Unveiling the life of Elena Shtilyanova, Dimitar Berbatov's wife: A detailed biography and more

Elena Shtilyanova is a Bulgarian lady married to former Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov. She became famous following her relationship with the football legend. Elena and Berbatov have gone through a lot of challenges in their relationship, including receiving kidnapping threats.

Elena's husband was a reliable striker who scored dozens of goals for Man United and Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League. He also represented the Bulgaria national team. Despite his partner's fame, the Brazilian has kept a low profile.

Elena Shtilyanova's profile

What is Elena Shtilyanova's age?

Dimitar Berbatov's wife is 37 years old as of October 2023. She was born on 17 October 1986. Elena is five years younger than her partner. The legendary forward was born on 30 January 1981 in Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria.

Elena Shtilyanova's family

Shtilyanova lives a private life and has not shared much about her parents and siblings. Elena Shtilyanova's nationality is Bulgarian. She was born and raised in Bulgaria, where she completed her studies. Berbatov and her partner have also not revealed details of her career and what she does for a living.

Dimitar Berbatov and Elena Shtilyanova

The couple dated for several years before reportedly tying the knot in a private ceremony. They have two daughters, Dea, born on 15 October 2009, and Elia in November 2012. According to reports, Elena and his partner initially planned to name their second born after the Berbatov's mother, Margarita, before settling for Elia.

Who is Elena Shtilyanova's husband?

Elena's partner, Dimitar Berbatov, is a legendary footballer known for his technique, ball control, and goal-scoring skills. His father, Ivan, is a former footballer who played for Vihren (Sandanski), Pirin (Blagoevgrad) and PFC CSKA (Sofia), while his mother, Margarita, played handball.

Berbatov has a younger brother named Assen Berbatov, also a football player. Their grandfather, Dimitar, was also a football who played for FC Struma.

Kidnapping threats

The Bulgarian couple received kidnapping threats from a Sofia-based gang in late 2009, forcing the family to flee from Sofia to Manchester. Sources revealed local mafia dons contacted Berbatov's mother, Margarita, instructing her to tell his son to pay a $607k protection fee or else they kidnap his partner, Elena and new baby, Dea.

Dimitar reportedly flew his family on a private charter plane provided by United manager Sir Alex Ferguson. The former striker decided not to report the matter to the police but negotiated a deal directly with the dons, who agreed to leave his family.

As a kid, Berbatov got kidnapped by a fearsome gangster who wanted him to play for his club, FC Levski Kjustendil. His father, Ivan, successfully negotiated his release with the mob boss.

Dimitar Berbatov's career

The Bulgarian started his youth football in his hometown, playing for Pirin Blagoevgrad. He spent his early years honing his skills at the club and scoring dozens of goals before attracting the attention of top European teams.

Dimitar joined CSKA Sofia's reserve team in 1998, aged 17. He got promoted to the senior squad in 1999. The father of two helped the team win the Bulgarian Cup in 1999. He moved to Bayer 04 Leverkusen in July 2000 and helped them finish second in Bundesliga and reached the German Cup and Champions League finals in 2002.

His football stats (91 goals and 34 assists in 202 games) at Leverkusen made Tottenham Hotspur sign him for around $13.2 million. The amount made him the most expensive player in Bulgarian football.

Premier League career

The legendary striker partnered with Robbie Keane at Tottenham, strengthening the club's attack in the Premier League and winning numerous awards. He was part of the squad that won Spurs the 2007-08 League Cup. Dimitar finished his Tottenham career with 46 goals and 29 assists in 102 matches before transferring to Man United in September 2018.

The Bulgarian had a remarkable career at United, scoring 56 goals in 149 matches in all competitions. He played alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, and Rio Ferdinand, forming one of the best-ever teams in United's history. His achievements with the Red Devils include:

Dimitar left Man United for Fulham in 2012, then joined Monaco in 2014 and PAOK in 2015. He finished his career at Indian club Kerala Blasters in 2018, where he only scored one goal in nine matches.

International career

The legendary striker played his first game for Bulgaria's national team in November 1999 against Greece. He finished his international career as Bulgaria's all-time top scorer with 48 goals. Dimitar also won the Bulgarian Footballer of the Year award seven times.

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Football

What is Dimitar Berbatov doing now?

Elena Shtilyanova's husband is a columnist offering exclusive insight, opinions and predictions. The former United centre-forward also lost his bid to become the Bulgarian Football Association president in October 2021. Former Reading goalkeeper Borislav Mihaylov won the election.

Dimitar Berbatov's net worth

The Bulgarian has a net worth of $19.5 million as of 2023. He earned most of his wealth during his playing career through salaries and endorsements. He has also bought property and cars and contributed to several charity initiatives.

Berbatov's wife, Elena Shtilyanova, is not as famous as him, but her contribution to the former footballer's life is immense. She is a supportive wife and caring mother. She likes spending time with the kids but often tries to keep out of the limelight.

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Full name	Elena Shtilyanova
Date of birth	17 October 1986
Age	37 (as of October 2023)
Birthplace	Bulgaria
Nationality	Bulgarian
Height	1.65 m (5 feet 5inches)
Weight	60 kg
Eye colour	Brown
Hair colour	Blonde
Spouse	Dimitar Berbatov
Daughters	Dea, Elia