Trifon Ivanov
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Trifon Marinov Ivanov | ||
| Date of birth | 27 July 1965 | ||
| Place of birth | Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria | ||
| Date of death | 13 February 2016 (aged 50) | ||
| Place of death | Samovodene, Bulgaria | ||
| Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||
| Playing position | Centre-back | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1983–1988 | Etar Veliko Tarnovo | 62 | (7) |
| 1988–1990 | CSKA Sofia | 64 | (8) |
| 1990–1993 | Real Betis | 52 | (9) |
| 1991 | → Etar Veliko Tarnovo (loan) | 12 | (1) |
| 1992 | → CSKA Sofia (loan) | 5 | (1) |
| 1993–1995 | Neuchâtel Xamax | 25 | (3) |
| 1995 | → CSKA Sofia (loan) | 7 | (0) |
| 1995–1997 | Rapid Wien | 53 | (7) |
| 1997–1998 | Austria Wien | 11 | (0) |
| 1998 | → CSKA Sofia (loan) | 10 | (1) |
| 1998–2001 | Floridsdorfer AC | 52 | (8) |
| Total | 353 | (45) | |
| National team | |||
| 1988–1998 | Bulgaria | 76 | (6) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
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Trifon Marinov Ivanov (Bulgarian: Трифон Маринов Иванов; 27 July 1965 – 13 February 2016) was a Bulgarian international footballer who played as a defender.
Ivanov made his debut for Bulgaria in 1988, earning 76 caps and scoring 6 goals over a ten-year international career. He appeared in the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cups, as well as the 1996 UEFA European Championship.
Ivanov died of a heart attack on 13 February 2016.
Sometimes known by his nickname "The Bulgarian Wolf" due to his unshaven appearance and mullet hairstyle, Ivanov started his career with Etar Veliko Tarnovo. He made his first team debut during the 1983–84 A Group season, and established himself as a regular player two years later. Ivanov played 62 games and scored 7 goals for Etar in the A Group.
After five seasons at Etar, Ivanov joined CSKA Sofia where he won two A Group titles, one Bulgarian Cup, and one Bulgarian Supercup. He made his debut in a 5–1 home league win over Botev Vratsa on 13 August 1988. Ivanov scored his first goal for the club on 12 October, in a 7–1 thumping of Sliven.
In January 1991, Ivanov transferred to La Liga-side Real Betis. He finished the season with 5 goals in 20 matches, but Betis were relegated to Segunda División. Whilst at Betis, he spent time out on loan at his previous clubs Etar and CSKA, before joining Swiss club Neuchâtel Xamax on a permanent basis in 1993.
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