Valentin Dimov, the former captain of Bulgaria, has died. The former Bulgarian national forward, team captain and sports journalist Valentin Dimov passed away on 25th November at age 61.
Valentin Dimov was born on October 14, 1960 in Bezmer, Bulgaria, where his father was deputy commander of а military air base. His training and work brought him to the Former Soviet Union, where Valentin started to play hockey in his childhood. He started playing on the streets, on frozen yards and lakes, and developed a very good foundation to play organized hockey. Quickly he was able to impress coaches with his skating and instincts. On the domestic scene Dimov played for CSKA (Sofia) and Levski Spartak and was multiple times national champion.
He made quite a debut for the Men’s National Team at the 1981 World Championships, Group C, in Beijing with 4 goals and 3 assists in 7 games played. Next year, in Jaca (Spain), he had even better production: 5 goals and 4 assists. Valentin played in 10 world championships and was the team captain in 1987 and in 1989. His last international event as a player was the 1993 World Championships, Group B, in Eindhoven (Netherlands). At that time Dimov was already working as a sports journalist. Next year he was in Lillehammer covering ice hockey and other events at the 1994 Winter Olympics.
The next chapter of his life included a business venture with bamboo products, which took him to Thailand, where he had shops and lived for a while. He later returned to sports media and commented on NHL games that were broadcasted in Bulgaria in 2008-09.
In 2014 he was put in a medically induced coma after a severe stroke, but miraculously returned to normal life, a testament to his exceptional physical and mental strength.
But this was not the last obstacle for the great forward. After two more strokes, Valentin Dimov (nicknamed Valyaka) had restricted movements on one side and some speech problems, but continued to be positive and never complained about his situation. He was full of life despite all the negative things that he had to go through.
Family members, friends, colleagues and teammates said their last goodbye to Valyaka in a church ceremony held on 5 December. Valentin Dimov is survived by his son Dimo and daughter Yana.
Valentin Dimov was born on October 14, 1960 in Bezmer, Bulgaria, where his father was deputy commander of а military air base. His training and work brought him to the Former Soviet Union, where Valentin started to play hockey in his childhood. He started playing on the streets, on frozen yards and lakes, and developed a very good foundation to play organized hockey. Quickly he was able to impress coaches with his skating and instincts. On the domestic scene Dimov played for CSKA (Sofia) and Levski Spartak and was multiple times national champion.
He made quite a debut for the Men’s National Team at the 1981 World Championships, Group C, in Beijing with 4 goals and 3 assists in 7 games played. Next year, in Jaca (Spain), he had even better production: 5 goals and 4 assists. Valentin played in 10 world championships and was the team captain in 1987 and in 1989. His last international event as a player was the 1993 World Championships, Group B, in Eindhoven (Netherlands). At that time Dimov was already working as a sports journalist. Next year he was in Lillehammer covering ice hockey and other events at the 1994 Winter Olympics.
The next chapter of his life included a business venture with bamboo products, which took him to Thailand, where he had shops and lived for a while. He later returned to sports media and commented on NHL games that were broadcasted in Bulgaria in 2008-09.
In 2014 he was put in a medically induced coma after a severe stroke, but miraculously returned to normal life, a testament to his exceptional physical and mental strength.
But this was not the last obstacle for the great forward. After two more strokes, Valentin Dimov (nicknamed Valyaka) had restricted movements on one side and some speech problems, but continued to be positive and never complained about his situation. He was full of life despite all the negative things that he had to go through.
Family members, friends, colleagues and teammates said their last goodbye to Valyaka in a church ceremony held on 5 December. Valentin Dimov is survived by his son Dimo and daughter Yana.