Hristo Stoichkov - The Bulgarian Bull

Who was the biggest icon of Barcelona and Cruyff's dream team in the '90s? Whenever you see this question the first name that'd pop up in your mind might be Romario. But even before Romario's arrival, Cruyff's biggest trump card in Barcelona's first European Cup win, or Madrid's six-year reign, which brought Barcelona to La Liga, was someone who he Blaugranas called 'El Pistolero' or 'The Gunslinger'. Hristo Stoichkov.

Hristo was born on February 8, 1966 in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Joined Maritsa Plovdiv's youth team at just 11 years of age. From there he joined a club called Hebros in 1982. After spending two years there, he joined CSKA Sofia, Bulgaria's most popular club. He scored 81 goals in 119 matches for them. In the 1989-90 season, he won the European Golden Boot with 38 goals in 30 matches. After Cruyff took charge of Barcelona, ​​the whole team was transformed. He needed someone creative in the forward line. Someone who can be played as a striker as well as in the attacking mid as a creative role. As such, Cruyff brought the Bulgarian Bull from CSKA Sofia to Barcelona in 1990. The biggest quality of Hristo was his speed and dribbling. Assisting other forwards along with long range shots. Famous football writer Sid Lowe said,

'That season (1993-94) Romario and Stoichkov were a force of nature, blowing everyone and everything to bits.'

At that time, Romario and Stoichkov built the most dangerous duo in Europe. Hristo's winning mentality with aggression took him ahead of many others. He didn't miss anything from free-kicks or cross, through passes. Hristo Stoichkov was the perfect leader of Barcelona at that time. He has won everything in his Barcelona career. Scoring 108 goals in 214 matches. Winning the European Cup, 5 La Liga, 2 European Super Cup, 1 Cup Winners Cup, 3 Supercopa, 1 Copa del Rey.

Hristo left Bara in 1995 to move to Parma in the Italian League, where he spent a year then came back at Barcelona. By that time, he had reached the ending of his career. Even then, he left football in 2003 playing for some small clubs and the LA Galaxy combined. Hristo did not win anything for the national team. He led Bulgaria to the 1994 semifinals single handedly. In the semi-finals, Bulgaria lost by 2-1 to Italy with Roberto Baggio scoring 2 goals. Hristo scored the only goal for Bulgaria. Bulgaria is 4th in that event. Bulgaria lost to Sweden in the third place match. The Golden Boot went to him in the 1994 World Cup, with Russia's Oleg Salenko and Stichkov both scoring six goals. He also won the bronze ball of the World Cup. Stichkov scored 37 goals in 83 matches for Bulgaria. Although he did not win anything for the national team, the 1994 Ballon d'Or went to him. He came first beating Roberto Baggio and Paolo Maldini with 210 points. To every Blaugrana fan, Hristo Stoichkov will stay special for a lifetime because of his aggression, winning mentality and loyalty to Barcelona.

Cruyff said that before Hristo Stoichkov came, Barcelona was a team of nice people. But it wasn't appropriate. And that everyone needed positive aggression, such as Stoichkov. Someone who hustles for glory.