Biography
Who is Dimitar Berbatov?
Early life in Bulgaria
Dimitar Berbatov was born on January 30, 1981, in the city of Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria. Both of his parents were professional athletes; his father, Ivan, was a footballer who played for Pirin and CSKA Sofia, while his mother, Margarita, was a handball player. Following their sporting careers, his parents worked in nursing and at a tobacco factory. During the final years of communism in Bulgaria, resources were scarce, and Berbatov often practiced his football skills using a basketball or a pig bladder instead of a standard ball.
As a young fan, Dimitar supported the Italian club Milan and admired their Dutch forward, Marco van Basten. He also idolized the English striker Alan Shearer, who played for Newcastle United. Berbatov began his formal youth career with his hometown club, Pirin. He showed significant promise early on, scoring 77 goals for the Pirin reserve team across 92 appearances. This performance caught the attention of scouts, leading him to join the youth squad of CSKA Sofia in 1998.
Professional club career
In 1998, Dimitar signed his first professional contract with CSKA Sofia at age 17. He made his debut during the 1998–99 season, helping the club secure the Bulgarian Cup that year. By the 1999–2000 season, he established himself as a regular scorer, netting 14 goals in 27 league games. In August 2000, he achieved a well-known feat by scoring five goals in a single European match against Constructorul Chișinău. In January 2001, he moved to the German Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen for a fee of 1.3 million euros.
His time at Bayer Leverkusen saw him reach the 2002 UEFA Champions League final, where the team finished as runners-up to Real Madrid. Over his tenure in Germany, his goalscoring rate increased significantly, particularly in his final three seasons. In July 2006, Dimitar moved to the English Premier League, joining Tottenham Hotspur for a record transfer fee for a Bulgarian player. During his time at Tottenham, he won the 2008 Football League Cup, scoring a penalty in the final against Chelsea. He was also named to the PFA Team of the Year.
International play for Bulgaria
Dimitar Berbatov made his international debut for Bulgaria on November 17, 1999, at the age of 18. He represented his country at Euro 2004, which served as the only major tournament appearance for the squad during his career due to their inability to qualify for other events. He served as the captain of the Bulgarian national team from 2006 until May 2010.
When he announced his retirement from international football in May 2010, he left as the nation's all-time top goalscorer. He finished his international career with 48 goals in 78 matches, a record he shared with Hristo Bonev. Also, he was named the Bulgarian Footballer of the Year seven times, which set a national record.
Birthday and age
Dimitar Berbatov was born on January 30, 1981, which makes Dimitar 45 years old today. That birthday falls under the Aquarius sign. Dimitar shares the date with 52 other famous people.
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