Private jets and press conferences: Why Hristo Stoichkov at Parma was doomed to fail in the 1990s

Hirsto Stoichkov Parma
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Parma purchased a 29-year-old Hristo Stoichkov from Barcelona for £6.5 million ahead of the 1995/96 campaign, but the move massively backfired. 

A Ballon d'Or winner just a year before, Stoichkov had received a multitude of individual and club honours during his five seasons at Barcelona at the beginning of the 1990s, and his move to Parma seemed an incredible coup for the Italian outfit.

However, the Bulgarian lasted just a season. As former team-mate Lorenzo Minotti explains, tactical tweaks were made by manager Nevio Scala to accommodate Stoichkov which ultimately proved to the detriment of the rest of the team. 

“He was a Ballon d’Or winner and is still a friend of mine, but he lived football in a completely different way,” Lorenzo Minotti tells FourFourTwo

“He arrived on a personal jet, lent by the Bulgarian government, and would only talk at press conferences. We’d never held a press conference before – we would meet the local journalists at the park. 

"Stoichkov was used to a different reality and it brought imbalance to the group. It was hard to slot him into our formation, with Zola and Asprilla. Scala needed to change his setup and the team suffered.”

After just five goals in 23 Serie A appearances for Parma and unable to settle in Emilia-Romagna, Stoichkov returned to Catalonia and Barcelona to rediscover his form and love of football.

However, he never quite managed to hit the heights he did in his first spell at the club, and soon left for CSKA Sofia in his home country. From there he became a footballing nomad, pitching up at Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, Kashiwa Reysol in Japan and MLS sides Chicago Fire and DC United, before eventually retiring in 2003 aged 37.

Parma, meanwhile, went onto win the UEFA Cup and Coppa Italia a couple of years after his departure, in the 1998/99 campaign. 

Chris Flanagan
Senior Staff Writer

Chris joined FourFourTwo in 2015 and has reported from 20 countries, in places as varied as Jerusalem and the Arctic Circle. He's interviewed Pele, Zlatan and Santa Claus (it's a long story), as well as covering the World Cup, Euro 2020 and the Clasico. He previously spent 10 years as a newspaper journalist, and completed the 92 in 2017.

With contributions from
Read more
Inter Milan's Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic (L) celebrates with teammate, Brazilian forward Adriano after he scored against Bologna during their Italian Serie A match at San Siro Stadium in Milan, on October 4, 2008.
'I only felt happy when I drank. I was hungover when I arrived for training. And if I feared arriving too late, so I didn’t sleep and went to training still drunk' The tragic story of Adriano and his off-field battles
STOKE, ENGLAND - AUGUST 13: Kleberson and Cristiano Ronaldo pose for photographers on the pitch at Old Trafford on August 13, 2003 in Manchester, England. (Photo by John Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images)
‘Parma viewed him as the perfect replacement for Adrian Mutu, who’d left to sign for Chelsea. But Manchester United’s interest was much more concrete’: Cristiano Ronaldo's 2003 transfer details revealed by former Sporting director of football
Mario Balotelli reveals a shirt with the message 'Why always me? on it after scoring for Manchester City against Manchester United in 2011.
'He is not getting minutes on the pitch at Genoa right now, so we consider the best solution to be finding somewhere he can get that' Mario Balotelli could be set to leave his latest club just weeks after joining them
Paul Pogba in action for Juventus against Bologna in August 2023.
Players who went back to their former clubs
Ronaldo celebrates a goal for Real Madrid against Borussia Dortmund in February 2003.
'I decided to sell Ronaldo, whom I consider to be the best player I've ever coached, but the chairman and I decided to sack him': Ex-Real Madrid manager reveals why he sold O Fenomeno despite rating him so highly
Romelu Lukaku Manchester United
'I don’t get any respect. I’m not going to kiss someone’s ass to be loved - what is the problem with wanting to win prizes? If someone else does that, there is no problem' Romelu Lukaku laments media treatment during Premier League days
Latest in Stories
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is expected to sanction plenty of sales this summer
When does the summer transfer window open?
Arne Slot and Mikel Arteta could both do with improving their respective attacks this summer
Arsenal to make bold move for Liverpool star with uncertain Anfield future: report
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 21: Phil Foden of England reacts during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifier between England and Albania at Wembley Stadium on March 21, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Eddie Keogh - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
'When I see Phil Foden play, he just seems like a shy lad - that holds him back a little bit. He has been tried in every position, but he just hasn’t performed': Ex-England star makes bold claim about Manchester City man
Arsenal's William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes embrace each other in celebration at full-time of the Premier League match against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux on 25 January, 2025
Arsenal face losing Gabriel AND William Saliba, as new fears arise: report
Kevin De Bruyne of Man City in action during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Ipswich Town FC at Etihad Stadium on August 24, 2024 in Manchester, England.
Kevin De Bruyne touted for shock move to South American giants: report
LEVERKUSEN, GERMANY - MAY 18: Jose Mourinho, Head Coach of AS Roma, celebrates after the UEFA Europa League semi-final second leg match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and AS Roma at BayArena on May 18, 2023 in Leverkusen, Germany. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
Jose Mourinho planning Premier League raid for superstar: report
Latest in News
Arne Slot and Mikel Arteta could both do with improving their respective attacks this summer
Arsenal to make bold move for Liverpool star with uncertain Anfield future: report
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 21: Phil Foden of England reacts during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifier between England and Albania at Wembley Stadium on March 21, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Eddie Keogh - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
'When I see Phil Foden play, he just seems like a shy lad - that holds him back a little bit. He has been tried in every position, but he just hasn’t performed': Ex-England star makes bold claim about Manchester City man
Arsenal's William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes embrace each other in celebration at full-time of the Premier League match against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux on 25 January, 2025
Arsenal face losing Gabriel AND William Saliba, as new fears arise: report
Kevin De Bruyne of Man City in action during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Ipswich Town FC at Etihad Stadium on August 24, 2024 in Manchester, England.
Kevin De Bruyne touted for shock move to South American giants: report
LEVERKUSEN, GERMANY - MAY 18: Jose Mourinho, Head Coach of AS Roma, celebrates after the UEFA Europa League semi-final second leg match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and AS Roma at BayArena on May 18, 2023 in Leverkusen, Germany. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
Jose Mourinho planning Premier League raid for superstar: report
Jack Grealish
Manchester City report: Jack Grealish poised for European switch, with price revealed