Former hard-man defender Trifon Ivanov, who was instrumental in helping Bulgaria reach the 1994 World Cup semi-finals, died yesterday at the age of 50 after suffering a heart attack.

The Bulgarian Football Union announced the death of Ivanov who was a fearsome sight during his career with long hair, a wild beard and a cold stare.

The centre-back was considered one of the Black Sea state’s greatest players. He wore the captain’s armband in the same national team that featured the likes of Hristo Stoichkov and Luboslav Penev.

Ivanov won three domestic league titles, the Bulgarian Cup and the Super Cup with CSKA Sofia between 1989-92.

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