Dimitar Yakimov

Dimitar Nikolov Yakimov (Bulgarian: Димитър Николов Якимов; born 12 August 1941), is a Bulgarian former footballer who played as an attacking midfielder or forward. Throughout his career, he played for the Bulgarian football club CSKA Sofia, and was sometimes called "the poet of football" for his dribbling skills.

On a club level, Yakimov reached the semifinal of the Cup of European Champions with CSKA Sofia in 1967. His career was ended prematurely in the early 1970s, although he was neither injured, nor with declining skills. He still can be seen occasionally playing for the CSKA veterans. The most successful Bulgarian player of all time, Hristo Stoichkov (CSKA, Barcelona), has pointed out Yakimov as a big inspiration of his youth.

International career

Yakimov was part of the Bulgaria under-18 team that won the 1959 UEFA European Under-18 Championship. In October 1959, he was handed his first call-up to the Bulgarian senior squad, making his debut in a 1–0 friendly win over France on 11 October.^[2] Yakimov also played for Bulgaria at the 1960 Summer Olympics.^[3]

Yakimov played a decisive role in probably the most important victories of the Bulgarian national team in the 1960s. He scored the winning goal for Bulgaria in the World Cup qualifier play-off against France, played on a neutral field in Italy in 1961, leading his country to its first participation in World Cup finals.^[4]

In Italy, four years later, his precise long pass cut the whole Belgian defense, reaching Georgi Asparuhov in a clear scoring position to seal another famous victory which sent Bulgaria to the World Cup in England.

Honours

References