Krassimir Balakov
Encyclopedia
Krasimir Genchev Balakov (born 29 March 1966) is a former Bulgaria
n footballer
and a current manager of Croatian club Hajduk Split
. He was a key member of the Bulgarian national team
that finished fourth in the 1994 FIFA World Cup
. After Hristo Stoichkov
, he is considered the greatest Bulgarian footballer of his generation.
, before transferring to Portugal
's Sporting in 1990, where he won the 1994–95 Portuguese Cup. In 1995, he transferred to Germany
's VfB Stuttgart
where he won two UEFA Intertoto Cup
s (2000 and 2002) and a German Cup (1997), before retiring in 2003.
. He stayed at this position for two years before deciding to become a player-manager at VFC Plauen
. In the 2006–07 season he agreed to coach Grasshoppers
. After a one year coaching spell at FC St. Gallen
and a two year spell at Chernomorets Burgas, he joined Croatian giants Hajduk Split. He gained reputation there as a strict man, but a good tactician.
, he also played for his country at Euro 96
and the 1998 FIFA World Cup
.
to replace Hanspeter Latour
who left for 1. FC Köln
.
Balakov managed to win the Intertoto Cup thus qualified the club to the UEFA Cup
for 2006–07 season. He had been appointed on 29 October 2007 as a manager of FC St. Gallen
to replace Rolf Fringer. Three days before the season ended, he was fired by the club management. In December 2008 he became manager of PFC Chernomorets Burgas
in his homeland. On 6 December 2010, he was released from PFC Chernomorets Burgas
after mutual consent, following a change in the long-term vision for the club by the owner Mitko Sabev
. On 27 May 2011, it was announced that Balakov will take over the helm of Croatian club Hajduk Split
.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
and a current manager of Croatian club Hajduk Split
HNK Hajduk Split
HNK Hajduk Split, commonly referred to as Hajduk Split or simply Hajduk, is a Croatian football club founded in 1911 and based in the city of Split. The club's home ground since 1979 is the 35,000-seater Poljud Stadium and the team's traditional home colours are white shirts with blue shorts and...
. He was a key member of the Bulgarian national team
Bulgaria national football team
The FIFA Bulgaria national football team is an association football team fielded by the Bulgarian Football Union, a member association of UEFA. The team's home ground is Vasil Levski in Sofia and Luboslav Penev is in charge manager after replacement of Lothar Matthäus...
that finished fourth in the 1994 FIFA World Cup
1994 FIFA World Cup
The 1994 FIFA World Cup, the 15th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in nine cities across the United States from June 17 to July 17, 1994. The United States was chosen as the host by FIFA on July 4, 1988...
. After Hristo Stoichkov
Hristo Stoichkov
Hristo Stoichkov Stoichkov , sometimes Stoitchkov; born 8 February 1966 in Plovdiv) is a retired Bulgarian footballer. He is regarded as one of the best footballers of his generation and the greatest Bulgarian footballer of all time. Nicknamed The Dagger , The Dog , The Modern Left...
, he is considered the greatest Bulgarian footballer of his generation.
Club career
Balakov began his club career at the local Etar Veliko TarnovoF.C. Etar
Football Club Etar was a Bulgarian professional association football club from Veliko Tarnovo. Founded on 24 April 1924, the club spent most of its history in the Bulgarian A PFG....
, before transferring to Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
's Sporting in 1990, where he won the 1994–95 Portuguese Cup. In 1995, he transferred to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
's VfB Stuttgart
VfB Stuttgart
Verein für Bewegungsspiele Stuttgart 1893 e. V., commonly known as VfB Stuttgart, is a German sports club based in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg. The club is best known for its football team, which has participated in all but two Bundesliga seasons...
where he won two UEFA Intertoto Cup
UEFA Intertoto Cup
The UEFA Intertoto Cup, also abbreviated as UI Cup and originally called the International Football Cup, was a summer football competition for European clubs that had not qualified for one of the two major UEFA competitions, the Champions League and the UEFA Cup. The competition was discontinued...
s (2000 and 2002) and a German Cup (1997), before retiring in 2003.
Coaching career
The year after he retired, Krasimir became assistant coach of the club he had just retired from, VfB StuttgartVfB Stuttgart
Verein für Bewegungsspiele Stuttgart 1893 e. V., commonly known as VfB Stuttgart, is a German sports club based in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg. The club is best known for its football team, which has participated in all but two Bundesliga seasons...
. He stayed at this position for two years before deciding to become a player-manager at VFC Plauen
VFC Plauen
VFC Plauen is a German association football club from the city of Plauen, Saxony.-History:The club was founded as 1. Vogtländischer Fußballclub Plauen and took part in the competition of the VMFV...
. In the 2006–07 season he agreed to coach Grasshoppers
Grasshoppers
Grasshoppers are insects of the suborder Caelifera.Grasshoppers may also refer to:* Grasshopper , a Hong Kong-based musical group* Grasshopper Club Zürich, a Swiss football club...
. After a one year coaching spell at FC St. Gallen
FC St. Gallen
Football Club St. Gallen 1879 is a Swiss football club based in St. Gallen. The club is currently playing in the 2011/12 Swiss Challenge League.-Brief history:...
and a two year spell at Chernomorets Burgas, he joined Croatian giants Hajduk Split. He gained reputation there as a strict man, but a good tactician.
International
Balakov made 92 appearances for Bulgaria, between 1988 and 2003 (one of the best totals in national history) and scored 16 goals. Other than the 1994 FIFA World Cup1994 FIFA World Cup
The 1994 FIFA World Cup, the 15th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in nine cities across the United States from June 17 to July 17, 1994. The United States was chosen as the host by FIFA on July 4, 1988...
, he also played for his country at Euro 96
1996 UEFA European Football Championship
The 1996 UEFA European Football Championship was hosted by England, who won the right to host the tournament ahead of bids from Austria, Portugal and the Netherlands. It was the tenth European Football Championship, which is held every four years and endorsed by UEFA. It was the first to use the...
and the 1998 FIFA World Cup
1998 FIFA World Cup
The 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th FIFA World Cup, was held in France from 10 June to 12 July 1998. France was chosen as host nation by FIFA on 2 July 1992. The tournament was won by France, who beat Brazil 3-0 in the final...
.
Honours
- 1994 FIFA World Cup1994 FIFA World CupThe 1994 FIFA World Cup, the 15th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in nine cities across the United States from June 17 to July 17, 1994. The United States was chosen as the host by FIFA on July 4, 1988...
4th place - UEFA Cup Winners' CupUEFA Cup Winners' CupThe UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
finalist: 1998 - BundesligaFußball-BundesligaThe Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
runner-up: 2003 - DFB-PokalDFB-PokalThe DFB-Pokal or DFB Cup is a German knockout football cup competition held annually. 64 teams participate in the competition, including all clubs from the Bundesliga and the 2nd Bundesliga. It is considered the second most important national title in German football after the Bundesliga...
winner: 1997 - DFB-LigapokalDFB-LigapokalThe DFB-Ligapokal, or German League Cup, was a German football competition that took place before the start of the Bundesliga season, featuring the top five teams of the previous Fußball-Bundesliga season and the winners of the DFB-Pokal in Germany...
finalist: 1997, 1998 - Portuguese Cup winner: 1995
- FIFA World Cup All Star Team: 1994
Coaching career
He had been appointed on 16 January 2006 as a manager of Grasshopper-Club ZürichGrasshopper-Club Zürich
Grasshopper Club Zürich commonly referred to as simply GC, GCZ, or Grasshopper is a Swiss multisports club based in Zürich. The oldest and best known section of Grasshopper Club Zürich is its football team...
to replace Hanspeter Latour
Hanspeter Latour
Hanspeter Latour is a Swiss football manager and former goalkeeper.- Coach career :He has vast experience as a manager, having coached at the professional level for over thirty years in both Germany and his native Switzerland....
who left for 1. FC Köln
1. FC Köln
1. FC Köln is a German association football club based in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia. It was formed in 1948 as a merger of the clubs Kölner Ballspiel-Club 1901 and SpVgg Sülz 07....
.
Balakov managed to win the Intertoto Cup thus qualified the club to the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
for 2006–07 season. He had been appointed on 29 October 2007 as a manager of FC St. Gallen
FC St. Gallen
Football Club St. Gallen 1879 is a Swiss football club based in St. Gallen. The club is currently playing in the 2011/12 Swiss Challenge League.-Brief history:...
to replace Rolf Fringer. Three days before the season ended, he was fired by the club management. In December 2008 he became manager of PFC Chernomorets Burgas
PFC Chernomorets Burgas
PSFC Chernomorets Burgas or simply Chernomorets is a Bulgarian football club from the city of Burgas, which currently competes in Bulgaria's top football league, the A PFG. The club was restored in 2005 by the local municipality and is the official successor of the traditions and successes of the...
in his homeland. On 6 December 2010, he was released from PFC Chernomorets Burgas
PFC Chernomorets Burgas
PSFC Chernomorets Burgas or simply Chernomorets is a Bulgarian football club from the city of Burgas, which currently competes in Bulgaria's top football league, the A PFG. The club was restored in 2005 by the local municipality and is the official successor of the traditions and successes of the...
after mutual consent, following a change in the long-term vision for the club by the owner Mitko Sabev
Mitko Sabev
Mitko Sabev , is a Bulgarian businessman.Sabev graduated from the higher naval school "Nikola Vaptsarov" in Varna, and then served as chief of the Bulgarian maritime fleet. Co-founder and manager on the "Festa Holding". He is also CEO of Yukos Petroleum Bulgaria Plc and Chairman of the Supervisory...
. On 27 May 2011, it was announced that Balakov will take over the helm of Croatian club Hajduk Split
HNK Hajduk Split
HNK Hajduk Split, commonly referred to as Hajduk Split or simply Hajduk, is a Croatian football club founded in 1911 and based in the city of Split. The club's home ground since 1979 is the 35,000-seater Poljud Stadium and the team's traditional home colours are white shirts with blue shorts and...
.