Daniel Borimirov
Borimirov in 2011
Personal information
Full name Daniel Borimirov Borisov
Date of birth (1970-01-15) 15 January 1970
Place of birth Vidin, Bulgaria
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Youth career
1980–1987 Bdin Vidin
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1987–1990 Bdin Vidin 91 (18)
1990–1995 Levski Sofia 123 (40)
1995–2004 1860 Munich 213 (31)
2004–2008 Levski Sofia 98 (29)
Total 525 (118)
International career
1993–2005 Bulgaria 67 (5)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Daniel Borimirov Borisov[1] (Bulgarian: Даниел Боримиров Борисов; born 15 January 1970) is a Bulgarian former professional footballer who played mainly as an attacking midfielder.

Borimirov's professional playing career spanned nearly 20 years, during which he played for three clubs: Bdin Vidin, Levski Sofia and TSV 1860 Munich.

In international football, Borimirov made his Bulgaria debut on 18 February 1993 at the age of 23. He made 66 career appearances in total, appearing at two FIFA World Cup tournaments, in 1994 and 1998, and two UEFA European Championship tournaments, in 1996 and 2004.

Club career

Born in Vidin, Borimirov's club career began with local club Bdin in second league, where he made his first-team debut in 1987 at age 17.

In 1990 Borimirov joined Levski Sofia. In the beginning, he appeared mainly as a supporting striker, but eventually reconverted to attacking midfielder. At Levski, Borimirov was very important – if not crucial – part in all of the club's six major titles during his first spell, three leagues and three cups. The biggest victory in the history of The Eternal Derby of Bulgaria (7–1 for Levski in 1994–95 A Group) is unthinkable without the two goals scored by Daniel Borimirov. After 32 goals combined in his last two years, with three back-to-back national championships, he signed with Germany's TSV 1860 Munich.

Borimirov made his Bundesliga debut on 12 August 1995, scoring twice at FC St. Pauli, albeit in a 4–2 loss, adding another two in the next two games, as the Lions eventually finished in eighth position; in the following season, he experienced his best year abroad, netting nine times in 31 matches, helping TSV qualify for the UEFA Cup.

In the following years, although used more sparingly, Borimirov continued to be an important member for Munich 1860, eventually appearing in nearly 300 official matches in his 8+1⁄2-year spell. 214 of them were in the Bundesliga.[2] In early January 2004, one week shy of his 34th birthday, he returned to Levski, being the driving force behind the success of the club in the 2005–06 UEFA Cup, helping the capital outfit to the quarterfinals, namely scoring against Udinese Calcio and FC Schalke 04 (the latter in the stage where the club was ousted, 2–4 on aggregate[3]).

In an interview on 16 August 2006, Borimirov stated he was attending coaching classes, intending to work in football after retiring as a player.[4] On 1 July of the following year, he played for a FIFA All-Star team against China in an exhibition game as part of Hong Kong's ten-year independence anniversary celebrations. The miscellaneous side was coached by Gérard Houllier, and featured players like Hidetoshi Nakata, Stéphane Chapuisat, Christian Karembeu, George Weah and Brian McBride.[5]

Borimirov still played an important part in the 2006–07 season, playing in 20 matches (four goals) as Levski won the league – and the cup. He ended his career at the age of 38, playing his last game on 17 May 2008 against city neighbours PFC Slavia Sofia, with his team winning the match.

After retiring, Borimirov served as director of football at Levski Sofia, replacing former club and national teammate Nasko Sirakov, and himself being replaced at the end of 2008–09 by Georgi Ivanov.[6]

Controversy

In 2006, still as a player, Borimirov gained notoriety in Bulgarian football circles for his violent outbursts after controversial referee decisions. One particular accident in which he was involved in resulted in him spitting in the face of the referee. Borimirov was fined 10,000 Bulgarian lev by the Bulgarian Football Union, later apologizing for his behaviour.

Two years later, now in directorial capacities, he caused more controversy, following a match against PFC CSKA Sofia.[7]

International career

For Bulgaria, Borimirov was capped 67 times, scoring five goals.[8] He made his debut in 1993, being selected for the 1994 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 1996, 1998 World Cup and Euro 2004, totalling 11 appearances, with one goal. He is the only Bulgarian to represent his Country in two Euros as well as two World Cups and the only Bulgarian from 1994 World Cup to take part in 2004 Euro.

In the first competition, as the national team finished in fourth place, Borimirov scored against Greece in the group stage, for Bulgaria's first ever FIFA World Cup win (4–0, in Chicago, having played only eight minutes). He also converted his penalty shootout attempt in the round of 16 win against Mexico.

Personal life

Borimirov was born in the village of Pokrayna in Vidin. In an interview with Gazeta Sporturilor, Borimirov said that his maternal grandparents are Romanian.[9] He is married to Aphrodita and they have two children.[10]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Bdin Vidin B Group 1987–88 337–337
1988–89 210–210
1989–90 3711–3711
Total 9118009118
Levski Sofia A Group 1990–91 28371–3813
1991–92 14082003614
1992–93 29560213614
1993–94 23156641124
1994–95 291711103115
Total 1234028107215852
1860 Munich Bundesliga 1995–96 25631–287
1996–97 31932103511
1997–98 3231021354
1998–99 23220–252
1999–00 20220–222
2000–01 2431050303
2001–02 2643140335
2002–03 2622020302
2003–04 6010–70
Total 2133118414124536
Levski Sofia A Group 2003–04 1130020133
2004–05 231041303011
2005–06 229101323611
2006–07 20431101336
2007–08 2232010253
Total 982910229313734
Career total 5251185616506631140

    International

    Appearances and goals by national team and year
    National teamYearAppsGoals
    Bulgaria 199351
    199491
    199550
    1996111
    199741
    199870
    199971
    200060
    200100
    200210
    200370
    200430
    200520
    Total675
    Scores and results list Bulgaria's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Borimirov goal.[11]
    List of international goals scored by Daniel Borimirov
    No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
    120 February 1993Dubai United Arab Emirates3–13–1Friendly
    226 June 1994Soldier Field, Chicago Greece4–04–01994 FIFA World Cup
    38 November 1996Supachalasai National Stadium, Bangkok Thailand4–04–0Friendly
    42 April 1997Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia Cyprus1–04–1FIFA World Cup 1998 Qualification
    510 October 1999Stadion Balgarska Armia, Sofia Luxembourg1–03–0UEFA Euro 2000 Qualification

    Honours

    Levski Sofia

    Bulgaria

    References

    1. ↑ "Даниел Боримиров Борисов" (in Bulgarian). levskisofia.info. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
    2. ↑ Arnhold, Matthias (2 April 2020). "Daniel BORIMIROV Borisov - Matches and Goals in Bundesliga". RSSSF.com. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
    3. ↑ "Uefa Cup round-up". BBC Sport. 30 March 2006. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
    4. ↑ "Даниел Боримиров: Оптимист съм за мача с Киево" (in Bulgarian). Sportni. 16 August 2006. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
    5. ↑ "FIFA help Hong Kong celebrations". FIFA.com. 29 June 2007. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
    6. ↑ "Даниел Боримиров навършва 39 години днес". topsport.bg. 15 January 2009. Retrieved 16 February 2013.
    7. ↑ "FC Levski complain of referees". Standart News. 7 April 2009. Archived from the original on 6 October 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
    8. ↑ Mamrud, Roberto (2 April 2020). "Daniel Borimirov - International Appearances". RSSSF.com. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
    9. ↑ "Pentru onoare". Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 17 November 2007. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
    10. ↑ Dobrev, Dobromir (24 May 2008). "Футболни страсти от крайния квартал. Никос Аманатидис подготвя тима на Люлин за професионалистите" (in Bulgarian). 7sport.net. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
    11. ↑ "Daniel Borimirov". EU-Football.info.
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