15th
March 2000 Fire Press Conference
Chicago Fire Head Coach Bob Bradley Opening Remarks:We’re very
excited that we were able to work this out. Welcome to Chicago Hristo Stoichkov!
Most of you know of Hristo’s career. But beyond the obvious, he’s always been a
player that plays with tremendous passion, a player who plays to win. I feel we’ve
been fortunate to bring foreign players to Chicago with that kind of attitude. I know
Peter Nowak and Lubos Kubik in particular are thrilled to play with Hristo. I also
know he’ll be a great role model for our younger players.
14th
March 2000
Journalist:Is it true that Stoichkov is going to sign today with MLS?
14th
March 2000
Peter Wild-Manager of Chicago Fire:It will be very moving for all of us,that we succeeded in buying a player of his class.I hope that he will be out in the field in the first game on Saturday versus Dallas Burn.
12th
March 2000
Hristo:My manager Mingea and I are not worried about anything,because all the details with the Japanese Kashiwa Reysol, with Major League Soccer and Chicago Fire are set.The Japanese received their money compensation,because of the ending of my contract with Kashiwa.They have sent my green card to New York late in the afternoon on Friday,but it has been received there after the work day was finished.I have no probelms to fly for the USA after all the fomalities are set,my ticket is open.
1st
March 2000
Hristo:Luis Van Gaal doesn't understand from football.During the games he is only taking notes and talking on his mobile phone.Everything I know I have learned from Cruyff.
Hristo:I'm very excited and thankful for the opportunity to come
to Chicago. The Fire was the first team that called me with
an offer and I appreciate that. I always felt confident that
we could work this out. I can only say that I will do my
best to help my new team and feel confident that Chicago
can win the MLS Cup again this year.
Journalist:What was the major factor behind your desire to play in
MLS?
Hristo:I received quite a number of offers from different teams,
but Chicago was the first to contact me. I feel that a
handshake and a word of honor is just as important as a
signature. I have a great affection towards the city of
Chicago because that's where I began my great adventure
with the Bulgarian National Team. That's where I recorded
my first-ever victory with the national team and I shall
never forget that moment.
Journalist:Do you feel like you can extend your one-year contract
with Chicago?
Hristo:I will fulfill my contract first, then we can think about
the future. Once the season is over I can sit down with
Coach Bradley and talk about this. If I decide not to
continue playing, I would like to work with kids in my
country.
Journalist:Are you physically prepared to play this weekend?
Hristo:I've been training intensively for a while. I am available
as long as the coach says I'm ready. The coach will decide
if I'm fit or not. It's very important for me to have the
coach as well as my teammates feel confident of my
abilities.
Journalist:You've talked about your love for Chicago. What
specifically do you like about this city? Would you consider
playing in another US city?
Hristo:I always remember my first World Cup victory with the
Bulgarian National Team. This happened to take place in
Chicago and I will never forget that day and that victory.
That's what makes Chicago a very special place for me.
Journalist:Do you know about the Bulgarian community in Chicago
or do you have friends there?
Hristo:I have no relatives, but I have many friends there. I've
received many calls from them and from fans asking me
how I can help the team win the championship and when I
would arrive in Chicago. There are more than 40,000
Bulgarians in Chicago, I'm sure that some of them will come
to the games.
Journalist:Have you met the Fire players?
Hristo:I've never met the Fire players, but I know about them
and I look forward to meeting them soon.
Journalist:Where do you see yourself fitting in the team?
Hristo:I think this is an internal matter between players and
coaches. It's the kind of talk that belongs in the locker
room. All I can say for sure is that there will be 11 players
on the field.
Journalist:What kind of memories do you have of the
Mexico-Bulgaria match, when you eliminated Mexico from
the World Cup and scored a goal against Jorge Campos?
Hristo:It was clearly a very intense and important match for
us. Jorge is a great friend of mine, we played together in
Hong Kong. But scoring against Jorge that day was
particularly important for me, because he had stopped a
penalty kick that I took before. It was a sort of revenge.
Journalist:(To Bob Bradley)...How do you feel about what Chicago
gave up for this allocation?
Bradley:I feel we've done a good job this year adding young
players to our roster. Down the road we will be in good
shape to make a trade and acquire draft picks.
Journalist:Hristo, we're happy to have you [in Chicago]...Are you
coming out of retirement?
Hristo:First, I'm happier than anyone else to be in
Chicago...And I never retired. I took a break from 20 years
of playing. But I've been training intensively during the past
few months. I know it'll take some time to blend in with the
team, but I feel that once you're on the field, your
instincts come back.
Journalist:Which number are you going to wear?
Hristo:The coach will decide that.
Journalist:What do you think of MLS in general?
Hristo:I think that a few years down the road, MLS will be very
big. I think there are very good players here, both foreign
and domestic, who have a great level of commitment and
professionalism. But I also want to see the stadiums full so
that the players can enjoy the game even more.
Journalist:Can Hristo comment on the interlude with Lothar
Matthaeus? Will games against Lothar be something that
Hristo is looking forward to?
Hristo:I have a very long and deep friendship with Lothar. We
both came into a league and desperately want to win. I
look forward to playing Lothar in Chicago because I scored
five goals there, and I want to score the winning-goal
against Lothar in Chicago. No matter what happens, we'll
always be friends.
Journalist:(To Bob Bradley)...Where do you see Hristo Stoichkov
on the team?
Bradley:Every team has a different style of play. Hristo has a
tremendous attacking ability. We don't have a set plan yet,
but we'll do our best to allow Hristo to do what he's always
done.
Journalist:You will have many young players around you in
Chicago, in particular, 17-year-old DaMarcus Beasley. What
can you can teach them?
Hristo:It's very important to have young talent on the team.
When I began to play, I was nine years old and I always
played against older and more experienced players. I can
tell them now that it's extremely important to communicate
with their coach for guidance. I will go out of my way
every day to help these younger players. When I played
with my Japanese club, I was able to mentor many young
players who have now made it to their national team. That
gives me great joy.
Journalist:Two years ago, Chicago had its biggest attendance at
Soldier Field, but since then, the attendance has declined.
How can you help with this?
Hristo:I think that the team must play well to accomplish that.
I also believe Chicago has the best stadium in the United
States.
Journalist:If the Fire could bring someone else to help the team,
who do you think that would be?
Hristo:That's for the coach to decide. It's a very delicate
matter. If the coach asks me for advice, I would be more
than happy to recommend someone to him.
Journalist:In what ways do you feel you have to adjust to this
country's playing style?
Hristo:It's very easy for me. It's the same way around the
world. I am capable of adjusting to any style of play.
Journalist:The Fire has five young National Team players. What do
you think about this?
Hristo:I think the team is quite impressive. It seems like Coach
Bradley and the rest of the coaching staff is doing a
tremendous job and it shows they have an excellent
development program.
Journalist:Do you feel that your career is on the downside since
you were not able to land a career with a European team?
Hristo:After the World Cup, I went to Japan and then I just
felt like I needed a break. I had many offers, but Chicago
was the first to approach me and I simply accepted.
Journalist:What do you think of [Argentine legend] Diego Armando
Maradona's drug situation?
Hristo:This is definitely a very sensitive issue. I've spoken to
Diego on numerous occasions recently. As a friend of his, I
hate to see him suffer. I care for him and his family and
what they're going through at this moment. Diego has
contributed significantly to the world of soccer. I think we
should all try to help Diego.
Dan Quaterman,vice-president of public relations to Major League Soccer: Yes, that's right.
Journalist:When exactly is this going to happen?
Dan Quaterman,vice-president of public relations to Major League Soccer: 12:00 standard time for New York City.
Journalist:Do you know any details on the contract?
Dan Quaterman,vice-president of public relations to Major League Soccer: Unfortunately I don't know any details.It is going to be a big surprise for all journalists,that Hristo Stoichkov is going to be here.
This is not Barca.The club must follow its traditions and its style of playing.Van Gaal has no idea about that as well as about the position every player should have.If Van Gaal had a player like Cruyff in his team,he would have put him as a goalkeeper,and Pele would have been sent to suffer as a back.Diego Maradona would have never been so attractive for the press with his scandal appearances.Barca signed Van Gaal in order for him to continue the style of Cruyff,and what happened?There is no clue of the combinative football we were playing.Now marvelous player like Zenden do not have place and must stay on the bench.
