Borislav Mihaylov, legendary captain of the Bulgarian national team and former goalkeeper of Belenenses, passed away on Tuesday morning in Sofia. He was 63 years old. The former Bulgarian keeper had been in critical condition since late last year after suffering a stroke, and despite medical care and family support, he could not recover. Considered the best goalkeeper in the history of Levski and Bulgaria, and seen as one of the most iconic figures of the Bulgarian national team, with 102 appearances (60 of which as captain), Mihaylov had a stint in Portuguese football with Belenenses, wearing the Christ cross on his chest in the 1989/90 and 1990/91 seasons. Internationally, he played a crucial role in the major achievements of the Bulgarian generation that won bronze medals at the 1994 World Cup in the USA — his standout performance on North American soil came in the round of 16 against Mexico, where he became a hero by saving two penalties. He holds the record for the most matches played by a Bulgarian in World Cups (11, tied with Nasko Sirakov, but with fewer minutes), and also participated in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, where he played four matches. At the club level, he was a three-time champion with Levski (1983/1984, 1984/1985, 1987/1988), winning three Bulgarian Cups with the same club (1982, 1984, and 1986), and was named Footballer of the Year in his home country in 1986. After retiring, he began his career as an administrator, first as a member of the Executive Committee of the Bulgarian Football Union (since 2000), and shortly after as vice-president. In 2005, he was elected president of the Federation and, with a temporary interruption (between 2019 and 2021), remained in office until 2023, making him the longest-serving football leader in the country. He also served on the UEFA Executive Committee.
Former Belenenses Borislav Mihaylov remains central to this story.
Former Belenenses Borislav Mihaylov remains central to this story.
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