11^th august 1999

Hristo:I am coming back in Bulgaria these days and travel with the national team to Kiev,of course without playing,I am fully resting I spend my time on the beach with my family,driving my yacht and right now I am not in the appropriate form to play football.
This is an absolute nonsense for someone to say that I want to dress in the CSKA jersey once again,because I am already not keeping fit.

18^th July 1999

Hristo:It is incredible!Five years later and it is all in front of our eyes.It was terrific.Lots of emotions,lots of joy.The whole team felt like a monster for all.Something like A-W-W Come here and let us eat you.We beated so that they can have respect for us and today everyone is careful when playing versus Bulgaria.

14^th July 1999

Hristo:'I lack enough decoration and medals to show off in front of the Spanish king Juan Carlos and queen Sofia as the etiquette requires.It is good that I have visitted their royal majesties before for football wins and and other royal visits so I will live up to my reputation.'

8^th July 1999

Hristo:I am waiting for a phone call with the national team coach Dimitar Dimitrov after his coming back in Bulgaria so that we can specify the details about our trip to Mexico for the Federation Cup tournament.
I hope that our visit will take place despite the fulfilled work-schedule of Hero(Bulgarian national team coach Dimitar Dimitrov's nickname).I have made reservations for our trip,I have also taken care of the visas and match tickets.If everything is alright we may watch the supermatch Brasil-Germany on the 24^th of July and stay in the country of the Aztecs until the final on the 4^th of August.
(Asked about Bulgarian president's visit in Spain)
Hristo:I will meet Mr Stoyanov on the 13^th of July as a football ambassador of Bulgaria here.On the next day I'll do my best to help him in his visit.On the 15^th there is a terrific holliday organized here.I must amuse 1500 kids and give vast amounts of autographs.This will be the most serious training of mine for the match on the 17^th on 'Bulgarian Army' stadium.I am already well-trained for such fiestas.Recently I was 'held captive' by the kids in Andora.

Interview taken on the 1^st of July 1999

Hristo asked about the news that he is leaving Kashiwa.
Hristo: There is nothing of the kind,things are undecided.You know that I don't believe such messages for a long time.I haven't done with Kashiwa.
You know that in every contract there is a determoned number showing the sum which should be paid in such a case as a default.You remember Levski paying 2 million Bulgarian Leva for Ilian Iliev.The sum for me will probably be the same though in USD.On the other hand offers for me as much as you want.I heard they were talking that the latest one was from Switzerland though my manager Mingea hasn't told me about it.
(Asked about the beneficial match that is going to be played on the 17^th of July in Sofia(Bulgaria))
Hristo:When my caoch Dimitar Penev wants me I will be in Bulgaria at any cost.Ivaylo and I are going to play half time for both teams and I hope that without much training we will make our fans happy.

Interview taken on the 19^th of June 1999

Journalist:The ex-coach of English national fotball team Graham Taylor wants to have you in Watford FC accroding to 'Sunday Mirror'.
Hristo:The English know that I have one more year in my contract with Kashiwa Reysol and if they want me so much they can come to terms with my manager Mingea and buy me from the Japanese.It will be an honour for me to play in Premiership and once again win cups on Wembley.('7 Days Sports' Newspaper)
 

10^th June 1999 Kevin Kigan about Hristo's retirement
'I've always been a Stoichkov fan.He centred the ball fantastic for the goal of the Bulgarians.Stoichkov once again proved that he is very big,one of the biggest.I don't think that the time for his retirement form the national team has come.He still has what to give to the game.'

10^th June 1999 Interview with Jose Maria Mingea-Hristo's Manager

Journalist:Senor Mingea perhaps you don't even remember how many times you've come in Bulgaria,but now you look happier than ever.
Mingea:I am coming for the holliday of the first one of my favourites Hristo Stoichkov,who made me-his agent world famous.I am happy that a magnificent person like Itso will once again make the tribunes stand up on their feet.And at the same time I am a little bit sad that Hristo finishes a bright career.I've been coming so many times in Bulgaria with the feeling about the next win of Stoichkov and his teammates form your first team.I just can't get used to the thought that in this case I'll be present to a divide.
Journalist:Isn't it a little bit early-comung this Stoichkov's Farewell?
Mingea:If you are asking me he can play strong a few more years,but it is Hristo's decision and I respect it.
Journalist:Do you expect that such a good player will become a good coach?
Mingea:I guarantee 100% for Stoichkov,because he is incredibly in love with football.He has all additional qualities to become a selectioner from the class he showed as a player.Itso has a character of a winner and a terrific sense of responsibility and his erodition about the minute details of football is professor-like.It won't be a problem for an exact eye like his to estimate the palyers and to motivate them every time for a battle and a win.He is also used to the big travellings,long absences from home and family,he is ready for the sacrifices of this profession.
Journalist:Hristo will play one more year in Japan due to his contract with Kashiwa Reysol,but it is so obvious that he wants to return to Europe as early as possible.
Mingea:Yes he doesn't really enjoy the Japanese way of life,though there they are absolutely carrying him on their hands .It is not a problem for the contract to be finished and me bringing him back in Spain,but it is up to him.You know that Stoichkov is an inreachable idol in Barcelona.People's love for the Bulgarian is endless.
Journalist:Which one of his goals do you estimate highest?
Mingea:All of them!But I will tell you that for the 100 year anniversary of Barca all channels in Catalunia are still repeating the greatest performances in the history of the team.The most often showes goals are Hristo's versus Juventus and Sao Paolo as well as his goals in the nets of Atletico(Bilbao) and Real Sosiedad,that scored first on Now Camp,but after that Stoichkov entered his power and Barca was firing with their Champion's Cup.
Journalist:Where do you think is the magic of Stoichkov?
Mingea:In his unrepeatable and unmeasurable spirit for a win.Hristo always wants to win and sometimes gives the rest of the team even ruder and harsher his mentality.It is a pity that your great generation which has made you so happy goes with Hristo.                                ('7 Days Sports' Newspaper)

10^th June 1999 Interview with Johan Cruiff

Journalist:Mr Cruiff when did you receive an invitation for being present at the Bulgaria:England football meeting?
Cruyff:It was about a month ago when we adjusted the visit,when Hristo Stoichkov called ne from Japan.
Journalist:Was it difficult to chooses Bulgaria in a day when there are so many matches?
Cruyff:I think that having a friend is much more important than football and when Hristo Stoichkov called me I had to come.
Journalist:How will you comment Hristo's announcement that he wants to finish his career in front of the two coaches that have created him-Dimitar Penev and Johan Cruyff,and that he wants to finish it in the stadium where he started it.
Cruyff:As I already told you before for me it is important that a man estimates his friends and when Hristo came to my beneficial match I couldn't refuse him.
Journalist:Could Hristo retire earlier or is there more time?
Cruyff:It depends only on him,noone can tell him where and when to take such a decision.But the only important thing is never to retire under a foreign pressure.You have to decide personally and to realise whether you can bear the pressure,whether your legs don't hurt and so on.and if so then football doesn't bring you any more pleasure then it is time.
Journalist:You were called "The Flying Hollander",you were defined as Romantics in football,how would you define Hristo Stoichkov?
Cruyff:Everybody knows what Hristo is-he has enough technical skills,enough quickness,enough imagination.A big player appears when these things are combined together.But of course the most important is that he was useful to the whole team.This alloy distinguishes the class players.
Journalist:What did you think when seeing him for the first time? Cruyff:In the moment I saw him I understood that I want him. Journalist:Can Itso become a great coach?
Cruyff:Yes of course.He has reached the highest level in football and when you can make a team big as a player,it is much more possible that you can achieve that as a coach.('Standart' Newspaper)
 
 

Interview Taken on the 27^th of May 1999

Journalist:Itzo,your season in Japan is over,are you pleased with your staying in Kashiwa Reysol?
Hristo:Well there's not much to say.Everyone must make clear that amateurs can't be required professional football.We couldn't make it to the first or second place because we lost the last games,when the question about the title was decided.I begged myself a yellow card and couldn't participate in one of the important meetings.My teammates are young and ambitious boys,but they miss something and I can't carry on my own the wins of the team.It's just that they are amateurs.I am not angry with them.I have one more year in my contract in Japan and think of fulfilling it.
Journalist:Recently we've heard a lot of speculations about your future in the football.It's being stated that after Bulgarian National football team's match versus England you are going to retire.
Hristo:Who says so?I will leave the football when I decide on my own,noone can take decisions instead of me.I am saying this to all these 'good-wishers',that always retire me from soccer.
Journalist:Forthcoming is the gathering of the national team for the games in Poland and versus England at home.Will you be present?
Hristo:Of course!Where else can I be?We have important games in the qualifications where the team must be well represented.As I always repeat I will give self-confidence and much of the experience I have to the youngsters in the team,to help them succeed.
Journalist:You watched the Champion's League final.What impressed you at most?
Hristo:It wasn't a superb final,it didn't turn out to be what I expected from it.The two teams made a week game.It is an honour for Bulgarian football that there were two Bulgarian cup winners on the tribunes.I have the European Champions' Cup and Cup Winners' Cup and Emil Kostadinov won the UEFA Cup with Bayern.
Journalist:Who did you meet on the official tribunes?
Hristo:I saw and talked to all FIFA and UEFA bosses,Sep Blater and the rest.
Journalist:Haven't you ever received an offer about a position in the most prestigeous football organization from them?
Hristo:I can be there if I want to.There have always been offers for me,but I still want to be in the field.It is only after my professional football career is over that I will think of a position of a coach,manager or organizer in the football sphere.
Journalist:Did you meet your ex-bosses of the Catalunian Club in Barcelona?
Hristo:For me they don't exist.I talked only to Cruyff with whom together we kept respect for each other,despite all that happened.I just don't have any common words with the rest.