体坛英语新闻：Golden Ball winner Stoichkov becomes coach of Bulgarian club Litex

LOVECH, Bulgaria, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- Hristo Stoichkov, 45, a former Barcelona soccer star and Golden Ball winner, on Thursday was named as coach of the Bulgarian soccer club Litex.

Stoichkov's contract had no time limit, Grisha Gantchev, the benefactor of the club, told a presentation ceremony at the club's stadium in Lovech, some 160 km northeast of the country's capital Sofia.

In turn, Stoichkov said they wanted to win the Cup and the Championship of the country.

However, he added the Cup seemed more real, and it would enable the club to participate in the UEFA Europa League.

Litex is the country's champion for the last two seasons but in the middle of the current season, it stays in seventh place, 11 points behind the leader.

Stoichkov spent four not so successful years as coach of the national team of Bulgaria from 2003 to 2007. He was also a coach of the Spanish Celta Vigo (2007), while coaching Mamelodi Sundowns (2009/2010) the South African club placed second in the final league standings.