Former Manchester United and Tottenham striker Dimitar Berbatov has relived a frightening ordeal from the very early days of his career back home in Bulgaria, when he believed he was being kidnapped by a rival club and might be threatened with violence if he refused to join them. The situation was eventually resolved without that happening, but it made him realise he needed to grow up fast.
The Spain national team equalled their record of 29 unbeaten games in competitive matches following a dominant 4-0 victory over Bulgaria yesterday. Luis de la Fuenteâs side matched the milestone previously set by Vicente del Bosqueâs World Cup-winning Spain team, with Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino scoring twice to seal the win. Spain achieved the result despite the absence of key players such as Lamine Yamal and captain Alvaro Morata.
Mikel Merino was Spain's difference-maker as the Arsenal star scored two headed goals to fire La Roja to an emphatic 4-0 World Cup qualifying win over Bulgaria at the Estadio Municipal Jose Zorrilla. Debutant Atanas Chernev put through his own net to all but secure the result, before Mikel Oyarzabal struck home a stoppage-time penalty to round off the scoring. The result edges Spain closer to history, marking their 29th competitive game unbeaten - equalling the record of their world champion generation.
A man famously named 'Mr Manchester United' has passed away aged 62, it has been confirmed. The Bulgarian construction worker previously known as Marin Zdravkov Lavidzhov had his name legally changed to Manchester United and became iconic for having the club crest tattooed to his forehead. He was inspired to support the Red Devils following their dramatic victory in the 1999 Champions League final, which secured the treble under Sir Alex Ferguson, and was a super-fan ever since.
Manchester United, often simply referred to as "United," are one of the most iconic and successful football clubs in the world, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, England. The club was founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878 by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway depot at Newton Heath. The team changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to its current home, Old Trafford, in 1910.
Famous players
Manchester United have been home to some of the greatest footballers in history. Sir Bobby Charlton, a World Cup winner with England in 1966, is arguably the most iconic figure in the club's history. Other legendary players include George Best, known for his flair and skill, and Eric Cantona, who brought a winning mentality to the club during the 1990s. More recent stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, and Paul Scholes have also contributed significantly to the club's success.
Honours
Manchester United are one of the most decorated clubs in English football, having won a record 20 Premier League titles (formerly the First Division). They have also lifted the FA Cup 12 times, the League Cup five times, and the UEFA Champions League three times. The club's dominance in English football was particularly evident during the 1990s and early 2000s under manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
Old Trafford, often referred to as the "Theatre of Dreams," is one of the most famous stadiums in the world. With a capacity of roughly 75,000, it is among the largest football stadiums in the United Kingdom. The stadium has hosted numerous major matches, including UEFA Champions League finals and FIFA World Cup matches.
Location
Manchester United are based in the city of Manchester, which is located in the northwest of England. The club's home ground, Old Trafford, is situated in the Trafford borough. Manchester is a major industrial city with a rich footballing heritage.
Owners
In February 2024, British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe's company, INEOS, acquired a significant 25% stake in Manchester United. This acquisition granted Ratcliffe sporting control over the club, placing him in a position to influence key decisions related to its operations.
Ratcliffe has already made a substantial financial commitment to Manchester United. His large investments demonstrate his dedication to the club's success and his willingness to provide the necessary resources for its growth.
Frequently asked questions
Wann wurde der BVB gegrĂŒndet?
Der Ballspielverein Borussia 09 e. V. Dortmund wurde am 19. Dezember 1909 in Dortmund gegrĂŒndet.Â
Wer ist/sind der/die Besitzer des BVB?
Die LizenzfuĂballabteilung des BVB ist seit 1999 als Borussia Dortmund GmbH & Co. KGaA aus dem Ballspielverein Borussia 09 e.V. ausgegliedert und börsennotiert. AktionĂ€re mit höheren Anteilen sind beispielsweise die Sponsoren Evonic, Signal Iduna und Puma. Die Kontrolle ĂŒber den Verein behĂ€lt allerdings die KomplementĂ€r-GmbH Borussia Dortmund GeschĂ€ftsfĂŒhrungs-GmbH, die dem Verein weiterhin zu 100 Prozent gehört.
Wie wird das Stadion des BVB genannt?
Das Stadion heiĂt seit Dezember 2005 offiziell Signal-Iduna-Park, wird allerdings hĂ€ufig noch Westfalenstadion genannt - der frĂŒhere Name.
Wie viele Zuschauer passen ins Stadion des BVB?
Der Signal-Iduna-Park ist mit einer KapazitĂ€t von 81.365 Fans bei nationalen Spielen eines der gröĂten FuĂballstadien Europas. Bei internationalen Partien, wenn Steh- zu SitzplĂ€tzen umgewandelt werden mĂŒssen, passen rund 66.000 Menschen in das Stadion.Â
Wie viele Titel hat der BVB gewonnen?
Borussia Dortmund hat in der Vereinsgeschichte insgesamt 22 Titel gewonnen, darunter auch einmal die Königsklasse: Im Jahr 1997 schlug der BVB im Finale Juventus Turin mit 3:1.
Wie viele nationale Meisterschaften hat der BVB gewonnen?
Die Dortmunder haben neben fĂŒnf DFB-Pokalsiegen auch die nationale Meisterschaft hĂ€ufig gewonnen. Mit acht Titeln sind sie der dritterfolgreichste Klub nach dem 1. FC NĂŒrnberg (9 Meisterschaften) und dem FC Bayern MĂŒnchen (34 Meisterschaften).
Wer hat die meisten Spiele fĂŒr den BVB absolviert?
Die meisten Pflichtspiele im BVB-Trikot hat Michael Zorc absolviert (562 Partien von 1981 bis 1998), gefolgt von Mats Hummels (508 EinsÀtze zwischen 2008 und 2024).
Wer ist der beste TorschĂŒtze in der Geschichte des BVB?
ToptorschĂŒtze der Borussia ist Adi PreiĂler mit 177 Toren in 278 EinsĂ€tzen in den 40er- und 50er-Jahren. Knapp hinter ihm liegt Marco Reus mit 170 Buden.
Welche berĂŒhmten Stars haben fĂŒr den BVB gespielt?
Der BVB hatte zahlreiche prominente Spieler in seinen Reihen, beispielsweise Matthias Sammer, Michael Zorc, Lars Ricken, Karl-Heinz Riedle, JĂŒrgen Kohler, Stefan Reuter, Dede, Robert Lewandowski, Marco Reus, Jude Bellingham, Erling Haaland oder Mats Hummels.
Welche berĂŒhmten Trainer hatte der BVB?
Auch an der Seitenlinie standen einige prominente Namen. Unter Ottmar Hitzfeld gewann der Klub neben Meisterschaften in 1997 die Champions League, auch unter JĂŒrgen Klopp (u.a. 2x Meisterschaft, 2x DFB-Pokal), Thomas Tuchel (DFB-Pokal) und Matthias Sammer (Meisterschaft) sammelte Dortmund einige TrophĂ€en.
Wie lautet der Spitzname des BVB?
Spitznamen hat Borussia Dortmund einige. Die AbkĂŒrzung "BVB" ist die gĂ€ngigste Bezeichnung, auch "die Schwarz-Gelben" und "die Borussen" fallen oft.Â