Article by Cosmin Nistor – Published Monday, 01 December 2025, 21:28 / Updated on Monday, 01 December 2025 21:31
Extremely sad news from Bulgaria. Lyuboslav Penev (59), one of the greatest legends of Bulgarian football, is going through the most difficult time of his life. The former great striker was diagnosed with kidney cancer and is hospitalized in an oncology clinic in Germany, where doctors are trying to stabilize his condition.
The Bulgarian press notes that Penev has lost a lot of weight in recent weeks, and his body is so weak that doctors cannot start the chemotherapy treatment yet. When the information became public, his family initiated a humanitarian campaign and opened an account for those who want to help him.
Family sent emotional message: 'Fighting for his life'
The touching message sent by those close to the former footballer impressed an entire country:
“Today, one of the greatest Bulgarian legends is fighting for his life. Lyuboslav Penev brought us victories, pride and power, now we must give him hope.
Please, let's stand shoulder to shoulder and lend a helping hand to the man who never stopped giving his all for Bulgaria.”
This is not the first medical battle
Penev also went through a dramatic moment in his career. In 1994, before the World Cup in the USA, where Bulgaria reached the semi-finals, he was diagnosed with testicular cancer, which is why he missed the final tournament.
The former striker's business card:
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started his career at CSKA Sofia, where he became an idol;
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played in Spain for Valencia and Atletico Madrid, being one of the strongest offensive presences of the 90s;
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played at Compostela, Celta Vigo and other teams in the Iberian Peninsula;
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collected 62 caps and 14 goals for the Bulgarian national team;
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as a coach, he worked on several Bulgarian teams and trained including Daniel Pancu and Florentin Petre;
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in 2011 he won the Bulgarian title with Litex Lovech.
His last experience as a coach was at Lokomotiv Plovdiv.
The message of Georgi Milanov, Dinamo's player, for his former coach
Bulgarian international Georgi Milanov, who was trained by Penev at Litex, sent a message of encouragement on his official Instagram page:
“Coach, you have always been an example of fighting spirit and taught me to never give up. I know you will succeed this time too! I am with you, as are all those you have inspired in Bulgaria and beyond.”
