Nikola Kotkov
Encyclopedia
Nikola Todorov Kotkov (9 December 1938–30 June 1971), nicknamed Koteto (Котето, "The Kitten
") was a Bulgaria
n footballer
who played as a striker
.
Born in the capital Sofia
, Kotkov started his football career as a PFC Lokomotiv Sofia
trainee and went on to spend much of his career (1956–1969) with the club, winning the Bulgarian Championship in 1964. He then moved to PFC Levski Sofia
, for whom he played until his death in 1971. Kotkov died together with his friend and teammate Georgi Asparuhov
in a traffic accident in the Vitinya Pass of the Balkan Mountains
, en route to Vratsa
. With Levski, Kotkov became once again champion in 1970, winning the Bulgarian Cup
the same year
.
Kotkov played a total of 322 matches and scored 163 goals in the Bulgarian Championship and was given the Bulgarian Footballer of the Year
award in 1964. For the Bulgaria national team
, he had 26 caps and scored 12 goals, taking part in the 1966 FIFA World Cup
in England
.
A fans' favourite noted for his fair play, Kotkov was known for his remarkable technique, pinpoint passing and skilful free kick taking.
Kitten
A kitten is a juvenile domesticated cat.The young of big cats are called cubs rather than kittens. Either term may be used for the young of smaller wild felids such as ocelots, caracals, and lynx, but "kitten" is usually more common for these species....
") was a Bulgaria
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...
who played as a striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
.
Born in the capital Sofia
Sofia
Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...
, Kotkov started his football career as a PFC Lokomotiv Sofia
PFC Lokomotiv Sofia
PFC Lokomotiv Sofia is a Bulgarian football club from the capital city of Sofia, which currently competes in Bulgaria's top football league, the A PFG. It was founded on September 2, 1929 by a group of railway workers under the name Railway Sports Club . The club's home ground is the Lokomotiv...
trainee and went on to spend much of his career (1956–1969) with the club, winning the Bulgarian Championship in 1964. He then moved to PFC Levski Sofia
PFC Levski Sofia
"Levski Sofia" redirects here. For the sports club, see Levski Sofia .PFC Levski Sofia, otherwise simply known as Levski or Levski Sofia, is a professional football club based in Sofia, Bulgaria...
, for whom he played until his death in 1971. Kotkov died together with his friend and teammate Georgi Asparuhov
Georgi Asparuhov
Georgi Rangelov Asparuhov , nicknamed Gundi was a Bulgarian football player. He is considered to be among the top Bulgarian footballers of all time....
in a traffic accident in the Vitinya Pass of the Balkan Mountains
Balkan Mountains
The Balkan mountain range is a mountain range in the eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula. The Balkan range runs 560 km from the Vrashka Chuka Peak on the border between Bulgaria and eastern Serbia eastward through central Bulgaria to Cape Emine on the Black Sea...
, en route to Vratsa
Vratsa
Vratsa is a city in northwestern Bulgaria, at the foothills of the Balkan Mountains. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous Vratsa Province. As of February 2011, the town has a population of 60,482 inhabitants....
. With Levski, Kotkov became once again champion in 1970, winning the Bulgarian Cup
Bulgarian Cup
The Bulgarian Cup is a Bulgarian annual football competition. It is the country's main cup competition and all officially registered Bulgarian football teams take part in it. It is sponsored by the Bulgarian Corporate Commercial Bank....
the same year
The Double
The Double is a term in association football which refers to winning a country's top tier division and its primary cup competition in the same season...
.
Kotkov played a total of 322 matches and scored 163 goals in the Bulgarian Championship and was given the Bulgarian Footballer of the Year
Bulgarian Footballer of the Year
Bulgarian Footballer of the Year is an annual title awarded to the best Bulgarian football player of the year. The award has been given since 1961, and the winner is elected by authorized journalists from the leading Bulgarian media....
award in 1964. For the Bulgaria 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...
, he had 26 caps and scored 12 goals, taking part in the 1966 FIFA World Cup
1966 FIFA World Cup
The 1966 FIFA World Cup, the eighth staging of the World Cup, was held in England from 11 July to 30 July. England beat West Germany 4–2 in the final, winning the World Cup for the first time, so becoming the first host to win the tournament since Italy in 1934.-Host selection:England was chosen as...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
A fans' favourite noted for his fair play, Kotkov was known for his remarkable technique, pinpoint passing and skilful free kick taking.
Statistics
- National teams — 59 matches, 33 goals
- Bulgarian championship — 322 matches, 163 goals — 286/145 for Lokomotiv, 45/25 for Levski
- European club tournaments — 11 matches, 10 goals — CEC-6, CWC-5
- First match — with Lokomotiv Sofia 1956
- Last match — with Levski against CSKA — 28 June 1971
- All - 392 matches, 206 goals
Honours
- Champion of Bulgaria — 2 times, 1964 with Lokomotiv and 1970 with Levski
- Holder of the National Cup — 2 times 1970, 1971 (posthumously) with Levski
- Bulgarian Footballer of the YearBulgarian Footballer of the YearBulgarian Footballer of the Year is an annual title awarded to the best Bulgarian football player of the year. The award has been given since 1961, and the winner is elected by authorized journalists from the leading Bulgarian media....
— 1964 - Holder of an Order of Labour - 1970
- Deserved Master of Sports
- 25th place in the Golden BallGolden BallGolden Ball may refer to:In sport:*Ballon d'Or , award given to the best football player of the year by France Football magazine*Golden Ball Award, award given to the best player of the FIFA World Cup...
quiz — 1967