Keep up with Krasimir Balakov

Sports legend, entrepreneur, philantropist & football manager.

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Player era Manager era Major trophy

Player

Etar Veliko Tarnovo 1983–90

Sporting CP 1990–95

VfB Stuttgart 1995–2003

Bulgaria — U21 (1984–87) → Senior (1988–2003)

1983 1988 1993 1998 2003 2008 2013 2018 2023 2025

Player → Manager

Manager

VfB Stuttgart (asst.) 2003–2005

Grasshoppers 2006–2007

St. Gallen 2007–2008

Chernomorets Burgas 2008–2010

Hajduk Split 2011–2012

FC Kaiserslautern 2012

Litex Lovech 2014–2015

Etar Veliko Tarnovo 2018–2019

★ Bulgarian National Team 2019–2020

CSKA 1948 2020–2021

Septemvri Sofia 2023–2024

Lokomotiv Sofia 2024

Player 1983–2003

Etar Veliko Tarnovo1983–90
Sporting CP1990–95
VfB Stuttgart1995–2003
Bulgaria U211984–87
Bulgaria1988–2003
★ World Cup USA — 4th place1994
★ Portuguese Cup1995
★ DFB-Pokal1997

Manager 2003–24

VfB Stuttgart (assistant)2003–2005
Grasshoppers2006–2007
St. Gallen2007–2008
Chernomorets Burgas2008–2010
Hajduk Split2011–2012
FC Kaiserslautern2012
Litex Lovech2014–2015
Etar Veliko Tarnovo2018–2019
★ Bulgarian National Team2019–2020
CSKA 19482020–2021
Septemvri Sofia2023–2024
Lokomotiv Sofia2024

516: Club appearances
132: Club goals
92: Caps for Bulgaria
12: Clubs managed
40+: Years in the game

Bulgaria national team — 1994 FIFA World Cup

Trophy Won

DFB-Pokal

DFB-Pokal winner in 1997 with VfB Stuttgart.

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4th Place

1994 FIFA World Cup USA

Finished 4th in the world with the Bulgaria national team, after beating Germany 2:1 in the quarter-final and losing 1:2 to Italy in the semi-final.

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Trophy Won

Taça de Portugal

Won the Portuguese Cup with Sporting Lisbon in 1995.

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2 Trophies Won

UEFA Intertoto Cups

Two-time UEFA Intertoto Cup winner with VfB Stuttgart — in 2000 and 2002.

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Gallery

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Hobbies

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CAUSES

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Hospitality · Sofia, Bulgaria

Casa Bala

„Mediterranean flavors, savored in great company.“

A boutique restaurant at 4 Simeonovsko Shose in Sofia, where personal craft is woven into every detail — from the menu to the interior. Carved wooden walls, curated memorabilia, and authentic Mediterranean cuisine come together to tell a story in every corner.