Sunday Fulham Stuff (30/12/12)...

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Fulham are closing in on signing of Alexander Madlung from Wolfsburg


Alexander Madlung: Surplus to requirements at Wolfsburg

Sky Sports understands that Fulham are closing in on the signing of Wolfsburg defender Alexander Madlung.

Manager Martin Jol is keen to add to his defensive options, and currently only has Brede Hangeland, Aaron Hughes and, Phillippe Senderos as central defenders.

Madlung, who has two international caps for Germany, has fallen out of favour at the Volkswagen Arena and is out of contract in the summer. He moved to Wolfsburg from Hertha Berlin in 2006 and has made over 150 appearances for the club, helping them to the Bundesliga title in 2009.

It is thought that the Bundesliga club will not require a fee for the defender's services in an effort to reduce their wage bill.

Madlung scored against Fulham at Craven Cottage in the first leg of their Europa League quarter final in 2010.



http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11681/8366920?

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Fulham 1 Swansea 2: Stockdale horror helps Swans prove they can cope without Michu

England squad goalkeeper David Stockdale's fragile composure virtually disintegrated in front of his international manager Roy Hodgson.

But it was Fulham manager Martin Jol who was left fuming at Stockdale's generosity, because it caused his side to drop perilously close to the relegation zone.


Swimming upstream: Swansea City's Danny Graham helped his side record another win on the road



The home fans booed the entire Fulham team off the pitch, frustrated at having won just one of their last 12 league matches. But Jol seemed determined to hang his pantomime villain out to dry after two glaring errors.

Stockdale flicked a 19th-minute parry straight up into the path of Danny Graham for Swansea's opener, then booted a second-half clearance straight at his own defender, Brede Hangeland, allowing Jonathan de Guzman to slot a killer second.

Jol said: 'The first goal we presented to them, the second goal was almost a Christmas gift. I can't blame 90 per cent of my players. The only one who didn't have a good day was my goalkeeper - he gave away two goals. I feel for him, but I feel more for us. We played 100 per cent better and to come away with nothing is terrible.


Frustrations: Dimitar Berbatov wasn't able to have a big enough impact from the outset

   

'Maybe there was a bit of nervousness because it was his first big game. It's probably Swansea's worst game and we deserved at least a point.'

If Graham's future was in any doubt before this game, he seemed to settle the issue with his spectacular goal.


See something you like? England manager Roy Hodgson was back on his old stomping ground

Swansea boss Michael Laudrup had talked of needing a friendly chat with Graham to see whether it is worth him staying at the club after so few starts this season.

But the striker showed off his own talents as Fulham were found wanting in defence. Angel Rangel overlapped down the right, and Nathan Dyer showed silky skills before feeding his full-back. Dyer sent Rangel's cross towards goal, and Stockdale could only scoop the ball up into the air.


Good timing: Graham finished in style on 19 minutes to hand Swansea a surprise lead


To someone with Graham's hunger and athleticism, this was a welcome invitation. He twisted his body into position and fired an impromptu overhead finish past Stockdale with ease.

'It was an important goal for us and maybe an even more important goal for Danny,' observed Laudrup.

   
Jonny on the spot: Jonathan de Guzman doubled Swansea's lead shortly after half-time

Fulham squandered countless chances, from the moment Dimitar Berbatov bounced an early overhead above the bar. Bryan Ruiz sent a couple of efforts the same way and saw a third saved by Gerhard Tremmel.

Ruiz claimed Fulham's reply, which actually touched Sascha Riether last, almost on the goalline. Swansea players protested to assistant referee Sian Massey, but her decision was spot on.


Too far: Bryan Ruiz tried his luck from distance, but couldn't find a way through...

... but just before the hour, the Costa Rican handed his side some hope with a finish from close range

Alas for Fulham, they lacked the ruthlessness to repeat their scoring feat, though even Laudrup acknowledged later that Ruiz was man of the match. More important in the absence of top scorer Michu was that Swansea showed they can also win ugly.
'If Plan A doesn't work you need Plan B or Plan C, otherwise what do you do, pack up and go home?' Laudrup asked proudly.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2254523/Fulham-1-Swansea-2--match-report.html#ixzz2GWKFWfdm
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Fulham 1 Swansea 2: Martin Jol's men continue nervous Premier League form

A David Stockdale howler proved costly for Fulham as they continued their worrying slump in a 2-1 defeat by Swansea City.

The goalkeeper, making a first start in 11 months in place of the injured Mark Schwarzer, produced a second-half blunder when dealing with a back-pass to allow Swansea to take a two-goal lead.

Jonathan de Guzman was the man to score from Stockdale's mistake at Craven Cottage, which added to Danny Graham's first-half opener.

And that left Fulham with too much to do, meaning Bryan Ruiz's later close-range effort was just a consolation in an alarming run of just one win in 12 Premier League games.

That leaves Martin Jol's team looking nervously at the relegation zone while Michael Laudrup's Swansea ended their four-game winless streak.

The punishing festive schedule seemed to be behind both managers' decisions to ring the changes to their starting line-up, Fulham making six and Swansea seven.

Dimitar Berbatov probably should have scored in the 10th minute when he outmuscled his marker six yards out only to volley Ruiz's corner into the ground and over the crossbar.

But the opening goal then came from a mistake in the 19th minute, when Nathan Dyer scuffed a deflected cross, Stockdale should have palmed clear and Graham readjusted to finish.

After half-time Ruiz almost got the better of motionless Swansea goalkeeper Gerhard Tremmel when his latest free-kick curled inches wide.

But Stockdale produced another gaffe in the 52nd minute when he cleared the ball straight against Brede Hangeland and it rebounded for Pablo Hernandez to square for De Guzman to side-foot home.

Tremmel was then finally beaten in the 56th minute in controversial fashion.

Berbatov headed Frei's cross against the crossbar and his follow-up was blocked straight to Ruiz, whose point-blank finish was going in but hit an offside Sascha Riether on the way.

Fulham pushed for an equaliser but the home side's misery was duly complete when Berbatov sent a stoppage-time header off target.


http://www1.skysports.com/football/live/match/261754/report

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More gloom for Fulham as Swansea City take the spoils

FULHAM fans were treated to one of the most thrilling matches the Cottage has seen this season – but will have left the ground hardly noticing.

Martin Jol conceded before the start of the festive week that unless his team picked up wins in their two home games, they would have to accept they were in a relegation fight.

Unlucky they may have been on this day, but that reality has come to pass.

They did not deserve to lose a superb, flowing encounter on the banks of a squally, windswept Thames, but the statistic that will endure is one point out of six from two home games and only one win in 12.

With Bryan Ruiz (pictured) back in the fold, the Whites carried so much more menace than of late and the chances he alone created should have brought the Whites a much-needed win.

It needed a defensive howler from David Stockdale to ease the pressure on the Swans – the keeper having an unhappy afternoon stepping in for an injured Mark Schwarzer.

The stopper spilled crosses and looked uncertain throughout and fatefully gave away the ball for the crucial second goal, while he was also partly at fault for the first goal - not getting a parry to safety.

The Whites ended the contest as they began it, pushing forward in numbers in a frantic attempt to breach a disciplined Swansea defence, for whom Ashley Williams was outstanding.

Brede Hangeland was even deployed as a second striker for the last 10 minutes, but to no avail.

Fulham began brightly, with Dimitar Berbatov managing to hook a shot up off the turf and just over the bar from a Ruiz corner, but the Swans drew blood first on 19 minutes when Danny Graham was on hand to volley in a rebound after Stockdale could only palm a Dyer shot up to the lurking striker.

Back came the Whites, with Kerim Frei flashing a left footer inches wide after a ball whipped in from the right eluded Berbatov.

Then Ruiz went close twice – firing a free-kick just over the bar and again going too high after collecting a good nod-down into space from Berbatov.

Ruiz continued to look sharp, and a curler from just outside the area had keeper Gerhard Tremmel at full stretch.

The second half seemed just as promising, with Fulham pouring towards the Hammersmith End full of intent and once again going agonisingly close to scoring when Ruiz curled another free-kick a fraction wide of the post with the keeper nowhere.

But then on 52 minutes, their task became that much harder when Stockdale's clearance to Hangeland carried way too much power for the Norwegian to control the ball, and it ran on to Pablo Hernandez, who fed Jonathan De Guzman for a simple finish.

Yet you felt there had to be goals in it for Fulham, and within four minutes, the Whites were back in it, Ruiz forcing the ball home from close range after Berbatov had headed against the bar to spark a goalmouth scramble.

It was no more than the Costa Rican deserved. Moments before, he had gone close again with a shot that stung the palms of a suddenly under-siege Tremmel.

But the Swans weathered the storm and kept playing tidy football which added to a spectacle that still drew boos from frustrated home fans on the final whistle.

The pressure is undoubtedly building on the Whites, but this was arguably not a performance to induce despair just yet.



Line-up: Stockdale; Riether, Hangeland, Hughes, Briggs; Dejagah (Rodallega 76), Sidwell, Karagounis, Frei (Senderos 84); Ruiz, Berbatov. Subs not used: Etheridge, Kelly, Riise, Baird, Richardson. Attendance: 25,700



Read More http://www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk/fulham-fc/2012/12/29/82029-32513561/?#ixzz2GWLte8Au

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Match Report: Swansea's Danny Graham comes in from margins to force Martin Jol into desperate measures
Fulham 1 Swansea City 2

Martin Jol played the final seven minutes with Brede Hangeland up front. It smelt like a desperate move and that is precisely what it was.

Fulham threw everything they had at Swansea but could not snatch a draw.  It said everything of Fulham's position that Jol would go against his refined principles. He had started with Dimitar Berbatov and Bryan Ruiz, two delightful, subtle players, in partnership. Coming into this match, though, Fulham had won just one of their last 11 league games. And with Swansea 2-1 up with 84 minutes gone, Jol brought Philippe Senderos on for Kerim Frei. The captain was unleashed to lumber forward.

It did not work. Hangeland managed one flick-on to no-one and one scuffed cross. Berbatov, uncharacteristically imperfect all afternoon, headed the best late chance over the bar from Ruiz's free-kick. Fulham could not find an equaliser, and are just three points ahead of Wigan and Aston Villa.

They had pushed throughout the second half to make up for the two defensive errors which Swansea had exploited to go 2-0 ahead. But the hosts lacked confidence and fluency in attack. The goal they did score, through an inadvertent Sascha Riether, was itself rather ugly.

Jol insisted his team played well. "I don't think if you play in the way we played today that you will have these sorts of disappointing results," he said. "We made it difficult for them, tactically it was probably our best game over the last couple of months."

None of the football was of high quality. Fulham made six changes and Swansea seven, as they coped with the third leg of the four-game festive blow-out. Those 13 changes, as well as the disruptive wind and rain coming from the Thames, prevented the game some had hoped for. Neither team found their preferred passing rhythm. The first half had a slow tempo, too many errors and Danny Graham's volley, which put Swansea ahead, was the only moment of note.

Fulham's defence never looked settled and Graham soon stole in and forced a save from David Stockdale, making his first Premier League start of the season. Minutes later, Graham scored his first Premier League goal since August. Nathan Dyer shot from the edge of the box, Stockdale saved, no Fulham defender attacked the rebound and Graham acrobatically volleyed the ball in.

Graham has been a marginal figure under Michael Laudrup. This was his second League goal of the season and Laudrup admitted last season's star might leave next month. "Obviously Michu is our top scorer, everybody accepts that. Soon the market opens, there is time to talk to everybody. Let's see what the players think."

Fulham made some half chances at the end of the first half and start of the second, particularly through Ruiz, but were punished seven minutes after the restart when Stockdale hammered a clearance into Hangeland. The ball flew out to Pablo Hernandez, who calmly passed to Jonathan De Guzman, who finished into the far bottom corner. Jol said it was "almost a Christmas gift".

Fulham were in a mess of their own making and swiftly tried to do something about it. Gerhard Tremmel saved from Ruiz's volley before the hosts pulled one back. Frei crossed from the right, Berbatov headed onto the bar, went for the follow-up volley which found its way in via first Ruiz and then Reither, stood on the line.

There were still 34 minutes left. Tremmel and Stockdale both had a few saves to make but Fulham did not look like scoring, even before Jol's failed experiment.

Variety is not the problem, it just has to be plausible. "You can't always win playing good football," said Laudrup. "Sometimes you have to accept to do it other ways. Sometimes you have to use Plan B or Plan C if it is not working. Or you might as well go home."

Fulham (4-2-3-1): Stockdale; Riether, Hughes, Hangeland, Briggs; Karagounis, Sidwell; Dejagah (Rodallega, 76), Ruiz, Frei (Senderos, 84); Berbatov.

Swansea (4-2-3-1): Tremmel; Rangel, Monk, Williams, Tiendalli; De Guzman, Aguestien (Britton, 82); Dyer, Routledge (Ki, 45), Hernandez (Davies, 66); Graham.

Referee: Andre Marriner.

Man of the match: Williams (Swansea).

Match rating: 5/10



http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/match-report-swanseas-danny-graham-comes-in-from-margins-to-force-martin-jol-into-desperate-measures-8433111.html

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Fulham 1 Swansea City 2: David Stockdale nightmare condemns Cottagers to another defeat

Martin Jol's decision to play Brede Hangeland up front might have appeared to be a desperate move - probably because it was.

Fulham threw everything they had at Swansea but could not snatch a draw.  It said everything of Fulham's position that Jol would go against his refined principles. He had started with Dimitar Berbatov and Bryan Ruiz, two delightful, subtle players, in partnership. Coming into this match, though, Fulham had won just one of their last 11 league games. And with Swansea 2-1 up with 84 minutes gone, Jol brought Philippe Senderos on for Kerim Frei. The captain was unleashed to lumber forward.

It did not work. Hangeland managed one flick-on to no-one and one scuffed cross. Berbatov, uncharacteristically imperfect all afternoon, headed the best late chance over the bar from Ruiz's free-kick. Fulham could not find an equaliser, and are just three points ahead of Wigan and Aston Villa.

They had pushed throughout the second half to make up for the two defensive errors which Swansea had exploited to go 2-0 ahead. But the hosts lacked confidence and fluency in attack. The goal they did score, through an inadvertent Sascha Riether, was itself rather ugly.

Jol insisted his team played well. "I don't think if you play in the way we played today that you will have these sorts of disappointing results," he said. "We made it difficult for them, tactically it was probably our best game over the last couple of months."

None of the football was of high quality. Fulham made six changes and Swansea seven, as they coped with the third leg of the four-game festive blow-out. Those 13 changes, as well as the disruptive wind and rain coming from the Thames, prevented the game some had hoped for. Neither team found their preferred passing rhythm. The first half had a slow tempo, too many errors and Danny Graham's volley, which put Swansea ahead, was the only moment of note.

Fulham's defence never looked settled and Graham soon stole in and forced a save from David Stockdale, making his first Premier League start of the season. Minutes later, Graham scored his first Premier League goal since August. Nathan Dyer shot from the edge of the box, Stockdale saved, no Fulham defender attacked the rebound and Graham acrobatically volleyed the ball in.

Graham has been a marginal figure under Michael Laudrup. This was his second League goal of the season and Laudrup admitted last season's star might leave next month. "Obviously Michu is our top scorer, everybody accepts that. Soon the market opens, there is time to talk to everybody. Let's see what the players think."

Fulham made some half chances at the end of the first half and start of the second, particularly through Ruiz, but were punished seven minutes after the restart when Stockdale hammered a clearance into Hangeland. The ball flew out to Pablo Hernandez, who calmly passed to Jonathan De Guzman, who finished into the far bottom corner. Jol said it was "almost a Christmas gift".

Fulham were in a mess of their own making and swiftly tried to do something about it. Gerhard Tremmel saved from Ruiz's volley before the hosts pulled one back. Frei crossed from the right, Berbatov headed onto the bar, went for the follow-up volley which found its way in via first Ruiz and then Reither, stood on the line.

There were still 34 minutes left. Tremmel and Stockdale both had a few saves to make but Fulham did not look like scoring, even before Jol's failed experiment.

Variety is not the problem, it just has to be plausible. "You can't always win playing good football," said Laudrup. "Sometimes you have to accept to do it other ways. Sometimes you have to use Plan B or Plan C if it is not working. Or you might as well go home."

Fulham (4-2-3-1): Stockdale; Riether, Hughes, Hangeland, Briggs; Karagounis, Sidwell; Dejagah (Rodallega, 76), Ruiz, Frei (Senderos, 84); Berbatov.

Swansea (4-2-3-1): Tremmel; Rangel, Monk, Williams, Tiendalli; De Guzman, Aguestien (Britton, 82); Dyer, Routledge (Ki, 45), Hernandez (Davies, 66); Graham.

Referee: Andre Marriner.

Man of the match: Williams (Swansea).

Match rating: 5/10


http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/fulham-1-swansea-city-2-david-stockdale-nightmare-condemns-cottagers-to-another-defeat-8433122.html

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Jol defends Stockdale after Swansea cock-ups but wants Schwarzer back for West Brom

Manager Martin Jol hopes to reinstate Mark Schwarzer against West Brom on Tuesday but jumped to the defence of understudy David Stockdale after his errors cost Fulham dearly in their 2-1 defeat to Swansea.

Stockdale, starting for Fulham for the first time in 11 months in place of the injured Australian, was to blame for both of Swansea's goals on a disappointing afternoon for the Whites at Craven Cottage.

For their opener, he palmed Nathan Dyer's shot into the path of Danny Graham for an easy finish. Then, seven minutes after the break, his scuffed clearance allowed Jonathan De Guzman to notch the Swans' second.

Bryan Ruiz pulled one back for the Cottagers but they couldn't avoid defeat, leaving them to reflect on a woeful run of just one win from their last 12 Premier League games.

Stockdale's performance was littered with errors but Jol was sympathetic towards the 27-year-old.

He said: "I feel that the first goal we presented to them and the second goal was almost a Christmas gift.

"I think the only one who didn't have the best Christmas day was my goalkeeper and he's a very good goalkeeper.

"I won't blame him but you could see that we gave them two goals, simple."

He continued: "[Stockdale] was very disappointed because he knows that we played 100 per cent better than we did against Southampton but we still come away with nothing. It's terrible."

Veteran Schwarzer missed out with a neck injury, and while Jol refused to criticise Stockdale, he admitted he is hoping to welcome his first choice stopper back for Fulham's trip to play the Baggies on New Year's Day.

"Mark Schwarzer is injured," he said. "He has an injury in his neck and hopefully he will be fit again [soon].

"I feel that he could be back for the next away match against West Brom.

"But to be fair to Stockdale he was always a fantastic replacement. I feel for the boy but I feel more for us, for the team."



http://www.london24.com/sport/fulham/jol_defends_stockdale_after_swansea_cock_ups_but_wants_schwarzer_back_for_west_brom_1_1755894

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Blackpool Next Up

Tickets for our FA Cup Third Round tie with Blackpool and our January league fixtures are currently on sale. Secure your seat today.
Fulham v Blackpool - Saturday 5th January (3pm)
Kick-off 2013 with us here at Craven Cottage as the Whites take on Blackpool in the Third Round of the FA Cup with Budweiser on Saturday 5th January.

Tickets for this match are available to buy now, and start from just £15 for Adults and £5 for Juniors. Please note that prices will increase by £5 on the day of the game.

Buy online today

Fulham v Wigan Athletic - Saturday 12th January (3pm)

Our first Barclays Premier League home fixture of 2013 sees the arrival of Wigan Athletic to the Cottage on Saturday 12th January (KO 3pm). Join us as current Fulham star Hugo Rodallega faces his former side at the Cottage for the first time.

What's more, to celebrate the New Year, Kids tickets for this game are only £1 each!

Tickets are selling fast so don't delay, get your friends and family together and come along to support the Whites.

Buy online today

Fulham v West Ham United - Wednesday 30th January (8pm)

Our final home game for the month of January sees West Ham United visit SW6 for a London derby.

A number of good seats are still available to buy for this fixture, with prices starting at £35 for Adults and £15 for Juniors, as the Whites look to secure bragging rights under the Cottage floodlights.

Buy online today



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2012/december/29/blackpool-next-up?

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Martin Jol unconcerned by Fulham slump

Fulham manager Martin Jol has played down fears of his side being dragged into a Premier League relegation battle.

The Cottagers lost again this afternoon, falling to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Swansea to leave them 14th in the table, four points off the relegation zone with just one win from their last 12 games.

However, Jol is confident that his side have the quality to amass more points than the teams below them, and thinks that six or seven wins will be enough to keep them in the division.

"If you look at the other teams and the quality we've got and they've got, I think we will keep a few teams under us," he said.

"The only thing is you have to pick up points. Seven wins and we will be in a great position, even six wins, and I think we are capable of doing that."

Fulham's next match will come on New Year's Day as they take on West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns.



http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/fulham/news/jol-unconcerned-by-fulham-slump_61589.html

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Fulham 'anything but' relegation fodder, says upbeat Jol

FORGET the scoreline, look how we played, was Martin Jol's message after his team slipped ever closer to the relegation zone following a winless Christmas.

The Whites will travel to West Brom on New Year's Day on the back of just one win in 12 games, but the Whites' boss drew encouragement from a vastly improved display against Swansea.

"We have to pick ourselves up, but we have to be positive," said Jol. "You look at the other teams and the quality we've got and they've got and I feel we will keep a few teams under us.

"The only thing is you have to pick up points. Several wins and we will be in a great position and I think we are capable of doing that."

Looking back on the 2-1 defeat to the Swans, Jol said: "It was very disappointing to see that we couldn't pick up points in our second home game in the last three days, but I don't think if you are playing the way we played today that you will have these sort of disappointing results – you will pick up points.

"We started in he way we wanted to – we wanted to press them and that's not easy against them because they always have more possession than any other team, even the top teams.

"We made it very difficult for them and we had two or three great possibilities. But I felt the first goal we presented to them and the second one was almost a Christmas gift.

"Against Southampton, it was not a good performance, but I felt today we changed everything. Giorgos Karagounis linked up well with the back players and Bryan Ruiz linked up with the front players. Tactically, it was probably our best game of the last couple of months.

"We've been rigid over the past couple of months, especially in midfield and today, I really enjoyed watching us. The only thing that was great was probably final balls and crosses into the box.

"In some moments, we were very unfortunate not to be at the end of it. Overall, today, I felt we had quality and we should have come away with a win, never mind a draw."



Read More http://www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk/fulham-fc/2012/12/29/82029-32514788/?#ixzz2GWOaZBPK

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Berbatov misses out as Milanov named Bulgarian Player of the Year
The young midfielder overcame established favorites such as Fulham's first-choice striker to win his country's Player of the Year award

PFC Litex Lovech's Georgi Milanov has been named Bulgaria's Player of the Year by members of the country's press, ahead of established stars including Fulham's Dimitar Berbatov.

Milanov, 20, represents the youngest person to ever receive the plaudit, and is the first Bulgaria-based player to receive the award since 2001.

The midfielder has registered an impressive eight goals in 14 appearances and has been instrumental in helping his team climb to third place in the table, only nine points off the top spot.

Speaking after the ceremony, he said: "It is a great honour for me to win this accolade. I would like to thank my club, Litex, my team-mates and especially my coach, the great Hristo Stoichkov, who has always kept faith in me."

In addition to the decoration of Milanov, the event saw the recognition of 16-year-old Antonio Vutov who received the 'Revelation of the Year award,' thanks to promising showings from the wing for club Levski Sofia and the Bulgarian Under-17 side. 

Stiliyan Petrov, Aston Villa's 33-year-old midfielder and winner of the Bulgarian player of the year award in 2003, was also recognized for his contribution to the prestige of Bulgarian athletes at home and abroad.


http://www.goal.com/en/news/755/europe/2012/12/30/3636752/-?