Zahari Sirakov

Bulgarian footballer

Zahari Sirakov
Sirakov with Amkar in 2011
Personal information
Date of birth (1977-10-08) 8 October 1977 (age 46)
Place of birth Smolyan, Bulgaria
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Right-back
Team information
Current team
 Ludogorets Razgrad II (manager)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1996 Levski Kyustendil 12 (0)
1997–2001 Levski Sofia 98 (8)
2001–2002 Spartak Pleven 27 (1)
2002 APOEL 5 (0)
2003 Lokomotiv Sofia 4 (0)
2003 Rodopa Smolyan 12 (0)
2004–2015 Amkar Perm 276 (7)
Total 434 (16)
International career
1997–1998 Bulgaria U-21 15 (0)
1998–2010 Bulgaria 4 (0)
Managerial career
2020 Levski Sofia U17
2020–2021 Ludogorets Razgrad U19
2020–2023 Ludogorets Razgrad III
2024– Ludogorets Razgrad II
2024 Ludogorets Razgrad (interim)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Zahari Sirakov (Bulgarian: Захари Сираков; born 8 October 1977) is a Bulgarian football coach and a former player. He is the manager of Ludogorets Razgrad II as well as interim head coach of Ludogorets Razgrad.

Career

Sirakov started his career with Levski Kyustendil, but made a name for himself in Bulgaria while playing for Levski Sofia.[1][2] On 24 September 1999, he scored a last-minute goal against Litex Lovech in an A Group match to bring the score to 1–1 in the heated derby encounter, prompting a brief pitch invasion by joyous Levski supporters. Sirakov was also notable for his sportsmanship, on one occasion shaking the hand of referee Atanas Uzunov after receiving a red card in a match against CSKA Sofia. He has remained popular with Bulgarian supporters even after starting his Russian adventures.

In February 2004, Sirakov signed with Russian club Amkar Perm. After more than 11 years with Amkar, Sirakov ended his career at the end of 2014–15 season.[3]

International career

After first receiving a call-up for a friendly match against Morocco prior to the 1998 World Cup, but withdrawing due to an injury,[1] Sirakov made his debut for Bulgaria against Poland on 6 September 1998. However, he received his second cap in 2007 during UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying. In August 2010, he earned a recall to the national side due to an injury suffered by Georgi Sarmov and on 11 August 2010, he came on as a substitute in the 0–1 away loss in a friendly match against Russia.[1]

Managerial career

Sirakov became a youth coach in Levski in 2015, right after announcing retirement. In 2018 he become a coach of Levski U15 and in 2020 he was promoted to U17 team.[4] In November 2020 he was announced as the new manager of Ludogorets III, together with the U19 team.[5] In January 2024 he was promoted to manager of Ludogorets Razgrad II in Second League.[6] In August 2024, Sirakov was appointed as interim manager of the first team after Georgi Dermendzhiev stepped down as head coach following the club's elimination from the Champions League.[7] In his first match in charge, he led the “eagles” from Razgrad to a 1:0 league win over former club Levski Sofia.[7]

Personal life

Sirakov is married to Irina and they have a son named Aleksandar.[1]

Honours

Club

PFC Levski Sofia

APOEL

References

  1. ^ a b c d Botusharov, Konstantin (25 August 2015). "Захари Сираков: Идея на жена ми ме прати в Русия и след 11 г. си тръгнах със сектор на мое име" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg (originally published in '24 Hours'). Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  2. ^ "Честити 40 на Захари Сираков!". levski.bg (in Bulgarian). 8 October 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  3. ^ "Захари Сираков се връща на терена" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 23 September 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  4. ^ Захари Сираков
  5. ^ Захари Сираков подписа с Лудогорец
  6. ^ Захари Сираков поема дубъла на Лудогорец
  7. ^ a b "Захари Сираков: Тази победа е и за Георги Дерменджиев" (in Bulgarian). bntnews.bg. 18 August 2024. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  • Profile at Amkar (in English)
  • Zahari Sirakov at National-Football-Teams.com