{{Short description|Bulgarian footballer (born 1967)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}} {{family name hatnote|Letchkov|Yankov|lang=Bulgarian}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Yordan Letchkov | fullname = Yordan Letchkov Yankov | image = Yordan Letchkov.JPG | image_size = | caption = Letchkov in 2010 | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1967|7|9}} | birth_place = Straldzha, Bulgaria | height = 1.78 m | position = Midfielder | years1 = 1984–1991 | clubs1 = Sliven | caps1 = 155 | goals1 = 55 | years2 = 1991–1992 | clubs2 = CSKA Sofia | caps2 = 29 | goals2 = 17 | years3 = 1992–1996 | clubs3 = Hamburger SV | caps3 = 121 | goals3 = 14 | years4 = 1996–1997 | clubs4 = Marseille | caps4 = 28 | goals4 = 2 | years5 = 1997–1998 | clubs5 = Beşiktaş | caps5 = 27 | goals5 = 4 | years6 = 2001–2002 | clubs6 = CSKA Sofia | caps6 = 25 | goals6 = 5 | years7 = 2002–2004 | clubs7 = Sliven | caps7 = 21 | goals7 = 4 | totalcaps = 406 | totalgoals = 101 | nationalyears1 = 1989–1998 | nationalteam1 = Bulgaria | nationalcaps1 = 45 | nationalgoals1 = 5 }} '''Yordan Letchkov Yankov''' (also transliterated Jordan, Iordan, Lechkov) ({{langx|bg|Йордан Лечков Янков}}; born 9 July 1967) is a Bulgarian former professional footballer. He is generally regarded as one of the best players to come out of Bulgaria and was a key member of the squad which reached the semi-finals of the 1994 FIFA World Cup.<ref>{{FIFA player|52856|Iordan Letchkov}}</ref> Known to many as "The Magician", Letchkov was a gifted player who could play as a central midfielder or on the left side of midfield, and he was easily recognizable for his baldness. He was best known for his dribbling ability. However, his career was often adversely affected by his moody nature and the numerous arguments and fallings-out he had with fellow players and managers. He was the mayor of his home town for eight years, but was removed from duty due to corruption.
==Club career== Born in Straldzha, Letchkov began his career as a youngster with Sliven football club (Bulgaria), after breaking into the first team at a young age he secured a transfer to Bulgaria's top side CSKA Sofia (Bulgaria, 1991–92 season) and soon after he made the move to Germany with Hamburger SV (Germany, from the 1992–93 season to the 1995–96 season). After that he secured a move to Olympique de Marseille (France, 1996–97 season), at this point one of the top clubs in Europe. However a difficult relationship with the club's management led to his departure after one season.
His next stop took him to Turkey with Beşiktaş (Turkey, from the 1997–98 season). However, just after six months with the club, he returned late from holidays and fell into a dispute with the manager John Toshack. After being fined by the club, he refused to pay, stated that he has quit football and subsequently returned to Bulgaria. He has been variously quoted since as saying the Istanbul club owes him money, that he was unable to get on with its coach Toshack and that his wife could not settle in Turkey. However he soon started training with a Bulgarian club. Beşiktaş appealed to FIFA which declared Letchkov in breach of contract and ordered him to pay 200.000 DM in compensation. Beşiktaş renewed its appeals to UEFA and FIFA when Letchkov turned out without club permission for Bulgaria in a friendly against Argentina. FIFA subsequently ruled that Letchkov was ineligible to play for any other team without clearance from Beşiktaş, and that included his national side. Despite helping Bulgaria to reach 1998 World Cup, he could not play due to his dispute with Beşiktaş.<ref>{{cite news|title=Besiktas dispute threatens Letchkov World Cup place|url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/default.aspx?pageid=438&n=besiktas-dispute-threatens-letchkov-world-cup-place-1998-03-25|access-date=12 April 2012|newspaper=Hurriyet Daily|date=28 March 1998}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Top Cat in the Butcher's Shop|url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/default.aspx?pageid=438&n=top-cat-in-the-butchers-shop-2000-02-13|access-date=12 April 2012|newspaper=Hurriyet Daily News|date=13 February 2000}}</ref>
After about three years away from football, Letchkov returned to the game in the 2001–02 season with CSKA Sofia. Between 2002 and 2004 he became player-coach of OFC Sliven, a club in the second division of Bulgarian football.<ref>{{cite news |title =Честит рожден ден на Йордан Лечков | publisher =Bulgarian Football Union| date =9 July 2020 | url=https://bfunion.bg/news/46916/0| access-date =1 August 2020}}</ref> Letchkov is often referred to as being part of the "Golden Generation" of Bulgarian football, who along with Stoichkov, Kostadinov and Balakov led the national side to the semifinals of the 1994 World Cup.
==International career== Letchkov played 45 matches and scored five goals for Bulgaria;<ref>{{cite web|last=Mamrud |first=Roberto |title=Bulgaria – Record International Players |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/bulg-recintlp.html |access-date=1 May 2012 |date=29 February 2012 |url-status=live |website=RSSSF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120614051747/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/bulg-recintlp.html |archive-date=14 June 2012 }}</ref> however his international career was limited by a series of disagreements with coaches and the Bulgarian Football Federation.
He is perhaps best remembered for scoring the winner against Germany in the quarter-finals of the 1994 World Cup,<ref>{{cite news |first=Trevor |last=Haylett |title=Holders beaten by bold Bulgaria: Stoichkov and Lechkov strike with two goals in three minutes to bring Germany's American journey to an abrupt end |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football--world-cup-usa-94-holders-beaten-by-bold-bulgaria-stoichkov-and-lechkov-strike-with-two-goals-in-three-minutes-to-bring-germanys-american-journey-to-an-abrupt-end-1413186.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220507/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football--world-cup-usa-94-holders-beaten-by-bold-bulgaria-stoichkov-and-lechkov-strike-with-two-goals-in-three-minutes-to-bring-germanys-american-journey-to-an-abrupt-end-1413186.html |archive-date=7 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |work=The Independent |date=11 July 1994 |access-date=17 October 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref> as Bulgaria reached the semi-finals where they were beaten by Italy.<ref>{{cite news |first=Lawrie |last=Mifflin |title=Italians Save Their Best for the Cup's Next to Last |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/07/14/sports/world-cup-94-italians-save-their-best-for-the-cup-s-next-to-last.html?module=Search&mabReward=relbias%3Ar |work=The New York Times |agency=Associated Press |date=14 July 1994 |access-date=17 October 2014}}</ref> Above all thanks to his very good matches in that World Cup, he was placed in the 13th position of the 1994 Ballon d'Or.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lequipe.fr/FF/ballon_or/bo_1994.html |title=Article and final results on ''France Football'' web site |language=fr |publisher=lequipe.fr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090218230725/http://www.lequipe.fr/FF/ballon_or/bo_1994.html |archive-date=18 February 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/europa-poy94.html | title = European Footballer of the Year ("Ballon d'Or") 1994 | first = José Luis | last = Pierrend | date = 7 April 2005 | access-date = 23 December 2008 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090116142305/http://rsssf.com/miscellaneous/europa-poy94.html| archive-date= 16 January 2009 | website = RSSSF | url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = European Footballer of the Year ("Ballon d'Or") | url = https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/europa-poy.html | date = 18 December 2008 | access-date = 24 December 2008 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081217034637/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/europa-poy.html| archive-date= 17 December 2008 | website = RSSSF | url-status= live}}</ref>
Letchkov went on to shine in the 1996 European Championships in England despite the failure of Bulgaria to reach the quarter finals: he played very well against Spain and Romania,<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.oocities.org/colosseum/5948/Soccer/EC/1996/spa1bul1.htm | title = Spain - Bulgaria 1:1 (0:0) | publisher = oocities.org | date = 9 June 1996 | access-date = 19 January 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://groups.google.com/forum/m/?fromgroups#!topic/soc.culture.bulgaria/POj1DclWcZg | title = Goal that might have been ends Romania's hopes | date = 14 June 1996 | access-date = 19 January 2013}}</ref> and producing a man-of-the-match performance<ref>{{cite web | url = https://groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups=#!topic/soc.culture.bulgaria/wYsmFeGv1Xg | title = France gain sweet revenge over Bulgarians | access-date = 19 January 2013}}</ref> in the group B last match, against a strong French side. He went on to contribute greatly to his nation's successful qualification campaign for the 1998 World Cup championships. However his chance to play in the tournament was blocked by FIFA due to a little publicised contractual dispute with Beşiktaş (see also above in "Club").<ref>{{cite news|title=Besiktas dispute threatens Letchkov World Cup place|url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/default.aspx?pageid=438&n=besiktas-dispute-threatens-letchkov-world-cup-place-1998-03-25|access-date=12 April 2012|newspaper=Hurriyet Daily|date=28 March 1998}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Top Cat in the Butcher's Shop|url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/default.aspx?pageid=438&n=top-cat-in-the-butchers-shop-2000-02-13|access-date=12 April 2012|newspaper=Hurriyet Daily News|date=13 February 2000}}</ref>
==Post-football== Letchkov took part in a TV series called ''Golden Boots'' in 1998 with various other footballers,<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0149464/ | title = Golden Boots | publisher = imdb.com | access-date = 1 May 2012}}</ref> and in 2012 in the sport documentary called ''Stoichkov''.<ref>{{cite web | url =https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2403001 | title = Stoichkov | publisher = imdb.com | access-date = 19 January 2013}}</ref> After his retirement from football he has successfully started a career as a businessman (owning luxury hotels and a football academy) and politician. He was elected Mayor of his home town, Sliven, in 2003 and reelected in 2007.
Since 2005, he has also been vice president of the Bulgarian Football Union.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://topsport.ibox.bg/news/id_1445692431| title = Лечков: Петев не е селекционер, аз го казвам! "Ще дадем пълна свобода и на новия треньор| language = bg | publisher = topsport.bg | date = 1 December 2014 | access-date = 1 December 2014}}</ref> In April 2010 he was removed from the mayorship by the Sliven district court after he was charged with official misconduct,<ref>{{cite web | url = http://dnes.dir.bg/news.php?id=6251710 | title = Съдът свали кмета Йордан Лечков от поста | language = bg | publisher = dir.bg | date = 21 April 2010 | access-date = 1 May 2012}}</ref> but the Burgas appellate court restored him to his position on 28 June 2010.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.trud.bg/Article.asp?ArticleId=528884 | title = Йордан Лечков пак е кмет на Сливен | language = bg | publisher = trud.bg | date = 29 June 2010 | access-date = 1 May 2012 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120314062248/http://www.trud.bg/Article.asp?ArticleId=528884 | archive-date = 14 March 2012 | df = dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/jonathanstevenson/2010/09/bulgaria_in_shadow_of_class_of.html | title = Bulgarians remain in shadow of class of '94 | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 2 September 2010 | access-date = 19 January 2013}}</ref> Letchkov was replaced by the new mayor of Sliven Kolyo Milev in the 2011 local elections, who outran him with 56,72% vs. 43,28% of the votes.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://dariknews.bg/view_article.php?article_id=801226 | title = Ген. Кольо Милев е новият кмет на Сливен | language = bg | publisher = dariknews.bg | date = 31 October 2011 | access-date = 13 July 2014}}</ref> Many citizens stated that they had voted for a member of the opposing party to the ones they support only to remove Letchkov from his post.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://dariknews.bg/view_article.php?article_id=797108 |title = Лечков и генерал Милев на втори тур в Сливен - Сливен - DarikNews.bg}}</ref> Many of the major boulevards in the city were left dug up and in deep pot-holes for nearly two years due to "controversy" and a lawsuit between the company working on restructuring the city's water supply and the city council.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.btv.bg/az-reporterut/novini/story/1071189112-Dupka_v_Sliven_pogalna_poredniya_avtomobil.html | title = Дупка в Сливен погълна поредния автомобил | language = bg | publisher = btv.bg | date = 10 January 2011 | access-date = 13 July 2014}}</ref> In contrast, while he was still mayor, the streets that lead to Letchkov's hotels in the city were reconstructed and refreshed with the addition of gardens and aesthetic sidewalks and street lighting. Other scandals constantly accompanied him during his time as mayor, including the disrespecting of journalists and police officers (showing the middle finger) because he was wanted by the police after fleeing from a traffic stop after throwing his documents at them.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://dariknews.bg/view_article.php?article_id=501538 | title = Йордан Лечков показал среден пръст на полицаи, ще дава обяснения | language = bg | publisher = dariknews.bg | date = 23 March 2010 | access-date = 13 July 2014}}</ref>
==Career statistics==
===International=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by national team and year |- !National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="10"|Bulgaria |1989||1||0 |- |1990||2||0 |- |1991||3||0 |- |1992||0||0 |- |1993||6||1 |- |1994||12||2 |- |1995||7||1 |- |1996||9||0 |- |1997||4||1 |- |1998||1||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total!!45!!5 |}
:''Scores and results list Bulgaria's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Letchkov goal.''
{| class="wikitable sortable" |+ List of international goals scored by Yordan Letchkov |- !scope="col"|No. !scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Venue !scope="col"|Opponent !scope="col"|Score !scope="col"|Result !scope="col"|Competition |- | align="center"|1 || 13 October 1993 || Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria || {{fb|AUT}} || align="center"|4–1 || align="center"|4–1 || 1994 FIFA World Cup qualifier |- | align="center"|2 || 26 June 1994 || Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois, United States || {{fb|GRE}} || align="center"|3–0 || align="center"|4–0 || 1994 FIFA World Cup |- | align="center"|3 || 10 July 1994 || Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States || {{fb|GER}} || align="center"|2–1 || align="center"|2–1 || 1994 FIFA World Cup |- | align="center"|4 || 7 October 1995 || Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria || {{fb|ALB|1992}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|3–0 || UEFA Euro 1996 qualifier |- | align="center"|5 || 8 June 1997 || Neftochimik Stadium, Burgas, Bulgaria || {{fb|LUX}} || align="center"|4–0 || align="center"|4–0 || 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifier |}
==Honours== '''CSKA Sofia''' *Bulgarian Championship: 1991–92
'''OFC Sliven''' *Bulgarian Cup: 1990
'''Beşiktaş''' *Turkish Cup: 1998
'''Bulgaria''' *FIFA World Cup: fourth place 1994 ==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website|http://lechkov.eu/}} {{in lang|bg}}
{{Navboxes colour |title=Bulgaria squads | bg = white | fg = darkgreen |list1= {{Bulgaria squad 1994 FIFA World Cup}} {{Bulgaria squad UEFA Euro 1996}} }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Letchkov, Yordan}} Category:1967 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from Sliven Category:Bulgarian men's footballers Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Bulgaria men's international footballers Category:1994 FIFA World Cup players Category:UEFA Euro 1996 players Category:First Professional Football League (Bulgaria) players Category:Ligue 1 players Category:Bundesliga players Category:Süper Lig players Category:FC Sliven players Category:PFC CSKA Sofia players Category:Hamburger SV players Category:Olympique de Marseille players Category:Beşiktaş J.K. footballers Category:Bulgarian expatriate men's footballers Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Germany Category:Expatriate men's footballers in France Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Turkey Category:Bulgarian expatriate sportspeople in Germany Category:Bulgarian expatriate sportspeople in France Category:Bulgarian expatriate sportspeople in Turkey Category:FC Sliven managers Category:Mayors of places in Bulgaria Category:Bulgarian sportsperson-politicians Category:20th-century Bulgarian sportsmen