6thMarch 2000 7thFebruary 2000 16thJanuary 2000 15thDecember 2000 14thDecember 2000 10thDecember 2000 9thDecember 2000 2ndDecember 2000 29thNovember 2000 25thNovember 2000 22ndNovember 2000 1stNovember 2000 21stOctober 2000 7thOctober 2000 30thSeptember 2000
Hristo (about Barca):The leadership does not act as it is appropriate for a big club and that is why the team is leaving so much behind Real in the league.
When I was there, we didn't constantly talk about which players are leaving the team and which players are coming in the team.
Quotes from Hristo Stoitchkov Conference Call
Fire GM Peter Wilt:The Chicago Fire is very pleased to announce that Hristo Stoitchkov will be
remaining with the Fire and MLS for another two seasons. It is a great day
for the Fire and the league. Hristo has been a tremendous asset to the
Fire, and our organization has benefited greatly since he joined our team.
He has become a great role model for the younger players, and we're honored
that he has chosen to stay in Chicago for the next two years.
Hristo:The Fire has a phenomenal group of players. Losing MLS Cup to Kansas City
was unfortunate, but right now I'm just very motivated to play and
contribute in every way possible this coming season. I look forward to
helping the Fire maintain its winning tradition. I really like everything
about Chicago. It has great culture and tradition. After living in Spain
for so many years I feel at home here. I was pleasantly surprised by the
warm personality of Chicagoans, and appreciate their kindness to foreigners
like myself. It's very peaceful here, and it's important for me to work
this way.
Fire Head coach Bob Bradley:I think last year it took a little time to get Hristo back into good shape.
He had not played a previous season and he came in excited and ready to go
but he had a few set backs. This off-season he has done a good job
maintaining his fitness. He is in camp and working now everyday getting a
little bit closer to playing. He is boldly pushing us to get him back on
the field.
Hristo:Before I signed the contract with MLS I had a long conversation with Coach
Bradley. I feel completely confident that I can display the same level of
play as I did in 2000. Beyond soccer I am very touched by Coach Bradley's
affection toward me as a player and as a human being. He has treated my
family and I with great respect. He has a wonderful attitude, one that all
of our players have learned to appreciate. He's almost like a father
figure, and in this business of soccer you sometimes need a father figure
for you and your teammates.
Bradley:From the beginning he took a lot of responsibility to work with young
players. That was part of the reason he wanted to come to the US. He does
it in a positive way and the young players look up to him and they feel he
has taught them a great deal. He has been a terrific part of our team in
the past year. I have great respect for him as a player and as a person.
Hristo:I have an obligation to help all the younger players on our team, and I am
very happy see that DaMarcus is getting some playing time with the U.S.
National Team. I am aware that DaMarcus learned a lot of soccer thing from
me and I will work with Coach Bradley to continue the work and polish all
our younger players.
I do not have a set date for retirement. I will continue to play as long as
the people who watch me play enjoy the entertainment. I will continue to
play as long as I am also able to enjoy it.
Guardiola:Ronald Koeman and Hristo Stoitchkov were these, that I have learned most from.
The Hollander had as if brought the execution of the free kick to a perfection, having an incredible combination of strength and technique of the kick.
Stoitchkov, on the other hand, in a match versus Werder Bremen for the Supercup of Europe said to me: "Look now", after which he effectively turned the ball in the goalkeeper's corner.
Journalist:Hristo, how will you remember the past century?
Hristo:I will remember it with my protection from big injuries, with the fact, that Bulgaria stood up on its feet in the summer of 1994, with the fact that the Bulgarian spirit never left the national team, with the fact, that I will remain a Bulgarian and I am not going to exceed my titles.
Journalist:When are you going to meet the bosses of the Bulgarian Football Union?
Hristo:During the next century.
Journalist:When are you leaving Bulgaria?
Hristo:Towards the end of the week.
Journalist:How many days are you going to spend in Bulgaria during the next year?
Hristo:Maybe even less than three days. Many, many mathes are coming for us, a long Championship. I also have to be with my children.
Journalist:How did you feel with the favorite No 8 on the back, but this time with the equips of Botev and Lokomotiv?
Hristo:The number is not imporant for me, but the player and I am happy, that I had the chance to participate in this holiday. You could see on alone, that the stadium was full, which is something unseen in my hometown for years. I had promised to myself to come to play in the beneficial match of my best man Uzunov and I am happy, that I could come. I don't know most of the players of Botev, but I was very happy to be next to them. Everybody knows, that as a child I was sympathizing to Botev, but I equally respect all the teams from Plovdiv.
Journalist:How will the career of Atanas Uzunov develop from now on, according to you?
Hristo:For me Uzunov is the biggest Bulgarian referee. He has an opportunity for a great choice. He can coach, like he is doing now, but he can also be a key figure in the Bulgarian refereeing. There is also a third opportunity - he can continue his career as a referee. In this respect, I have already talked to the leaderships of the referee colleague organizations of Japan and the USA so that he can whistle in these championships.
Journalist:What would you wish to your best man?
Hristo:At first health, I want him to remain as human and responsible to all his colleagues and friends as he is right now. I will officially announce to him, that my door will always be open for him. I already do not remember, for what reason did he show me the first yellow card, when I was playing with the equip of Hebros (Harmanli). I forgive him about it. (He is laughing)
Journalist:How do you feel as a Bulgarian in Chicago?
Hristo:I feel great, because Chicago is one of the American cities, where a lot of Bulgarians live. I am looking for their contact and also a lot of Bulgarians often want to see me and that is why we often gather at a coffee or beer and discuss the problems of the Bulgarians in their adaptation to the USA. Some people think, that after I spent a few months there I will change, but no one can change Stoitchkov with anything.
Journalist:What is the atmosphere in the team?
Hristo:In the beginning, when they attracted me, the bosses of the team told me, that they will rely on my large experience and not only to my popularity. I am happy, that I established an exclusively close relationship with the coach Bradley and he often asks me questions. Our goal during the next season is to win the Championship title. My contract lasts until 2002 and I consider fulfilling it entirely.
Journalist:You opened a juvenile school in Barcelona. Are you going to open such also in Plovdiv after you finish your sport career?
Hristo:At the moment my whole attention is engaged with Chicago Fire, but I also share efforts for my school in Spain. If a pleasant atmosphere exists, I may open a school on my name in my hometown too.
Journalist:Who are your favorites for Player No 1 of the Year?
Hristo:I think, that they should choose between Dimitar Berbatov and Georgi Ivanov. The player of Levski has a minimal advantage, because he won the Championship and the Cup of the country.
Hristo:Now I am in the role of a 12th player of Barca, but my wish is to deal with much more serious things.
Journalist:Hristo, we find you in Barcelona. Tell us how you feel.
Hristo:I am well. I am in Barcelona for the first time in the last year and had the chance to meet friends as well as to watch the final for the 'Davis Cup'. I was also watching trainings of Espanol and Barcelona.
Journalist:Your coaches from Chicago were in Spain, what were the impressions, they received from this country?
Hristo:I personally invited them in Barcelona, after all we have been working together for a whole year. I am going to be in Chicago for two more seasons and it is normal for me to help the coaching staff with what I can.
Celta forward Pablo:Stoitchkov is my big idol and now I am going to show off in front of my teammates with what he gave me.
Stoitchkov is my idol and already a friend, but now I will have to go and defeat his Barca.
Dema Kovalenko:For me it is a big luck to play with Hristo. He taught me many things. We communicate in Russian. He understands me excellent, but he doesn't speak well that language. We often go out with him-we go to restaurants and discos.
Hristo:It is appropriate for a person, who sits in the official tribunes of a match of the Eurotournaments to be serious, but not for me. I love Barca a lot and jumped crazily, when we scored our two goals.
I most liked the wish for playing of the football players. The team showed, that they have overcome the crisis from the first minute. Barca should not worry about the second game, because they could have scored more goals. In the defense, I can appoint De Boer, who was very stable. Xavi and Gerald were dragging the strings in the middle of the field and were distributing the ball. This is the Barca, that I want to see.
Hristo:At last I am in Bruge. I had a big wish to travel abroad with Barca and thanks to 'El Mundo Deportivo' this happened. I am always carrying Barca in my heart and that is why decided to take this journey. Although this is not my profession, I will try to inform the people about the many good things, that I expect to take place here in Belgium. The current situation of the team is not the best, but I am sure in the revival of Barca. I was in Camp Nou in the last few days and saw some very enthusiastic faces, who want to get out of the crisis quickly. No one likes losing, especially if he carries the Barca jersey on his back. That is why I am such an optimist. I talked to every one of the players during the trip and I am sure, that they are very different people from before. I don't know, what have the players and the coach talked with the president Juan Gaspar on the lasst meeting, but I was assured that the atmosphere is very good. As a Barcelonist, I wish the team to get out of this situation as soon as possible. FC Bruge are the ones, who should be worried about the match, and not Barca. It is true, that it will be very difficult for us, but no one should forget, that the best team in the world will play today versus FC Bruge.
Journalist:Mr. Stoitchkov the world agencies published the news, that you are going to continue your contract with Chicago Fire for two more years. Can you tell us more about it?
Hristo:I am very pleased with the conditions I was given in Chicago and that it 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. No matter that we won the cup this year, I want to become a champion, because this is the dream of every football player.
Journalist:How do you evaluate your first season for Fire after you scored 14 goals and made 12 assists? Do you think that you are going to show the best of Stoitchkov in the future?
Hristo:I hope that the new championship is going to be better for me and the team. It is normal for a team like Chicago to reach the final of the championship. I want to score even more, because 14 goals and 12 assists are little for me. After all with the winning of the cup we won the right to participate in the CONCACAF tournament, so I hope that we are also going to win it.
Journalist:Our national team has the chance to qualify for Mondial 2002. Do you think that we are going to succeed with this potential?
Hristo:Since they are refusing control games with us then we are not going well. Years ago everyone wanted to play with us, now no one wants. There is a big difference from then and now in the way of working and the establishment of the contacts.
Journalist:We understood that in the end of the week you are going to return in Bulgaria. When should we wait for you?
Hristo:I am more connected with Chicago and my child-school in Barcelona at the moment. I first have a meeting with the kids there and then if I have the time I will come back home in Bulgaria for a few days. After that I am going to once again travel to Spain and the USA.
Hristo:This was absolutely wonderful. We won one of our two title games here at home tonight, in front of the most loyal fans in this league. I'm a very, very happy man, and I'm very proud to be a part of this team. I'm especially happy for our younger players right now, like DaMarcus and Josh. This was a great win for them.
Hristo:We played very well in this so important for us match. The win is for all our fans. I have been repeating since the beginning of the season, that we have the strengths to win the championship and the cup. Now I am happy, that we qualified for the two finals.I'm ecstatic. I'm also very excited that Johan Cruyff will also be making the trip to D.C. It would be even better to have Michael Jordan and President Clinton in the stands as well.
Hristo:Neither the president Juan Gaspar, nor the coach Sera Ferrer play in the field, that is why the football players must take the responsibility for the losses and to try and get out of the unpleasant situation.
During the time, when I was a part of the "Dream Team" of Cruyff, all conflicts or unpleasant situations were solved in the changing room of the team, we were all telling each other the truth in the face without dividing ourselves to stars and rookies. That is why we reached the big successes. That is what the players must do now in order to escape from the crisis.
