Top-flight soccer membership’s proprietor shot useless as police launch rapid investigation
The club have released a heartfelt tribute to the owner who was killed in the early hours
Iliyan Filipov, the prominent Bulgarian businessman and president of a top league football club was shot dead in the city of Plovdiv(Image: Facebook)
The owner of a Bulgarian top-flight team has been shot dead at the age of 53. Iliyan Filipov was the majority shareholder of Botev Plovdiv.
Reports in Bulgaria claim that Filipov was shot late at night in his own property in Plovdiv, which is just 90 miles from the country’s capital, Sofia. Police have launched an immediate investigation and have cordoned off the area, with the main entry points blocked off.
In a statement, the Bulgarian interior ministry confirmed: “At approximately 1am, a report was received concerning a man who had been shot at an address in a Plovdiv neighbourhood.
“His death was confirmed at the scene, and an investigation into the serious crime has been launched. Teams from the Plovdiv Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Interior and the General Directorate ‘National Police’ are working on the case.
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“The area around the crime scene has been cordoned off, and traffic on several streets has been restricted due to the investigation.”
Filipov made his money by founding a major Bulgarian transport firm called PIMK. He helped lift Botev out of financial difficulty last summer.
In an emotional statement on social media, the club wrote: “Botev Plovdiv FC expresses its profound grief over the tragic death of the club’s president, Iliyan Filipov.
“The management, players and staff of the club extend their deepest condolences to his family, relatives and friends.
“Iliyan Filipov will forever remain a part of Botev Plovdiv’s history.
“His contribution to saving the club in the summer of 2025 and his dedication to the team’s cause will be remembered by everyone in our family.
“His name will remain written in golden letters for generations to come following the successful completion of the reconstruction of Hristo Botev Stadium, which has made it the most modern sports facility in Bulgaria.”
Botev are due to be back in action on Saturday, 10 October when they host Slavia Sofia in the Bulgarian top division. Their last game before the international break saw them come out as 3-0 winners over Septemvri.
The team currently sit in sixth place in the league, having won five, drawn one and lost four of their 10 games so far.
