Boncho Genchev

Boncho Genchev
Personal information
Full name Boncho Lyubomirov Genchev
Date of birth 7 July 1964 (1964-07-07) (age 47)
Place of birth General Toshevo, Bulgaria
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing position Attacking midfielder
Youth career
1974–1981 Sportist General Toshevo
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
1981–1982 Dobrudzha Dobrich 6 (0)
1982–1983 Osam Lovech 18 (2)
1983–1986 Lokomotiv GO 85 (13)
1987–1991 Etar 115 (37)
1991–1992 Sporting CP 2 (0)
1992–1995 Ipswich Town 61 (6)
1995–1997 Luton Town 66 (10)
1997–1998 CSKA Sofia 32 (20)
1999–2001 Hendon 52 (9)
2001–2002 Carshalton Athletic 11 (1)
2006–2007 Hendon 18 (0)
Total 493 (114)
National team
1990–1996 Bulgaria 12 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Boncho Lyubomirov Genchev (Bulgarian: Бончо Генчев; born 7 July 1964) is a retired Bulgarian footballer who played as an attacking midfielder.

Contents

Club career

Born in General Toshevo, Dobrich Province, Genchev started playing with PFC Dobrudzha Dobrich, switching to PFC Litex Lovech in 1982, for another sole season. In the following year, he established himself in the Bulgarian top flight, with FC Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa and Etar Veliko Tarnovo, where he played three 1/2 and four 1/2 years respectively.

After 22 league goals for Etar in two seasons combined, 27-year old Genchev moved abroad, signing with Sporting Clube de Portugal in the summer of 1991, alongside compatriot Ivaylo Yordanov, who previously had succeeded him at Lokomotiv GO. Unlike the forward, he had virtually no impact with the Lisbon side, leaving after one sole season, and two league matches.

Genchev revived his career in England, where he played for Ipswich Town and Luton Town, his three years with the Blues being spent in the Premier League (with relegation in the last one), where he netted a total of six times.

In 1997, the veteran returned to his country, with PFC CSKA Sofia, winning the top scorer accolade in his first season — although the club could only finish third — and the Bulgarian Cup in his second. After that, he returned, at nearly 35, to England, playing non-league football for Hendon FC and Carshalton Athletic, and retiring three years after.

Four years later, Genchev came out of retirement and rejoined Hendon,[1] scoring his first goal in his second spell on 14 March 2007 against Hayes FC, in the Middlesex Senior Cup. He retired for good in the following year.

International career

During six years, Genchev played 12 times for Bulgaria, without scoring. He represented the nation at the 1994 FIFA World Cup, replacing Nasko Sirakov for the second half of the round-of-16 match against Mexico, and scoring in his penalty shootout attempt.[2]

Genchev was also picked for the squad at UEFA Euro 1996, playing one minute in the 1–0 group stage win against Romania.

Honours

Team

Individual

Personal

After his first retirement, Genchev ran a café/bar in West Kensington, London called 'Strikers', but it ceased trading shortly afterwards.[3]

References

  1. ^ I’ll have a bag of chips and one of those World Cup stars please; BBC, 25 September 2007
  2. ^ "Mexico - Bulgaria 1-3 ap (1-1, 1-1, 1-1)". Planet World Cup. 6 July 1994. http://www.planetworldcup.com/CUPS/1994/r2_mex_v_bul.html. Retrieved 16 December 2011. 
  3. ^ A slice of Bulgaria in London; The Sofia Echo, 27 June 2002

External links
Bulgaria squad – 1994 FIFA World Cup Fourth Place
Bulgaria squad – UEFA Euro 1996