One of the greatest Bulgarian football players Trifon Ivanov has passed away this night, the Bulgarian Football Union announced on its website.

In recent years, Trifon Ivanov served as chairman of the Zonal Council of the Bulgarian Football Union in Veliko Tarnovo where he won the hearts of the people in his hometown and the region with his dedicated work for the development of football.

Trifon Ivanov will remain in the history of Bulgarian football as one of the best defenders - Footballer №1 of Bulgaria for 1996, a 3-times champion of Bulgaria with the team of CSKA and in 1996 he became a champion of Austria with the team of Rapid (Vienna). He had 77 matches with 6 goals for the "A" national team of Bulgaria, with which he became a bronze medalist at the World Cup in the USA in 1994. Memorable will remain his goal in the door of Russia at the Vasil Levski National Stadium on September 10, 1997, with which Bulgaria qualified for Mondial 1998.

In addition to being a great footballer, Trifon was also a person with a great heart and always ready to help. We all mourn the loss of a true friend, the announcement of the Bulgarian Football Union reads.

The Bulgarian Football Union extends its condolences to Trifon Ivanov’s family and relatives.