Former Bulgarian footballer Lubo Penev, one of Valencia CF’s most famous players in the nineties, is in critical health. The historic striker, 59, has been urgently transferred to an oncology clinic in Germany to receive specialized treatment due to a serious medical condition he has been suffering from for some time.
The news has generated strong concern both in Spain and Bulgaria, where the former player is considered a soccer legend. His family has confirmed the situation and has asked for help to meet the high costs of treatment.
What happened to Lubo Penev: current status and diagnosis
According to his entourage, Lubo Penev is being treated in a German medical center for a possible kidney cancer that would have required immediate hospitalization. The information was publicly confirmed by his wife, Kristina Yulianova, who posted on social networks a request for donations to cover the costs of the clinical procedure.
The disease appears in a delicate context for the former striker, who had already faced oncological problems in the past: in 1990, when he played for Valencia, he was diagnosed with testicular cancer, an episode that marked his career and even prevented him from playing in the 1994 World Cup in the United States. Now, 35 years later, he faces a new battle against an oncological process classified as serious by his entourage.
The family has asked for discretion, but messages of support have been pouring in from different sectors of the sport.
A historic figure for Valencia, Bulgaria and European soccer
The news has aroused a deep sense of solidarity, especially among the fans of Valencia CF, the club where Penev spent some of the best years of his career. He arrived at Mestalla in the late 1980s and stayed until 1995, a period in which he played more than 200 official matches and scored more than a hundred goals. In addition, he coached the Valencianista reserve team in the 2017-2018 season.
After a successful spell at Valencia, he signed for Atlético de Madrid in 1995, where he was part of the team that won the historic league and cup double under Radomir Antic. He later had spells at Compostela and Celta, before ending his career in Bulgaria with Lokomotiv Plovdiv in 2001.
He also left his mark on the Bulgarian national team, earning 66 caps and participating in major tournaments such as the 1998 World Cup in France.
Reactions and support from Bulgaria
The former striker’s admission has quickly mobilized the Bulgarian soccer world: emblematic figures such as Hristo Stoichkov have sent public messages of encouragement, recalling Penev’s importance in the country’s soccer history.
Other former internationals in delicate health conditions (such as Borislav Mihaylov or Petar Hubchev) have also been mentioned in the chains of solidarity that have been generated.
Penev, in addition to his career as a player, has been a benchmark in the dugouts of CSKA Sofia, a team he managed at various stages and where he is considered a legend both on and off the field.
