The Haskovo Municipal Council unanimously voted to award the title of "Honorary Citizen" to the prominent basketball player Stanislav Stankov-Shosho, the local administration reported.
The nomination was submitted by Chairperson Tanya Zaharieva on behalf of 28 municipal councilors. In a secret roll-call vote with 40 people present, 35 supported the proposal, which demonstrates exceptional respect for the sports legend.
The official recognition reflects Stankov's rich sports biography. His professional career started at the age of 16 in his hometown of Haskovo, after which he played for numerous prestigious Bulgarian teams.
With CSKA team, he achieved remarkable successes - three championship titles and five Bulgarian Cups. His competitive path included playing for Haskovo, CSKA, Shumen, Cherno More, Lukoil Academic and Compact Dimitrovgrad.
Stankov established himself as a key figure in the national team, winning captain positions in all age groups. Among his most significant international achievements are two European Championship qualifications and participation in a championship in Berlin.
Outside his active competitive career, in 2017 as executive director of the Haskovo 2012 women's basketball team, he contributed to winning the Bulgarian Cup and the national championship.
The official ceremony for presenting the honorary title will traditionally be held on September 8 - Haskovo Day, which further emphasizes the significance of the recognition.