Bojidar Georgiev Iskrenov (Bulgarian: Божидар Гeopгиeв Искренов, born 1 August 1962), nicknamed Gibona (Гибона means "The Gibbon"), Gibi (Гиби) and The Joy of the People (Радостта на народа), is a former Bulgarianfootballer who spent most of his career playing for Levski Sofia as a forward.
Iskrenov also had a brief film career. He appeared in the movie Manevri na petiya etazh as the elevator technician.
Career
A native of the capital Sofia, Iskrenov played for Levski between 1979 and 1989, scoring 58 goals in 208 matches.[1] He was then transferred to the SpanishReal Zaragoza in 1989-1990, but could not establish himself in the first team and went on as a Lausanne Sports player in Switzerland in 1990–1991.[1] Spells at Botev Plovdiv (1991–1992), CSKA Sofia and PFC Shumen (1994) followed, with Iskrenov ending his career at Septemvri Sofia (1994–1995).[1]
Iskrenov won the top Bulgarian league, the A PFG, three times (all with Levski): in 1984, 1985 and 1988, as well as the Bulgarian Cup in 1982, 1984 and 1986 (with Levski) and 1993 (with CSKA).[1] He played a total of 263 matches and scored 58 goals in the A PFG. A very skillful player, known for his feints as well as the ability to shoot with both legs,[2] Iskrenov was also nicknamed Radostta na naroda (Радостта на народа; "The Joy of the people").[1]
International career
For the Bulgaria national team, Bojidar Iskrenov has 50 matches and 5 goals, debuting on 28 October 1981 in a 0–3 defeat by Brazil and retiring from international football on 12 May 1993 after a 2–2 draw between Bulgaria and Israel in Sofia.[1] He played at the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, when Bulgaria reached the round of 16.
