Pavel Georgiev Panov (Bulgarian: Павел Гeopгиeв Панов; 16 September 1950 – 18 February 2018) was a Bulgarianfootball player and coach, who played as a midfielder or striker.[1]
Career
Panov started his career with Septemvri Sofia in 1963 and stayed there until 1968.
In 1969, he moved to Spartak Sofia. After the forceful union of Levski Sofia with Spartak in the late 1969 he became one of the best players in blue. In Levski he stayed twelve seasons, playing in 301 games and scoring 130 goals in the Championship. He played in forty-four games and scored thirteen goals for the Bulgaria National team[2] with which he played in the World Cup tournament in 1974.
With 22 goals Panov is the Third highest all-time Bulgarian goalscorer in European club competitions, after Hristo Stoichkov and Dimitar Berbatov. Quarterfinalist for the Cup Winners' Cup in 1970 and 1977 and also for the UEFA Cup in 1976. One of the biggest Bulgarian players of the 1970s. Master of the free kicks. He also played for Aris FC[3] before finishing his career in Haskovo. He coached Levski in 1986–1987 and again in 1989–1990. He also coached Iwuanyanwu Nationale, Bulgaria's national youth side, Botev Plovdiv, Septemvri, Lokomotiv Sofia. He was president of Levski's Sport-technical board.
Awards
Levski Sofia
Bulgarian champion: 1969–1970, 1973–1974, 1976–1977, 1978–1979
Bulgarian Cup winner: 1969–1970, 1970–1971, 1975–1976, 1976–1977, 1978–1979
Individual
Best goal scorer in Bulgaria in 1976 (18 goals) and 1977 (20 goals)
