Biography
Who is Ilian Stoyanov?
Early career and background
Ilian Stoyanov was born in Kyustendil, Bulgaria. He began his professional football path in 1995 with the club PFC CSKA Sofia.
During his early years, he played as a left-back. He later became well known in Bulgaria by the nickname Collovati due to his hairstyle which resembled the Italian player Fulvio Collovati.
Professional career highlights
The defender played for PFC Velbazhd Kyustendil and PFC Levski Sofia, where he competed in over 150 top division matches. While at Levski Sofia, he earned Bulgarian League titles in 2001 and 2002, along with several Bulgarian Cup trophies.
In 2005, he moved to Japan to join JEF United Chiba. During his time there, he helped the team win the Yamazaki Nabisco Cup in 2005 and again in 2006. He was also named to the J. League Best Eleven in 2005.
After leaving JEF United Chiba in 2007, he signed with Sanfrecce Hiroshima in August. He reached the Emperor's Cup final that same year and won the Xerox Super Cup in 2008. He also helped the team achieve promotion to the J2 League in 2008.
National team and personal life
Ilian Stoyanov represented Bulgaria in the 2004 European Football Championship. He also played seven games for the national team during the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification period.
He was involved in several controversies, including accusations of racism following remarks made about black players and an altercation with a referee. After retiring from professional football, he opened a business in Japan and works with a football academy.
Ilian maintains a friendship with Kotooshu Katsunori, a Bulgarian sumo wrestler who won a Makuuchi division championship. He stands at a height of 182 cm.
Birthday and age
Ilian Stoyanov was born on January 20, 1977, which makes Ilian 49 years old today. That birthday falls under the Aquarius sign. Ilian shares the date with 28 other famous people.
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