Former Bulgaria FA President and goalkeeper Borislav Mihaylov dies aged 63

Borislav Mihaylov, the former Bulgaria captain and goalkeeper who later led the Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) across two long spells as president, has died in Sofia aged 63.Mihaylov had been in critical condition after suffering a stroke in late 2025, according to Bulgarian football reporting, with tributes quickly issued from across the domestic game and former clubs.He was one of the defining figures of Bulgaria’s “Golden Generation” and captained the national team to fourth place at the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the United States, the country’s best modern-era finish at a major tournament.Mihaylov’s stature was reinforced by a 15-year international career in which he became one of Bulgaria’s most-capped players and a long-time leader of the squad, including at the 1986 and 1998 World Cups.At club level, he made his name at Levski Sofia before spells abroad in Portugal, France, England and Switzerland, including a period with Reading in the mid-1990s.Reading noted his death in a statement, describing him as a “legendary figure in Bulgarian football”, reflecting his profile beyond domestic circles.After retiring, Mihaylov moved into football governance and became president of the BFU in 2005, a role he held until 2019 before returning for a second term in 2021.His BFU leadership was one of the longest in European football administration, and he also held roles within UEFA structures during his time in office.The administrative legacy was mixed and frequently contested.Mihaylov resigned in October 2019 amid intense domestic and international pressure following racist abuse directed at England players during a Euro 2020 qualifier in Sofia, a flashpoint that drew heavy scrutiny of Bulgarian football’s disciplinary enforcement and matchday controls.He later returned to the BFU presidency, but his second spell ended in November 2023 after sustained fan protests, political criticism and reported investigations into the federation’s governance, culminating in his departure following a BFU executive committee meeting.In that resignation statement, Mihaylov defended his record, citing digitalisation work, infrastructure projects and changes to commercial arrangements, including amendments to domestic television rights terms he said increased club income.The BFU’s governance and credibility have been a live issue for Bulgarian football in recent years, with leadership instability, supporter unrest and broader questions over operational standards and transparency.Mihaylov’s death closes a chapter that spanned both the sport’s most celebrated on-field era in Bulgaria and a modern period in which the business of football governance – rights, regulation, integrity and public trust – has become as central as results on the pitch.A public farewell is expected in Sofia this weekend, with Bulgarian football figures and institutions preparing formal tributes.