SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — Dimitar Penev, the Bulgarian coach who guided his country’s team to the semifinals at the 1994 World Cup in the United States, has died. He was 80.
The Bulgarian Football Union announced Penev's death on Saturday saying he died after a prolonged illness.
Penev, who was named the best Bulgarian coach of the 20th Century, is one of the most celebrated figures in Bulgarian soccer history.
Bulgaria's fourth-place finish at the ‘94 World Cup remains its biggest success. The team’s impressive run was halted in the semifinals with a 2-1 loss to Italy. It then lost to Sweden in the third-place match.
Regarded as one of his country’s best defenders, Penev played 364 league matches and scored 25 goals for CSKA Sofia. He won a total of 13 domestic trophies and was twice voted Bulgarian Footballer of the Year.
He made 90 appearances for the national team and represented Bulgaria at three World Cups (1966, ‘70 and ’74).
After retiring as a player in 1977, he coached CSKA Sofia, as well as Kuwaiti team Al-Yarmouk, and Saudi club Al-Nassr.
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FILE - Bulgaria's coach Dimitar Penev gestures on the touchline during their Group G Euro 2008 qualifying soccer match between The Netherlands and Bulgaria at the Arena stadium, in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Saturday Sept. 8, 2007. (AP Photo/Ermindo Armino, File)
MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Matheus Cunha rescued a point for Manchester United in a 1-1 draw at Leeds in the Premier League on Sunday.
The Brazil forward equalized for United after U.S. international Brenden Aaronson put Leeds in front in the second half at Elland Road.
Aaronson opened the scoring in the 62nd minute, but Cunha leveled three minutes later. Cunha was close to firing a winner late in the match with a curling shot from outside the box that struck the outside of the post.
United has lost just two of its last 14 games in the league, but six draws during that run have seen Ruben Amorim's team struggle to keep pace with the top three in the standings.
Leeds is unbeaten in seven games and went ahead when Aaronson raced past United defender Ayden Heaven and shot low into the far corner.
Cunha scored his third goal in his last five games when latching onto a pass from substitute Joshua Zirkzee and sliding a shot past Leeds goalkeeper Lucas Perri.
James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson
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Manchester United's Patrick Dorgu, left, and Leeds United's Gabriel Gudmundsson battle for the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Leeds United and Manchester United in Leeds, England, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (Danny Lawson/PA via AP)
Manchester United's Benjamin Sesko, left, and Leeds United's Anton Stach battle for the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Leeds United and Manchester United in Leeds, England, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (Danny Lawson/PA via AP)
Leeds United's Brenden Aaronson, right, celebrates with his teammates after scoring his sides first goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Leeds United and Manchester United in Leeds, England, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (Danny Lawson/PA via AP)
Manchester United's Matheus Cunha, center, celebrates after scoring his sides first goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Leeds United and Manchester United in Leeds, England, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (Danny Lawson/PA via AP)
