Dinko Dermendzhiev


Dinko Tsvetkov Dermendzhiev was a Bulgarian footballer and later manager. Among football fans he is also popular with the nickname Chico.

Club career

Dermendzhiev started his career in FC Maritsa Plovdiv. Curiously, at the early stage of his career Dermendzhiev played as a goalkeeper, although later he became famous as a midfield.
In 1959 he was transferred to PFC Botev Plovdiv. He played for the club 19 years during the 1960s and 1970s. Dermendzhiev participated in 447 matches in A Grupa and scored 194 goals for PFC Botev Plovdiv. He hold the third place in the all time goalscorers ranking of A Grupa. Throughout his long career Dermendzhiev scored 7 hat-tricks.

International career

He made 58 appearances for the Bulgaria national football team and scored 19 goals from 1966 to 1977. He participated at three editions of FIFA World Cup in 1962, 1966 and 1970, scoring one goal against Peru.

Coaching career

After the end of his career as a player Dinko Dermendzhiev became a coach. His first team was Chepinets Velingrad during season 1978-1979.
His most successful period as a manager of Botev Plovdiv was from 1979 to 1984. On 30 September 1981 under his guidance Botev Plovdiv achieved a glorious 1-0 victory over FC Barcelona. After that he was manager of the club for shorter periods on several other occasions: 1989-1991, 1992-1993, 1995-1996, 1997-1998, 1999-2001.
In 1984-1985 he was a manager of PFC Shumen. He was also manager of Lokomotiv Plovdiv, Lokomotiv Sofia, Spartak Pleven, FC Maritsa Plovdiv, Omonia Aradippou, Hebar Pazardzhik, Chernomorets Burgas, Bulgaria U21, and a short spell at Levski Sofia where he achieved 8 wins and 2 draws in 1991.

Honours

Club Honours

Player