Stefan Bozhkov

Midfielder Stefan Bozhkov started playing football with Sportist Sofia in 1938. From 1947-48 he played one season in Czechoslovakia with SK Kladno and then from 1948-60 played with CSKA Sofia. Bozhkov played 202 games with CSKA Sofia and scored 65 goals for them. From 1950-60 he also captained the team. With CSKA, Bozhkov won 10 Bulgarian titles (1948, 1951-52, 1954-60) and the Cup of the Soviet Army in 1951, 1954 and 1955. In 1955 he was selected as the best Bulgarian footballer of the year. Internationally Bozhkov was capped 53 times with the Bulgarian national team between 1946-58 and scored four goals. From 1950-58 he was captain of the Bulgarian national team and led the team to a bronze medal at the 1956 Olympics.

After finishing his sporting career, Bozhkov worked as a football coach. He worked in Bulgaria, the Soviet Union, Hungary, East Germany and Italy. From 1966-70 he was head coach of the Bulgarian national team and led the team to a silver medal at the 1968 Olympics. He also coached the Bulgarians at the 1970 World Cup and was head coach of CSKA Sofia from 1971-74 and 1982. Bozhkov was later president of CSKA Sofia football club, vice-president of the Bulgarian Football Union and chairman of the coaching committee of the Bulgarian Football Union.