The legend of Bulgarian football Krasimir Balakov celebrated his 60th anniversary by participating in the podcast of the Bulgarian Football Union (BFU). The former captain and national coach took stock of the past years, and also shared some of his future plans in front of the cameras of efbet National Football Base. “Every time a person celebrates a birthday, he inevitably takes stock – at least of the recent past. 60 years is neither too little nor too much. I am glad that I am in good health and feel good at this age. I also have plans for the future“, he said.
Balakov also commented on the difficulties he has faced over the years, emphasizing the importance of character and perseverance: “As in sports, so in life, there are always moments when things do not develop the way you want. It is very important to be persistent and believe in what you are striving for. Ambition is key – regardless of whether we are talking about football, another sport or a profession. You need to be disciplined and highly motivated. There are always injuries and moments of falling. It is important to get up quickly.“
“The most important thing is not to lose faith in yourself and to maintain confidence in what you are doing. You should never allow negative thoughts. Even during the World Cup in the USA, our “negative“ thoughts were more of a joke – We told ourselves that we would pack our bags, but no one really believed that we would fail. We believed in ourselves and showed it on the field“, he added.
Bala emphasized that he does not define himself as a “successful person“, despite his achievements: “Life has different stages. As a football player, I played until I was 38 – that is not a small amount, but a sports career is short. Then comes coaching and other activities, where the more complicated part begins. Everything no longer depends only on you, but also on the people around you.“
“When there is a will, there is a way – this is a German proverb that I have always liked. It is important for a person to find his own direction. So far, I have succeeded, although there have been moments of hesitation. Overall, I am satisfied with these 60 years“, added Krasimir Balakov.