Trifon Ivanov

Trifon Ivanov

Personal information
Full name	Trifon Marinov Ivanov
Date of birth	(1965-07-27) 27 July 1965
Place of birth	Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria
Height
Position(s)	Centre-back
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1983–1988	Etar Veliko Tarnovo	62	(7)
1988–1990	CSKA Sofia	64	(8)
1990–1993	Real Betis	52	(9)
1991	→ Etar (loan)	12	(1)
1992	→ CSKA Sofia (loan)	5	(1)
1993–1995	Neuchâtel Xamax	25	(3)
1995	→ CSKA Sofia (loan)	7	(0)
1995–1997	Rapid Wien	53	(7)
1997–1998	Austria Wien	11	(0)
1998	→ CSKA Sofia (loan)	10	(1)
1998–2001	Floridsdorfer AC	52	(8)
Total		353	(45)
International career
1988–1998	Bulgaria	76	(6)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

This name uses Eastern Slavic naming customs; the patronymic is Marinov and the family name is Ivanov.

Trifon Marinov Ivanov (Bulgarian: Трифон Маринов Иванов; born 27 July 1965 in Veliko Tarnovo) is a former Bulgarian international footballer who played as a defender.

Ivanov made his Bulgaria debut in 1988, earning 76 caps and scoring 6 goals over a ten-year international career. He appeared in the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cups, as well as the 1996 UEFA European Championship.

Career

Sometimes known by his nickname "The Bulgarian Wolf" due to his unshaven appearance and mullet hairstyle, Ivanov started his career with Etar Veliko Tarnovo. Later moves included spells at CSKA Sofia during 1994–95 and 1997–98 as well as at the Austrian teams Austria Vienna and Rapid Vienna and the Spanish club Real Betis.

Ivanov's international distinctions include being a member of the Bulgaria national football team that reached the fourth place in the 1994 FIFA World Cup in United States. He also participated in the UEFA Euro 1996 in England. Ivanov's goal against Russia on 10 September 1997, in the qualifiers for the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France, was the one that clinched Bulgarian qualification. Ivanov scored 6 goals in 76 caps in 10 years with the national side.

Ivanov is famous for his long-range shots and free-kicks at goal. In Euro 96 particularly, he had a number of 40–45 yards shots at goal narrowly missing the target. In 2013, a Brazilian amateur tournament was named after him.

Honours

CSKA Sofia

• Bulgarian A Group: 1988–89, 1989–90, 1991–92
• Bulgarian Cup: 1988–89
• Bulgarian Supercup: 1989

Rapid Wien

• Austrian Cup: 1994–95
• Bundesliga: 1995–96
• UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Runners up: 1995–96

Statistics

International

Bulgaria national team
Year	Apps	Goals
1988	9	1
1989	7	1
1990	4	0
1991	6	1
1992	6	0
1993	5	1
1994	12	1
1995	8	0
1996	9	0
1997	5	1
1998	5	0
Total	76	6

International goals

Trifon Ivanov – goals for Bulgaria
#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	13 April 1988	Chernomorets Stadium, Burgas, Bulgaria	East Germany	1–1	1–1	Friendly
2	11 October 1989	Yuri Gagarin Stadium, Varna, Bulgaria	Greece	1–0	4–0	1990 World Cup Qualifier
3	22 May 1991	Stadio Olimpico, Serravalle, San Marino	San Marino	0–1	0–3	Euro 1992 Qualifier
4	14 April 1993	Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria	Austria	2–1	3–1	1994 World Cup Qualifier
5	14 December 1994	Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff, Wales	Wales	0–1	0–3	Euro 1996 Qualifier
6	10 September 1997	Vasil Levski Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria	Russia	1–0	1–0	1998 World Cup Qualifier

External links

• Biography
• Profile at ExpertFootball
• Trifon Ivanov – FIFA competition record
• Trifon Ivanov – UEFA competition record
• Trifon Ivanov at National-Football-Teams.com

Sporting positions
Preceded by Borislav Mikhailov	Bulgaria Captain 1996–1998	Succeeded by Hristo Stoichkov