Dan Kolov is a popular Bulgarian wrestler from the period before the Second World War. He is born on December 27^th, 1892 in the village of Sennik, near the town of Sevlievo. His real name is Doncho Kolev Danev). When he is at the age of 17 he goes to the United States with a group of his friends. And there he starts his wrestling career – first in the wrestles organized between the workers. This is followed by many wins in the Victoria Circus’ fights.   Dan Kolov wins against a lot of the very popular wrestlers of that time like Jeff Lorens, Strenglar Lewis, Jim Browning, etc. Then he is invited to travel to Japan and participate on a tournament there. He wins against the local idol Jimmy Higan who has never been defeated before. The crowded goes crazy and tries to kill Dan. After this he is invited to fight in Paris where, again, Dan Kolov wins against all his opponents, including Henry Deglan – a European, world and Olympic champion. This competition brings him the title European champion and the so called “Diamond Belt”. It also brings him the nicknames King Kong, The king of the wrestle, the Balkan Lion, etc. During his entire career, Dan Kolov participates in more than 1500 matches (with the unofficial games the number goes to almost 2000) and loses only about 10 games – all of them being either in the beginning of his career, or in the end – when he wrestles with a very heavy illness - tuberculosis - that kills him in the end. Tehre is even a belief that Kolov is poisoned slowly by French doctors, as a final attempt to remove the great wrestler. One of the very popular legends for him that is an absolute fact, is that one day while he was on a hunt; a bear comes across him and tries to kill him. After fighting the bear for almost an hour, Dan Kolov finally kills her and remains scars from his hands on the bear’s paws.

Even now, Dan Kolov is admired as one of the best wrestlers in the history and one of the legends of Martial Arts. He dies in Bulgaria on March 26^th, 1940. He is a real inspiration for many generations of future Bulgarian wrestlers. Kolov is very often offered to change his nationality to American, but never accepts it, by telling: “I feel strong because I am Bulgarian.” He is also remembered for his generosity – he helps financially a lot of Bulgarian students in abroad. By the end of his life Kolov is one of the very few in that time real millionaires. And he gives almost all of his money for charity. The first airplane of the Bulgarian Post-office is bought by him.

CHUDOMIR

Chudomir is the literature nick name that Dimitar Hristov Chorbajiiski used to sign under his works. It is like this that people actually know him most. He is one of the most popular Bulgarian writers – a humorist and artist. He is born in the village of Turia, Stara Zagora district, on March 25th, 1890. He is the fifth child in the family. Till the age of 16 he studies in the Stara Zagora High school. In 1913 Chudomir finished the Sofia Art and Industrial State School. It is in these years that he receives his nickname – given by his friends because of the facial resemblance with a famous in that time activist Chudomir Kantarjiev. Later Chudomir participates in the Balkan and the First World Wars. In 1921 he marries Mara Nonova. Between 1920 and 1933 he works as a high school teacher in the town of Kazanlak. In the end of 1929 Chudomir travels to Paris for a short specialization in painting. His first feuilletons, epigrams and short stories are published in the magazines “Baraban”, “Osten”, “Jilo”, etc. and in the newspapers “Zora”, “Slovo”, “Iskra”, etc. It is Chudomir’s humoristic stories that make him really popular. They are performed on many stages and are reprinted many times. Here are some of them: “Ne sam ot tiah” (“I’m Not One of Them”), “Alaminut” (“A La Minute”), etc. In 1969 a collection of his aphorisms and miniatures is published, under the name “Pestete ni vremeto!” (“Save Our Time!”).  Till the end of his life, he is chairman of the Kazanlak Historic and Ethnographic museum and the “Iskra” Community Center. In 1959 he becomes member of the Parliament.

Despite being a good writer, Chudomir actually drws a lot – he has more than 1000 drawings. In the beginning of his career he draws caricatures for the newspapers in Sofia. His first one-man exhibition is held in Kazanlak.

Chudomir dies on December 26th, 1967 in Sofia.

STEFKA KOSTADINOVA

Stefka Kostadinova is a former Bulgarian athlete specialised in the high jump . She is born in the town of Plovdiv in March 25^th, 1965. She finishes the sports school in her native town. In the beginning she practiced gymnastics and swimming. Then she changes to high jump. She makes her first jump over 2 meters in 1984 (altogether she makes a total of 197 jumps of more than 200 cm – no other athlete in women's high jump has done this). The most memorable moment in her career is the 1987 World Championships in Athletics in Rome, held on August 30^th, 1987, when she makes a new world record in women high jump – 209cm. This record is still unbeaten now – more than 20 years later, which makes it one of the oldest records in the history of modern athletics.

Stefka Kostadinova wins a gold medal in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, and a silver medal 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul. Kostadinova is a double world outdoor champion - 1987 and 1995.

Kostadinova participates  in five World Indoor Championships in Athletics - Paris 1985, Indianapolis 1987, Budapest 1989, Toronto 1993 and Paris 1997, and wins in all of them. She is a European outdoor champion from Stuttgart in 1986 and a four-time European indoor champion from Athens 1985, Budapest 1988 and Paris 1994.

Kostadinova is voted Sportsperson of the Year in Bulgaria four times (1985, 1987, 1995 and 1996) and five times Sportsperson of the Year in the Balkans. She is also included in the Top 10 of the Twentieth Century Female Athletes, according to the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). In 1996 Kostadinova is given the award “Stara Planina” – one of the most important orders in the country.

In 1995 Kostadinova gives birth to her son, Nikolay, just several months before winning gold in the 1995 World Championships in Athletics. In 1999 she officially ends her athletic career.

After retiring Kostadinova starts a career in sports administration. Since 1999 she has held various positions, such as vice president of the Bulgarian Athletics Federation, vice president of the Bulgarian Olympic Committee and deputy sports minister of Bulgaria (2003 - 2005).

In 2005 Kostadinova was elected President of the Bulgarian Olympic Committee – a position that she still occupies.

ELISAVETA BAGRIANA

Elisaveta Bagriana is a very popular Bulgarian writer of poetry, children books and translator. She is born in Sofia, on April, 29^th 1893. Her real name is Elisaveta Liubomirova Belcheva. Among her other pen-names are Elizabeta B., El.Blenova, Nichia Dolche, Mikaela.

Bagriana finishes school in Sofia. She writes her first poems in the town of Veliko Turnovo, where she spends a year living with her family in the period 1907-1908. After school, she spends a year in the village of Aftane, in Burgas district, as a teacher. There she gains her impressions of the real life in the Bulgarian village. After this, she returns to Sofia and starts studying Slavonic Philology in the Sofia University. Among her friends from this time are popular writers like Yordan Yovkov, Dimcho Debelianov, Hristo Yasenov, etc. The magazine “Savremenna missal (“Contemporary Thought”) publishes her poems for the very first time in 1915 – these are “Vecherna pesen” (“Evening Song”) and “Zashto” (“Why”). After finishing the Univeristy, Bagriana once again becomes teacher – in the towns of Vratsa and Kiustendil.

Since 1921, she starts writing in several Bulgarian newspapers “Vestink za jenata” (“Newspaper for the Woman”), “Lik” (“Image”) and magazines “Savremennik” (“Contemporary”), “Zlatorog”, etc. In 1927 Bagriana writes her first book – “Vechnata I viatata” (The Eternal and Holly”). Her later work includes writing children books and translation. She writes for the “Literaturen front” (“Literature Front”), “Septemvri” (“September”), “Izkustvo” (“Art”), “Plamak” (“Flame”), etc.

Her poems have been translated to more than 30 languages an published in France, Romania, Italy, the former USSR, the former Yugoslavia, Sweden, Poland, etc. The International Association of Poets gives her a gold medal in 1969 in Rome. There is a school in Sofia, named after her.

Elisaveta Bagriana dies on March 23^rd, 1991 in Sofia at the age of 97 years.

JAN VIDENOV

Jan Videnov is a Bulgarian politician, former prime-minister of the country. He is born on March 22^nd, 1959 in the town of Plovdiv. He finished the Plovdiv English high-School. After this he studies in Moscow – subject – “International Economic Relations”. Between 1986-1989, Videnov works in the former DKMS (which comes from “Dimitrov’s Communist Youth Union”). He becomes member of the Communist party in 1983. After the democratic reforms in 1989, the party is renamed to Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP). Videnov joins the executive body of the new party. Very soon, in 1991, he is elected to be the new leader of the party, following Alexander Lilov who personally recommended him.  

BSP wins the elections in 1994, and Videnov becomes prime-minister of the country. The following years are among the most difficulties in the modern history of Bulgaria. The country is in state of hyperinflation, the average monthly wage becomes equal to 5-6 dollars. The Bulgarian currency – the Lev, falls down streamingly and many Bulgarian banks as well common people went bankrupt. The people start public protests in front of the National Parliament and the Alexander Nevski Cathedral.  It all ends in the end of 1996, when finally Videnov resigns from the leadership of BSP and makes way for Georgi Parvanov – the future president of Bulgaria.  The whole government resigns on December 28^th, 1996. BSP makes efforts to form a new government but they all failed. This makes way for the opposition to form a new government after the elections.

After his resignation, Jan Videnov withdraws from the everyday political life and remains only in the High Council of the BSP. In 2000 he leaves the High Council too. His name once again is mentioned in 2009 when he decides to leave BSP, because he doesn’t agree with the politics of the current leader Sergey Stanishev.

It is interesting to mention, that Videnov speaks English, French, Russian and Arabic languages. Nowadays, Videnov is a teacher in a private college in Plovdiv.

GRIGOR VACHKOV

Grigor Vachkov Grigorov is a famous Bulgarian actor from the near past. He is born in the village of Trunchovitsa, near the town of Nikopol, on May 26^th, 1932. In the beginning, he studies wine planting and wine growing in the town of Pleven. After finishing school, Grigor is accepted into the High Institute for Theatre Art, known as VITIZ and graduates from it in 1955. His first as an actor are in the theatre in Vratsa, after which he is starts working in the Satirical theatre in Sofia. Later he has been invited to join the National theatre many times but he preferred to remain in this theatre. There he makes a number of memorable roles that helped him become one of the most popular Bulgarian actors. But as often happens, Grigor Vachkov remains in the memories of the most people with his roles in the cinema. His movie debut is in 1960 in the movie “Dom na dve ulitsi” (A Home on Two Streets”). Vachkov plays in altogether more than 40 films – among which “Hitar Petar”, “Tiutiun” (“Tobacco”), “Verigata” (“The Chain”), “Bialata staia” (“The White Room”), etc. One of his most memorable roles is Mitko Bombata (“Mitko the bomb”) in the super popular Bulgarian TV series “Na vseki kilometer” (“At Every Kilometer”)shown between 1967-1971. His last role is in the film “Mera spored mera” where he plays Postol voivoda, but death finds him before finishing the film, on March 18^th, 1980. Vachkov dies at the age of 47 loved from many Bulgarians at different ages. His daughter, Martina, later becomes an actress too.

Emilia is one of the famous contemporary pop-folk singers in Bulgaria. She is born on March 21st, 1982 in the town of Radnevo. At the age of 12 she starts studying folk singing and prepares for applying on the Shiroka Luka School – one of the best folk music schools in the country. Three years after joining the school, Emilia decides to leave it and starts a professional career in the “Payner music” company. She continues her studying in a music class in the town of Dimitrovgrad - the home town of the company. It is interesting to mention that before signing with “Payner” Emilia has sung only folklore music. In 1999 she records her first song – “Svarsheno e s teb” (“You’re Finished”). In the same year she receives her first music award – for debut of the year in the Trakia folk festival. This is followed by several awards – again in the Trakia Folk Festival, Pirin Folk Festival, “Nov Folk” magazine, “Planeta TV”, etc. Emilia records a number of duet songs, among which the most famous is with Nidal Kaisar – “Bezumna liubov” (“Insane Love”). In 2005 the singer changes her music producer and starts working with Todor Dimitrov. A product of this collaboration is the album “Samotna staia” (“Lonely Room”), with the hit songs “Za mene zabravi” (“Forget about Me”), “Tseluvai me” (“Kiss Me”), etc. Her sixth album comes in 2006 – “Misli za men” (“Think about Me”).

In 2008 Emilia gives birth to her first child – the son Ivan. In the end of the same year, her seventh album “Rodena sam da te obicham” (“I Was Born to Love You”) comes out.

DesiSlava is one of the most famous Bulgarian pop-folk singers. She is born on March 7th, 1979 in the town of Gulubovo. Her first public appearance is at the age of 14 when she wins a music competition. A year later, DesiSlava is already working with the orchestra of the town of Radnevo and records her first music album – with folklore songs. In 2003 she Her first album is called “Niamam problemi” (“I Have No Problems”). In 2001 she records her third album, called “Zavinagi” (“Forever”). Then she goes to the USA and gives birth to her son Mike. Soon after this she separates with his father. Later DesiSlava returns to Bulgaria and records her new project – “Misteria” (Mystery”). In 2004 DesiSlava has already found a musical company of her own (called “New Music”) and for the first time produces her album by her own – “Liubovta e samo chuvstvo” (“Love is Only a Feeling”). In the same year she records another album – with the scandally famous singer Azis. DesiSlava is invited to be the singer in the first MAD Secret concert in Bulgaria where she clearly showed the entire quality of her voice singing songs from different genres.

Vasil Troyanov Boyanov, or as everybody knows him – Azis is a famous Bulgarian pop-folk male singer. He is born in the town of Sliven on March 7th, 1978. Until his 9th birthday, Azis lives in the town of Kostinbrod and Sofia. He is a descendant of relatively rich gipsy family – his mother comes from the so called Karkadashi clan who are the richest gypsies in Bulgaria. The first musical performances of Azis are probably in the “Roma” ensemble. At the age of 13, he goes to Germany and starts working. But soon afterwards, he decides to come back to his country. During his period in Germany, Azis learns to speak German very good. A little known fact is that his first album is a compilation of evangelistic songs. His first album is called “Sulza” (“Teardrop”). Later he says this album is a complete scrub. Soon comes his second album- “Mujete sashto plachat” (Men Are Crying Too”) – maybe this is when Azis is first really noticed. Now, the famous singer has more than10 albums. He has already published an autobiography – in 2006 - the so called “Az, Azis” (“Me, Azis”). His book is written in the same manner that he acts in life and on the scene - scandalous. Azis enjoys pretending to be gay. He dresses like a woman (more probably like a transsexual, and sometimes even addresses to himself as a Vasilka. He even married his boyfriend in a ceremony that is not real because marriage between men or women in Bulgaria is not allowed. In the meantime, Azis became father of a girl, called Raia.

Despite his scandal behavior, Azis is a very talented singer with fascinating voice quality. He can easily sing in every possible genre, even folklore songs.  Among his most famous songs are: “Tseluvai me” (“Kiss Me”), “Obicham te” (“I Love You”), etc.

Azis is currently hosting a night TV show on the TV2 Channel.

Veselin Topalov is a Bulgarian chess grand-master and a former FIDE world chess champion. He is born in the town of Ruse on March 15th 1975.

His father is his first coach- he taught him to play chess at the age of eight. In 1989 Veselin  wins the World Under-14 Championship in Puerto Rico, and in 1990 wins the silver medal at the World Under-16 Championship in Singapore. He becomes a grand-master in 1992.

Topalov has been the leader of the Bulgarian national team since 1994. At the 1994 Chess Olympiad in Moscow, Russia he leads Bulgaria to the fourth-place.

Over the next ten years Topalov wins a number of tournaments, and goes up and up in the world chess rankings. Since 1996 he is practically being invited to every "super grand-master" events of the world's élite.

Topalov makes his first "super-tournament" success in Linares 2005, defeating Kasparov in the last round, in Kasparov's last tournament game before retirement. Topalov becomes the 18th FIDE World Chess Champion by winning the FIDE World Chess Championship 2005.

The unification of the FIDE World Title (held by Topalov) and the Classical Chess World Title (held by Vladimir Kramnik) is only a matter of time. This happens on a match in September-October 2006. After some of the most scandalous matches for the title, and accusations from both of the teams, Kramnik defeated Topalov to become the first undisputed champion in thirteen years. However, the match is to become more famous with the name “The Toilet War”, following the particular accusations against Kramnik that he goes to the toilet after almost every move, for possible help. But nothing is really proven.

Topalov recently won the match against Gata Kamsky – the American grand-master. It was held in Sofia, in February 2009. This was the long anticipated semi-final for the title. After this, Topalov will at last have the chance to win back the world title in chess, a place that is usually reserved for the competitors of the former Russian federation.

TANIU KIRIAKOV

Taniu Kiriakov is a Bulgarian sportsman, Olympic champion from Seoul 1988, and Sydney 2000 in the discipline shooting with pistol. He is born on March 2^nd, 1963 in the town of Ruse. Kiriakov start practicing sport shooting since 1978. His father Hristo Kiriakov is his first coach, training him till 1993. After this, till now, his coach is Liuben Popov.  Except his gold Olympic medals, Kiriakov has a bronze one – from the games in Atlanta 1996. He is also European champion in 1998, 2006, 2007; Athlete of the year in Bulgaria – second place in 2000. In the last several years, Taniu is still competing, but in the same time he is also a coach in the National sport shooting team. One of his most favorite things to do is fishing.

ZHELIU ZHELEV

Zhelio Zhelev is a Bulgarian philosopher and politician, the first president in the history of Bulgaria. He is born on March 3^rd, 1935, on the National feast, in the village of Veselinovo, Shumen district. He finishes his secondary school in the Shumen High-school. After this, Zhelev goes to study in Sofia and finishes the Sofia University, faculty of philosophy in 1958. In 1960 Zhelev becomes a member of the Bulgarian Communist Party (which was a common practice for every Bulgarian in that time). He spends the period 1961-1964 as a post-graduate in the Sofia University. In his dissertation, he criticizes Marx’s philosophy (which was NOT a common practice in that time :) and because of it, he is excluded from the Party in 1965 and remains without work till 1972. In 1975 Zhelev becomes research associate in the Cultural Institute. Between 1977 and 1982, Zhelev works as a head of the “Culture and Personality” department of the Institute. In 1982, he publishes 10 000 volumes of his major work – “The Fascism”, written 15 years earlier. Only after 3 weeks, the book is forbidden and stopped from distribution – because of the ideas of the book, comparing the fascism methods and the communism. Yet, it is translated to 10 languages. In 1988, Zhelev initiates the founding of the “Club for Support of Publicity and Reorganization”. This is one of the main organizations that acted for overthrowing the Communist leader on November 10^th, 1989. By then, Zhelev has already become one of the most popular persecuted politicians. In December, the same year, he becomes leader of the newly formed “Union of the Democratic Forces” (“SDS” in Bulgarian) and joins the Parliament in the first free elections in Bulgaria. In January 1992, Zhelev becomes the first President of Bulgaria – he is chosen with free elections among the people. The role of Zheliu Zhelev for keeping the piece in the country in very difficult situation, democratization of the country and society, is very big. In the same time, his political views grow more and more different form the party that he had established and therefore, in 1996, Zhelev loses the preliminary elections for president. Soon, he leaves SDS and tries to establish a new union of liberal parties. In the following elections his new party fails to enter the Parliament and since then Zheliu Zhelev turns his back to do policy.

BOYAN RADEV

Boyan Radev is a former Bulgarian Graeco-Roman style wrestler. He is born in the village of Moshino, today – (a quarter of Pernik), on February 25^th, 1942. Radev is an athlete of Levski-Spartak wrestling club. He is one of the most successful competitors in the history of Bulgarian wrestling. Radev is twice Olympic champion – in Tokyo 1964 and Moscow 1968 in the category under 97kg, world champion from Toledo 1966, World silver medalist in 1962 and 1967, and European vice-champion in 1968. He is three times given “The Sportsman of the year” award in Bulgaria – 1964, 1967 and 1968.

Boyan Radev is among the real living legends of the Bulgarian wrestling. Today, he is a famous collector of traditional Bulgarian art and sculpture and historical artifacts; big contributor to the collections of the Bulgarian National Museum and the National Gallery. He is also popular with his mustache and cigar.

TATIANA LOLOVA

Tatiana Lolova is among the most popular and beloved Bulgarian actresses.  She is most famous with her large number of comedy characters both in the cinema and at the stage.

Lolova is born on February 10^th, 1934 in Sofia. Her mother is of Russian-Ukrainian origin and her father is an accountant. His cousin is a popular theatre actor in Plovdiv and perhaps the young Tatiana gained something from his genes. She already knew she must be an actress ever since she was in the… kindergarten. Quite normally, following the number of her appearances at many school manifestations, Lolova is admitted to the National Theatrical High-School – which then, like nowadays, was the highest level of studying for an actor in Bulgaria. In her class she meets many future famous Bulgarian actors like Grigor Vachkov, Emilia Radeva, Itshak Fintsi, etc. What Lolova dreams for are the dramatic characters. But nevertheless, her comedian talent is noticed from the very beginning of her studying. Lolova finishes the University in 1955 and is appointed in the Ruse theatre. The next year she becomes the first actress officially appointed in the newly formed and future legendary Satirical theatre in Sofia. She plays in many of the productions of the new theatre and soon becomes one of the most popular actors alongside Georgi Partsalev, Georgi Kaloyanchev, Stoianka Mutafova, etc. But Lolova gains much of her popularity through her radio appearances – in a number of comedy pieces. Of course, the television helped her a lot too. In 1978, already being a popular actress, Lolova shocks everybody and moves to the “Sofia Theatre”, where she fulfills her passion at last and appears in a lot of dramatic roles. Lolova spends more than 11 years there.  She also takes part in many movies, displaying a number of remarkable characters in the films “Toplo” (“Warm”), Neveroiatna istoria” (“Unbelievable Story”), “Poslednia ergen” (“The Last Bachelor”), “Sluchaiat Penvele” (“The Penvele Case”), “Ptici i hratki” (“Birds and Greyhounds”), etc.   

But, in fact, just by quoting the number of her stage and cinema appearances, one cannot give a good impression of the love of people, that surrounded Tatiana Lolova in her entire career. She is definitely among the living legends of Bulgarian theatre and cinema.

IVANA

Ivana is a famous Bulgarian pop-folk singer. She is born in the town of Aitos on January 31^st, 1970 in quite a musical family. Her father, who has influenced her the most, is an accordion player and plays with his band in the restaurants alongside the seaside. Her grandmother (whom she is named after) was a singer herself too. The legend says that Ivana starts singing in the early age of 4 years. The first song she sings is the folk song “Imala maika edno mi chedo” (“A Mother had one Child”). Another legend says that being only in 8^th degree, Ivana applied for a job as a singer in a restaurant, and even though she is ill, she makes a dramatic impression to the whole audience. Later she founds the ladies musical formation “Prima +” – where she also plays electrical piano. During this time she meets Stoyana a woman that still plays with her on concerts. Soon, Ivana’s talent is noticed by the musical promoters of “Payner music” and signs a contract with them. Her first recorded song is “Idol”, and her first real hit is “100 patrona” (“100 Bullets”). Her first album is with the same name. In 2001 Ivana wins the award for Best debut by “Nov Folk” magazine. After this, Ivana wins a number of awards and records many popular pop-folk hits, like: “Shampansko i salzi” (“Champagne and Teardrops”), “Neshto netipichno” (“Something Not Typical”), “Stara istoria” (“Old Story”), etc.

DIMITAR BERBATOV

Dimitar Berbatov is by now, the most famous Bulgarian football player. He plays as a central forward and is the current captain of the National team. Berbatov is born on January 30^th, 1981 in the town of Blagoevgrad. He is born in a typically sport family – his father – Ivan is a former football player for the teams of “Pirin” (Blagoevgrad). and CSKA (Sofia), while his mother – Margarita – is a former handball player. Berbatov has a younger brother – Asen who is a football player too. At first and second degree, Berbatov trains track and field athletics and long jump. But at the age of 10, he makes a dramatic change and starts training football in the local team of “Pirin”. Soon he enters the first team of Pirin. Not long after this, he is already noticed by the scouts of CSKA (Sofia) – one of the biggest clubs in the country – and accepts their proposal. The legend says Berbatov ‘s transfer fee was quite extraordinary – 40 pairs of football shoes for his first club. By then he is 17-18 years old. He graduates in Sofia but misses his graduation ball, simply because he doesn’t know his new schoolmates. Playing in CSKA helps him miss the stay in the army as well. Not more than a year later, CSKA receives an offer for him from the German “Bayer” (Leverkusen), worth 4 500 000 German marks. And Berbatov, still a teenager, having played not more than a total of 60 matches for CSKA and scored about 30 goals, joins one of the biggest teams in Germany. The fans of CSKA still can’t forgive him of not winning the title with their team. And they always remember one specific situation in the end of the match against their local rivals – “Levski” (Sofia) when Berbatov goes one-on-one against Levski’s goalkeeper, but misses. Soon afterwards Levski score and become champions of Bulgaria. (Later in an interview, when he is already famous, Berbatov says: “I will score that goal – sooner or later”, showing his will to end his career in CSKA). In the meantime he has already started learning English, inspired by “The Godfather” movie. (By now, he speaks fluently English, German and Russian). He admits Alan Shearer is his football idol. Berbatov’s start in Bayer is not easy, but he has the chance to play alongside some of the best German goalscorers – Ulf Kirsten, Rudi Foller, and the current captain of the German national team – Michael Ballack. This is one of the best periods in the history of the club – Bayer reaches the final of the Champions’ League in 2002, but loses against “Real” (Madrid). Berbatov himself scores several goals in the League in this year and plays in the final. In 2006, after spending several years in Bayer, Berbatov is bought by the English “Tottenham Hotspur” for the transfer fee of 16 000 000 Euro. Berbatov makes a sensational debut season – he scores a number of goals for his new team. He is even voted among the best forwards in the Premier League for 2006/2007 and member of the Best team of the season. In the next year Tottenham faces some difficulties, but nevertheless they win the League Cup. In the following summer, after long and difficult negotiations, Berbatov is finally transferred to the current European champions – Manchester United, for the sum of almost 31 000 000 British pounds. This drives the attention of the whole world to him – after all – this is the second most expensive transfer of the year. Step by step, Berbatov starts showing his abilities and proves his quality. He wins the World Clubs’ competition in 2008 with Manchester United.

Berbatov has been awarded the title “Best player in Bulgaria” 5 times – in 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008 – a record that he shares with one of the legends of Bulgarian football – Hristo Stoichkov. Berbatov is also the second leading goal scorer in the history of the Bulgarian national team, only few goals after the leader Hristo Bonev. His debut in the national team is at the age of 18, in 1999 against Greece. He scores his first goal on February 13^th, 2000 against Chile.

Among the not so famous facts about Berbatov is that he enjoys drawing pictures. He is also an ambassador of UNICEF, and has a foundation of his own that encourages talented young Bulgarians in different spheres.

Berbatov is a nice guy – always smiling, charming, never has problems with the police and his name is never connected to scandals of any kind.

George Hristov

George Hristov is a popular Bulgarian singer. He is born on January 28th in. He starts taking music lessons while being in school. His first public appearance is at the of 5. His aunt lifts him up on the stage of bar "Moscow" and he performs the Oskar Benton`s song "Bensonhurst Blues". His first proffesional public appearance is when he is 6 years old on the stage of the Community centre "Rakovski" at the feast of his school.

 George Hristov`s passion for music and his crave for stage grow more intense year after year. After graduating from the secondary school in 1981, he candidates for the Bulgarian Musical Academy, the pop music speciality. In this years he already has his first appearances and is famous in the musical circles. At that time he is a soloist at the group "Tact". During the summer of 1981 he realizes his first professional record - the song "Signs", which has a second version later. In 1984 George Hristov is a soloist of the group "Silver Stars". At the very outset of his musical career, still as a student, he performs in Mongolia and the former USSR with the Big-Band of the Bulgarian National Radio with a conductor Vili Kazasian.

The artist gains his biggest popularity in 1986, when his first album is recorded.

 Zornica Popova i Maria Neikova are the first autors of songs who lended a hand to the young talent. They write his first songs, that draw the public attention towards him: "Every Tender Is For Only Two", "Penalize Me With Love", "I`m Going To Make You Fall In Love", "If You Understood" (Second Place-Spring Radio Competition), "Song For The Old Mariner" (First Place-Bourgas And The Sea Festival), etc.

Very soon started the George Hristov`s participations at the prestige musical festivals and competitions like “Zlatnia Orfei” ("Golden Orpheus"), “Melodia na godinata” ("Melody Of The Year"), “Burgas I moreto” ("Burgas And The Sea”), etc. Hristov’s popularity grows and soon he is beginning to receive invitations to take part in concerts abroad. Gradually the singer becomes more and more experienced and self-confident to take part in  great international musical competitions in Europe, Asia and USA where he wins many awards like Grand Prix, Bucharest - 1993, Golden Medal at the Olympiade Of Arts, LA - 1997, Grand Prix, Malta - 1999, Grand Prix, Prague - Euro Song`2000, etc.

George Hristov has recorded eleven albums. He is the producer of the last several of them. Very often he is autor of the music and the lirycs of his songs. Hristov sings in five different languages and in various styles – ballads, disco, latino, rock and Bulgarian folklore. Different media and musical institutions have declared George Hristov as a Singer Of  The Year many times. Bulgarian National Television has produced and shown six films about him. He also has a fan-club of his own. Unquestionably, George Hristov is a unique star with own specific style - an innovator.  

GEORGI CHAPKANOV

Georgi Chapkanov is a very popular Bulgarian sculptor and  artist.  He is born in the little town of Valchi Dol, near Varna, on January 24^th, 1943. He graduates from the Sofia Academy of Arts, subject – “sculpture”. Then he goes to Paris for further specialization. Now, Chapkanov is among the best Bulgarian sculptors. To the youngest generation he is a well known monumental sculptor – with a wide range of monuments in several Bulgarian towns. Probably the most famous of them is the sculpture of St. Sofia – the newest symbol of the capital, built in 2000 on the place of a communist statue of the former Soviet leader Lenin. Chapkanov is also among the authors of the new Bulgarian national crest, approved in 1997. But the older generation knows Chapkanov for being an exceptional master of little plastic arts – some of his finest plastics are kept in the most expensive private collections. His larger statues are shown in museums all around the world – in the National Gallery in Sofia, in St. Petersburg, in the Pushkin museum in Moscow, in the International Olympic Committee headquarters in Lausanne, the Museum “Otsokoshi-Ga-Hara” in Japan, the “Lalit Kala” Academy in New Delhi, in “La Blade de Seprai” and “Moutier Museum” in Switzerland, etc. Chapkanov, or Chapa as his friends know him, is an author of many coins and medals; he has drawn portraits of some of the most famous Bulgarians. Chapa is awarded many times by museums all around the world – in Paris, Japan, New Delhi, by the president of Italy, by the Union of Bulgarian artists (5 times, incl. 2 times for portraits). Chapkanov is professor and director of the department “Artistic processing of metal” by the Sofia Academy of Arts.

MARTIN PETROV

Martin Petrov is currently one of the most famous and talented Bulgarian football players. He is born January 15^th, 1979 in the town of Vratsa. He is well-known for his lightning pace on the left wing and his powerful shots. Martin Petrov, or just Marto, as he is popular in Bulgaria is now playing his football in the team of Manchester City.

He begins his career for Botev Vratsa at the age of 10. In the beginning he plays as a left back, then left midfielder, until he finally finds his perfect place as a left winger. In 1994 he is voted for player of the national youth tournament, after scoring 9 goals in a single match. Petrov becomes a regular member of the first team of Botev at the age of 16. Very soon he is noticed by the scouts of CSKA Sofia and signs with them in 1997. After playing for CSKA only one year, Petrov is sold in the Swiss team of Servette. There Petrov becomes champion of Switzerland in 1999, and wins the national cup in 2001. Soon afterwards, he takes another challenge and makes a transfer in the German based team of Wolfsburg. In 2005 he is voted by the fans for best player in the club. Regardless, it is 2005 when he makes his next step by joining the famous Spanish team of Atletico Madrid. In this club he suffers a very bad injury that leaves him away from the pitch for almost 6 months. In 2006 Martin Petrov is awarded for Best football player in Bulgaria. And in 2007 he is again sold - this time to the English Manchester City, where still plays.

Among the interesting facts in his career is his Bulgarian national team debut – he is sent off after just 8 minutes on the pitch. Marto is often compared to the most successful Bulgarian player Hristo Stoichkov – it is because of his fantastic speed, goal instinct, and hot temper. And everywhere he has played, the fans have always admired his incredible talent and desire to win.

DANIEL BORIMIROV

Daniel Borimirov is a former Bulgarian football player. He is part of the famous “golden generation” of the Bulgarian football – the players that participated in the World Cup 1994 in USA – where Bulgaria reached the semi-finals and won the bronze medals.

Daniel Borimirov is born on January 15^th, 1970 in Vidin. He begins his career in the local team of Bdin in 1987. After spending there 3 years he goes to the most popular Bulgarian team – Levski Sofia. His name will always be part of the history of this club – he plays for it for altogether 9 years – between 1990-1994 and 2004-2008. In between he spends 8 years in the German club “Munich 1860”, where he has a total of 214 matches and 37 goals. Borimirov puts an end of his long and successful career in the summer of 2008, to become an executive director of the club. During his years as a player, Borimirov becomes champion of Bulgaria in 1993, 1994, 1995, 2006 and 2007, National cup winner in 1991, 1992, 1994, 2005 and 2006. For the national team he plays in 70 matches and scores 11 goals (including one in the World Cup finals in 1994). In 2005, Borimirov is voted “Player of the year” by the football players in the country.

GEO MILEV

Geo Milev is a very talented Bulgarian writer. He was born in the town of Radnevo on January 15th, 1895 in a family of teachers. Later his father leaves the school and opens a bookshop and publishing house in the town of Stara Zagora. MIlev’s first poem is published in the newspaper “Slaveiche” in the early 1907, when he was only 12 years old. As a pupil in the Stara Zagora High School, Milev publishes hand written newspapers, compiles literature collections and illustrates them by himself, writes a number of humorous, patriotic, intimate poems. During these years he signs himself as Geo Milev, Geo Kasabov, Georgi Milich, Geo Milich. The young poet is very much influenced by Pencho Slaveikov. MIlev translates poems of the Russian poets Pushkin, Lermontov, Fet, Nekrasov, etc. And all of this – before finishing school.  After this, Geo Milev studied Romance Philology in the Sofia University till 1912. Then he continues his studying in Leipzig, Germany. In 1913, the magazine “Listopad” publishes his first works “Literature-artistic letters from Germany”.  In these years Geo Milev is taken up with the modern German literature. After the start of the World War I, he goes to England, where he studies English and starts studying the best works of English literature. Then Milev returns to Germany. But there he is accused of being an English spy and is arrested. There are no evident and that’s why he is released and soon returns to Bulgaria. His father is mobilized and Geo has to take care after the family bookshop. In 1915 he organizes a theatrical group in Stara Zagora. Soon after this he has to join the army too. Geo Milev is dislocated on the battlefield near the town of Doiran, fronting the English and Italian armies. He is appointed for commander of the reconnaissance section is the town. But soon the center is found by the enemies’ forces and put under artillery fire. During the fight, Milev is badly wounded and loses one of his eyes. In 1918 he travels with his wife to Germany for an operation and remains for a year. There he meets some of the representatives of the new tendencies in the German literature. After his returning, Geo Milev starts publishing the magazine “Vezni”, which becomes a tribune of the symbolism and expressionism in Bulgaria. The situation in the country changes dramatically in the period 1922-1923. Milev’s points of view face a change too. This is most clearly witnessed on the pages of the newspaper “Plamak”, which is published since 1924. Geo Milev publishes a lot of his articles there, including his maybe most popular work – the poem “Septemvri” (“September”). It is exactly because of it, that whole issue of the newspaper is forbidden and forfeit. Milev himself is brought to trial. On May 14^th, 1925, he is sentenced to 1 year of imprisonment, a fine of 20 000 leva, and disfranchisement for the period of 2 years. Geo Milev decides to appeal against the sentence. But on the very next day, May 15^th, 1925, he is arrested and vanishes without a trace. Later it is found, that Geo Miled is killed and buried in a common tomb in the Sofia quarter Iliantsi.

This is how Bulgaria loses one of its most talented and erudite writers.

GEORGI KALOIANCHEV

Georgi Kaloianchev is an extremely popular Bulgarian actor. He is born on January 13^th, 1925 in Burgas. After a stay in the army, Kaloianchev joins the Theatre school in Sofia, with colleagues like the future actor Kosta Tsonev. Kalata, as he is most known, is welcomed in the National theatre immediately after finishing the school. His film debut is in the movie “Utro nad rodinata” (“A Morning over the Motherland”) in 1951. This is followed by a short term of lack of appearances. This is when he decides to move from the National theatre to the newly founded Satirical Theatre in Sofia. Soon, Kalata appears in a number of new films – “Specialist po vsichko” (“A Specialist in Everything”), “Vulchitsata” (“The She-wolf”), “Inspektorat  i noshta” (“The Inspector and the Night”), “Galileo Galilei”, “Bon Chance, Inspector”, “Za kude patuvate?” (“Where Are You Travelling to?”), etc. Kaloianchev has altogether appeared in more than 50 films and became one of the legends of Bulgarian film and theatre. In 1990 Kaloianchev plays Bai Ganyo in the film “Bai Ganyo travels to Europe”, which is probably the most viewed Bulgarian movie of the 90-ties, and also one of his most memorable characters. In 2003 he published his autobiography, called “Zhiv sam, vash sam” (“I am Alive, I am yours”).  In 2006 Kaloianchev is given the award for overall achievements by the Union of the Bulgarian Actors.

Now, more than 50 years after the start of his career, Kalata is among the most beloved by the Bulgarians actor.

Maria

Maria Andonova, or like she is famous – Maria, is born on January 13^th, 1982 in the town of Stara Zagora. Maria is one of the popular Bulgarian pop-folk singers. Her musical debut in front of audience is in a TV children show named “Kato luvovete” (“Like the Lions”), where she sings the famous song of Lili Ivanova “Detelini” (“Clovers”). Maria’s first album comes up in 2000 and is called “Spomen” (“Memory”). It is followed by a 3 more albums – in 2001 “Purva luna” (“first Moon”); 2003 – “Istinska” (“Real”); 2004 – “Maria”.

Maria becomes very famous with the central role in an advertisement of the beer Ariana. That’s where she receives the popular nickname Mara otvarachkata, (“the opener”), since she opens a bottle of beer in quite an extraordinary manner  :) She also takes part in the advertisement of the first Bulgarian GSM operator – “M-tel”.

Then come her next albums – “Osadena dusha” (“Sentenced Soul”), 2005 and “Edinstven” (“The Only One”), 2006.

Among the awards she has won during the years are: “Most attractive videos”, 2003, Planeta TV; “Best video”, 2004, Planeta TV, for the video of the song “Tvoiat grad” (“Your city”); “Sexiest Bulgarian woman”, 2005, BTV; etc.

Maria’s most popular hits are the songs: “Spomen” (“Memory”), “Purva luna” (“First Moon”), “Shte boli” (“It’ll hurt”), “Krai” (“End”), “Osadena dusha” (“Sentenced Soul”), “Ne te obichm” (“I Don’t Love You”), etc.

Maria has recently been included in the jury of the new third season of the popular music show “Music Idol”.

KAMELIA