Mission impossible

What a delicate mission it was that Plamen Markov was set. To pick up an ageing squad, demoralised by a 6-0 thrashing in the last match of a failed 2002 World Cup campaign, and lead them into the Euro 2004 finals.

The stickiness of the starting point only makes their success all the more dazzling.

As a player Markov patrolled the CSKA Sofia midfield for almost a decade from the mid-70's on, winning five Bulgarian titles, three domestic cups and enjoying a run to a Uefa Cup semi-final.

At 28 he moved west to France for stints at Metz and Gronoble, where he later became coach.

He also featured in the 1986 World Cup, playing in the 2-0 first round defeat against Diego Maradona and future champions Argentina.

When he took over the Bulgaria job from the fired Stoicho Mladenov in December 2001 there were plenty of detractors pointing to a glaring lack of experience in his coaching record.

Apart from a brief but unglorious spell at CSKA Sofia, Markov was indeed something of a top-flight novice with no silverware whatsoever, but was described by peers as a man with a modern understanding of the game.

Ten unbeaten games

His first games in charge of Bulgaria hardly eased the tension of his critics, two draws against Germany and Croatia and defeats to Ecuador and Mexico.

But he had imposed an effective flat back four with two strikers up front during that period, and had taken control of his players, even going as far as pre-match sex bans.

He also put his faith in Celtic's midfielder Stilian Petrov, making him a youthful captain of the side.

When their first win came, 2-0 against Belgium, they were to remain undefeated for a year and would only relax once their ticket to Portugal was well and truly booked.