Georgi Asparuhov

Beginnings at Levski

Asparuhov began his senior career at Levski Sofia in the end of 1959–60 season at the age of 17. He made his debut on 5 June 1960 in a 1–0 home loss against Lokomotiv Sofia, coming on as a second-half substitute. His first senior goal came during the following campaign when he scored in a 1–1 away draw against Botev Plovdiv on 28 September 1960.

Botev Plovdiv

From 1961 to 1963, Asparuhov played for Botev Plovdiv, where he completed his military service. With the club, he won his first senior trophy, the Bulgarian Cup in 1962, and finished as runner-up in the Bulgarian championship in 1963. Asparuhov made his European debut with Botev on 13 September 1962, scoring twice away against Steaua București in the first leg of their preliminary-round tie in the 1962–63 Cup Winners' Cup, although Botev lost 3–2. A week later, in the return leg in Plovdiv, he scored his first-ever hat-trick in a resounding 5–1 victory. He also scored in Botev's 4–0 away win over Shamrock Rovers on 24 October 1962. Botev went on to reach the quarter-finals of the competition, becoming the first Bulgarian club to advance that far in a European club competition. Asparuhov finished the tournament as its top scorer with six goals. His performances for the Plovdiv side helped earn him a place in the Bulgaria national team, and as a Botev player he represented Bulgaria at the 1962 FIFA World Cup in Chile. At Botev, Asparuhov formed a celebrated attacking trio with Dinko…

Asparuhov made his debut for the Bulgarian national team in a friendly match against Austria at Praterstadion in Vienna on 6 May 1962 and was named in the 22-man Bulgarian squad for the 1962 FIFA World Cup. He made his World Cup debut in the second group game against Hungary at Estadio Braden Copper Co. in Rancagua on 3 June 1962. Asparuhov scored his first goals for Bulgaria on 7 November 1962, scoring twice in a 3–1 home victory over Portugal in a 1964 European Nations' Cup qualifying match. Then he top scored for Bulgaria in their 1966 World Cup qualifying campaign with five goals. During the World Cup he scored Bulgaria's only goal in a 1–3 loss against Hungary at Old Trafford in Manchester. Asparuhov was part of Bulgaria's squad at the 1970 World Cup. He played in 3 matches, however he did not score a goal. According to his wife, Velichka Markova, he was injured and wasn't even supposed to be in Mexico. The Party and State leadership insisted that Asparuhov had to be part of the team as a morale booster for his teammates and promised that he would not take part in the matches – a promise they did not keep.

Club

National team

International goals

Scores and results list Bulgaria's goal tally first.

The stadium of Levski Sofia is named Georgi Asparuhov Stadium in honour of the famous striker. A street in the "Hristo Smirnenski" District in Sofia is also named after Georgi Asparuhov – Gundi. In 1999, Georgi Asparuhov was posthumously named the Best Bulgarian Footballer of the 20th Century. On 21 May 2014, by decree of Rosen Plevneliev, President of Bulgaria, Georgi Asparuhov was posthumously awarded the Order of Stara Planina, first degree, for his exceptional merits in the field of sports. On 1 October 2023, a full-length monument of Asparuhov was unveiled in the Sofia's Geo Milev Park. On 9 October 2024, the biographical drama "Gundi: Legend of Love" premiered, telling the story of the late Georgi Asparuhov.