Ivan Zafirov

{{short description|Bulgarian footballer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}

{{family name hatnote|Georgiev|Zafirov|lang=Bulgarian}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Ivan Zafirov

| image = Ivan Zafirov.jpg

| fullname = Ivan Georgiev Zafirov

| height = {{height|m=1.76}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1947|12|30}}

| birth_place = Sofia, Bulgaria

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| position = Right-back

| youthyears1 = 1957–1965 | youthclubs1 = CSKA Sofia

| years1 = 1965–1966 | caps1 = 16 | goals1 = 1 | clubs1 = CSKA Sofia

| years2 = 1966–1968 | caps2 = 24 | goals2 = 1 | clubs2 = Sliven

| years3 = 1968–1981 | caps3 = 324 | goals3 = 3 | clubs3 = CSKA Sofia

| totalcaps = 364 | totalgoals = 5

| nationalyears1 = 1968–1980 | nationalcaps1 = 50 | nationalgoals1 = 1 | nationalteam1 = Bulgaria

| pcupdate =

| ntupdate =

| medaltemplates =

{{MedalOlympics}}

{{MedalSilver| 1968 Mexico City | Team competition}}

}}

Ivan Georgiev Zafirov ({{langx|bg|Иван Георгиев Зафиpoв}}; born 30 December 1947) is a former Bulgarian footballer who played as a defender.

Career

After short spells at Sliven, it was with CSKA Sofia that he found his spiritual home in the 1970s. Zafirov, a right-back, played 340 times for the Reds, scoring 8 goals. Nine Bulgarian championships and five Bulgarian Cups tell the tale of how successful Zafirov was.

Zafirov was on Bulgaria's roster for the 1974 FIFA World Cup.{{FIFA player|60246|Ivan Zafirov}} He represented the Lions 50 times, scoring once. He also won a silver medal at the 1968 Summer Olympics.[https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/za/ivan-zafirov-1.html Ivan Zafirov] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161003182434/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/za/ivan-zafirov-1.html |date= 3 October 2016 }}. sports-reference.com

References