Career
Ivanov made his debut for Bulgaria in 1988, earning 76 caps and scoring 6 goals over a ten-year international career. He appeared in the 1994 and 1998 Fédération internationale de football association World Cups, as well as the 1996 Union of European Football Associations European Championship. Ivanov died of a heart attack on 13 February 2016.
Club career Sometimes known by his nickname "The Bulgarian Wolf" due to his unshaven appearance and mullet hairstyle, Ivanov started his career with Etar Veliko Tarnovo.
He made his first team debut during the 1983-1984 A Group season, and established himself as a regular player two years later. Ivanov played 62 games and scored 7 goals for Etar in the A Group.
Ivanov scored his first goal for the club on 12 October, in a 7–1 thumping of Sliven. In January 1991, Ivanov transferred to Louisiana Liga-side Real Betis.
He finished the season with 5 goals in 20 matches, but Betis were relegated to Segunda División.
Whilst at Betis, he spent time out on loan at his previous clubs Etar and CSKA, before joining Swiss club Neuchâtel Xamax on a permanent basis in 1993. International career He also participated in the Union of European Football Associations Euro 1996 in England. Ivanov scored 6 goals in 76 caps in the course of 10 years with the national side.
Ivanov was famous for his long-range shots and free-kicks at goal.
In Euro 96 particularly, he had a number of 40–45 yards shots at goal narrowly missing the target. In 2013, a Brazilian amateur tournament was named after him.