Stoichkov: Bulgaria Football Team Not Worthy of Carrying My Suitcase

Called 'Kamata' (the Dagger) in his homeland, Stoichkov's fiery reputation is well known both at home and abroad. Photo by BGNES

The legendary Hristo Stoichkov, who played in the best Bulgarian team of the country's history reaching the semi-finals of the 1994 World Cup, has damned the current side, saying they are good for nothing.

"Those who play now would have not even been worthy of carrying our suitcases at the time," Stoichkov, whose reputation for speaking his mind is well known, said in an interview for Israel's Maariv newspaper.

The former Barcelona striker commented that it is very difficult to find players like (Yordan) Lechkov and (Krasimir) Balakov and sarcastically added that "we could've found a place for (now retired striker Dimitar) Berbatov on the bench."

Stoichkov, who managed rather unsuccessfully Bulgaria between 2004 and 2007, said he was wasting his time as Bulgaria coach.

"There's a serious problem in Bulgaria. They don't work with the young players and we can't produce top-class players any more."

Called 'Kamata' (the Dagger) in his homeland, Stoichkov's fiery reputation is well known both at home and abroad. His aggression has not been limited to the pitch alone, and his outbursts, particularly aimed against referees and journalists, are in a league of their own, the stuff of folklore.

Bulgaria new boss Lothar Matthaeus has set himself the ambitious goal to qualify the team for Euro 2012.

Bulgaria's national football team beat Wales 1:0 in Cardiff at the beginning of October in a match, which marked Matthaeus' debut as its coach.

Thus, after losing from England and Montenegro at the start, Bulgaria won their first three points in Group G of the Euro 2012 qualifications.

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