Petar Zhekov

Petar Petrov Zhekov (Bulgarian: Петър Петров Жеков, 10 October 1944 – 18 February 2023)[1] was a Bulgarian footballer, widely regarded as one of the best forwards in the history of the Bulgarian football. He won the silver medal at the 1968 Summer Olympics.[2]

Petar Zhekov

Zhekov at the 1970 FIFA World Cup
Personal information
Full name	Petar Petrov Zhekov
Date of birth	(1944-10-10)10 October 1944
Place of birth	Knizhovnik, Bulgaria
Date of death	18 February 2023(2023-02-18) (aged 78)
Place of death	Sofia, Bulgaria
Height	1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s)	Forward
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1962–1963	Dimitrovgrad	25	(8)
1963–1968	Beroe Stara Zagora	141	(101)
1968–1975	CSKA Sofia	167	(144)
Total		333	(253)
International career
1964–1973	Bulgaria	44	(25)
Managerial career
1976–1977	Hebar Pazardzhik
2000	Dobrudzha Dobrich
Medal record Olympic Games 1968 Mexico City Team competition
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Zhekov was born in Knizhovnik, Haskovo Province, and began his career at F.C. Dimitrovgrad. He was initially deployed as a defender, but on the advice of manager Hristo Hadzhiev switched to the forward position.[3] Later he moved to Beroe Stara Zagora, where he twice became Bulgaria's top goalscorer. Between 1968 and 1975 Zhekov played for CSKA Sofia and scored 144 goals for the team. This makes him the club's best goalscorer of all time.[4] He also won the European Golden Boot in 1969 and two European Bronze Boots. He had 333 appearances and a record of 253 goals in the Bulgarian A Group.

Zhekov later coached PFC Hebar Pazardzhik.[5] He died on 18 February 2023, at the age of 78.[6]