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Hristo the ‘Terrible’, Stoitchkov the misunderstood: a biographical sketch of Bulgaria’s most famous athlete

Several scholars, journalists and players have described Hristo Stoitchkov as an obnoxious and racist individual. Based on interviews with him and people who have coached him and evolved as players under his mentorship, this essay will challenge those assumptions. Stoitchkov’s achievements at FC Barcelona and in the World Cup are well known to many soccer historians, biographers and aficionados. Therefore, his accomplishments as a player will not be the focus of this piece. Instead, this biographical essay will focus on Stoitchkov’s contribution to the development of young players and his coaching career in the US, Spain, South Africa and Bulgaria.