Where Are They Now?                                   Profiles of ex-Luton players

Bontcho Guentchev

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Height: 5 ft 10". Weight: 11 st 07 lbs. Born: Tchoshevo, 07.07.1964. Nationality: Bulgaria. International Honours: Bulgaria 14 full caps, 0 goals; U-21.

Bontcho was caught playing local football for Etur in his home country of Bulgaria and his eye-catching performances were enough for a larger local side - Lokomotiv - to take on board the talented midfielder. From here his career continued to blossom and Bulgarian giants CSKA Sofia tabled a bid which saw Bontcho move into the big time.

His rapid success was causing a stir in Bulgaria as Bontcho was called up for the Bulgarian Under-21 side, and, after two years with CSKA, he moved abroad for the first time where another large club - Sporting Lisbon - took on the gifted midfield dynamo. His time in Portugal saw him drop out of contention for a place in the Bulgarian national team, but another move, this time to England, saw his chances of representing his country improve.

It was Premier League Ipswich Town who snapped up the attacking midfield for £250,000 in December 1992 and he became an instant hero with the Ipswich faithful for his dynamic and creative performances. His time at Portman Road saw him score eleven goals in 75 appearances.  However, his game was based around beating defenders and setting up the chances. His performances for the Suffolk outfit saw him called up to the Bulgarian national side and he was lucky enough to be amongst the final squad of 22 players which travelled to the United States in the World Cup in 1994.

Guentchev.

However, with the introduction of more experienced and talented players, and with Bontcho getting older, Ipswich offered him a free transfer in the Summer of 1995.

Bontcho contemplated going back to his native Bulgaria, but new Luton boss Terry Westley, who was once reserve team coach at Ipswich, persuaded Guentchev to stay in England and sign for the Hatters.

Guentchev in action against Chesterfield.

Bontcho made his Hatters debut by scoring a penalty in a 1-3 home defeat by Norwich City. However Bontcho was being played in a role further up the pitch and in a unfamiliar strikers position. Bontcho was unable to adapt playing the goal scoring role and confidence soon dropped as the Hatters slipped to bottom of the table. Terry Westley was sacked after a 4-0 defeat at Portsmouth and David Kohler installed the experienced Lennie Lawrence as new manager.

Lawrence immediately dropped Bontcho from the forward role and placed him in his more suited position in midfield. The confidence began to get back and under Lawrence Luton won four games out of five in mid-to-late January with Bontcho scoring in four of those games in wins over Southend, Norwich, Sheffield United and Grimsby. However, the Hatters lost leading scorer Dwight Marshall with a broken leg sustained in a 1-0 defeat at Sunderland and the Hatters went on a bad run which ended the season with relegation. Bontcho netted eleven times that season and finished joint top scorer with the injured Marshall. Despite relegation, his performances hadn't gone unnoticed by the Bulgarian national team coach and he was rewarded with a place in the 22 for the European Championship Finals, held in England.

Guentchev celebrates a goal.

The following season saw the Hatters lose to Crewe in the Semi-Finals of the playoffs and this season marked Bontcho's last at the club. The Bulgarian missed a penalty on the opening day in a 1-2 home defeat by Burnley and then with Lawrence bringing in his own men to mount a promotion challenge, Bontcho soon found himself frozen out of the team. He did, though, make 37 appearances that season, although 18 of those were from coming off the bench. He managed to score one league goal in a 2-1 home victory over Gillingham and was sent off in a 3-2 defeat at Bristol Rovers later in the season. His final appearance in Luton colours was in a 3-2 defeat at Walsall - a defeat which some people say ruled out the chances of automatic promotion.

Bontcho was out of football for a brief spell after being given a free transfer by Lennie Lawrence at the end of the 1996-97 season, but he started to play semi-professionally with Ryman Premier Division side Hendon.

After starring in the Hendon side and coaching the clubs youngsters for four seasons, at the beginning of this season, Guentchev was snapped up by Ryman League Division 1 side Carshalton Athletic and is currently playing a role to get the Robins back in the Premier Division after they were relegated last season.

He said, "I hope to be a coach eventually, but right now I want to play on the green grass for as long as possible.  I had friends and family who lived in London which is why I stayed, but I think I survived as a player because unlike most from eastern Europe, I was lucky enough to have a coach steeped in German methods.

"Against all odds, Geogi Vasilev, who is now at Union Berlin,  took my first team Etar Veliko Tarnovo to the Bulgarian championship in 1990 using tactics suited to the game in England.  Not many east Europeans do.  They want a slower pace than English football allows and they struggle to adapt.

"Look at Sergei Rebrov.  A great player but not so successful for Spurs."

Bontcho also owns a trendy coffee bar situated in Kensington, which is aptly named "Strikers".  It is, however, his wife Sylvia who looks after the bar, serving up dishes such as "Banitza", a Bulgarian delicacy which combines egg yoghurt and white cheese encased in filo pastry.

Profile By:  Andrew Barringer