Nikola Kotkov

Nikola Kotkov
Nikola Kotkov
Personal information
Full name Nikola Todorov Kotkov
(Никола Тодоров Котков)
Date of birth 9 December 1938(1938-12-09)
Place of birth Sofia, Bulgaria
Date of death 30 June 1971(1971-06-30) (aged 32)
Place of death Sofia, Bulgaria
Playing position Striker
Youth career
PFC Lokomotiv Sofia
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
19561969 PFC Lokomotiv Sofia 286 (143)
19691971 PFC Levski Sofia 36 (20)
Total 322 (163 )
National team
19561959 Bulgaria U19 16 (8)
19591961 Bulgaria U21 7 (5)
19611969 Bulgaria 26 (12)
Total 59 (33 )
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of December 2006.

Appearances (Goals).

National team caps and goals correct as of December 2006

Nikola Todorov Kotkov (Bulgarian: Никола Тодоров Котков) (9 December 193830 June 1971), nicknamed Koteto (Котето, "The Kitten") was a Bulgarian footballer who played as a striker.

Born in the capital Sofia, Kotkov started his football career as a PFC Lokomotiv Sofia trainee and went on to spend much of his career (19561969) with the club, winning the Bulgarian Championship in 1964. He then moved to PFC Levski Sofia, for whom he played until his death in 1971. Kotkov died together with his friend and teammate Georgi Asparuhov in a traffic accident in the Vitinya Pass of the Balkan Mountains, en route to Vratsa. With Levski, Kotkov became once again champion in 1970, winning the Bulgarian Cup the same year.

Kotkov played a total of 322 matches and scored 163 goals in the Bulgarian Championship and was given the Bulgarian Footballer of the Year award in 1964. For the Bulgaria national team, he had 26 caps and scored 12 goals, taking part in the 1966 FIFA World Cup in England.

A fans' favourite noted for his fair play, Kotkov was known for his remarkable technique, pinpoint passing and skilful free kick taking.

Contents

Statistics

  • National teams59 matches, 33 goals
  • Bulgarian championship322 matches, 163 goals286/145 for Lokomotiv, 45/25 for Levski
  • European club tournaments11 matches, 10 goalsCEC-6, CWC-5
  • First matchwith Lokomotiv Sofia 1956
  • Last matchwith Levski against CSKA28 June 1971
  • All - 392 matches, 206 goals

Honours

  • Champion of Bulgaria2 times, 1964 with Lokomotiv and 1970 with Levski
  • Holder of the National Cup2 times 1970, 1971 (posthumously) with Levski
  • Bulgarian Footballer of the Year1964
  • Holder of an Order of Labour - 1970
  • Deserved Master of Sports
  • 25th place in the Golden Ball quiz1967

References

  • Paytashev, Rumen (2001). Svetovna Futbolna Entsiklopediya. Sofia: KK Trud. p187. ISBN 978-954-528-201-0. 

External links