Stoycho Mladenov

Mladenov started from small teams like Dimitrovgrad and gradually moved to bigger teams like CSKA Sofia. From there he went all around the world, however his best moments of winning were in Portugal and also with his National Team. His best years were spent as a striker for CSKA Sofia. He also served the club as a manager and head coach. Mladenov's nickname is "Liverpool's Executioner" in honor of his winning goals against the European champion Liverpool F.C. in UEFA European Champions Cup 1/4 finals in season 81/82. Mladenov's finest game as a player was on 17 March 1982, when he scored both of CSKA's goals as they beat Liverpool 2–0 in Sofia to knock the English giants out of the European Cup quarter-finals. He was honoured as Bulgarian Footballer of the Year in 1983. He played also in Portugal in several clubs like V.Setúbal, GD Estoril-Praia, Olhanense, but was in C.F. Os Belenenses where he achieved one third place in Portuguese football league and won a Portuguese Cup beating Benfica in the final, after winning in the prior stages teams like FC Porto and Sporting CP. He was also responsible for the victory that Belenenses had over Barcelona in the UEFA Cup of 1988, when he stole the ball from Barcelona's defender Schuster and made a perfect assist for Mapuata's goal. Nowadays he trains the most successful Bulgarian team CSKA Sofia. Financial problems at his favourite club CSKA Sofia pushed him away after a series of compromises he had done during his time there. He was…

Mladenov made 59 appearances for Bulgaria, between 1978 and 1988, and scored 15 goals. He played in four matches for his country at the 1986 FIFA World Cup.

His son Stoycho Mladenov Jr. is also a football player and manager.

Player

CSKA Sofia Bulgarian League: 4 times – 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983 Bulgarian Cup: 2 times – 1983, 1985 C.F. Os Belenenses Portuguese Cup: 1 time – 1989

Individual

Bulgarian League Top Scorer: 1978 (with 21 goals)

Coach

CSKA Sofia Bulgarian League: 2 times – 2003, 2008 Al-Ahli SC (Jeddah) Gulf Club Champions Cup: 1 times – 2008 FC Kaisar Kazakhstan Cup (1): 2019 Best Bulgarian football coach – 2019