Petar Zhekov
Zhekov at the 1970 FIFA World Cup
Personal information
Full name Petar Petrov Zhekov
Date of birth (1944-10-10)10 October 1944
Place of birth Knizhovnik, Bulgaria
Date of death 18 February 2023(2023-02-18) (aged 78)
Place of death Sofia, Bulgaria
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1962–1963 Dimitrovgrad 25 (8)
1963–1968 Beroe Stara Zagora 141 (101)
1968–1975 CSKA Sofia 167 (144)
Total 333 (253)
International career
1964–1973 Bulgaria 44 (25)
Managerial career
1976–1977 Hebar Pazardzhik
2000 Dobrudzha Dobrich
Medal record
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 1968 Mexico City Team competition
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Petar Petrov Zhekov (Bulgarian: Петър Петров Жеков, 10 October 1944 – 18 February 2023)[1] was a Bulgarian footballer, widely regarded as one of the best forwards in the history of the Bulgarian football. He won the silver medal at the 1968 Summer Olympics.[2]

Zhekov was born in Knizhovnik, Haskovo Province, and began his career at F.C. Dimitrovgrad. He was initially deployed as a defender, but on the advice of manager Hristo Hadzhiev switched to the forward position.[3] Later he moved to Beroe Stara Zagora, where he twice became Bulgaria's top goalscorer. Between 1968 and 1975 Zhekov played for CSKA Sofia and scored 144 goals for the team. This makes him the club's best goalscorer of all time.[4] He also won the European Golden Boot in 1969 and two European Bronze Boots. He had 333 appearances and a record of 253 goals in the Bulgarian A Group.

Zhekov later coached PFC Hebar Pazardzhik.[5] He died on 18 February 2023, at the age of 78.[6]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Europe Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Dimitrovgrad 1962–63 25 8 – 25 8
Beroe 1963–64 27 11 – 27 11
1964–65 30 18 – 30 18
1965–66 26 20 – 26 20
1966–67 29 21 – 29 21
1967–68 29 31 – 29 31
CSKA Sofia 1968–69 29 36 0 0 29 36
1969–70 28 31 2 2 30 33
1970–71 27 16 4 2 31 18
1971–72 33 27 3 1 36 28
1972–73 31 29 4 2 35 31
1973–74 14 2 4 2 18 4
1974–75 5 3 1 0 6 3
Career total 333 253 18 9 351 262
Zhekov in 2018

Honours

CSKA Sofia

Individual

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Petar Zhekov.
  1. ^ Почина легендарният голмайстор Петър Жеков, носител на "Златната обувка" (in Bulgarian)
  2. ^ "Petar Zhekov Biography and Statistics". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2009.
  3. ^ Savov, Mihail (25 October 2009). "Петър Жеков започва като защитник в Димитровград". topsport.bg. Retrieved 15 October 2013.
  4. ^ "Да продадеш "Златната обувка"" (in Bulgarian). temasport.com. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
  5. ^ Петър Жеков. hebarfc.com
  6. ^ "Почина легендарният голмайстор Петър Жеков, носител на "Златната обувка"". 24 chasa. 18 February 2023. Retrieved 18 February 2023.


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