Ivan Zafirov
Bulgarian footballer (1947–2025)
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Ivan Georgiev Zafirov (Bulgarian: Иван Георгиев Зафиpoв; 30 December 1947 – 15 October 2025) was a Bulgarian footballer who played as a defender.
Full name
Ivan Georgiev Zafirov
Date of birth
30 December 1947
Place of birth
Sofia, Bulgaria
Date of death
15 October 2025 (aged 77)
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| |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ivan Georgiev Zafirov | ||
| Date of birth | 30 December 1947 | ||
| Place of birth | Sofia, Bulgaria | ||
| Date of death | 15 October 2025 (aged 77) | ||
| Height | 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
| Position | Right-back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1957–1965 | CSKA Sofia | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1965–1966 | CSKA Sofia | 16 | (1) |
| 1966–1968 | Sliven | 24 | (1) |
| 1968–1981 | CSKA Sofia | 324 | (3) |
| Total | 364 | (5) | |
| International career | |||
| 1968–1980 | Bulgaria | 50 | (1) |
Medal record | |||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Biography
After short spells at Sliven, it was with CSKA Sofia that he found his spiritual home in the 1970s. Zafirov, a right-back, played 340 times for the Reds, scoring 8 goals. Nine Bulgarian championships and five Bulgarian Cups tell the tale of how successful Zafirov was.
Zafirov was on Bulgaria's roster for the 1974 FIFA World Cup.[1] He represented the Lions 50 times, scoring once. He also won a silver medal at the 1968 Summer Olympics.[2]
Zafirov died on 15 October 2025, at the age of 77.[3]