List of Famous people born in Blagoevgrad Province, Bulgaria
Dimitar Berbatov
Dimitar Ivanov Berbatov is a Bulgarian former professional footballer. A striker, he captained the Bulgaria national team from 2006 to 2010, and is the country's all-time leading goalscorer. He is regarded as one of the greatest Bulgarian players of all time.
Blagoy Ivanov
Blagoy Aleksandrov Ivanov is a Bulgarian mixed martial artist and Sambo practitioner who won the 2008 Combat Sambo World Championships in Saint Petersburg, Russia. He is signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship where he competes in the Heavyweight division. He previously fought for the World Series of Fighting, where he attained success as the promotion's Heavyweight champion. Blagoy has also competed in Judo as a heavyweight national representative for Bulgaria. He competed in the 2003 Balkan Junior Championships and placed first. He then continued in competition up to the European Championships level but only placed 7th in the 2007 U23 Tournament, and did not make an attempt to represent Bulgaria in the 2008 Olympic games. Ivanov chose to enter into a career in mixed martial arts as opposed to representing Bulgaria in the 2012 Olympic Games. As of December 24, 2020, he is #13 in the UFC heavyweight rankings.
Spas Delev
Spas Borislavov Delev is a Bulgarian professional footballer who currently plays as a winger for Arda Kardzhali and the Bulgarian national team.
Rosen Plevneliev
Rosen Asenov Plevneliev is a Bulgarian politician who was the 4th President of Bulgaria, holding the position from January 2012 to January 2017. He was the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works from July 2009 to September 2011 as part of the cabinet of Boyko Borisov. In October 2011, Plevneliev was elected as President in a second round of voting; he was inaugurated on 18 January 2012.
Mariya Gabriel
Mariya Ivanova Gabriel is a Bulgarian politician and a member of the GERB party serving as European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth since 2019. She served as Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from 2009 to 2017.
Dimitar Makriev
Dimitar Ivanov Makriev is a Bulgarian footballer who plays as a forward.
Ivan Lebanov
Ivan Lebanov was a Bulgarian skier who competed from the 1970s to 1985.
Ivaylo Andonov
Ivaylo Viktorov Andonov is a Bulgarian former professional footballer who played as a forward.
Georgi Vasilev
Georgi Vasilev Ivanov, nicknamed Gocheto and The General, is a former Bulgarian footballer who played as a midfielder, and a current football manager.
Petar Zlatinov
Petar Zlatinov is a Bulgarian former footballer who played as a midfielder.