05-07-2025
I'm a former Aberdeen star who helped down Claudio Caniggia and Lothar Matthaus during our glorious World Cup run
Two future Dons players were key men in the Bulgaria side that made it all the way to the last four in 1994 and one has opened up on the magical run in an interview with Record Sport
When you think of the 1994 World Cup, your mind is immediately drawn to Cameroon's Roger Milla setting the record for the oldest ever goal scorer at the finals at the age of 42 or Italy legend Roberto Baggio rooted to the penalty spot after missing the decisive shoot-out spot kick that handed Brazil the trophy.
But those four weeks in the sweltering US heat also saw two Balkan stars who would go onto play for Aberdeen feature in one of the most memorable runs in the world's greatest prize's entire history.
Tsanko Tsvetanov and Ilyan Kiryakov were key cogs in the Bulgaria side that defied the odds to make it all the way to semi-finals.
Led my the legendary forward Hristo Stoichkov, they bounced back from a defeat to Nigeria by thumping Greece 4-0 before securing passage to the last 16 by beating 1986 world champions Argentina 2-0.
The versatile Tsvetanov saw red in that game, and in an exclusive interview with Record Sport has made one incredible admission about the match, which pitted the Bulgarians against an Argentine team that included Diego Simeone, Gabriel Batistuta and Rangers and Dundee hero Claudio Caniggia.
"That was the first + last red card of my career!", he revealed. "It was for two yellows.
"I remember for us it was win or die, we had to win to continue. And I remember when I got the red card, I started to worry because the score was 1-0. I didn't want to be guilty for my team and my country going out. But at the end, it finished in a good way."
The late Diego Maradona, who inspired Argentina to the Jules Rimet trophy in Mexico eight years earlier, had been kicked out of the competition ahead of the game after failing a drugs test for ephedrine doping.
And Tvestanov says he still has mixed feelings about not getting the chance to lock horns with arguably the finest ever player to lace up a pair of boots.
He stated: "Now, I cannot say I played against Maradona and beat him. But Caniagga was there and Batistuta was there, so they had great players everywhere.
"Maradona was the best so in that time I was happy he couldn't play. But now I wish I played against him!"
After edging out Mexico on penalties, the suspended future Pittodrie star returned for the quarter-final clash with Germany, where Bulgaria came from a goal down to win 2-1 despite trailing Franz Beckenbauer's famed team after 75 minutes.
"To be honest, we were not worried about the Germans because when you go far in a tournament, you have quality and confidence that makes you hard to be difficult to be beat.
"Germany were older and I believe they maybe underestimated us a bit. And in football if you understimate somebody, he gives you it back!
"The game was difficult but in our team we had players who played in Germany. Even before the game Beckenbauer was worried. He saw from the side that the German team did not have the same ambition like us.
"We were no so confident that we could beat them but sometimes in football when you start to have a run., you believe. We were more hungry than the Germans to prove how good we were to the world."
"We had great players at that time because they played in the biggest European clubs. (Reaching the semi finals) was unexpected because it was the first time in Bulgarian history that we made the first four.
"But for me it was a pleasure to play with these great players. Stoichkov was the best one because he played for Barcelona and was a goalscorer.
"But football is played with 11 and we had great players around him. He was also happy to have us as a colleague there! We all still have good connections over the years, with Kiryakov as well."
The dream run was finally ended in a 2-1 loss to Arigo Sacchi's Italy, with Stoichkov's penalty not enough to cancel out a brace from Azzuri talisman Roberto Baggio, a Ballon D'Or winner six months prior.
However, the tie was shrouded in controversy over the official's failure to give Tvestanov and his team a second penalty.
"We were very, very sad", he recalls. "Football is about feeling and emotion. And when you have a great run that breaks down, it is a problem. But we were proud of what we achieved.
"Today I read an article with Costacurta where he said they were lucky there was no VAR because we should have had a second penalty for his handball. 31 years later!"
"Baggio scored against us twice but 20 minutes before the end he had to come out. Baggio was one of the greatest players there.
"We wanted to meet Brazil in the final. Stoichkov was very close to Romario and we had a bet that we were going to beat them, but we didn't! But it was a great time for us.
"After the changes in the Eastern World, we had a chance to show and prove ourselves."
It was just a few weeks after Bulgaria bowed out of the European Championships two years later in 1996 that Tvestanov followed Kiryakov to the Granite City.
Defender Kiryakov was snapped up by then Aberdeen boss Roy Aitken from Cypriot outfit Anorthosis and he was soon joined by his compatriot Tvestanovon a free transfer from Waldhof Mannheim in Germany.
"I spoke to Ilyan Kiryakov first", he remembers. "He told me good things and also explained the history of the club. And then Roy Aitken came to watch me. Also, in Bulgaria we had good memories of Scottish football, it had a good name at that time.
"We loved the British football. I have a good memory when we (Levski Sofia) played Rangers in the Champions League (qualifiers). That helped bring me to Scotland.
"It's true I had just played against France at the European Championships. But in Scotland there were a lot of good players. Rangers had Gazza (Paul Gascoigne) and Brian Laudrup and a year later Celtic bought Henrik Larsson. Gazza was in Rangers! Scotland at that time had some star players from Europe.
Tsvetantov made 49 appearances across his two seasons at Pittodrie, where despite boasting talents including Eoin Jess, Duncan Shearer and Scott Booth, Aberdeen struggled to compete at the top end of the table.
While Kiryakov remained with the club until 2000, former Levski Sofia star Tsvetanov returned to Germany to join Energie Cottbus in 1998.
But the 55-year-old - who currently works as assistant manager at top tier Turkish club Goztepe - has fond memories of his time in Scotland.
He stated: "Because I started to play in Scotland I was far away from Europe. And the coach of the national team said 'oh he is far away'. So I decided to move (back) to Germany to be closer to the national team.
"At that time it was not easy for them to see me so I decided to leave. But I have great memories from Scotland.
"I remember the first game against Celtic where Andy Thom made it 2-2. I was very disappointed for my debut because we didn't win at home.
"Our manager Roy Aitken was pleased and said 'oh good performance lads'. But for me it was a bad result.
"I remember we played Hibs (a few weeks later) at home. We played good but we lost 2-0 but the fans applauded us. Me and Kiryakov were looking at each other thinking 'hey what happened here?' because in Bulgaria, it doesn't matter how you play if you lose.
"I am close to (ex teammate) John Inglis. He married a Bulgarian girl and lives in Bulgaria right now. He is an agent so we speak often about the times from before (at Aberdeen).
"I met Alex Miller (his other manager at Aberdeen) when he was coaching in Russia and I was with Kazakhstan."
Tsvetantov also says he tries to keep up with his old team as much as possible. "I still watch some Aberdeen games because sometimes they play in Europe", he added.
"I still sometimes see the old people in Pittodrie from when I was there. I did read an article that they were going to build a new one!
"I never had fans who supported me in the bad times like that. I liked to see them win a cup and I wish they can maybe become a (league) champion again.
"It was a long time ago with Sir Alex Ferguson they did it. I don't believe it will happen but I hope so. I wish all the best to the Aberdeen fans and hope they continue to support their own team like they always do."
