Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Kiril Despodov named Bulgaria's Footballer of the Year for the 5th time

Evdokiya Popadinova from Lazio took the award for No. 1 in women's football.

Kiril Despodov
Photo: BTA

The striker of the Greek club PAOK Kiril Despodov has been named Footballer No. 1 of Bulgaria for 2024. He wins the award for the 4th consecutive time and 5th time in total. 

Despodov was honored for the first time in 2018, and in the last 4 years he has been consistently at the top. This brings him level with football legend Hristo Stoichkov in terms of the number of awards. 

Despodov is only behind Bulgarian football star Dimitar Berbatov, who has been elected Footballer of the Year 7 times.

Despodov's runners-up are Iliya Gruev ("Leeds") and Dimitar Mitov ("Aberdeen").

Before the awards were presented, a minute of silence was held to honor the victims of the tragedy at a nighclub in Kocani, North Macedonia.

Evdokiya Popadinova
Evdokiya Popadinova from Lazio was honored for the No. 1 in women's football.

Stanimir Stoilov
Coach of the Year is the former coach of Levski and current coach of the Turkish club Göztepe Stanimir Stoilov.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Bulgarian Football Union is organizing family circle in the football championship

The Bulgarian Football Union officially is launching the campaign “With Margaritka at the match” today. The “Margaritka” Foundation is a Bulgarian organization that works for better upbringing and the development of useful habits in the youngest..

published on 3/31/25 5:15 AM
Ivet Goranova

Bulgaria's karate athlete Ivet Goranova triumphs at tournament in Serbia

Ivet Goranova won a gold medal in the 55 kg category of the kumite category at the international karate tournament “Golden Belt” in the Serbian city of Čačak. The Olympic champion from Tokyo 2020 achieved four victories until the final, where she..

published on 3/30/25 12:25 PM
Stiliyana Nikolova

Gold for Bulgarian rhythmic gymnasts on the first day of the International Sofia Cup

Absolute European champion Stiliyana Nikolova won the title in the women’s all-around at the international rhythmic gymnastics tournament “Sofia Cup” in the Bulgarian capital . Another Bulgarian – Dara Stoyanova – won the silver medal. Third place went..

published on 3/30/25 10:10 AM