Ivan Georgiev Zafirov (Bulgarian: Иван Георгиев Зафиpoв; born 30 December 1947) is a former Bulgarian footballer who played as a defender.
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Personal information | ||||||||||
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Full name | Ivan Georgiev Zafirov | |||||||||
Date of birth | (1947-12-30) 30 December 1947 (age 74) | |||||||||
Place of birth | Sofia, Bulgaria | |||||||||
Height | 1.76 m (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in) | |||||||||
Position(s) | Right-back | |||||||||
Youth career | ||||||||||
1957–1965 | CSKA Sofia | |||||||||
Senior career* | ||||||||||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||
1965–1966 | CSKA Sofia | 16 | (1) | |||||||
1966–1968 | Sliven | 24 | (1) | |||||||
1968–1981 | CSKA Sofia | 324 | (3) | |||||||
Total | 364 | (5) | ||||||||
National team | ||||||||||
1968–1980 | Bulgaria | 50 | (1) | |||||||
Honours
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*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
After short spells at Sliven, it was with CSKA Sofia that he found his spiritual home in the 1970s. Zafirov, a right-back, played 340 times for the Reds, scoring 8 goals. Nine Bulgarian championships and five Bulgarian Cups tell the tale of how successful Zafirov was.
Zafirov was on Bulgaria's roster for the 1974 FIFA World Cup.[1] He represented the Lions 50 times, scoring once. He also won a silver medal at the 1968 Summer Olympics.[2]
Bulgaria squad – 1968 Summer Olympics – Silver medalists | ||
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Bulgaria squad – 1974 FIFA World Cup | ||
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