Interview

Hristo Stoichkov:
"At the moment when Atanas Uzunov accepts a bribe he will no longer be my best man"

14.12.2000
Mr. Stoichkov, you came back to Bulgaria because of the farewell match of Atanas Uzunov? What memories will you have of this game?
The time came for the best referee in Bulgaria to retire. Personally, he helped me a lot. Right from the start of my football career, he took responsibility of me and sent me from Maritsa to Harmanli. From there, everything else took off. From my family life to everything around me. Right from the first moment I met him, I knew he would be the best man at my wedding.

What is the most characteristic trait you remember in him?
I recall a lot of things, but the most shocking is the first memory I have of him. When I was in the training camp of Yuri Gagarin, where Nasko Uzunov was coaching, I had to wakeup all the players in the morning, because they were much older. I had to fix them breakfast, but they were still unhappy because I always woke them way too early.

Do you remember the first card which Uzunov has showed you?
I remember the first and the last. The first was given to me in Sliven, for nothing. It was because I disagreed with him. But how can you agree with Nasko? He always has two sided opinions.

With what has Atanas Uzunov helped you the most?
Nasko will always be one of the people, that helped me a lot. That was because of his character. The youngsters should study from him. Many people accuse him of taking bribes and favoring specific clubs. I have told him more than once, that at the moment when he accepts a bribe he will no longer be my best man. From his side, he has rejected this more than once and I believe him. I'm convinced of it.