.jpg) Nikola Kotkov, 1969 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Nikola Todorov Kotkov | ||
| Date of birth | 9 December 1938 | ||
| Place of birth | Sofia, Bulgaria | ||
| Date of death | 30 June 1971 (aged 32) | ||
| Place of death | Vitinya Pass, Bulgaria | ||
| Position(s) | Striker | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Lokomotiv Sofia | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1956–1968 | Lokomotiv Sofia | 276 | (142) |
| 1969 | ZHSK Slavia | 10 | (3) |
| 1969–1971 | Levski Sofia | 36 | (18) |
| Total | 322 | (163) | |
| International career | |||
| 1956–1959 | Bulgaria U19 | 16 | (8) |
| 1959–1961 | Bulgaria U21 | 7 | (5) |
| 1961–1969 | Bulgaria | 26 | (12) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Nikola Todorov Kotkov (Bulgarian: Никола Тодоров Котков) (9 December 1938 – 30 June 1971), nicknamed Koteto (Котето, "The Kitten") was a Bulgarian footballer who played as a striker.
Born in the capital Sofia, Kotkov started his football career as a Lokomotiv Sofia trainee and went on to spend much of it (1956–1969) with the club, winning the Bulgarian Championship in 1964. He then played for Levski Sofia, until his death in 1971. Kotkov died together with his friend and teammate Georgi Asparuhov in a traffic accident in the Vitinya Pass of the Balkan Mountains, en route to Vratsa. With Levski, Kotkov became once again champion in 1970, winning the Bulgarian Cup the same year.
Kotkov played a total of 322 matches and scored 163 goals in the Bulgarian Championship and was given the Bulgarian Footballer of the Year award in 1964. For the Bulgaria national team, he had 26 caps and scored 12 goals, taking part in the 1966 FIFA World Cup in England.
Kotkov was known for his technique, pinpoint passing and skillful free kick taking.
On June 30 1971, Kotkov died in a car crash with teammate Georgi Asparuhov.[1]
