Unfancied Paraguay and Japan are currently playing a second round match in this year's World Cup, the result of which will see either of these teams for the first time making it to the quarter finals. Most World Cups produce a winning underdog - a team which never expected to make it past the first round making it all the way to the quarter or even semi finals. In 2006 it was Ukraine, 2002 it was South Korea and Turkey, 1998 Croatia, 1990 Cameroon, while in 1994 Bulgaria made it to the semis after shockingly defeating Germany 2-1. One of the stars of the Bulgarian squad was an unassuming Yordan Lechkov, a modest footballer playing at the time for German side Hamburg. He scored two key goals at that World Cup and instantly became an international star. Mention 'Bulgaria' in most parts of the world and the first response usually is 'Lechkov'. His career afterwards was characterised by disputes with the clubs he played for and the Bulgarian football officials. Never one comfortable with the limelight, he decided to quit football and returned to his hometown of Sliven in central Bulgaria. With a desire to put something back into the community, he opened a football academy and then a hotel complex which included a huge nightclub called 'Imperia'. Complaints to the local council about the loud noise emanating from the club almost led to its closure. So what could Lechkov do to avoid this? Become mayor, of course, which he did after being elected in 2003. Now head of council, no more threat of closure. Reeelected in 2007, Lechkov has recently been accused of official misconduct and was removed from his post of mayor. However, the appeals court today in Burgas has reappointed Lechkov as mayor, but I feel we haven't seen the end of this.
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