Lubo Penev

Luboslav Penev, known as Lubo, was born in Dobrich, Bulgaria, in 1966 and was one of the best strikers of his generation in Bulgaria. After several seasons at Valencia, he faced the hardest moment of his career in 1994, when he was diagnosed with cancer and missed the World Cup in which Bulgaria reached the semi-finals. He recovered and returned to football.

One season, two trophies

In 1995 he joined Atlético. In a front line with Kiko, and supplied by Milinko Pantić, Penev scored goal after goal with his powerful left foot as Atlético won La Liga and the Copa del Rey in 1995–96. It was the club's first league title in nearly two decades and its only double.

Legacy

Penev left in 1996 for Compostela. He played only one season at Atlético, but it was the most successful in the club's history up to that point, and supporters still remember his goals and his courage.