Iliyan Filipov, the 53-year-old president of Bulgarian top-flight football club Botev Plovdiv, was shot dead early Wednesday near his home in Plovdiv, Bulgaria’s second-largest city.
Police said they received a report of a person wounded by gunfire at around 1 a.m. When officers arrived, they found Filipov dead at the scene and began a pretrial investigation. Authorities have not publicly established a motive.
Filipov was also the owner of a major transportation company and was a prominent businessman in Bulgaria. His involvement with Botev Plovdiv included a significant role in the development of the club’s Hristo Botev Stadium.
Police cordoned off the area around the shooting as investigators examined the scene. Local authorities launched a search for those responsible, while details surrounding the circumstances of the attack remained under investigation.
Reports from Bulgarian media later said police had arrested a 51-year-old man in Sofia in connection with the killing. The suspect was described as a former employee of a company founded and run by Filipov, although the investigation remains ongoing and authorities have not publicly established a motive.
The killing has sent shock waves through Bulgarian football. Botev Plovdiv cancelled training following Filipov’s death, while supporters gathered at the club’s stadium to pay tribute to the businessman.
Filipov was a highly visible figure at Botev Plovdiv, a historic club based in the city of Plovdiv. His death comes as Bulgaria prepares for a presidential election campaign, adding further public attention to a case that authorities have yet to fully explain.
High-profile killings linked to organised crime were more common in Bulgaria during the 1990s, but such attacks have become less frequent in recent years. The latest shooting has therefore attracted significant national attention.
Investigators are continuing to examine the crime scene and gather evidence as they work to establish what happened in the hours surrounding Filipov’s death. Officials have not announced further details about the investigation beyond the information already released.
Botev Plovdiv is now facing the immediate aftermath of the death of its president as police continue their investigation and the club considers arrangements for upcoming activities and matches.
