Nikola Kotkov
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Nikola Todorov Kotkov (Никола Тодоров Котков) |
||
| Date of birth | 9 December 1938 | ||
| Place of birth | Sofia, Bulgaria | ||
| Date of death | 30 June 1971 (aged 32) | ||
| Place of death | Sofia, Bulgaria | ||
| Playing position | Striker | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Lokomotiv Sofia | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1956–1969 | Lokomotiv Sofia | 286 | (143) |
| 1969–1971 | Levski Sofia | 36 | (20) |
| – | Total | 322 | (163) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 1956–1959 | Bulgaria U19 | 16 | (8) |
| 1959–1961 | Bulgaria U21 | 7 | (5) |
| 1961–1969 | Bulgaria | 26 | (12) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of December 2006. ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of December 2006 |
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Nikola Todorov Kotkov (Bulgarian: Никола Тодоров Котков) (9 December 1938 – 30 June 1971), nicknamed Koteto (Котето, "The Kitten") was a Bulgarian footballer who played as a striker.
Born in the capital Sofia, Kotkov started his football career as a PFC Lokomotiv Sofia trainee and went on to spend much of his career (1956–1969) with the club, winning the Bulgarian Championship in 1964. He then moved to PFC Levski Sofia, for whom he played until his death in 1971. Kotkov died together with his friend and teammate Georgi Asparuhov in a traffic accident in the Vitinya Pass of the Balkan Mountains, en route to Vratsa. With Levski, Kotkov became once again champion in 1970, winning the Bulgarian Cup the same year.
Kotkov played a total of 322 matches and scored 163 goals in the Bulgarian Championship and was given the Bulgarian Footballer of the Year award in 1964. For the Bulgaria national team, he had 26 caps and scored 12 goals, taking part in the 1966 FIFA World Cup in England.
A fans' favourite noted for his fair play, Kotkov was known for his remarkable technique, pinpoint passing and skilful free kick taking.
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