Berbatov loses out to ´young gun´

Fulham’s Dimitar Berbatov has missed out on being named Bulgaria’s Player of the Year.

The honour fell to rising star Georgi Milanov of PFC Litex Lovech who was voted for by the country’s press.

Milanov, 20, is the youngest to receive the plaudit, and is the first Bulgaria-based player to receive the award since 2001.

The midfielder has scored eight goals in 14 appearances and has been instrumental in helping his team climb to third in the table, only nine points off the top spot.

Speaking after the ceremony, he said: “It is a great honour for me to win this accolade. I would like to thank my club, Litex, my team-mates and especially my coach, the great Hristo Stoichkov, who has always kept faith in me.”

In addition to the decoration of Milanov, the event saw the recognition of 16-year-old Antonio Vutov who received the ‘Revelation of the Year award,’ thanks to promising showings from the wing for club Levski Sofia and the Bulgarian under-17 side.

Stiliyan Petrov, Aston Villa’s 33-year-old midfielder and winner of the Bulgarian player of the year award in 2003, was also recognised for his contribution to the prestige of Bulgarian athletes at home and abroad.