The former captain of CSKA and father of the first summer addition to the army players Teodor Ivanov - Valentin Iliev - gave an interview to "Tema Sport", Topsport reported.
The two-time champion with the Reds (season 2004/05 and 2007/08) shared how his son's transfer to Borisova Gradina came about, his expectations for his performance and his opinion about the new CSKA coach Dushan Kerkez.
Mr. Iliev, when did CSKA's interest in Teodor appear and how did the negotiations go?
- I don't remember the exact date the negotiations began. They went through several stages since CSKA showed interest. As far as I know, the head coach has had positive observations about his game before and, accordingly, after his desire to have Teodor in his squad, the talks began.
- Hours before CSKA introduced Teodor Ivanov, you told "Tema Sport" that he symbolizes the phrase "Since childhood". How did he feel when he signed his contract and, accordingly, you as a proud father and former captain of the army men?
- He is happy, this is the most normal thing after he fulfills one of his dreams. The most gratifying thing for me is that he is hungry for success and wants to prove himself every day, which is the most important thing for an athlete.
- Could the statement from the beginning of the month, in which he stated that he wanted to move abroad and called his new club "the other CSKA", have a negative impact on him?
- I consider it frivolous to focus attention on some statement. I was also a football player and the most normal thing is for one of your dreams to be to play outside of Bulgaria. This has nothing to do with his move to CSKA. Teodor had more than one or two offers from abroad, but after discussing it with him and his agents, we decided that CSKA would be the best choice for the next step in his career. And that is why his transfer to the team is already a fact.
- Visually, Teodor has "skinned you", he plays in your position, and he will also wear your number in CSKA. What are the similarities and differences in your qualities on the field?
- What I told him, I will tell you. Less talk, more work. Because I believe that we should talk on the field, and not give each other grades and promises in interviews. The place for a football player to show himself is on the playing field through his actions.
- You are a former captain of CSKA and are often given as an example for your leadership qualities. However, in recent years, the army has not had such a player. Can Teodor step into your shoes and in time put the CSKA captain's armband on his hand?
- Teodor, besides visually resembling me, has also inherited my character. So I really hope that the audience will love him and appreciate him. I don't doubt him for a moment, I know what kind of person he is. I am convinced that no matter what happens, he will give one hundred percent of himself and leave his heart on the field. No matter what.
- In your matches against Dusan Kerkez (former head coach of CSKA 1948 and Botev Pd), you showed excellent relationships. What is your opinion of him and did you know each other before he came to Bulgaria?
- We know each other from the matches. We haven't had any other relationships before that. For me, he is a really good coach. I had the opportunity to play four matches against him. I consider him a solid specialist with an interesting philosophy about football and it is a serious challenge to compete with him. In addition, from the few contacts we had at the stadiums before and after the matches when we played against each other, he made an excellent impression on me as a person. So I wish him all the best for CSKA and I would be very happy.
- Is Valentin Iliev close to a new challenge in his coaching career?
- I had talks with three teams from the Efbet League, but I am a person who likes serious things and responsibilities at the same time. I will not get caught up somewhere just to say that I will work. When I accept a challenge, I want to know that we will work in the right way. I am not one for half-hearted things. So for this reason, an understanding was not reached with some of the teams I talked to. I preferred it to be like this at this stage, with the clear idea that I will not work.