Bulgaria Pays Respect to Late Football Player and Coach Dimitar Penev

Nikolay Zabov

People paying tribute to Dimitar Penev at Sofia's Vasil Levski National Stadium, January 5, 2026 (BTA Photo/Blagoy Kirilov)

Sofia,

05.01.2026 13:17

(BTA)

Thousands paid tribute at the Vasil Levski National Stadium on Monday to the late Dimitar Penev, who will be remembered for his brilliant career as a football player and coach. The funeral service for Bulgaria's number one coach of the 20th century began at 10:00 a.m., with a number of former footballers, sports figures, politicians, and admirers in attendance to say their final goodbyes.

Many members of the Bulgarian team that finished fourth at the 1994 FIFA World Cup under Penev’s leadership paid their respects. Among them were Hristo Stoichkov, Emil Kostadinov, Nasko Sirakov, Yordan Letchkov, Krasimir Balakov, and Daniel Borimirov. The ceremony was also attended by several accomplished footballers whom Penev had discovered and nurtured as young talents, including Dimitar Berbatov, Martin Petrov, and Filip Filipov.

The Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) was represented by BFU Deputy General Secretary Dobrin Gionov, BFU Deputy General Secretary Iveta Bankova-Stoyanova, and BFU Technical Director Kiril Kotev.

Former presidents Georgi Parvanov and Petar Stoyanov, Sofia Mayor Vassil Terziev also paid their respects to the great Penev.

Wreaths and flowers were laid by the BFU, the Bulgarian Professional Football League, all First League clubs, the National Assembly, the President of the Republic of Bulgaria, the Council of Ministers, various ministries, and institutions.

President Radev has offered his condolences to Dimitar Penev's family and loved ones, and the entire Bulgarian football community, the President’s press secretariat said.

/RY/