Uncovering the Mystery of Stanimir Stoilov: The Rise of the ‘Communist Coach’ in Turkish Football

Eastern European countries were once prominent countries in football. However, when the socialist governments in Eastern Europe fell, the former sporting power of those two countries, as well as countries such as Czechoslovakia, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary and Yugoslavia, gradually disappeared. Türkiye also had its share of Eastern European football, which lasted into the 1990s.

Stanimir Stoilov, who is the head of Göztepe today, is one of those names. However, the Bulgarian footballer, who was transferred to Fenerbahçe, suffered an unfortunate injury after playing a few games and soon returned to his hometown. Although it was not consistent with his small character, Stoilov’s second coming was much more glorious. Stoilov, who took over Göztepe as coach this year, led the team to a remarkable rise, making them champions and taking them to the Super League.

Stanimir Stoilov

FROM ‘TEACHER’ ​​TO ‘COMRADE’

Looking at it so far, it seems we are reading a normal football news. However, there are some interesting points in the echo of Stoilov created in the city. So much so that the people of Göztepe, who had no idea about the political views of the Bulgarian Coach, nicknamed Stoilov ‘comrade’ with surprising speed. The only reason Hodja is seen as a ‘communist’ by the stands is not because his country had a socialist government. After all, many coaches and players have come to Göztepe from the Balkans before, and many of them won the love of the fans. However, none of them were given nicknames like Stoilov’s. Although Stoilov’s political identity remains a mystery to the fans, it is no coincidence that the fans describe him as a ‘communist coach’.

To fully understand the story, it is necessary to return to the green field again. The representative of Izmir, which was relegated to PTT League 1 two years ago, had a bad start in the league this year. The football played by Coach Radomir Kokovic, who was the head of the team at the beginning of the season, attracted the attention of the fans. The interesting thing was that the reaction continued regardless of the score, even in the games that Göztepe won under Kokovic. Because Kokovic’s football was assessed by the parties as a ‘boring game’ that lacked attack. Kokovic’s football naturally created a long-term conflict for the people of Göztepe, who appreciated the football of Nestor El Maestro, who kept the team on the field with an aggressive and oppressive manner even though it was his last year in the Super League .

‘BİLADER coach is disciplined’

When Kokovic retired in November, the vacant seat was filled by Stoilov. Together with Stoilov, who had previously coached the Bulgarian National Team, Göztepe played more aggressive football, regardless of the score, and was promoted to the next league with 15 wins, 4 draws and 2 defeats in 21 league games. At the same time, Stoilov attracted attention with his statements after the match: In the matches in which the team scored 5 goals, he said that he was not ‘satisfied with some of the game they played’ or that he used the phrases ‘the players don’t have to. like me, but they must be disciplined’, which drew the attention of the tribe to the coach.

In this way, fans began to make comments about Stoilov, saying, “The coach will make us communists.” Impressed by the coach’s discipline, honest approach to the team’s mistakes and his rude attitude, the tribune nicknamed the Bulgarian coach ‘comrade’. Well, of course, there is an ‘image’ aspect to the matter as well. Stoilov, who does not put too much importance on his dress as he should and has a moderate attitude, really warms people’s hearts with his sincere appearance among other examples of modern football .

For example, one evening in Izmir, towards the championship match of Göztepe, a taxi driver attributes the success of the team to the Bulgarian Coach Stanimir Stoilov and says: “This guy is a different guy. Put everything aside, first of all, the teacher is a communist, that is, disciplined and diligent. “That’s how he made the team champion.” Even though the taxi driver expresses the common opinion about the Göztepe tribes, it very well marks the beginning of the definition of ‘communist Stoilov’.

Beating Gençlerbirliği at home in the 32nd week of the Trendyol 1st League, Göztepe guaranteed promotion to the Super League. Göztepe players shared the joy of being promoted to the Super League with their coach Stanimir Stoilov (center). WERE HIS EYES AND HIS WAYS ON THE EARTH OF SIRRA?

But, “Why the moniker ‘communist’ and not something else?” we can ask ourselves. Because seriously, how can a tribune with hundreds of thousands of supporters decide on the name ‘comrade communist’, based on just an imaginary reading, when Stoilov has not the slightest idea give us about his political views?

Perhaps we can think like this: It is impossible for this Balkan atmosphere not to reach the stands in a city like Izmir, where a significant part of the population are Balkan immigrants: This a city where Bulgarian parties hang election posters in the streets when there is an election in Bulgaria. You can say, “Immigrants from Izmir understood from his eyes that Stoilov was a communist.” Maybe it really is. But what is more interesting is the symbolism of communism: ‘Control’, ‘stay away from ostentation’, ‘focus on work’, all these are considered to be considered enough for the people of Izmir to be are ‘communists’. Maybe Hodja is like that, maybe not, but based on that symbolism, he shouldn’t be too far from communism…