 April 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150416012653/http://topsport.ibox.bg/news/id_833084138 | url-status=live }}</ref> In June 2013, he was named the manager of the Bulgarian powerhouse—and former club—CSKA Sofia, but resigned one month later after losing faith in the troubled club.

==Personal life==
Stoichkov is married to Mariana, and they have two daughters: Hristina and Mihaela.<ref name="HristoStoichkovFamilyLife2024">{{#invoke:Cite web|| title=Христо Стоичков: Честит рожден ден на кралицата на сърцето ми!| author=|publisher=ladyzone.bg |language=bg| url=https://ladyzone.bg/laifstail/hristo-stoichkov-chestit-rozhden-den-na-kralicata-na-sarceto-mi.html| date=5 April 2023|access-date=26 August 2024}}</ref> During the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Bulgaria|COVID-19 pandemic]], he was one of the public figures in Bulgaria who strongly supported [[COVID-19 vaccination in Bulgaria|the COVID-19 vaccination campaign]] and criticized the prevalence of [[vaccine hesitancy]] in his country.<ref name="HristoStoichkovVaccinationAppealtoCompatriots2021">{{#invoke:Cite web|| title=Рожденикът Христо Стоичков за ваксините, политиката и любовта към спорта (ВИДЕО)| author=Zheleva, Petya|publisher=[[Nova (Bulgarian TV channel)|nova.bg]]| language=bg| url=https://nova.bg/news/view/2022/02/08/356137/%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B6%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BA%D1%8A%D1%82-%D1%85%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%82%D0%BE-%D1%81%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%B8%D1%87%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B2-%D0%B7%D0%B0-%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BA%D1%81%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B5-%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B0-%D0%B8-%D0%BB%D1%8E%D0%B1%D0%BE%D0%B2%D1%82%D0%B0-%D0%BA%D1%8A%D0%BC-%D1%81%D0%BF%D0%BE%D1%80%D1%82%D0%B0-%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE/| date=8 February 2022|access-date=26 August 2024}}</ref>

==Career statistics==
===Club===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/13660/Hristo_Stoichkov.html |title=Hristo Stoichkov |work=National Football Teams |access-date=11 July 2018 |archive-date=20 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180320000248/http://www.national-football-teams.com/player/13660/Hristo_Stoichkov.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bdfutbol.com/en/j/j1037.html |title=Hristo Stoichkov |work=BDFutbol |access-date=11 July 2018 |archive-date=23 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230323195755/https://www.bdfutbol.com/en/j/j1037.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://data.j-league.or.jp/SFIX04/?player_id=4359 |script-title=ja:ストイチコフ |work=J.League |access-date=11 July 2018 |language=ja |title=J. League Data Site |archive-date=29 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240629110428/https://data.j-league.or.jp/SFIX04/?player_id=4359 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/hristo-stoitchkov |title=Hristo Stoichkov |work=Major League Soccer |access-date=11 July 2018 |archive-date=24 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180724180202/https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/hristo-stoitchkov |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes [[Bulgarian Cup]], [[Copa del Rey]], [[Coppa Italia]], [[Emperor's Cup]], [[U.S. Open Cup]]}}
!colspan="2"|League cup{{efn|Includes [[J.League Cup]]}}
!colspan="2"|Continental
!colspan="2"|Other
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[FC Hebros|Hebros]]
|1982–83
|rowspan="2"|[[Third Amateur Football League (Bulgaria)|V Group]]
|11||4||||||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||11||4
|-
|1983–84
|21||10||||||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||21||10
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!32!!14||||||colspan="2"|–!!colspan="2"|–!!colspan="2"|–!!32!!14
|-
|rowspan="7"|[[PFC CSKA Sofia|CSKA Sofia]]
|[[1984–85 A Group|1984–85]]
|rowspan="6"|[[First Professional Football League (Bulgaria)|A Group]]
|11||0||3||0||colspan="2"|–||||||colspan="2"|–||14||0
|-
|[[1985–86 A Group|1985–86]]
|0||0||2||2||colspan="2"|–||||||colspan="2"|–||2||2
|-
|[[1986–87 A Group|1986–87]]
|25||6||2||0||colspan="2"|—||7{{efn|Appearances in [[UEFA Cup]]}}||1||colspan="2"|—||34||7
|-
|[[1987–88 A Group|1987–88]]
|27||14||4||4||colspan="2"|—||7{{efn|name=EC}}||5||colspan="2"|—||38||23
|-
|[[1988–89 A Group|1988–89]]
|26||23||7||3||colspan="2"|—||8{{efn|name=CWC}}||7||colspan="2"|—||41||33
|-
|[[1989–90 A Group|1989–90]]
|30||38||5||7||colspan="2"|—||3{{efn|name=EC}}||2||1{{efn|Appearance in [[Bulgarian Supercup]]}}||1||39||48
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!119!!81!!23!!16!!colspan="2"|—!!25!!16!!1!!1!!168!!113
|-
|rowspan="6"|[[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]]
|[[1990–91 FC Barcelona season|1990–91]]
|rowspan="5"|[[La Liga]]
|24||14||5||2||colspan="2"|—||8{{efn|name=CWC}}||6||1{{efn|name=SDE}}||0||38||22
|-
|[[1991–92 FC Barcelona season|1991–92]]
|32||17||1||1||colspan="2"|—||9{{efn|name=EC|Appearances in [[European Cup]]}}||4||1{{efn|name=SDE}}||0||43||22
|-
|[[1992–93 FC Barcelona season|1992–93]]
|34||20||4||0||colspan="2"|—||5{{efn|name=UCL|Appearances in [[UEFA Champions League]]}}||0||3{{efn|Two appearances and one goal in Supercopa de España, two appearances and one goal in [[UEFA Super Cup]], one appearance and one goal in [[Intercontinental Cup (football)|Intercontinental Cup]]}}||3||46||23
|-
|[[1993–94 FC Barcelona season|1993–94]]
|34||16||4||0||colspan="2"|—||8{{efn|name=UCL}}||7||2{{efn|name=SDE}}||1||48||24
|-
|[[1994–95 FC Barcelona season|1994–95]]
|27||9||2||2||colspan="2"|—||8{{efn|name=UCL}}||3||2{{efn|name=SDE}}||3||39||17
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!151!!76!!16!!5!!0!!0!!36!!20!!11!!7!!214!!108
|-
|[[Parma Calcio 1913|Parma]]
|[[1995–96 Parma AC season|1995–96]]
|[[Serie A]]
|23||5||2||0||colspan="2"|—||5{{efn|name=CWC|Appearances in [[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup]]}}||2||colspan="2"|—||30||7
|-
|rowspan="3"|Barcelona
|[[1996–97 FC Barcelona season|1996–97]]
|rowspan="2"|La Liga
|22||7||4||0||colspan="2"|—||7{{efn|name=CWC}}||0||2{{efn|name=SDE|Appearance(s) in [[Supercopa de España]]}}||1||35||8
|-
|[[1997–98 FC Barcelona season|1997–98]]
|2||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||2{{efn|name=UCL|Appearances in [[UEFA Champions League]]}}||1||1{{efn|Appearance in [[UEFA Super Cup]]}}||0||6||1
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!24!!7!!5!!0!!0!!0!!9!!1!!3!!1!!41!!9
|-
|CSKA Sofia
|[[1997–98 A Group|1997–98]]
|A Group
|4||2||1||1||colspan="2"|—||||||colspan="2"|—||5||3
|-
|[[Al-Nassr FC|Al-Nassr]]
|[[1997–98 Saudi Premier League|1997–98]]
|[[Saudi Pro League|Saudi Premier League]]
|||||||||||||2||1||colspan="2"|—||2||1
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Kashiwa Reysol]]
|[[1998 Kashiwa Reysol season|1998]]
|rowspan="2"|[[J1 League]]
|16||8||1||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||17||8
|-
|[[1999 Kashiwa Reysol season|1999]]
|11||4||0||0||1||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||12||5
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!27!!12!!1!!0!!1!!1!!colspan="2"|—!!colspan="2"|—!!29!!13
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[Chicago Fire Soccer Club|Chicago Fire]]
|[[2000 Major League Soccer season|2000]]
|rowspan="3"|[[Major League Soccer|MLS]]
|18||9||3||1||||||||||||||21||10
|-
|[[2001 Major League Soccer season|2001]]
|17||6||3||2||||||||||||||20||8
|-
|[[2002 Major League Soccer season|2002]]
|16||2||0||0||||||||||||||16||2
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!51!!17!!6!!3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!57!!23
|-
|[[D.C. United]]
|[[2003 D.C. United season|2003]]
|MLS
|21||5||3||1||||||||||||||24||6
|-
!colspan="3"|Total
!452!!219!!57!!26!!1!!1!!77!!40!!15!!9!!602!!294
|}
{{notelist}}

===International===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year<ref name="international_goals"/>
|-
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="13"|[[Bulgaria national football team|Bulgaria]]
|1987||3||0
|-
|1988||12||4
|-
|1989||8||1
|-
|1990||4||0
|-
|1991||3||2
|-
|1992||5||2
|-
|1993||6||4
|-
|1994||11||9
|-
|1995||7||7
|-
|1996||5||5
|-
|1997||4||1
|-
|1998||10||1
|-
|1999||5||1
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!83!!37
|}

:''Scores and results list Bulgaria's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Stoichkov goal.''<ref name="international_goals"/>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Hristo Stoichkov
|-
!scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date
!scope="col"|Venue
!scope="col"|Opponent
!scope="col"|Score
!scope="col"|Result
!scope="col"|Competition
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|1 || 21 January 1988 || [[Jassim bin Hamad Stadium]], [[Doha]], Qatar || {{fb|Qatar}} || style="text-align:center;"|3–2|| style="text-align:center;"|3–2 || [[Friendly (association football)|Friendly]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|2 || 9 August 1988 || [[Ullevaal Stadion]], [[Oslo]], Norway || {{fb|Norway}} || style="text-align:center;"|1–1 || style="text-align:center;"|1–1 || Friendly
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|3 || 24 August 1988 || [[Białystok Municipal Stadium|Stadion Hetman]], [[Białystok]], Poland || {{fb|Poland}} || style="text-align:center;"|1–3 || style="text-align:center;"|2–3 || Friendly
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|4 || 21 September 1988 || [[Vasil Levski National Stadium]], [[Sofia]], Bulgaria || {{fb|Soviet Union}} || style="text-align:center;"|2–2 || style="text-align:center;"|2–2 || Friendly
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|5 || 11 October 1989 || [[Yuri Gagarin Stadium]], [[Varna, Bulgaria]] || {{fb|Greece}} || style="text-align:center;"|4–0 || style="text-align:center;"|4–0 || [[1990 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 1|1990 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|6 || 25 September 1991 || Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria || {{fb|Italy}} || style="text-align:center;"|2–0 || style="text-align:center;"|2–1 || Friendly
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|7 || 16 October 1991 || Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria || {{fb|San Marino|1862}} || style="text-align:center;"|2–0 || style="text-align:center;"|4–0 || [[UEFA Euro 1992 qualifying Group 2|UEFA Euro 1992 qualifying]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|8 || 19 August 1992 || Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria || {{fb|Mexico}} || style="text-align:center;"|1–1 || style="text-align:center;"|1–1 || Friendly
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|9 || 9 September 1992 || Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria || {{fb|France}} || style="text-align:center;"|1–0 || style="text-align:center;"|2–0 || [[1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA – Group 6)|1994 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|10 || 28 April 1993 || Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria || {{fb|Finland}} || style="text-align:center;"|1–0 || style="text-align:center;"|2–0 || 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|11 || 12 May 1993 || Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria || {{fb|Israel}} || style="text-align:center;"|1–0 || style="text-align:center;"|2–2 || 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|12 || 8 September 1993 || Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria || {{fb|Sweden}} || style="text-align:center;"|1–0 || style="text-align:center;"|1–1 || 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|13 || 13 October 1993 || Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria || {{fb|Austria}} || style="text-align:center;"|2–0 || style="text-align:center;"|4–1 || 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|14 || rowspan="2"|26 June 1994 || rowspan="2"|[[Soldier Field]], [[Chicago]], United States || rowspan="2"|{{fb|Greece}} || style="text-align:center;"|1–0 || rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|4–0 || rowspan="2"|[[1994 FIFA World Cup]]
|- style="text-align:center;" 
||15 || style="text-align:center;"|2–0
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|16 || 30 June 1994 || [[Cotton Bowl (stadium)|Cotton Bowl]], [[Dallas]], United States || {{fb|Argentina}} || style="text-align:center;"|1–0 || style="text-align:center;"|2–0 || 1994 FIFA World Cup
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|17 || 5 July 1994 || [[Giants Stadium]], [[East Rutherford, New Jersey|East Rutherford]], United States || {{fb|Mexico}} || style="text-align:center;"|1–0 || style="text-align:center;"|1–1 (3–1 [[Penalty shoot-out (association football)|p.]] || 1994 FIFA World Cup
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|18 || 10 July 1994 || Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, United States || {{fb|Germany}} || style="text-align:center;"|1–1 || style="text-align:center;"|2–1 || 1994 FIFA World Cup
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|19 || 13 July 1994 || Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, United States || {{fb|Italy}} || style="text-align:center;"|1–2 || style="text-align:center;"|1–2 || 1994 FIFA World Cup
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|20 || rowspan="2"|16 November 1994 || rowspan="2"|Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria || rowspan="2"|{{fb|Moldova}} || style="text-align:center;"|1–0 || rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|4–1 || rowspan="2"|[[UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying Group 7|UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying]]
|- style="text-align:center;" 
||21 || style="text-align:center;"|3–1
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|22 || 14 December 1994 || [[Cardiff Arms Park|Arms Park]], [[Cardiff]], Wales || {{fb|Wales}} || style="text-align:center;"|3–0 || style="text-align:center;"|3–0 || UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|23 || rowspan="2"|26 April 1995 || rowspan="2"|[[Stadionul Republican]], [[Chișinău]], Moldova || rowspan="2"|{{fb|Moldova}} || style="text-align:center;"|2–0 || rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|3–0 || rowspan="2"|UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying
|- style="text-align:center;" 
||24 || style="text-align:center;"|3–0
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|25 || rowspan="2"|7 June 1995 || rowspan="2"|Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria || rowspan="2"|{{fb|Germany}} || style="text-align:center;"|1–2 || rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|3–2  || rowspan="2"|UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying
|- style="text-align:center;" 
||26 || style="text-align:center;"|2–2
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|27 || 6 September 1995 || [[Qemal Stafa Stadium]], [[Tirana]], Albania || {{fb|Albania|1992}} || style="text-align:center;"|1–0 || style="text-align:center;"|1–1 || UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|28 || 11 October 1995 || [[Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena|Boris Paichadze National Stadium]], [[Tbilisi]], Georgia || {{fb|Georgia|1990}} || style="text-align:center;"|1–2 || style="text-align:center;"|1–2 || UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|29 || 15 November 1995 || [[Olympiastadion (Berlin)|Olympiastadion]], [[Berlin]], Germany || {{fb|Germany}} || style="text-align:center;"|1–0 || style="text-align:center;"|1–3 || UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|30 || 28 May 1996 || Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria || {{fb|Macedonia}} || style="text-align:center;"|2–0 || style="text-align:center;"|3–0 || Friendly
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|31 || 2 June 1996 || Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria || {{fb|United Arab Emirates}} || style="text-align:center;"|2–0 || style="text-align:center;"|4–1 || Friendly
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|32 || 9 June 1996 || [[Elland Road]], [[Leeds]], England || {{fb|Spain}} || style="text-align:center;"|1–0 || style="text-align:center;"|1–1 || [[UEFA Euro 1996 Group B|UEFA Euro 1996]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|33 || 13 June 1996 || rowspan="2"|[[St James' Park]], [[Newcastle upon Tyne|Newcastle]], England || {{fb|Romania}} || style="text-align:center;"|1–0 || style="text-align:center;"|1–0 || UEFA Euro 1996
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|34 || 18 June 1996 || {{fb|France}} || style="text-align:center;"|1–2 || style="text-align:center;"|1–3 || UEFA Euro 1996
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|35 || 8 June 1997 || [[Lazur Stadium|Neftochimik Stadium]], [[Burgas]], Bulgaria || {{fb|Luxembourg}} || style="text-align:center;"|1–0 || style="text-align:center;"|4–0 || [[1998 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 5|1998 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|36 || 5 June 1998 || Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria || {{fb|Algeria}} || style="text-align:center;"|1–0 || style="text-align:center;"|2–0 || Friendly
|- style="background:#8fcfdf;"
| — || 19 February 1999 || [[Mong Kok Stadium]], [[Mong Kok]], Hong Kong || {{flagicon|Hong Kong}} [[Hong Kong League XI]] || style="text-align:center;"|1–0 || style="text-align:center;"|3–0 || [[1999 Lunar New Year Cup|Carlsberg Cup, considered unofficial friendly]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|37 || 31 March 1999 || [[Stade Josy Barthel]], [[Luxembourg City|Luxembourg]], Luxembourg || {{fb|Luxembourg}} || style="text-align:center;"|1–0 || style="text-align:center;"|2–0 || [[UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying Group 5|UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying]]
|}

==Managerial statistics==
{{updated|8 July 2013.}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|-
!rowspan="2"|Team
!rowspan="2"|From
!rowspan="2"|To
!rowspan="2"|Competition
!colspan="8"|Record
|-
!G
!W
!D
!L
!Win %
!GF
!GA
!GD
|-
| rowspan="3" style="text-align:left;"|[[Bulgaria national football team|Bulgaria]]
| rowspan="3" style="text-align:left;"|15 July 2004
| rowspan="3" style="text-align:left;"|10 April 2007
|align="left"|Competitive
{{WDL|15|6|6|3}}
|align="left"|24
|align="left"|20
|align="left"|+4
|-
|align="left"|Friendlies{{efn|Includes [[Kirin Cup]]}}
{{WDL|14|7|5|2}}
|align="left"|24
|align="left"|14
|align="left"|+10
|-
!Total
{{WDLtot|29|13|11|5}}
!align="left"|48
!align="left"|34
!align="left"|+14
|-
| rowspan="3" style="text-align:left;"|[[Celta de Vigo|Celta Vigo]]
| rowspan="3" style="text-align:left;"|April 2007
| rowspan="3" style="text-align:left;"|8 October 2007
|align="left"|League
{{WDL|16|7|1|8}}
|align="left"|18
|align="left"|22
|align="left"|–4
|-
|align="left"|[[Copa del Rey]]
{{WDL|1|0|0|1}}
|align="left"|1
|align="left"|2
|align="left"|–1
|-
!Total
{{WDLtot|17|7|1|9}}
!align="left"|19
!align="left"|24
!align="left"|–5
|-
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:left;"|[[Mamelodi Sundowns F.C.|Mamelodi Sundowns]]
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:left;"|29 June 2009
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:left;"|16 March 2010
|align="left"|[[Premier Soccer League]]
{{WDL|30|16|8|6}}
|align="left"|43
|align="left"|24
|align="left"|+19
|-
!Total
{{WDLtot|30|16|8|6}}
!align="left"|43
!align="left"|24
!align="left"|+19
|-
| rowspan="3" style="text-align:left;"|[[PFC Litex Lovech|Litex Lovech]]
| rowspan="3" style="text-align:left;"|5 January 2012
| rowspan="3" style="text-align:left;"|31 May 2013
|align="left"|[[Bulgarian A Professional Football Group]]
{{WDL|46|25|9|12}}
|align="left"|89
|align="left"|38
|align="left"|+51
|-
|align="left"|[[Bulgarian Cup]]
{{WDL|8|5|1|2}}
|align="left"|14
|align="left"|4
|align="left"|+10
|-
!Total
{{WDLtot|54|30|10|14}}
!align="left"|103
!align="left"|42
!align="left"|+61
|-
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:left;"|[[PFC CSKA Sofia|CSKA Sofia]]
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:left;"|5 June 2013
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:left;"|8 July 2013
|align="left"|Bulgarian A Professional Football Group
{{WDL|0|0|0|0}}
|align="left"|0
|align="left"|0
|align="left"|0
|-
!Total
{{WDLtot|0|0|0|0}}
!align="left"|0
!align="left"|0
!align="left"|0
|-
!rowspan="5" colspan="3"|Career totals
!League
{{WDLtot|92|48|18|26}}
!align="left"|150
!align="left"|84
!align="left"|+66
|-
!Cup
{{WDLtot|9|5|1|3}}
!align="left"|15
!align="left"|6
!align="left"|+9
|-
!Competitive
{{WDLtot|15|6|6|3}}
!align="left"|24
!align="left"|20
!align="left"|+4
|-
!Friendlies
{{WDLtot|14|7|5|2}}
!align="left"|24
!align="left"|14
!align="left"|+10
|-
!Total
{{WDLtot|130|66|30|34}}
!align="left"|213
!align="left"|124
!align="left"|+89
|}

==Honours==
===Player===
'''CSKA Sofia'''<ref name="FIFA"/>
*[[First Professional Football League (Bulgaria)|A Group]]: [[1986–87 A Group|1986–87]], [[1988–89 A Group|1988–89]], [[1989–90 A Group|1989–90]]
*[[Bulgarian Cup]]: [[1984–85 Bulgarian Cup|1984–85]], [[1986–87 Bulgarian Cup|1986–87]], [[1987–88 Bulgarian Cup|1987–88]], [[1988–89 Bulgarian Cup|1988–89]]
*[[Cup of the Soviet Army (1983–1990)|Soviet Army Cup]]: [[1985 Soviet Army Cup Final|1984-85]], 1985-86, 1988-89, [[1990 Soviet Army Cup Final|1989-90]]
*[[Bulgarian Supercup]]: [[1989 Bulgarian Supercup|1989]]

'''Barcelona'''<ref name="FIFA"/>
*[[La Liga]]: [[1990–91 La Liga|1990–91]], [[1991–92 La Liga|1991–92]], [[1992–93 La Liga|1992–93]], [[1993–94 La Liga|1993–94]], [[1997–98 La Liga|1997–98]]
*[[Copa del Rey]]: [[Copa del Rey|1996–97]], [[Copa del Rey|1997–98]]
*[[Supercopa de España]]: [[1991 Supercopa de España|1991]], [[1992 Supercopa de España|1992]], [[1994 Supercopa de España|1994]], [[1996 Supercopa de España|1996]];   Runner up:[[1990 Supercopa de España|1990]], [[1993 Supercopa de España|1993]], [[1997 Supercopa de España|1997]]
*[[UEFA Champions League]]: [[1991–92 European Cup|1991–92]];   Runner up: [[1993–94 European Cup|1993–94]]
*[[European Cup Winners' Cup]]: [[1996–97 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup|1996–97]];   Runner up: [[1990–91 European Cup Winners' Cup|1990–91]]
*[[UEFA Super Cup]]: [[1992 European Super Cup|1992]], [[1997 UEFA Super Cup|1997]]
*[[Intercontinental Cup (football)|Intercontinental Cup]]:   Runner up:[[1992 Intercontinental Cup|1992]]

'''Parma'''
* [[Supercoppa Italiana]]:   Runner up:[[1995 Supercoppa Italiana|1995]]

'''Al-Nassr'''
*[[Asian Cup Winners' Cup]]: [[1997–98 Asian Cup Winners' Cup|1997–98]]

'''Kashiwa Reysol'''
*[[Japan Soccer League Cup]] / [[J.League Cup]]: [[1999 J.League Cup|1999]]

'''Chicago Fire'''
*[[U.S. Open Cup]]: [[2000 U.S. Open Cup|2000]]
*[[Central Division (MLS)|Central Division]]: 2000, 2001
*[[MLS Cup 2000]]: Runner-up

'''Bulgaria'''<ref name="FIFA"/>
*[[FIFA World Cup]] Semi-finals (4th place):<ref>{{cite web|url = https://blazingbulgaria.wordpress.com/2012/05/16/usa-94-the-bronze-summer-of-bulgarias-golden-boys/amp/|title = USA '94: The "Bronze Summer" of Bulgaria's Golden Boys|date = 16 May 2012|access-date = 6 September 2019|archive-date = 1 August 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200801170405/https://blazingbulgaria.wordpress.com/2012/05/16/usa-94-the-bronze-summer-of-bulgarias-golden-boys/amp/|url-status = live}}</ref> [[1994 FIFA World Cup|1994]] Bronze Medal

'''Individual'''
*[[Ballon d'Or]]: [[1994 Ballon d'Or|1994]]<ref name="FIFA"/>
*[[European Golden Shoe]]: 1990<ref name="FIFA"/>
*[[European Cup Winners' Cup|European Cup Winners' Cup Top Scorer]]: 1989<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec1tops.html|title=Champions Cup/Champions League Topscorers|author1=Roberto Di Maggio|author2=Roberto Mamrud|author3=Jarek Owsianski|author4=Davide Rota|date=11 June 2015|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=22 December 2015|archive-date=20 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920173000/https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec1tops.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
*[[UEFA Men's Player of the Year Award]] / [[Onze d'Or]]: 1992<ref name="Onze Mondial Awards">{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/onze-awards.html|title="Onze Mondial" Awards: Onze de Onze 1976-2011|author1=José Luis Pierrend|date=6 March 2012|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=14 September 2015|archive-date=24 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180924125510/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/onze-awards.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
*[[Allgemeiner Deutscher Nachrichtendienst|ADN Eastern European Footballer of the Season]]: 1992, 1994<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ukrfootball.ua/news/albert-dzhayich-blohin-stoyichkov-levandovski-shcho-spilnogo |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304200112/http://ukrfootball.ua/news/albert-dzhayich-blohin-stoyichkov-levandovski-shcho-spilnogo |url-status=dead |archive-date=2016-03-04 |website=WebArchive |title=Eastern European Footballer of the season|access-date=5 July 2024 }}</ref>
*[[Don Balón Award]] Best Foreign Player in La Liga: 1993-94<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/spanpoy.html|title=Spain - Footballer of the Year|author1=Emilio Pla Diaz|date=21 January 2016|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=9 February 2016|archive-date=10 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210110170523/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/spanpoy.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
*[[IFFHS World's Top Goal Scorer]]: 1994<ref name="IFFHS">{{cite web |title=IFFHS: Former Results |publisher=IFFHS |url=http://iffhs.de/index.php/former-results/ |access-date=27 August 2015 |archive-date=23 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150823073109/http://iffhs.de/index.php/former-results/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
*[[UEFA Men's Player of the Year Award]] / [[Onze d'Or|Onze d'Argent]]: 1994<ref name="Onze Mondial Awards"/>
*[[FIFA World Player of the Year]]: Runner-up: 1992,<ref name="FIFA"/> 1994<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20151125051338/http://www.fifa.com/ballon-dor/history/edition=1994/overview.html "Award rounds off Romario's perfect year"]. FIFA.com. Retrieved 24 November 2015</ref><ref name="rsssf.com">{{cite web|author1=José Luis Pierrend |title=FIFA Awards |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/fifa-awards.html |access-date=9 February 2016 |date=28 January 2016 |url-status=live |website=[[RSSSF]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112042845/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/fifa-awards.html |archive-date=12 January 2016}}</ref>
*[[FIFA World Cup]] [[Adidas Golden Shoe|Golden Shoe]]: [[1994 FIFA World Cup|1994]]<ref name="FIFA"/>
*[[FIFA World Cup]] [[Golden Ball (FIFA)|Bronze Ball]]: [[1994 FIFA World Cup|1994]]<ref name="rsssf.com"/>
*[[FIFA World Cup]] [[FIFA World Cup All-Star Team|All-Star Team]]: [[1994 FIFA World Cup|1994]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/07/16/sports/world-cup-94-romario-and-baggio-among-first-all-star-cast.html|title=WORLD CUP '94; Romario and Baggio Among First All-Star Cast|work=The New York Times|date=16 July 1994|access-date=27 May 2015|archive-date=7 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180507132608/https://www.nytimes.com/1994/07/16/sports/world-cup-94-romario-and-baggio-among-first-all-star-cast.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
*[[Bulgarian Footballer of the Year]](5): 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994
*[[Bulgarian A Football Group|A Group Top scorer]](2): [[1988–89 A Group|1988–89]], [[1989–90 A Group|1989–90]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesb/bulgtops.html|title=Bulgaria - List of Topscorers|author1=Roberto Di Maggio|date=25 June 2015|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=9 February 2016|archive-date=2 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221002084539/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesb/bulgtops.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
*[[Bulgarian Sportsperson of the Year]]: 1994
*[[UEFA Euro 1996#Awards|UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament]]: [[UEFA Euro 1996#Awards|1996]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/news/newsid=1623858.html|title=UEFA Euro 1980 team of the tournament|website=uefa.com|publisher=UEFA|date=1 July 2011|access-date=27 March 2015|archive-date=2 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402041011/http://www.uefa.com/news/newsid=1623858.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
*[[MLS Best XI]]: 2000
*The Era of the 'Dream Team' (1988-1996) - Barcelona Legend<ref>{{cite web |title=Legendary Players - FC Barcelona Official Channel |url=https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/club/history/legendary-players |website=www.fcbarcelona.com |language=en |access-date=27 January 2023 |archive-date=6 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221006000919/https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/club/history/legendary-players |url-status=live }}</ref>
*[[World Soccer players of the 20th century|''World Soccer'''s 100 Greatest Players of the 20th Century]]: 2000<ref name="World Soccer Players of the Century">{{cite web|url=http://www.englandfootballonline.com/TeamHons/HonsWldSocPlyrsCent.html|title=World Soccer Players of the Century|publisher=World Soccer|access-date=29 August 2014|archive-date=4 April 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210404034430/http://www.englandfootballonline.com/TeamHons/HonsWldSocPlyrsCent.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
*[[UEFA Jubilee Awards]] – [[UEFA Jubilee Awards|Greatest Bulgarian Footballer of the last 50 Years]]: 2004<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/association=bul/news/newsid=143204.html|title=Stoichkov, one of a kind for Bulgaria|publisher=UEFA.com|author1=Stoyan Georgiev|date=21 January 2011|access-date=9 February 2016|archive-date=21 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170321122846/http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/association=bul/news/newsid=143204.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
*[[FIFA 100]]: 2004<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/international/2374252/Pele-open-to-ridicule-over-top-hundred.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/international/2374252/Pele-open-to-ridicule-over-top-hundred.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Pele open to ridicule over top hundred|publisher=The Telegraph|author1=Christopher Davies|date=5 March 2004|access-date=9 July 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
*[[Golden Foot]]: 2007, as football legend<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goldenfoot.com/legends.php?l=en |title=Legends |publisher=Golden Foot |access-date=23 September 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925120930/http://www.goldenfoot.com/legends.php?l=en |archive-date=25 September 2015}}</ref>
* [[Sport Movies & TV – Milano International FICTS Fest]] - [[FICTS (Fédération Internationale Cinéma Télévision Sportifs)|FICTS "Hall of Fame"]]: 2013
*[[UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador]] - [[UNESCO Champion for Sport]]: 2016<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/bulgarian-football-legend-hristo-stoichkov-designated-unesco-champion-sport |title=UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador - UNESCO Champion for Sport |access-date=25 January 2023 |archive-date=4 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230104094959/https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/bulgarian-football-legend-hristo-stoichkov-designated-unesco-champion-sport |url-status=live }}</ref>
*[[IFFHS]]: 2019, as football legend<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.iffhs.com/legends/2/men |title=IFFHS 2019, as football legend |access-date=25 January 2023 |archive-date=25 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125092034/https://www.iffhs.com/legends/2/men |url-status=live }}</ref>
*[[FourFourTwo]] - The 50 greatest Barcelona players of all time: 2022<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/ranked-the-50-greatest-barcelona-players-of-all-time |title=FourFourTwo - The 50 greatest Barcelona players of all time |access-date=25 January 2023 |archive-date=12 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230512192906/https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/ranked-the-50-greatest-barcelona-players-of-all-time |url-status=live }}</ref>
*[[FourFourTwo]] - The 100 best football players of all time: 2022<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/ranked-the-100-best-football-players-of-all-time |title=FourFourTwo - The 100 best football players of all time |access-date=25 January 2023 |archive-date=11 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221011152733/https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/ranked-the-100-best-football-players-of-all-time |url-status=live }}</ref>

'''Records'''
*All-time the only Football Player won Edition of the [[European Cup Winners' Cup]] and [[Asian Cup Winners' Cup]].
*All-time Top Scorer in the Bulgarian [[First Professional Football League]] with 38 league goals in 30 games - season [[1989–90 A Group|1989–90]].
*All-time FC Barcelona player with most red cards in the history (10 Red cards).<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://fcbarcelonalatestnews.com/barcelona-players-with-most-red-cards/ |title=All-time FC Barcelona player with most red cards in the history |access-date=27 January 2023 |archive-date=27 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127054000/https://fcbarcelonalatestnews.com/barcelona-players-with-most-red-cards/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Manager===
'''Mamelodi Sundowns'''
*[[Premier Soccer League]] runner-up: [[2009–10 Premier Soccer League|2009–10]]

'''Individual'''
*[[Premier Soccer League]]: Coach of the Month: December 2009<ref>{{cite news|url=http://goal.com/en/news/1659/south-africa/2010/01/15/1745621/mamelodi-sundowns-hristo-stoichkov-and-katlego-mphela-win|title=Hristo Stoichkov and Katlego Mphela were awarded PSL Coach and Player of the month|date=9 October 2009|access-date=15 January 2010|archive-date=22 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140122074838/http://www.goal.com/en/news/1659/south-africa/2010/01/15/1745621/mamelodi-sundowns-hristo-stoichkov-and-katlego-mphela-win|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Further honours===
*In November 2003, to celebrate [[UEFA]]'s Jubilee, he was selected as the [[UEFA Jubilee Awards|Golden Player]] of Bulgaria by the [[Bulgarian Football Union]] as their most outstanding player of the past 50 years.<ref>[http://www.uefa.com/news/newsid=130150.html Golden Players take centre stage] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120524213938/http://www.uefa.com/news/newsid=130150.html |date=24 May 2012 }}. UEFA (29 November 2003).</ref>
*In 2011 he was named honorary consul of Bulgaria in Barcelona. In October 2017 he was removed from the position on the request of the Spanish government over his criticisms of this government (especially the deputy prime minister, [[Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría]]) in relation with the [[2017 Catalan independence referendum|Catalan independence referendum]], as well as the fact that he lives mainly in the United States.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bnr.bg/en/post/100882686/hristo-stoichkov-will-no-longer-be-bulgarias-honorary-consul-to-barcelona. |title= Hristo Stoichkov will no longer be Bulgaria's honorary consul to Barcelona - News|website=bnr.bg |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180302225338/http://bnr.bg/en/post/100882686/hristo-stoichkov-will-no-longer-be-bulgarias-honorary-consul-to-barcelona |archive-date=2 March 2018}}</ref>

==== Barcelona (official) ====
# [[Copa Generalitat]]: 1991, 1993
# Trofeo Ciudad de La Línea: 1991
# [[Trofeo Ciudad de Marbella]]: 1993
# [[Teresa Herrera Trophy]]: 1990, 1993
# Trofeo Ciudad de Oviedo: 1996
# [[Joan Gamper Trophy]]: 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997

==Notes==
{{notelist|30em}}

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
*{{Commons category-inline|Hristo Stoichkov}}
*{{official website|http://www.cmgww.com/sports/stoitchkov/}}
*{{FIFA player}}
*{{NFT player}}
*{{J.League player}}
*[https://www.jleague.jp/video/detail/2707/ Stoichkov`s goal (FK)] J.League official
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090127055029/http://www.barcamania.com/materials/50.html Hristo Stoichkov on BarcaMania.com]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080711190008/http://www.libroelocho.com/ Autobiography]
*[http://www.expertfootball.com/players/stoichkov/ Stoichkov] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120830185254/http://expertfootball.com/players/stoichkov/ |date=30 August 2012 }} Profile, stats and news
*[http://www.uefa.com/uefa/history/associationweeks/association=20/newsId=143204.html UEFA.com – Golden Player of Bulgaria]

{{Navboxes
|title = Bulgaria squads
|bg = white
|fg = darkgreen
|bordercolor = darkgreen
|list1 =
{{Bulgaria squad 1994 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Bulgaria squad UEFA Euro 1996}}
{{Bulgaria squad 1998 FIFA World Cup}}
}}
{{Navboxes
|bg = gold
|fg = navy
|title = Awards
|list1 =
{{1994 FIFA World Cup Team of the Tournament}}
{{UEFA Euro 1996 Team of the Tournament}}
{{FIFA World Cup Golden Boot}}
{{Ballon d'Or recipients}}
{{Onze Mondial European Footballer of the Year}}
{{La Liga Foreign Player of the Year}}
{{Bulgarian Footballer of the Year}}
{{Bulgarian Sportsperson}}
{{BTA Best Balkan Athlete of the Year}}
{{European Golden Shoe}}
{{UEFA Cup Winners' Cup top scorers}}
{{Bulgarian A Professional Football Group top scorers}}
{{IFFHS World's Best International Top Goal Scorer}}
{{FIFA 100}}
{{UEFA Jubilee Awards}}
{{Golden Foot Legends Award}}
{{2000 MLS Best XI}}
}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Managerial positions
|list1 =
{{Bulgaria national football team managers}}
{{Celta de Vigo managers}}
{{PFC Litex Lovech managers}}
{{PFC CSKA Sofia managers}}
}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stoichkov, Hristo}}
[[Category:1966 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Footballers from Plovdiv]]
[[Category:Bulgarian men's footballers]]
[[Category:Men's association football forwards]]
[[Category:FC Maritsa Plovdiv players]]
[[Category:PFC CSKA Sofia players]]
[[Category:FC Barcelona players]]
[[Category:Parma Calcio 1913 players]]
[[Category:Al Nassr FC players]]
[[Category:Kashiwa Reysol players]]
[[Category:Chicago Fire FC players]]
[[Category:D.C. United players]]
[[Category:First Professional Football League (Bulgaria) players]]
[[Category:La Liga players]]
[[Category:Serie A players]]
[[Category:Saudi Pro League players]]
[[Category:J1 League players]]
[[Category:Major League Soccer players]]
[[Category:UEFA Champions League–winning players]]
[[Category:Ballon d'Or winners]]
[[Category:Catalonia men's international guest footballers]]
[[Category:Bulgaria men's international footballers]]
[[Category:1994 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 1996 players]]
[[Category:1998 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:UEFA Golden Players]]
[[Category:FIFA 100]]
[[Category:Bulgarian expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Bulgarian expatriate sportspeople in Spain]]
[[Category:Bulgarian expatriate sportspeople in Italy]]
[[Category:Bulgarian expatriate sportspeople in Saudi Arabia]]
[[Category:Bulgarian expatriate sportspeople in Japan]]
[[Category:Bulgarian expatriate sportspeople in the United States]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Spain]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Italy]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Saudi Arabia]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Japan]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States]]
[[Category:Bulgarian football managers]]
[[Category:FC Barcelona non-playing staff]]
[[Category:Bulgaria national football team managers]]
[[Category:RC Celta de Vigo managers]]
[[Category:Mamelodi Sundowns F.C. managers]]
[[Category:PFC Litex Lovech managers]]
[[Category:PFC CSKA Sofia managers]]
[[Category:La Liga managers]]
[[Category:Bulgarian expatriate football managers]]
[[Category:Bulgarian expatriate sportspeople in South Africa]]
[[Category:Expatriate football managers in Spain]]
[[Category:Expatriate soccer managers in South Africa]]
[[Category:Honorary consuls of Bulgaria]]