Remember the Golden Generation of Bulgarian football - those epic matches against Argentina, Mexico and Germany, and not to forget where it all started - that dramatic day of November 17 1993, when Emil Kostadinov scored two goals against France in Paris, propelling Bulgaria to USA'94, at the expense of the French, on their own turf?

Under the management of Dimitar Penev, the Bulgarians, led by players like Hristo Stoitchkov, Yordan Letchkov, Krassimir Balakov, Trifon Ivanov, Nasko Sirakov, Nikolai Iliev, Petar Alexandrov, Ilian Kiriakov, Daniel Borimirov and Borislav Michailov were appropriately dubbed the Golden Generation. Never before or since has Bulgaria managed to achieve such acclaim on the international football stage. Bulgaria was "fourth in the world", the only accomplishment your average Bulgarian could be proud of during those hard transitional post-communist years. They all returned to a hero's welcome, the nation was united, the scenes of celebration were wild and unprecedented. Unfortunately, subsequent events failed to provide similar fervour.

In 2003, Stoichkov started a coaching career at Barcelona in the team's youth school, while Bulgarian national coach Plamen Markov resigned in the wake of the team's first-round exit from Euro 2004. Appointed as the national coach on July 15 2005, Stoichkov's career was a major disappointment. Failing to qualify for the 2006 World Cup in Germany, and bringing his bad temper from his playing career to the dressing room, meant that prominent Bulgarian players quit the team after personal disagreements. His skipper, Stilyan Petrov, was the most prominent deserter.

Lechkov, who earned 45 caps and five goals for the Bulgarian national team, had limited success with his football career due to a series of disagreements with coaches and the Bulgarian Football Union (BFU). With a difficult character, transfers to Inter Milan in 1994 and, later, Bologna in 1996 proved impossible. "The Magician," as he was affectionately known to Bulgarian fans upon retirement from football, successfully started a lucrative career as a businessman, owning hotels and a football academy. He even entered the world of politics, becoming mayor of his home town, Sliven. Since 2005, Lechkov returned to more familiar waters, becoming vice-president of the BFU.

Perhaps the most charismatic member of the celebrated bunch was Ivanov. "The Bulgarian Wolf" - the nickname he earned thanks to his rugged, unshaven appearance and mullet hairstyle - was an institution in the national team. Ivanov moved to CSKA Sofia from his native Etar, during 1994/95 and 1997/98 and he also played for Austrian teams Austria Vienna and Rapid Vienna as well as Spanish club Real Betis. An indispensable part of the Bulgarian back four, with a tremendous spirit, aggression, work rate and a ferocious right foot, scoring goals from 40-plus yards was far from unusual to him. Currently, the Wolf is looking after his business in his home town of Veliko Turnovo, and has refused to affiliate himself to football.

His teammate Balakov was the instrumental and intelligent midfielder in the middle of the park, a beloved star of VfB Stuttgart. He started his coaching career in 2006 as manager of Grasshopper-Club Zurich and later became manager of FC St Gallen. Before that, he served as assistant manager at VfB Stuttgart for three years. He accumulated a total of 92 caps for Bulgaria, between 1988 and 2003, bagging 16 goals, and, after a respite from football, he was appointed the new manager of Chernomorets Bourgas. The Bourgas club has a long history, dating back to 1919, but was recently marred by bankruptcy under the reign of former owner Ivaylo Drazhev, with the team subsequently filing for administration. Balakov is now the only hope for Chernomorets to restore some pride and bring about a return to European football.

One of the most controversial current figures is Mihailov, the former skipper and goalkeeper, who played in the 1986 FIFA World Cup and holds the national team record with 102 caps. After retiring from active sports he started a career in football administration, eventually becoming vice-president of the Bulgarian Football Union (2001/05). Then he became the president proper, replacing Ivan Slavkov. His presidency, however, has been marred by accusations of widespread corruption and match-fixing, both rampant features of Bulgarian football. And, although it may not be his fault entirely, Mihailov has to accept partial responsibility for the fact that Bulgarian football has degenerated to its current level. Perhaps most worryingly of all, he was an icon for the Bulgarian Golden Generation, a great keeper and a favourite with the ladies. But, as time went by, and as a president of the Bulgarian football union, he knows better than anyone that no other golden generation is likely to appear soon.