Bontcho Guentchev
Encyclopedia
Boncho Lyubomirov Genchev (born 7 July 1964) is a retired Bulgaria
n footballer who played as an attacking midfielder.
, Dobrich Province
, Genchev started playing with PFC Dobrudzha Dobrich
, switching to PFC Litex Lovech
in 1982, for another sole season. In the following year, he established himself in the Bulgarian top flight
, with FC Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa
and Etar Veliko Tarnovo
, where he played three 1/2 and four 1/2 years respectively.
After 22 league goals for Etar in two seasons combined, 27-year old Genchev moved abroad, signing with Sporting Clube de Portugal in the summer of 1991, alongside compatriot Ivaylo Yordanov
, who previously had succeeded him at Lokomotiv GO. Unlike the forward, he had virtually no impact with the Lisbon
side, leaving after one sole season, and two league
matches.
Genchev revived his career in England
, where he played for Ipswich Town
and Luton Town
, his three years with the Blues being spent in the Premier League (with relegation in the last one), where he netted a total of six times.
In 1997, the veteran returned to his country, with PFC CSKA Sofia
, winning the top scorer accolade in his first season — although the club could only finish third — and the Bulgarian Cup
in his second. After that, he returned, at nearly 35, to England, playing non-league football for Hendon FC
and Carshalton Athletic
, and retiring three years after.
Four years later, Genchev came out of retirement and rejoined Hendon, scoring his first goal in his second spell on 14 March 2007 against Hayes FC
, in the Middlesex Senior Cup
. He retired for good in the following year.
, without scoring. He represented the nation at the 1994 FIFA World Cup
, replacing Nasko Sirakov
for the second half of the round of 16 match against Mexico
, and scoring in his penalty shootout attempt.
Genchev was also picked for the squad at UEFA Euro 1996, playing one minute in the 1–0 group stage win against Romania
.
called 'Strikers', but it ceased trading shortly afterwards.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n footballer who played as an attacking midfielder.
Club career
Born in General ToshevoGeneral Toshevo
General Toshevo is a town in northeastern Bulgaria, part of Dobrich Province. Located in the historic region of Southern Dobruja, it is the administrative centre of the homonymous municipality and was named after the noted Bulgarian General Stefan Toshev...
, Dobrich Province
Dobrich Province
Dobrich Province is a province in northeastern Bulgaria, part of Southern Dobruja geographical region. It is divided into 8 municipalities with a total population, as of December 2009, of 199,705 inhabitants.-Municipalities:...
, Genchev started playing with PFC Dobrudzha Dobrich
PFC Dobrudzha Dobrich
PFC Dobrudzha is a Bulgarian football club from the town of Dobrich. It plays its home matches at Druzhba Stadium with a capacity of 12,500 seats, and its team colours are green and yellow...
, switching to PFC Litex Lovech
PFC Litex Lovech
PFC Litex Lovech or simply Litex is a Bulgarian football club from the town of Lovech, which currently competes in the Bulgarian A Professional Football Group, the top division of Bulgarian football...
in 1982, for another sole season. In the following year, he established himself in the Bulgarian top flight
Bulgarian A Professional Football Group
The Bulgarian A Professional Football Group commonly known as A PFG is the top division of the Bulgarian football league system. The league is sponsored by Victoria FATA Insurance and therefore is officially known as Victoria A Football Group since 2011...
, with FC Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa
FC Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa
FC Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa is a Bulgarian football club from the town of Gorna Oryahovitsa, currently playing in the Bulgarian North-West V AFG, the third-level division of Bulgarian football. The club plays its home matches at the Lokomotiv Stadium which has a capacity of 12,000. Club colours...
and Etar Veliko Tarnovo
F.C. Etar
Football Club Etar was a Bulgarian professional association football club from Veliko Tarnovo. Founded on 24 April 1924, the club spent most of its history in the Bulgarian A PFG....
, where he played three 1/2 and four 1/2 years respectively.
After 22 league goals for Etar in two seasons combined, 27-year old Genchev moved abroad, signing with Sporting Clube de Portugal in the summer of 1991, alongside compatriot Ivaylo Yordanov
Ivaylo Yordanov
Ivaylo Stoimenov Yordanov is a retired Bulgarian footballer.Known for his professional approach to the game, he played mainly as a striker. During his career, he represented mainly Sporting Clube de Portugal.-Club career:...
, who previously had succeeded him at Lokomotiv GO. Unlike the forward, he had virtually no impact with the Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
side, leaving after one sole season, and two league
Portuguese Liga
The Primeira Liga , formerly called Primeira Divisão, currently named Liga ZON Sagres after their main sponsors, is the top professional association football division of the Portuguese football league system...
matches.
Genchev revived his career in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, where he played for Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
and Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
, his three years with the Blues being spent in the Premier League (with relegation in the last one), where he netted a total of six times.
In 1997, the veteran returned to his country, with PFC CSKA Sofia
PFC CSKA Sofia
PFC CSKA Sofia , commonly known as CSKA or CSKA Sofia is a professional football club based in Sofia, Bulgaria. The club was officially founded on May 5, 1948. CSKA's abbreviation stands for Central Sports Club of the Army...
, winning the top scorer accolade in his first season — although the club could only finish third — and the Bulgarian Cup
Bulgarian Cup
The Bulgarian Cup is a Bulgarian annual football competition. It is the country's main cup competition and all officially registered Bulgarian football teams take part in it. It is sponsored by the Bulgarian Corporate Commercial Bank....
in his second. After that, he returned, at nearly 35, to England, playing non-league football for Hendon FC
Hendon F.C.
Hendon Football Club are an English football club based in Hendon, in the London Borough of Barnet. They currently play in the Isthmian League Premier Division.In the 2003-04 season they finished fourth in the Isthmian League Premier Division...
and Carshalton Athletic
Carshalton Athletic F.C.
Carshalton Athletic F.C. is an English football club based in Carshalton in the London Borough of Sutton, London. They currently play in the Isthmian League Premier Division, and are based at the War Memorial Sports Ground.-Early years:...
, and retiring three years after.
Four years later, Genchev came out of retirement and rejoined Hendon, scoring his first goal in his second spell on 14 March 2007 against Hayes FC
Hayes F.C.
Hayes F.C. was an English football club based in Hayes, in Greater London. The club started out as Botwell Mission in 1909 taking its present name in 1929. The team nickname, The Missioners was a salute to the history of the team. The club played in the Conference South for their last few seasons...
, in the Middlesex Senior Cup
Middlesex Senior Cup
The Middlesex Senior Cup is the most prestigious football cup competition in the historic county of Middlesex, England. The competition is run mainly for non-League clubs in the region, although league sides have been known to enter the competition, such as Brentford, Barnet and Chelsea...
. He retired for good in the following year.
International career
During six years, Genchev played 12 times for BulgariaBulgaria national football team
The FIFA Bulgaria national football team is an association football team fielded by the Bulgarian Football Union, a member association of UEFA. The team's home ground is Vasil Levski in Sofia and Luboslav Penev is in charge manager after replacement of Lothar Matthäus...
, without scoring. He represented the nation at the 1994 FIFA World Cup
1994 FIFA World Cup
The 1994 FIFA World Cup, the 15th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in nine cities across the United States from June 17 to July 17, 1994. The United States was chosen as the host by FIFA on July 4, 1988...
, replacing Nasko Sirakov
Nasko Sirakov
Nasko Petkov Sirakov is a retired Bulgarian footballer who played mainly as a striker.Part of the Bulgarian team at the 1994 FIFA World Cup as it finished fourth, he was one of the most important footballers in the country in the 80's/90's, being a legend at Levski Sofia, a club he represented in...
for the second half of the round of 16 match against Mexico
Mexico national football team
The Mexican national football team represents Mexico in association football and is governed by the Mexican Football Federation , the governing body for football in Mexico. Mexico's home stadium is the Estadio Azteca and their head coach is José Manuel de la Torre...
, and scoring in his penalty shootout attempt.
Genchev was also picked for the squad at UEFA Euro 1996, playing one minute in the 1–0 group stage win against Romania
Romania national football team
The Romania national football team is the national football team of Romania and is controlled by the Romanian Football Federation.Romania is one of only four national teams, the other three being Brazil, France, and Belgium, that took part in the first three World Cups.However, after that...
.
Team
- Etar Veliko TarnovoF.C. EtarFootball Club Etar was a Bulgarian professional association football club from Veliko Tarnovo. Founded on 24 April 1924, the club spent most of its history in the Bulgarian A PFG....
:- Bulgarian LeagueBulgarian A Professional Football GroupThe Bulgarian A Professional Football Group commonly known as A PFG is the top division of the Bulgarian football league system. The league is sponsored by Victoria FATA Insurance and therefore is officially known as Victoria A Football Group since 2011...
: 1990–91
- Bulgarian League
Individual
- CSKAPFC CSKA SofiaPFC CSKA Sofia , commonly known as CSKA or CSKA Sofia is a professional football club based in Sofia, Bulgaria. The club was officially founded on May 5, 1948. CSKA's abbreviation stands for Central Sports Club of the Army...
:- Bulgarian LeagueBulgarian A Professional Football GroupThe Bulgarian A Professional Football Group commonly known as A PFG is the top division of the Bulgarian football league system. The league is sponsored by Victoria FATA Insurance and therefore is officially known as Victoria A Football Group since 2011...
: Top scorer 1997–98
- Bulgarian League
Personal
After his first retirement, Genchev ran a café/bar in West Kensington, LondonWest Kensington, London
- Commercial/education :Local business consists of small shops, offices and restaurants, with the Olympia Exhibition Centre nearby. Indeed, it is the mix of local shops that give the area its character....
called 'Strikers', but it ceased trading shortly afterwards.