Petar Mihtarski
Encyclopedia
Petar Sotirov Mihtarski is a retired Bulgaria
n footballer who played as a striker.
, Mihtarski spent the first 13 years of his career (youth years included) with local FC Pirin
, making his first-team - and first division
- debuts in 1982–83, appearing in eight games and scoring four goals in an eventual relegation. He went on to score in double digits in five of the following six seasons.
In the 1989 summer, Mihtarski signed for country giants PFC Levski Sofia
, netting 24 times in his debut season, and winning one Bulgarian Cup
during his two-year spell. Subsequently, he joined F.C. Porto in Portugal
, being barred by countryman Emil Kostadinov
for most of his stay, and also being loaned twice to fellow top division outfit F.C. Famalicão
; in his first year, however, he did manage five goals in only 11 games as the northerners
won the national championship for the third time in five years.
In February 1994, Mihtarski was released by Porto and rejoined FC Pirin, netting five goals in three-months to help the club retain its top flight status. He then joined PFC CSKA Sofia
, equalling a career-best 24 goals in the 1994–95 season, best in the competition but not good enough for the national title, as former team Levski won the championship with CSKA ranking only fifth.
Mihtarski moved abroad again in January 1996, going on to spend the following one 1/2 seasons without finding the net, for both RCD Mallorca
in Spain
and Vfl Wolfsburg
, with both teams in their respective countries' second division. After two more years with Pirin, he retired from the game at the age of 35 winning the first and only Bulgarian championship of his career, with Levski, albeit appearing sparingly.
and Hristo Stoitchkov, Mihtarski only gained eight caps
for Bulgaria
in six years (no goals), his debut coming in 1989.
He was part of the team that reached the semi-finals of the 1994 FIFA World Cup
in the United States
, but his input in the competition consisted of one minute in the penalty shootout win against Mexico
in the round of 16.
finals. The first was Milko Gaydarski
in 1970
.
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 who played as a striker.
Club career
Born in BlagoevgradBlagoevgrad
Blagoevgrad is а city in southwestern Bulgaria, the administrative centre of Blagoevgrad Province, with a population of about 74,302 . It lies on the banks of the Blagoevgradska Bistritsa River....
, Mihtarski spent the first 13 years of his career (youth years included) with local FC Pirin
FC Pirin Blagoevgrad
FC Pirin Blagoevgrad is a Bulgarian football club from the town of Blagoevgrad, which currently competes in the Bulgarian fourth division.The club was founded in 2008, after the union of the two clubs from Blagoevgrad - Pirin and PFC Pirin Blagoevgrad...
, making his first-team - and first division
Bulgarian A Professional Football Group
The Bulgarian A Professional Football Group commonly known as A PFG is the top division of the Bulgarian football league system. The league is sponsored by Victoria FATA Insurance and therefore is officially known as Victoria A Football Group since 2011...
- debuts in 1982–83, appearing in eight games and scoring four goals in an eventual relegation. He went on to score in double digits in five of the following six seasons.
In the 1989 summer, Mihtarski signed for country giants 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...
, netting 24 times in his debut season, and winning one 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....
during his two-year spell. Subsequently, he joined F.C. Porto in 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...
, being barred by countryman Emil Kostadinov
Emil Kostadinov
Emil Lubtchov Kostadinov is a former Bulgarian football striker, former member of the Bulgaria national team for which he played in two World Cups. He shares his birthdate with another legendary Bulgarian footballer Dimitar Nikolov Yakimov...
for most of his stay, and also being loaned twice to fellow top division outfit F.C. Famalicão
F.C. Famalicão
Futebol Clube de Famalicão is a Portuguese sports club, based in Vila Nova de Famalicão in the district of Braga. The club was founded in 1931 and its senior team currently plays in national level in the Portuguese football Federation Third Division Serie B championship...
; in his first year, however, he did manage five goals in only 11 games as the northerners
Porto
Porto , also known as Oporto in English, is the second largest city in Portugal and one of the major urban areas in the Iberian Peninsula. Its administrative limits include a population of 237,559 inhabitants distributed within 15 civil parishes...
won the national championship for the third time in five years.
In February 1994, Mihtarski was released by Porto and rejoined FC Pirin, netting five goals in three-months to help the club retain its top flight status. He then joined PFC CSKA Sofia
PFC CSKA Sofia
PFC CSKA Sofia , commonly known as CSKA or CSKA Sofia is a professional football club based in Sofia, Bulgaria. The club was officially founded on May 5, 1948. CSKA's abbreviation stands for Central Sports Club of the Army...
, equalling a career-best 24 goals in the 1994–95 season, best in the competition but not good enough for the national title, as former team Levski won the championship with CSKA ranking only fifth.
Mihtarski moved abroad again in January 1996, going on to spend the following one 1/2 seasons without finding the net, for both RCD Mallorca
RCD Mallorca
Real Club Deportivo Mallorca is a Spanish football team based on Palma, Majorca, in the Balearic Islands. Founded on 5 March 1916, the team currently plays in the Spanish first division, holding home games at Son Moix....
in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and Vfl Wolfsburg
VfL Wolfsburg
VfL Wolfsburg is a professional German association football club based in Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony, who play in the Bundesliga football competition. Wolfsburg have won the Bundesliga once in their history, in the 2008–09 season, and were DFB-Pokal runners-up in 1995. The current head coach is Felix...
, with both teams in their respective countries' second division. After two more years with Pirin, he retired from the game at the age of 35 winning the first and only Bulgarian championship of his career, with Levski, albeit appearing sparingly.
International career
Barred by the likes of Kostadinov, Luboslav Penev, Nasko SirakovNasko Sirakov
Nasko Petkov Sirakov is a retired Bulgarian footballer who played mainly as a striker.Part of the Bulgarian team at the 1994 FIFA World Cup as it finished fourth, he was one of the most important footballers in the country in the 80's/90's, being a legend at Levski Sofia, a club he represented in...
and Hristo Stoitchkov, Mihtarski only gained eight caps
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
for Bulgaria
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...
in six years (no goals), his debut coming in 1989.
He was part of the team that reached the semi-finals of 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...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, but his input in the competition consisted of one minute in the penalty shootout win against Mexico
Mexico national football team
The Mexican national football team represents Mexico in association football and is governed by the Mexican Football Federation , the governing body for football in Mexico. Mexico's home stadium is the Estadio Azteca and their head coach is José Manuel de la Torre...
in the round of 16.
Honours
- Pirin:
- Bulgarian CupBulgarian CupThe 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....
: Runner-up 1993–94
- Bulgarian Cup
- Levski:
- Bulgarian LeagueBulgarian A Professional Football GroupThe Bulgarian A Professional Football Group commonly known as A PFG is the top division of the Bulgarian football league system. The league is sponsored by Victoria FATA Insurance and therefore is officially known as Victoria A Football Group since 2011...
: 2000–01 - Bulgarian CupBulgarian CupThe 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....
: 1990–91
- Bulgarian League
- Porto:
- Portuguese League: 1991–92
Personal
Mihtarski was only the second Bulgarian footballer whose surname did not end with a "V" to play in the FIFA World CupFIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
finals. The first was Milko Gaydarski
Milko Gaydarski
Milko Gaydarski was a Bulgarian football defender who played for Bulgaria in the 1970 FIFA World Cup and in the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City where Bulgaria won silver. At the club level, Gaydarski played for Spartak Sofia and PFC Levski Sofia...
in 1970
1970 FIFA World Cup
The 1970 FIFA World Cup, the ninth staging of the World Cup, was held in Mexico, from 31 May to 21 June. The 1970 tournament was the first World Cup hosted in North America, and the first held outside South America and Europe. In a match-up of two-time World Cup champions, the final was won by...
.