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Radostin KishishevBulgarian footballer, defensive midfielder
Date of Birth: 30.07.1974
Country:  Bulgaria |
Content:
- Childhood and Early Career
- International Success
- Club Career
- Sporting Lisbon
- Return to Stuttgart
- Managerial Career
- VfB Stuttgart
Childhood and Early Career
Krasimir Balakov was born on 29 March 1966, in Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria. He began his football career at the age of 10, playing for the local club Etar Veliko Tarnovo. In 1982, he joined Spartak Pleven, where he made his professional debut at the age of 17.
International Success
Balakov made his international debut for Bulgaria in 1988 and quickly became a key player for the team. He played in two major tournaments with Bulgaria: the 1994 FIFA World Cup and the 1996 UEFA European Championship. In the 1994 World Cup, he scored a memorable goal against Argentina in the group stage.
Club Career
After his impressive performances for Bulgaria, Balakov moved to German club VfB Stuttgart in 1990. He spent seven successful seasons with Stuttgart, winning the Bundesliga title in 1992 and the DFB-Pokal (German Cup) in 1997. During his time at Stuttgart, he also competed in theUEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup.
Sporting Lisbon
In 1997, Balakov transferred to Portuguese club Sporting Lisbon, where he played for two seasons. He helped Sporting win the Primeira Liga title in 1999 and also reached the final of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in the same year.
Return to Stuttgart
In 2000, Balakov returned to VfB Stuttgart, where he remained for another two seasons before retiring from playing in 2002. He ended his club career with over 500 appearances and 100 goals.
Managerial Career
After retiring as a player, Balakov began his managerial career in 2004 with Bulgaria's national team. He led the team to the 2006 FIFA World Cup, but they were eliminated in the group stage.
VfB Stuttgart
In 2007, Balakov became the manager of VfB Stuttgart, his former club. He guided the team to the Bundesliga title in 2007 and the DFB-Pokal in 2008. In 2009, he left Stuttgart and has since managed several other clubs, including Eintracht Frankfurt, Kaiserslautern, and 1. FC Kaiserslautern.
