Famous Bulgarian Men

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 1 
Dimitar Berbatov
(The Leading Goal-Scorer in Bulgarian Football History)
Dimitar Berbatov
20
Birthdate: January 30, 1981
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria

Born to a footballer father and a handball player mother, Bulgarian former footballer Dimitar Berbatov was no stranger to sports as a child. He made history as a striker and became Bulgaria’s leading goal-scorer of all time. He has also had a successful career with Manchester United, winning 2 Premier Leagues with them.

 2 
Hristo Stoichkov
(One of the Greatest Bulgarian Football Players of All Time)
Hristo Stoichkov
25
Birthdate: February 8, 1966
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Bulgarian footballer/coach Hristo Stoichkov’s temper and ugly fights with players have earned him nicknames such as The Raging Bull and The Dagger. The Ballon d'Or-winning player started his career at 11 with a local club. He then graduated to CSKA Sofia and Barcelona and was named to FIFA 100, too.
 3 
Grigor Dimitrov
(Bulgarian Former World Number 3 Tennis Player)
Grigor Dimitrov
12
Birthdate: May 16, 1991
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Haskovo, Bulgaria

Bulgarian tennis star Grigor Dimitrov had had a career-high ranking of number 3 in singles. The most successful player in Bulgarian tennis history, he has also been in the news for his relationship with Maria Sharapova. Known for his acrobatics and athleticism, he was initially named Baby Federer.

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 4 
Kubrat Pulev
(Bulgarian Professional Boxer)
Kubrat Pulev
13
Birthdate: May 4, 1981
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Sofia, Bulgaria

Bulgarian professional boxer Kubrat Pulev has so-far won several titles in super-heavyweight division. These include at the Men’s 2008 European Amateur Boxing Championships and at the Strandzha Cup in 2005, 2006 and 2008. He was one of the two boxers who represented Bulgaria at the 2008 Olympics. Pulev has challenged for the unified heavyweight title in 2014 and in 2020.

 5 
Miro
(The First and the Only Bulgarian Wrestler to Compete in the WWE)
Miro
12
Birthdate: December 25, 1984
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Plovdiv, Bulgaria

Bulgarian wrestler Miroslav Barnyashev, better known as Miro and Rusev, has had a successful career in the US. He is the only Bulgarian to have represented the WWE. He currently represents AEW and is a former United States and TNT champion. Before stepping into wrestling, he also competed in rowing, sambo, and powerlifting.

 6 
Aurelian
(Emperor)
Aurelian
9
Birthdate: September 9, 0214
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Sofia, Bulgaria
Died: September 25, 0275

Roman emperor Aurelian ruled from 270 to 275. His military triumphs reunited the Roman Empire and put an end to the Crisis of the Third Century. He built the Aurelian Walls in Rome. Known as the Restitutor Orbis, he defeated the barbarian armies of the Goths and the Alamanni.

 7 
Veselin Topalov
(Bulgarian Chess Grandmaster and Former FIDE World Chess Champion)
Veselin Topalov
4
Birthdate: March 15, 1975
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Ruse, Bulgaria

Bulgarian chess Grandmaster Veselin Topalov is a former world number 1 and a FIDE World Chess Champion. Starting to play chess at age 8, he became a prodigy soon after. He has been part of 9 Chess Olympiads and also bagged the Chess Oscar in 2005.

 8 
Boris III of Bulgaria
(Former Tsar of the Kingdom of Bulgaria (1918 - 1943))
Boris III of Bulgaria
3
Birthdate: January 30, 1894
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Sofia, Bulgaria
Died: August 28, 1943

Boris III became Tsar of the Kingdom of Bulgaria in the wake of Bulgaria's defeat in First World War. He is noted for legitimating the 1923 Bulgarian coup d'état and joining Axis Powers during Second World War. He however refrained from participating in German invasion of Soviet Union and resisted attempts of the Germans in deporting Bulgarian Jews during Holocaust.

 9 
Stanislav Ianevski
(Bulgarian Actor)
Stanislav Ianevski
5
Birthdate: May 16, 1985
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Sofia, Bulgaria
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 10 
Miro
(Bulgarian-American Professional Wrestler)
Miro
4
Birthdate: December 25, 1985
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Plovdiv, Bulgaria

Bulgarian wrestler Miroslav Barnyashev, better known as Miro and Rusev, has had a successful career in the US. He is the only Bulgarian to have represented the WWE. He currently represents AEW and is a former United States and TNT champion. Before stepping into wrestling, he also competed in rowing, sambo, and powerlifting.

 11 
Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha
(48th Prime Minister of Bulgaria)
Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha
10
Birthdate: June 16, 1937
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Sofia, Bulgaria

The last king of Bulgaria, Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, has also been the country’s prime minister. He had taken over as the king at 6, after his father’s mysterious death. He married a Spanish noble lady while in exile in Madrid and returned to Bulgaria 50 years after the abolition of monarchy.

 12 
Decius
(Emperor)
Decius
1
Birthdate: 0201 AD
Birthplace: Martinci
Died: May 31, 0251
 13 
Georgi Markov
(Bulgarian Dissident Writer Best Known for His Work 'The Truth that Killed')
Georgi Markov
2
Birthdate: March 1, 1929
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Sofia
Died: September 11, 1978

Georgi Markov was a Bulgarian writer, novelist, playwright, and screenwriter. After relocating to London due to political reasons, Markov worked as a journalist and broadcaster for the BBC World Service, Radio Free Europe, and Deutsche Welle. Georgi Markov was assassinated in 1978 and was posthumously honored with the Order of Stara Planina in 2000.

 14 
Vasil Levski
(Bulgarian Revolutionary & Freedom Fighter Who was Executed by the Ottoman Authorities)
Vasil Levski
1
Birthdate: July 18, 1837
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Karlovo, Bulgaria
Died: February 18, 1873

Vasil Levski was a Bulgarian revolutionary who is considered a national hero in Bulgaria. Nicknamed the Apostle of Freedom, Vasil Levski strategized a revolutionary movement to free Bulgaria from the Ottoman rule. In a nationwide television poll conducted in 2007, Levski was voted as the greatest Bulgarian of all time.

 15 
Valentin Yordanov
(Bulgarian Freestyle Wrestler and Olympic Gold Medalist)
Valentin Yordanov
2
Birthdate: January 26, 1960
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Ruse Municipality, Bulgaria

One of the most decorated wrestlers in history, Valentin Yordanov has not only won a gold and a bronze at the Olympics but is also a 7-time World and European Champion. He continued to represent Bulgaria even after moving to the US. He also served as the president of the Bulgarian Wrestling Federation.

 16 
Philipp Kirkorov
(Singer)
Philipp Kirkorov
2
Birthdate: April 30, 1967
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Varna, Bulgaria
 17 
Samuil of Bulgaria
(Former Tsar of Bulgaria)
Samuil of Bulgaria
2
Birthdate: 0958 AD
Birthplace: Prilep, Macedonia (FYROM)
Died: October 6, 1014
 18 
Simeon I of Bulgaria
(Ruled over Bulgaria from 893 to 927)
Simeon I of Bulgaria
3
Birthdate: 0864 AD
Birthplace: Bulgaria
Died: May 27, 0927
 19 
Krum
(Former Ruler of Bulgaria (803 - 814))
Krum
0
Birthdate: 0755 AD
Birthplace: Pannonia, Austria
Died: April 13, 0814

Krum was the ruler of Bulgaria from 803 until his demise in 814. An able administrator, Krum helped expand the Bulgarian territory, which doubled in size during his reign. Krum is also remembered for introducing the first known written law code in the history of Bulgaria, which established him as a strict but just ruler.

 20 
Tzvetan Todorov
(Historian, Philosopher, Sociologist Known for His Contributions to Literary, Cultural, and Thought History)
Tzvetan Todorov
0
Birthdate: March 1, 1939
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Sofia, Bulgaria
Died: February 7, 2017

Tzvetan Todorov was a Bulgarian-French historian, philosopher, literary critic, and sociologist. He completed his doctorat ès lettres at the University of Paris and had a brilliant academic career. He helped to found the journal Poétique and served as one of its managing editors. He authored many books, including Conquest of America: The Question of the Other. 

 21 
Julian Kostov
(Bulgarian Actor, Filmmaker and a 10-Time National Swimming Champion)
Julian Kostov
1
Birthdate: August 25, 1989
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Varna, Bulgaria

Bulgarian actor, talent-manager, filmmaker and former pro-swimmer Julian Kostov became 10-time National Swimming Champion and received Master of Sport title in Swimming. As an actor Kostov has appeared in different films and series including starring in the film Another Mother's Son. He plays recurring role in Netflix series Shadow and Bone. He founded the production and talent-management company JupiterLights Productions.

 22 
Boris I of Bulgaria
(King)
Boris I of Bulgaria
1
Birthdate: 0825 AD
Birthplace: Pliska, Bulgaria
Died: May 2, 0907
 23 
Hristo Botev
(One of the Heroes of the Bulgarian National Revolution and Poet)
Hristo Botev
7
Birthdate: January 6, 1848
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Kalofer, Bulgaria
Died: June 1, 1876

Hristo Botev was a Bulgarian poet and revolutionary. Widely regarded as a national hero by Bulgarians, Botev was thought to be ahead of his peers in his aesthetic, philosophical, and political views. An influential and important figure in the history of Bulgaria, Botev has several monuments, schools, football clubs, and stadiums named after him.

 24 
Martin Petrov
(Retired Bulgarian Footballer Who Played as a Winger)
Martin Petrov
2
Birthdate: January 15, 1979
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Vratsa, Bulgaria

Retired Bulgarian footballer Martin Petrov was known as an attacking midfielder. He has had successful stints with clubs such as CSKA Sofia and Atlético Madrid, winning the Bulgarian Cup with the former and the UEFA Intertoto Cup with the latter. He was named the Bulgarian Footballer of the Year in 2006.

 25 
Kotoōshū Katsunori
(Bulgarian Sumo Wrestler and One of the Longest Serving 'ōzeki (Champion) in Sumo History)
Kotoōshū Katsunori
2
Birthdate: February 19, 1983
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria

Retired Bulgarian sumo wrestler Kotoōshū Katsunori was initially a Greco-Roman wrestler but switched to sumo after gaining weight. He scripted history as the first sumo wrestler from Europe to bag the Emperor's Cup and had been an ōzeki for 47 consecutive tournaments. He later became a Japanese citizen.

 26 
Kaloyan of Bulgaria
(Emperor of Bulgaria)
Kaloyan of Bulgaria
2
Birthdate: 1172 AD
Birthplace: Bulgaria
Died: October 8, 1207
 27 
Alexander of Battenberg
(Former Prince of Bulgaria (1879 - 1886))
Alexander of Battenberg
2
Birthdate: April 5, 1857
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Verona, Italy
Died: November 17, 1893

Alexander Joseph or Alexander of Battenberg was a prince of Bulgaria from 29 April 1879 to 7 September 1886. He was forced to abdicate in 1886 by pro-Russian Bulgarian Army officers during a coup d'état. After abdicating, Alexander went on to serve in the Austrian Army as a general.

 28 
Hristo Shopov
(Bulgarian Actor Known for His Roles in Bulgarian and American Films)
Hristo Shopov
2
Birthdate: January 4, 1964
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Sofia, Bulgaria
 29 
Jared Homan
(American Basketball Player Who Has Represented the Bulgarian National Basketball Team)
Jared Homan
1
Birthdate: March 6, 1983
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Remsen, Iowa, United States

American basketball player Jared Homan started his career with the Greek club Maroussi and later represented teams such as Bayern Munich and Maccabi Ashdod. He has also won the Croatian League and Croatian Cup with Cibona Zagreb and has represented the Bulgarian national basketball team.

 30 
Belisarius
(Military Commander)
Belisarius
6
Birthdate: 0500 AD
Birthplace: Sapareva Banya, Bulgaria
Died: February 29, 0565
Byzantine military commander Belisarius, one of the Last of the Romans, is remembered for his loyalty to Emperor Justinian I and for his self-less love for his wife, Antonina, who later cheated on him. Legend has it that he was blinded by Justinian and made to beg on the streets.
 31 
Blagoy Ivanov
(Bulgarian MMA Fighter and Sambo Practitioner Currently Signed to UFC)
Blagoy Ivanov
6
Birthdate: October 9, 1986
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Sandanski, Bulgaria

Bulgarian MMA fighter and sambo artist Blagoy Ivanov, also known as Bagata, has a gold medal in World Sambo Championships. Initially a talented judoka, he rejected an opportunity to represent his country at the Olympics and chose a career in MMA and sambo instead. He currently represents the UFC.

 32 
Serafim Todorov
(Bulgarian Amateur Boxer and Olympic Silver Medalist)
Serafim Todorov
0
Birthdate: July 6, 1969
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Peshtera, Bulgaria

Bulgarian amateur boxer Serafim Todorov is not just an Olympic silver medalist but also became the last man to beat Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a controversial bout which many thought Mayweather had won. A 3-time World and European champion, he was nicknamed Sarafa, or The Money-Changer.

 33 
Clement of Ohrid
(The First Bishop of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church Who Inspired Slavs to Follow Christianity)
Clement of Ohrid
1
Birthplace: Macedonia Greece, Greece
Died: July 27, 0916

A pioneering medieval Bulgarian saint, Clement of Ohrid was a student of saints Cyril and Methodius. He inspired a huge number of Slavs to follow Christianity. He was also the Bulgarian Orthodox Church’s first bishop and one of its Seven Apostles. He is remembered as the patron saint of North Macedonia.

 34 
Aleksandar Tonev
(Bulgarian Football Player Who Plays as a Winger)
Aleksandar Tonev
0
Birthdate: February 3, 1990
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Elin Pelin, Bulgaria

Bulgarian footballer Aleksandar Tonev started his career with CSKA Sofia and then went on to play for teams such as Aston Villa and Celtic. He has also played for clubs in Italy and Poland. He now represents Botev Plovdiv as a winger and has also played for the Bulgarian national team.

 35 
Ahmed III
(Sultan)
Ahmed III
5
Birthdate: December 30, 1673
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Dobrich, Bulgaria
Died: July 1, 1736
 36 
Kubrat
(Ruler of The Onogur-Bulgars)
Kubrat
0
Birthdate: 0606 AD
Birthplace: Bulgaria
Died: 0665 AD
 37 
Valeri Bojinov
(Bulgarian Professional Football Striker)
Valeri Bojinov
5
Birthdate: February 15, 1986
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Gorna Oryahovitsa, Bulgaria

Bulgarian professional football-striker Valeri Bojinov made his senior career debut with Lecce and has thus-far has played for seventeen different clubs. He has won Serie B (2006–07) with Juventus; and Serbian SuperLiga (2016–17) and Serbian Cup (2015–16) with Partizan. He currently plays for Septemvri Sofia and also serves as assistant manager to Slavko Matić at the club

 38 
Todor Zhivkov
(Bulgarian Communist Statesman & Former Prime Minister of Bulgaria (1962 - 1971))
Todor Zhivkov
7
Birthdate: September 7, 1911
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Pravets
Died: August 5, 1998

Todor Zhivkov was a Bulgarian communist statesman best remembered for his service as the Prime Minister of Bulgaria from 19 November 1962 to 7 July 1971. In 1949, Todor Zhivkov served as the mayor of Sofia. From 1954 to 1989, Zhivkov served as the People's Republic of Bulgaria's de facto leader.

 39 
Luis Bacalov
(Argentine Composer)
Luis Bacalov
0
Birthdate: August 30, 1933
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: San Martín, Argentina
 40 
Dee Bost
(American-Born Basketball Player Who Represents the Bulgarian National Team)
Dee Bost
1
Birthdate: October 12, 1989
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Concord, North Carolina, United States

Though born in the US, basketball player Demarquis "Dee" Bost now plays for the Bulgarian national team. After going undrafted in 2012, he joined the Montenegro-based club Budućnost Podgorica. He has also played for clubs from France, Russia, Venezuela, Turkey, and Poland. He won the 2021 EuroCup with AS Monaco.

 41 
Yordan Yovchev
(Former Bulgarian Gymnast, Olympic Silver and 3-Times Bronze Medallist)
Yordan Yovchev
1
Birthdate: February 24, 1973
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Plovdiv, Bulgaria

Former Bulgarian gymnast and current president of Bulgarian Gymnastics Federation Yordan Yovchev competed in six successive Olympic Games and won two bronze in 2000 and one silver and one bronze in 2004. Other achievements of Yovchev includes winning four gold medals at the World Championships, two each in 2001 and 2003; and one gold at European Men's Championships in 2002.

 42 
Stiliyan Petrov
(Bulgarian Former Professional Football Midfielder and All-Time Most Capped Player of the Country)
Stiliyan Petrov
3
Birthdate: July 5, 1979
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Montana, Bulgaria

Bulgarian former professional football midfielder Stiliyan Alyoshev Petrov achieved several feats during his senior professional career. These include winning Bulgarian Championship once and Bulgarian Cup twice with CSKA Sofia; and ten trophies with Celtic Park including four Scottish Premier League titles and the Scottish Cup thrice. He also reigns as the all-time most-capped player of the Bulgaria national football team.

 43 
Aleksandar Vezenkov
(Bulgarian Basketball Player Who Plays as a Power Forward / Small Forward)
Aleksandar Vezenkov
0
Birthdate: August 6, 1995
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Nicosia, Cyprus

Bulgarian-origin basketball player Sasha Vezenkov was born in Cyprus and grew up in both Cyprus and Greece. He started his career with the Greek club Aris Thessaloniki and later also represented FC Barcelona. He now plays for Olympiacos and the Bulgarian national team. He is the son of former basketball player and coach Sasho.

 44 
Boyko Borisov
(Bulgaria's Second-longest Serving Prime Minister Who Served Three-Terms Between 2009 and 2021)
Boyko Borisov
8
Birthdate: June 13, 1959
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Bankya, Bulgaria

Boyko Borisov is a Bulgarian politician best known for his service as the Prime Minister of Bulgaria. He has served three terms as the prime minister between 2009 and 2021. An important politician, Borisov also served as the Mayor of Sofia from 10 November 2005 to 27 July 2009.

 45 
Aleksandŭr Stamboliyski
(20th Prime Minister of Bulgaria (1919 - 1923))
Aleksandŭr Stamboliyski
0
Birthdate: March 1, 1879
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Slavovitsa, Bulgaria
Died: June 14, 1923

Aleksandŭr Stamboliyski was a Bulgarian politician best remembered for his service as the Prime Minister of Bulgaria from 14 October 1919 to 9 June 1923. He was ousted from his position in a coup d'état and was subsequently tortured and killed on 14 June 1923.

 46 
Dimiter Marinov
(Bulgarian-American Actor Known for His Role as 'Oleg' in the Academy Award Winning Film 'Green Book')
Dimiter Marinov
0
Birthdate: October 6, 1964
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Sofia, Bulgaria

Dimiter Marinov is a Bulgarian-American actor best known for his portrayal of Oleg in the 2018 American comedy-drama movie Green Book, which received the Academy Award for Best Picture. In 2019, Dimiter Marinov attended the 91st Academy Awards, becoming the first Bulgarian to walk the red carpet.

 47 
Asparukh of Bulgaria
(Ruler of Bulgaria)
Asparukh of Bulgaria
0
Birthdate: 0640
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Bulgaria
Died: 0701 AD
 48 
Walther Funk
(Journalist, Banker, Economist, Politician)
Walther Funk
4
Birthdate: August 18, 1890
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Yasnaya Polyana
Died: May 31, 1960
German economist Walther Funk had joined the army during World War I but later quit for being medically unfit and started his career as a journalist. After joining the Nazi Party, he quickly rose to become the Third Reich’s economics minister and the president of the Reichsbank
 49 
Omurtag of Bulgaria
(Former Great Khan of Bulgaria (814 - 831))
Omurtag of Bulgaria
0
Birthplace: Bulgaria
Died: 0831 AD

Omurtag of Bulgaria reigned as the Great Khan of Bulgaria between 814 and 831. Nicknamed the Builder, Omurtag's reign was marked with a significant development of Bulgarian architecture as a number of ambitious construction projects were undertaken during his reign. Omurtag of Bulgaria also made strong administrative reforms which enhanced the authority and the power of the central government.

 50 
Georgi Dimitrov
(32nd Prime Minister of Bulgaria (1946 - 1949))
Georgi Dimitrov
3
Birthdate: June 18, 1882
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Kovachevtsi, Bulgaria
Died: July 2, 1949

Georgi Dimitrov was the first communist head of Bulgaria, serving as its prime minister after World War II. Starting as a trade union leader, he later played a key role in forming the Bulgarian Communist Party. He also won against Hitler, with his defense against the Reichstag fire accusations against him.