"I am very pleased with the conditions I was given in Chicago and that is why I decided to stay here for two more years. I think that such a contract is completely normal. I am not leaving until I become a champion with Fire."
24th March 2001
Hristo plays for Chicago in a tournament
Hristo Stoitchkov played one half during the loss of Chicago Fire from New England Revolution in the pre-season tournament of the teams of MLS. The finalist in last-year's championship allowed a first loss and Revolution took their first win. The Dagger was tired from his travelling to Bulgaria and was substituted in the beginning of the second half.
15th March 2001
The Chicago Fire scored a dramatic 4-3 win over the Colorado Rapids tonight at Lockhart Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida to earn six points and first place in the MLS Spring Training Tournament.
The Fire originally got on the board in the 34th minute to take a 1-0 lead when Dema Kovalenko found Hristo Stoitchkov rushing down the right wing. The Bulgarian World Cup legend crossed the ball into the box, where U.S. international Josh Wolff put it passed Adin Brown.
"The goal is typical of one that Hristo and I link up on," Wolff said. "I just made a good, hard run and he was able to find me."
The Fire's next game in the MLS Spring Training Tournament is on Saturday, March 17 at 3:00 PM (CT) against defending MLS Cup Champion Kansas City Wizards.
12thFebruary 2001
Bulgarian forward Hristo Stoitchkov signed a multi-year contract with Major League Soccer and the Chicago Fire last week. The deal will keep the World Cup legend in a Fire uniform for two more seasons. Just days after signing the extension, Stoitchkov played in today's 3-0 win over the U.S. Under-17 National Team in Bradenton, Florida. The match marks Stoitchkov's first action of the 2001 preseason. Stoitchkov has been involved in full practices and is building upon his fitness according to the Fire's Athletic Trainer Rich Monis. The rehabilitation has commenced and Stoichkov is off the injured list and into full training.
7thFebruary 2001
Stoitchkov agrees to two-year extension with MLS
CHICAGO (AP) — As Chicago Fire players consoled each other after their disappointing loss in the MLS Cup last fall, Hristo Stoitchkov slipped away from his teammates and headed for the fan section.
Once one of the world's best players and still one of its most famous athletes, he spent several minutes shaking hands with the Chicago fans and thanking them for their support.
"I enjoyed my first year with the Fire, I think we were very successful,'' Stoitchkov said. "It would have been better if we had won MLS Cup, but I strongly believe we can accomplish that. That's part of the reason why I decided to stay here a while longer.''
Stoitchkov and the Fire announced Wednesday that he's signed a two-year contract extension that will keep him with the team through the 2002 season.
His return is a huge boost for the Fire, who lost leading scorer Ante Razov to the Spanish League after last season. Though Chicago has plenty of depth up front with up-and-comers Josh Wolff, Dema Kovalenko and DeMarcus Beasley, Stoitchkov gives the Fire a proven, offensive threat.
Despite missing 13 games with groin injuries, Stoitchkov was the Fire's second-leading scorer last season with nine goals and seven assists. And when it was playoff time, he looked like the superstar Stoitchkov of old, scoring four goals and five assists in six games.
He also scored a goal in Chicago's U.S. Open Cup victory.
"It's a great day for the Fire and for the league overall,'' said Peter Wilt, the Fire's general manager. "Our organization has benefitted tremendously since he has joined the Chicago Fire. He has become a great role model with his passion and love for the game.''
Stoitchkov, who turns 35 on Thursday, was one of the world's best players in the 1990s. He scored 37 goals for the Bulgarian national team, and won titles with powerhouse clubs such as Barcelona and CSKA Sofia.
His six goals made him the leading scorer in the 1994 World Cup and helped Bulgaria to a fourth-place finish, although he did pull himself out of the semifinal against Italy in the 79th minute. He was voted European player of the Year in 1994.
But it's not just his impressive skills that make him so valuable. He's been a role model for the Fire's younger players, particularly Wolff and Beasley, who are starting to make their mark with the U.S. national team.
"From the beginning, Hristo took a lot of responsibility to work with young players,'' coach Bob Bradley said. "I think that was part of the reason he wanted to come to the United States, he wanted to share his experiences.
"They really feel like he has taught them a great deal. Not just the little things on the field, but also just how you handle yourself as a professional soccer player,'' Bradley added. "He's just been a terrific part of our team.''
While Stoitchkov said he feels an obligation to mentor the younger players, he's enjoying playing with the next generation. Even if they lose a game, they bounce right back, already plotting what they have to do to win the next game before they leave the locker room.
That's the same joy and passion that's driven him his entire career. Seeing it in his teammates made his decision to return an easy one.
"This is a phenomenal group of players,'' Stoitchkov said. "It's a young squad, it's a winning squad and it's a squad with character. That and Bob Bradley's decision to return was a huge factor.
"I'm very motivated for the upcoming season. I look forward to doing what I can to continue to help the winning tradition with the Chicago Fire.''
7thFebruary 2001
HRISTO STOITCHKOV INKS MULTIYEAR DEAL WITH MLS, CHICAGO FIRE
World Cup Veteran to Remain in Chicago Through 2002
CHICAGO (Wednesday, February 7, 2001) -- Chicago Fire and Major
League Soccer officials today announced that Bulgarian international Hristo
Stoitchkov has signed a multiyear contract with the league and club.
Stoitchkov, who was allocated to Chicago on March 15, 2000, will continue to
contribute his skills with the 2000 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup champion
Chicago Fire through 2002. Details of his contract were not disclosed.
"I'm very excited with the deal because this is where I want to be,"
said Stoitchkov. "I enjoyed my first year with the Fire, I think we were
very successful. It would have been better if we had won MLS Cup, but I
strongly believe we can accomplish that. That's part of the reason why I
decided to stay here a while longer. The Fire has the best group of
players in this league, the best head coach, and the best organization.
We're going for two cups this year."
Stoitchkov, who turns 35 tomorrow, has performed at the highest
level of soccer both at the club and international levels. He made his U.S.
debut with the Fire during the team's 2000 campaign, helping the squad reach
its second MLS Cup final and guiding the team to its second U.S. Open Cup
championship in three years. His nine goals and seven assists (despite
missing 13 games due to several groin injuries) ranked second on the team.
His freekick bomb at D.C. United on April 8, 2000 was nominated for MLS's
Goal of the Year and he was also named to MLS's 2000 Best Eleven.
"It is wonderful for the League, the Fire and the fans that Hristo
has extended his contract with MLS," said Fire GM Peter Wilt. "Hristo
exemplifies everything the Fire looks for in a player on and off the field.
He has been one of the greatest soccer players the sport has ever produced,
and he has garnered the respect of players, coaches and fans alike with his
great talent. He is a terrific ambassador for soccer in MLS and in the U.S.
in general. I am confident that he will continue to electrify fans with his
tremendous style of play."
Stoitchkov made his international debut on September 23, 1987 and
retired from his country's side with 84 caps and 37 goals for the Bulgarian
National Team. Voted Best Bulgarian Football Player of the Year five times
in 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, he was also named Best Bulgarian Athlete of
the Year in 1994. As his country's second top scorer of all-time, he led
Bulgaria to a fourth place finish at the 1994 U.S. World Cup. For his
efforts for his country, and club team - then Barcelona - he was named the
FIFA Footballer of the Year in 1994. He was a big part of the 1998
Bulgarian World Cup squad in France.
"We are very excited that Hristo has chosen to stay in Chicago for
two more years," said Fire Head Coach Bob Bradley. "From the beginning he
took a lot of responsibility to work with our younger players. That was
part of the reason he wanted to come to the U.S. in the first place.
Younger players look up to him and they feel he has taught them a great
deal. He has been a terrific part of our team, and I look forward to a
continued, positive relationship with him."
Some of Stoitchkov's other accolades include: Top Scorer of the
Bulgarian Championship twice in 1989 (23 goals) and 1990 (38 goals)...Holds
the record for Top Scorer of the Bulgarian Championship for one season with
38 goals...Named to World Soccer's 50 Greatest Players of the 20th
Century...Has 25 goals in UEFA Champions Cup matches...Has 16 goals in the
UEFA Cup Winners Cup...Netted seven goals in 20 appearances in the Bulgarian
National Cup...Played in 18 matches of the Red Army Cup scoring 14
goals...Appeared in 40 matches of the Spanish King's Cup, netting 20
goals...Scored five goals in eight matches of the Spanish SuperCup...Scored
in all three Euro '96 games...Has won a domestic title every year since
1989.
Stoitchkov is currently with the rest of the Fire squad in
Bradenton, Florida as the team opened pre-season camp yesterday. He lives
in Lake Forest, IL, with his wife Mariana and daughters Mikaela (14) and
Hristina (10).
Quotes from the Hristo Stoitchkov Conference Call.
30thJanuary 2001
The injury should sideline the Bulgarian striker for another 2 weeks.
22ndJanuary 2001
Hristo Stoitchkov continues to rehabilitate his left knee after his successful surgery last week. The injury should sideline the Bulgarian striker for 3-4 weeks, but he is scheduled to participate in the team's first training session of 2001 on February 5.
11thJanuary 2001
Bulgarian superstar Hristo Stoitchkov yesterday underwent arthroscopic
surgery on his left knee yesterday in what the team's physician, Dr. Preston
Wolin, described as "extremely successful." Stoitchkov, who turns 35 next
month, is expected to be out 3-4 weeks and is scheduled to participate in the
Fire's first training session of 2001 on February 6. Stoitchkov was the Fire's
second-leading scorer (9g, 7a for 25 pts.) in the 2000 season despite having
missed 13 games due to several groin injuries.
11th December 2000
Hristo Stoitchkov will be in a vacation till April next year, when the new season of MLS starts. The team of Hristo plays its first match versus Columbus Crew on the 7th of April.
As it become known, Stoitchkov continued his contract with Fire till 2002 and will probably end his career after that.
29th November 2000
Hristo Stoitchkov became a manager of his 22-year old teammate in Chicago Fire Dema Kovalenko. That was said from the Ukrainian forward in front of the Russian 'Sport Express'. See what Kovalenko says.
28th November 2000
The US media announced, that the Bulgarian megastar Hristo Stoitchkov has arranged a welcoming of the coaching staff of Chicago Fire in Spain the coming month. The four coaches of Fire will stay in the Catalunian capital four weeks.
On the 11th they will watch the Catalunian derby-match Barcelona-Español and Stoitchkov is going to be their host.
23rd November 2000
Hristo Stoitchkov will be serving as a host to the entire Chicago Fire coaching staff next week, when the coaches are travelling to Barcelona.
