Adalbert Zafirov

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Adalbert Zafirov

| fullname = Adalbert Ivanov Zafirov

| image = Adalbert Zafirov.jpg

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1969|9|29}}

| birth_place = Sofia, Bulgaria

| height = 1.85 m

| position = Centre-back

| years1 = 1990–1992 | clubs1 = Lokomotiv GO | caps1 = 53 | goals1 = 2

| years2 = 1992–1995 | clubs2 = Lokomotiv Sofia | caps2 = 86 | goals2 = 1

| years3 = 1996–1997 | clubs3 = CSKA Sofia | caps3 = 54 | goals3 = 6

| years4 = 1998 | clubs4 = Arminia Bielefeld | caps4 = 12 | goals4 = 0

| years5 = 1999 | clubs5 = CSKA Sofia | caps5 = 10 | goals5 = 0

| years6 = 1999–2001 | clubs6 = Union Berlin | caps6 = 34 | goals6 = 3

| years7 = 2001 | clubs7 = CSKA Sofia | caps7 = 2 | goals7 = 0

| years8 = 2002 | clubs8 = Lokomotiv Sofia | caps8 = 20 | goals8 = 1

| years9 = 2002–2003 | clubs9 = Cherno More | caps9 = 24 | goals9 = 5

| years10 = 2003–2004 | clubs10 = Anagennisi Dherynia | caps10 = 24 | goals10 = 1

| years11 = 2004–2005 | clubs11 = CSKA Sofia | caps11 = 13 | goals11 = 0

| years12 = 2005–2007 | clubs12 = Velbazhd Kyustendil | caps12 = | goals12 =

| years13 = 2007–2008 | clubs13 = Hebar Pazardzhik |caps13 = | goals13 =

| totalcaps = 357 | totalgoals = 19

| nationalyears1 = 1992–1998 | nationalteam1 = Bulgaria | nationalcaps1 = 6 | nationalgoals1 = 0

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| pcupdate =

| ntupdate =

}}

Adalbert Ivanov Zafirov ({{langx|bg|Адалберт Иванов Зафиров}}; born 29 September 1969) is a Bulgarian former football centre-back who most recently managed CSKA 1948.

Club career

Zafirov who was born in Sofia played in his home town for Lokomotiv and CSKA. In Germany he signed contracts with Arminia Bielefeld and Union Berlin.

International career

He has been capped for the Bulgaria national team, and was an unused substitute at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.

Coaching career

On 30 March 2010, CSKA Sofia coach Ioan Andone resigned, it was announced that the team will be trained by Adalbert Zafirov until the end of the season.{{cite web|publisher=Novinite.com|title=Bulgarian CSKA Assistant Replaces Romanian Coach|url=http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=114756|accessdate=30 March 2010}}

Zafirov was appointed as head coach of Cherno More Varna in late September 2012, following the resignation of Stefan Genov.{{cite web|publisher=topsport.bg|title=Зафиров официално се раздели с ЦСКА, прекратиха договора му с "червените"

|url=http://topsport.ibox.bg/news/id_53570043|date=28 September 2012|accessdate=29 September 2012}} However, he was released from his duties in mid December 2012, despite winning his last game in charge of the team - 1–0 against Levski Sofia in the second leg of a Bulgarian Cup match.

In late December 2014, Zafirov became the manager of B PFG club Botev Vratsa,{{cite web|publisher=topsport.bg|title=Философски подход на Зафето към 6-ата пореднa, "в този спорт понякога е нужен и късмет|url=http://topsport.ibox.bg/news/id_900381021|date=8 March 2015|accessdate=9 March 2015}} but resigned on 27 April 2015.{{cite web|publisher=sportal.bg|title=Адалберт Зафиров напусна Ботев (Враца)|url=http://www.sportal.bg/news.php?news=544652|date=27 April 2015|accessdate=28 May 2015}} He had a short managerial stint with CSKA 1948 between early{{cite web|publisher=fakti.bg|title=Вальо Илиев стана директор на ЦСКА 1948, Адалберт Зафиров пък ще бъде треньор на отбора|url=https://fakti.bg/sport/196926-valyo-iliev-stana-direktor-na-cska-1948|date=5 August 2016|accessdate=31 July 2020}} and late August 2016.{{cite web|publisher=sportlive.bg|title=Ръководството на ЦСКА 1948 обясни причините за раздялата със Зафиров|url=https://www.sportlive.bg/bgfootball/bgfootballother/rykovodstvoto-na-cska-1948-objasni-prichinite-za-razdjalata-sys-zafirov-560503.html|date=1 September 2016|accessdate=31 July 2020}}