Bulgarian · Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria · Born 30 January 1981Bulgarian striker known for his technical ability, elegance, and clinical finishing who won two Premier League titles with Manchester United.
Dimitar Ivanov Berbatov was born in Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria in 1981. Bayer Leverkusen developed him before Tottenham paid £10.9 million and then Manchester United paid £30.75 million in 2008. His four United seasons produced two Premier League titles. He shared the Premier League Golden Boot in 2010-11 after scoring five goals in a single game against Blackburn — the first United player since Andy Cole to score five in one match. He was named Bulgarian Footballer of the Year eight times. His playing style — unhurried, technically immaculate, with a languid grace that made difficult skills appear effortless — was unlike any other Premier League striker of his era. He scored 11 Champions League goals across his career. His first-touch control, his ability to receive in tight spaces and his finishing with both feet placed him among the finest technical strikers the league has seen. His apparent lack of effort — which was in fact extreme economy of movement — was frequently misread as disengagement.
Premier League Golden Boot winner with 20 goals in 2010-11
How They Played
Elegant striker with exceptional first touch, clinical finishing, and languid style
Lasting Impact
Most successful Bulgarian footballer of his generation and elegant striker with exceptional technique
Career Honours
- Premier League 2x
- League Cup
- Bulgarian Footballer of Year 8x
- Premier League 2009
- Premier League 2011
- Premier League Golden Boot 2011
| Club | Period | Fee | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CSKA Sofia | 1998–2001 | — | 50 | 26 |
| Bayer Leverkusen II | 2001–2001 | — | 7 | 6 |
| Bayer Leverkusen | 2001–2006 | — | 154 | 69 |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 2006–2008 | £10.9m | 70 | 27 |
| Manchester United | 2008–2012 | £30.75m | 108 | 48 |
| Fulham | 2012–2014 | — | 51 | 19 |
| Monaco | 2014–2015 | — | 38 | 13 |
| PAOK | 2015–2016 | — | 17 | 4 |
| Kerala Blasters | 2017–2018 | — | 9 | 1 |
 Bulgaria | — | — | 78 | 48 |
Bulgarian Athletes