One Career, One Legend: Teodor Salparov’s testimonial match to bring Volleyball Greats together in Sofia on September 5, 2026

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Teodor Salparov’s remarkable volleyball career will be celebrated on September 5 at Arena 8888 in Sofia, where his testimonial match, One Career – One Legend, will bring together current internationals, former stars and prominent figures from Bulgarian sport.

The Bulgarian men’s national team, coached by Gianlorenzo Blengini, will be among the special guests, while the event will also feature a show match between Bulgarian and international volleyball players. One of the most prestigious names confirmed for the occasion is Rafael Pascual, the legendary Spanish outside hitter who was one of the defining figures of international volleyball during the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Known around the world as “El Matador”, he enjoyed an extraordinary international career. He was named MVP and top scorer at the 1998 FIVB World Championship in Japan, while two years earlier he had received the MVP award at the World League. He represented Spain at two Olympic Games, Barcelona 1992 and Sydney 2000, and became one of the most recognizable players of his generation.

His connection with Bulgaria is particularly fitting.
Late in his career, Pascual played for CSKA Sofia, where he shared the court with Salparov. Years later, the two will meet again on the volleyball court, this time under very different circumstances: to celebrate the career of the Bulgarian libero who wore No. 13 for so many years.

The evening will extend well beyond volleyball. Aleksandar Vezenkov, one of the biggest names in Bulgarian basketball and a EuroLeague champion, is also expected to attend as a special guest. The entertainment programme will feature Bulgarian pop star Maria Ilieva, adding another dimension to an event designed to bring together different generations and areas of Bulgarian sport and culture.

One Career – One Legend will also take place just before the Men’s European Volleyball Championship, which Bulgaria is co-hosting, giving the evening an additional connection to the country’s volleyball calendar. Rather than simply marking the end of one player’s career, the testimonial is set to become a meeting point for past and present generations of the sport.

There is also a charitable element to the event. Proceeds from VIP ticket sales will be donated to the Sunny Children Foundation, which is working towards the construction of a home for children with special needs. VIP guests will have premium seats close to the court, as well as a limited-edition bottle of wine created specifically for the testimonial. The package also includes access to the official afterparty at Ozone Skybar at the Millennium Hotel, where guests will be able to continue the celebrations alongside volleyball legends, special guests and Salparov’s friends.

The testimonial will be broadcast live on bTV, allowing fans unable to attend in person to be part of an evening dedicated to one of the most enduring figures of Bulgarian volleyball.

On September 5, Sofia will therefore welcome a unique collection of names from different eras and different corners of sport. At the centre of it all will be Teodor Salparov, No. 13 — and a career worthy of a legend.

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