Dimitar Berbatov, the elegant Bulgarian forward, recently shared some thoughts about how football has changed. He believes the game he played was more about skill and quick thinking. Today, he sees more players who are simply strong and fast.
Berbatov played professional football from 1999 to 2018. He graced fields with CSKA Sofia in Bulgaria and Bayer Leverkusen in Germany. Later, he shone in England for Tottenham, Manchester United, and Fulham. His journey also took him to Monaco, where Leonardo Jardim was his coach. He finished his career with PAOK in Greece and Kerala Blasters in India. Through all these years, he noticed a big shift. The sport became much more physical.
“When I played, football was more technical,” he told the Lusa agency. “It was more about creative flair. You saw more art on the grass. Many players had that style. Now, players are more athletic. They run a lot. They have very strong bodies.”
He still sees some “artists” on the field. These players can “read the game” well. They make “that pass which leaves fans stunned.” Or they score “that great goal out of nowhere.” But Berbatov wishes these moments happened more often.
Football is a simple game for smart people. Sometimes, players forget that the simplest things are the most brilliant.
Berbatov
Former player
“I would like to see more players like that,” he added. “That’s what football is about. You see a play that makes your jaw drop. It makes kids want to copy it. I still see these things now and then, but not as often as I’d like.”
On the pitch, Dimitar Berbatov stood out. He had amazing first touch and ball control. He was great at making decisions in front of goal. Whether it was to shoot himself or to pass to a teammate in a better spot, he always stuck to his style.
“There was no selfishness,” he remembered. “If someone was in a better position, I passed the ball. When I was in a tough spot on the field, I was technically good. I could get free to score a beautiful goal. Or I could make a good assist for someone in a better spot. I always played my way.”
Berbatov, who scored 48 goals in 79 games for Bulgaria, knows a player with “great technical skill” can help a team with “extraordinary moments.” But he stresses that the main goal is always to help the team. He also argues that the simplest moves can be the “most brilliant.”
“Football is a simple game for smart people,” he repeated. “Sometimes, players forget that the simplest things are the most brilliant. Football is about passing and moving. It’s basically a big rectangle. We pass the ball to someone in a better spot. Then we move to get the ball back again.”
Berbatov was recently in Albufeira, Portugal. He was leading a training camp for kids aged five to sixteen at the Pine Cliffs Resort. He noted that this experience feels like the work of his foundation. He started it in 2008 in Bulgaria. It offers social and educational programs for children who show talent in sports.