Obituary – Zhivko Zhechev

Zhivko Zhechev, a true Volleyball authority in his native Bulgaria and a highly esteemed personality internationally as well, has passed away at the age of 72. Zhechev was a former Secretary General of the Bulgarian Volleyball Federation (BVF) and throughout the years, he gained much respect from within the FIVB and CEV as well.

Zhechev was born on September 2, 1950 in Pavlikeni. As a Volleyball player, he played for CSKA, claiming the former Champions Cup (now Champions League) in 1969 – when he won the Bulgarian national championship as well while wearing the shirt of the team representing the Bulgarian army. After retiring from competitive sport, he had a long and successful career in sports administration – working as BVF Executive Director from 1992 to 1994 and Secretary General from 1994 to 1998.

Over the years, he was a member of the FIVB Technical Commission as well as a Technical Delegate at many matches of the FIVB World League. Zhechev was also the founder of the FIVB Volleyball Information System (VIS) in Bulgaria, where he introduced it in 1992. He worked as BVF Administrative Director until 2010.

The Bulgarian Volleyball Federation and the whole European Volleyball family wish to extend their most heartfelt condolences to the family and relatives of Mr Zhechev.