7th October 2000
On the 15th of October Fire will be a guest to Kansas City Wizards, and on the 21st the team plays on the final for the cup versus Miami Fusion. Johan Cruyff is going to attend the final in a week. See what the Dagger says.
7th October 2000
In the center of Chicago’s success was 34-year-old Bulgarian Hristo
Stoichkov, who scored one of the season’s most sparkling goals in
the 30th minute – one that’s sure to send MLS officials scrambling to
include it in post-season highlight films.
Leading 1-0 in the 30th minute, Stoichkov took the ball on the dribble
at the edge of the penalty area and launched a left-footed rocket
that was hit so hard it went over Amman’s head and hit the
underside of the crossbar before ricocheting down behind the line.
6th October 2000 6th October 2000
Fire beat the MetroStars by 3:2 with a goal in the 87th minute by Ante Razov. Stoitchkov played during the whole match, scored the second goal and assisted for the first one. During the second half the Bulgarian also received a yellow card.
Stoitchkov leads Chicago's charge to MLS Cup against Metros
If there is one player on the world stage today who personifies the attitude, passion, intensity and spectacle of the sport of soccer, it's Chicago Fire striker Hristo Stoitchkov. The fiery Bulgarian has brought to MLS the same will and spirit that made him a world star and he has passed it along to the Central Division champion Fire which is one victory away from another MLS Cup final.
The deciding Game Three of their semifinal series against the MetroStars will be played tonight (8:00 p.m. ET, ESPN) at Soldier Field.
"Hristo has experience and he's shown that he's a tremendous competitor with a will to win," Fire Head Coach Bob Bradley said. "Those are the kind of players you always want to bring into a league and a team."
Stoitchkov was signed by MLS at the beginning of the 2000 season and has since been solely concerned with mercilessly attacking his opponents, combining elements of creativity and spontaneity. He's made an impact from his very first game but was eventually limited to 18 regular season appearances because of groin injuries. But the offensive force still scored nine goals - good for third best on the team - and he already has registered three goals and four assists in the playoffs.
"Obviously there must be some tactical discipline but I am not a huge believer in tactics," Stoitchkov said. "On the field we are 11 vs. 11 and if I am better than my marker, I will beat him. If my team is better, it will show."
In these 2000 MLS Cup Playoffs, Stoitchkov has had decisive performances, showing an impressive level of communication with forward partner Ante Razov in displays which included a 6-0 thrashing of the New England Revolution. Even at the age of 34, the Bulgarian's runs down the left flank and his penetrations into the box are always thrilling. He has the ability to carry Chicago single-handedly towards goal.
"Just to have Hristo on the field helps our team," Bradley said. "His passion, determination and competitiveness all rub off on our other players."
Early in his career, Stoitchkov rose through the lesser known Bulgarian first division and faced an uphill climb to the top of the soccer world while at CSKA Sofia. News of his goal scoring feats, however, made it across Europe and Barcelona F.C. in Spain would take notice. With Barcelona, he was part of one of the most spectacular teams of the 90s.
"When I first arrived in Spain in 1990 I was only 23 years old and for a young foreign player to play in a league like that is extremely difficult," he said. "For a young person without character to succeed in professional soccer or anything else is impossible."
In Spain, he learned to impose himself from the start while playing alongside new teammates who were already established stars. Stoitchkov wore his emotions on his sleeve and his attitude and bravado made him an instant hit in addition to his more than 100 goals for the Spanish giants. His competitive side often took the better of him on the field of play where he argued referee calls with a passion, flailing one arm in disgust in what became his characteristic reaction recognized throughout Europe.
"When I got there, FC Barcelona already had 10 to 12 world stars," he said. "I wanted to prove I was the best. So I trained twice as hard and displayed my strong character, proving that I could overcome whatever came my way. For that reason I was often criticized. I am intense and emotional and often have a bad temper. But my character demonstrates that I have the desire to work hard and to win."
That work ethic has never abandoned the most famous Bulgarian in the world. In his quest for perfection and beautiful play, Stoitchkov makes loud and clear his intolerance of his Fire teammates' mistakes. It is with that mentality, that he has contributed to lift Chicago to the echelon of MLS for another season.
"In Europe clubs train every single day of the week," he said. "If one trains religiously on a daily basis, when game day comes it's easy to play. Players have to train hard everyday, have an exemplary behavior within the club and we need to ensure that the young players have the right attitude."
Stoitchkov has personally taken it upon himself to instruct the Fire's younger players. The role of mentor is one he willfully undertook, given his keen desire to join the coaching ranks in the near future.
"I am prepared for it. I have held a coaching diploma for a long time," he said. "I do not want to rush into it (coaching) though. There have been too many former players that have rushed into training and have failed. And then the respect and reputation you have worked so hard to attain for 15-20 years as a professional goes down the drain."
Stoitchkov's informal coaching with the Fire and his sincere interest in players like Olympian Josh Wolff and DaMarcus Beasley has already left a lasting impression on his subjects. He emphasizes the same hard work that allowed him to reach the pinnacle of world soccer.
"He's taught me a lot of things," Beasley recently told The Chicago Tribune. "He's taught me to be confident and how to handle myself on and off the field."
"Hristo takes special pride in trying to work with all our younger guys," Bradley said. "Like all our European players, he came here with an attitude that he wanted to help soccer in the United States."
Stoitchkov is still a star in Europe today and his game is one of the most entertaining fans will ever have the opportunity to watch. His left foot can do just about anything to a ball, applying a rare combination of precision and power to both shots and passes. And there is always a buzz in the stadium on free kicks as his left foot can put on a wowing show.
The top scorer of the 1994 World Cup has been a leader on this Fire squad, a team which already had the likes of Peter Nowak and Lubos Kubik in its ranks. Stoitchkov, a proven winner, is one of those rare soccer talents - a player who transcends his sport.
"I hope the season ends with a championship," Stoitchkov said referring to MLS Cup 2000 in Washington D.C. "I have already been champion in Europe and Asia (in the J-League). I am missing a third one in the United States. I want to win it with all my heart."
And that's the only way he knows how to win.
6th October 2000
Hristo Stoitchkov has taken on an important mission in the USA, which not only includes the help of Chicago Fire in winning the MLS Cup, but also the development of Bulgarian business there. On Sunday, at noon Stoitchkov has a meeting in an elite restaurant with the boss of 'Darik Radio'. 'The Golden Ball' of 1994 will help Bulgarian businessmen in learning the opportunities for business with American partners. One of the ideas of the boss of 'Darik Radio' is to build the first Bulgarian skyscraper in Chicago.
1st October 2000
Stoitchkov was once again the most active player in the lines of Chicago Fire and made 7 of the fifteen shots towards the door of Amman and was constantly creating problems for Matthaus.
30th September 2000 30th September 2000
Stoitchkov played the whole match, but Fire lost to Metro Stars by 2:0.
The Bulgarian star Hristo Stoitchkov said, that the players are guilty for the crisis in FC Barcelona through the pages of the largest Catalunian daily newspaper 'El Mundo Deportivo'. (A short English version of the interview). Here is the Spanish version:
“Que lo arreglen ellos”
Como Petit, Hristo piensa que en esta situación la plantilla debe aportar entrega
Stoichkov recuerda las veces que el 'Dream Team' se conjuró
El ex azulgrana afirma que la solución no la tienen ni técnico ni directivos
03:00 h.• Emmanuel Petit lo dijo anteayer, después de la derrota
ante el Milan, para explicar el porqué de los problemas que tiene
el Barça. 'Faltan cojones', manifestó el francés en correcto
castellano. Aprende rápido. Si realmente el problema del Barça es
de garra y entrega, hay que recuperar el espíritu que teníamos en
el Dream Team. Esto sólo lo pueden arreglar los jugadores. El
presidente no juega, el míster tampoco y la afición siempre está
ahí, apoyando al equipo de forma excepcional una y otra vez.
El Barça no puede permitirse ganar un partido y perder el
siguiente. Somos el mejor club del mundo y esta situación debe
resolverse pronto. La terapia es olvidar al presidente y al
entrenador y sentarse a hablar entre ellos. Los jugadores deben
reunirse, hablar las cosas a la cara y solucionar todos los
problemas que surjan que, en un vestuario, abundan más de lo
que quienes no lo han pisado nunca pueden imaginar.
En el 'Dream Team' siempre se hablaron las cosas en el vestuario.
Bakero, Koeman, Laudrup, Guardiola, Romario... todos nos
decíamos las cosas a la cara y después de hablar la situación
cambiaba de inmediato. Y pondré como ejemplo un recuerdo
especialmente entrañable que guardo de aquella época. Yo le
recriminaba a menudo a Bakero que siempre pasaba el balón hacia atrás y él me respondía,
con el mismo tono enfadado, que yo siempre corría con los ojos clavados en el suelo y que
sólo jugaba pensando en mí, no en el equipo. Después, siempre salíamos con más ganas.
Además, y que nadie lo olvide, el Barça está por encima de todos y de todo.
La terapia
Personalmente no tengo dudas. Ahora la solución es poner más empeño y demostrar el
carácter de cada jugador en el campo, y no con palabras. Los jugadores no pueden
esconderse. Yo también jugué partidos importantes en el Camp Nou y todos salíamos a muerte
para derrotar al rival. Y es estoy segurísimo de que con el equipo que hay debemos pasar a la
siguiente fase de la Champions League y ganar la Liga sin problemas. Hay que conjurarse
para lograrlo
El equipo de Hristo Stoichkov en la Liga profesional norteamericana, el Chicago Fire, está a un
paso de clasificarse para disputar la final de la Liga profesional norteamericana. Candidato a
mejor jugador de la temporada, Hristo inauguró el marcador en el 3-0 que los Fire lograron a los
MetroStars de Matthaeus y que los sitúan a un triunfo de la final
28th September 2000 (In Spanish)
Hristo, más cerca del título
28/09/00 • Sergio Escartín • BARCELONA• Hristo Stoichkov continúa triunfando en Estados
Unidos. El ex jugador barcelonista, además de ser candidato al mejor gol de la temporada, ha
situado a los Chicago Fire a un paso de la gran final de la Liga tras ganar al MetroStars de
Lottar Matthaus por un contundente 3–0. Ahora, Chicago debe ganar uno de los dos partidos
que quedan de la eliminatoria para plantarse en la final.
26th September 2000
Hristo Stoitchkov and Dema
Kovalenko each had a goal and an
assist as Chicago routed the
MetroStars 3-0 Tuesday night in
Game One of an MLS Cup 2000
Semifinal series. Fire goalkeeper
Zach Thornton made eight saves,
several in spectacular fashion on his
way to recording a well-earned
shutout. Chicago got on the board
in the 21st minute when Kovalenko
took a feed from DaMarcus
Beasley down the right wing and
ran into position to shoot. The
midfielder instead drove a curling
pass through a pair of Metros'
defenders, and past a diving Paul
Grafer, right to Stoitchkov at the
back post. The Bulgarian legend held off Metros' defender
Mike Petke and tucked in his third goal of the postseason.
Kovalenko put the Fire up 2-0 in the 35th minute. See what Hristo says.
26th September 2000 (In Spanish)
Stoichkov pone a los Fire en 'semis'
24/09/00 • Servicio Especial • CHICAGO (EUA)• La brillante actuación del ex azulgrana Hristo
Stoichkov en la vuelta de los cuartos de final de la Liga de fútbol estadounidense (MSL) ante el
New England Revolution (6-0), ha puesto a su equipo, el Chicago Fire, en las semifinales de
dicha competición. Dos tantos y tres asistencias de gol rubricaron el excelente encuentro que
llevó a cabo el búlgaro junto a su compañero Ante Razov, autor también de dos dianas.
El siguiente rival de los Fire serán pues los New York MetroStars de Lothar Mathaus, con
quienes los Chicago Fire de Stoichkov se encontrarán, por primera vez en en un partido tras
terminar la Liga regular, el próximo martes por la noche. “Creo que somos claramente los
favoritos para pasar esta eliminatoria”, aseguró el ex azulgrana en relación a su siguiente
compromiso.
22nd September 2000
After playing their worst
game of the season
Tuesday, the Chicago Fire
on Friday followed with one
of the most successful
halves in team and league
history.
In the end, the Fire
recorded a 6-0 victory over
the New England
Revolution to advance to
the semifinals of the Major
League Soccer playoffs. The Fire hosts the New York/New Jersey MetroStars
on Tuesday in Game 1 of the semifinal series.
In the 14th minute, Razov put the ball through three defenders ahead to Dema
Kovalenko streaking down the right side. Kovalenko drew the defense and put the
ball to Stoitchkov 10 yards in front of the goal for a sparkling left-footed redirect
and a 2-0 lead.
Three minutes later, from the Fire side of the Bears' logo at midfield, Razov put a
pass to Stoitchkov on the left side. From the 45-yard line, Stoitchkov raced ahead
of two defenders and fired a shot into the right side of the Revolution net for a 3-0
score.
In stoppage time at the end of the first half, Stoitchkov put a header from 40 yards
out, directly in the path of Nowak heading forward. Nowak dribbled to 15 yards
and scored right past Causey for a 4-0 Fire lead.
The second half started with the skies wide open, with sheets of rain pouring onto
Soldier Field. The Fire played the second half like it was a 45-minute game of
keepaway.
In the 65th minute, Stoitchkov took a pass from Nowak down the left sideline,
waited for Razov to break free in front of the net and put the ball on Razov's left
foot. Razov's one-time shot reached net for a 5-0 Fire lead.
Ten minutes later, Razov had a breakaway on the right side, but Causey got a foot
on his shot. Unfortunately, the rebound landed directly in front of George, who
one-timed a kick over Causey's head into the goal for his first score in three
seasons.See what Hristo says.
22nd September 2000 20th September 2000
Hristo Stoitchkov scored two goals and gave three assists in only 69 minutes for the win of Fire versus Revolution with 6:0. See what Hristo says.
The wonderful goal of Stoitchkov versus the champion DC United is among the three nominated for No1 in Major League Soccer for the season.
Last night Hristo missed a penalty versus New England Revolution, Fire lost by 2:1. There will be a third game between the two teams.
15th September 2000
Anyone expecting to see artful, creative
play—the kind the Fire has put
together often this season—will be
sorely disappointed during the Major
League Soccer playoffs.
With the NFL well under way in just
about every playoff city, the games will take on the characteristics of
the Fire's 2-1 victory over the New England Revolution on Friday:
choppy and helter-skelter, with poor footing for the players and odd
bounces of the ball.
The Fire had to rally in order to secure those points. The winning goal
came in the 73rd minute. Ante Razov played the ball to Hristo
Stoitchkov, who was a couple of steps on the New England side of
the field.
In one motion Stoitchkov collected the ball with his left foot and sent
a perfect 35-yard sand wedge of a pass right into the path of a
charging Dema Kovalenko on the opposite side of the field.See what Kovalenko says.
