Football legend Hristo Stoichkov, who will be Bulgaria's new consul in Barcelona, has refuted reports in the Bulgarian press he will run for president.

"I don't want to deal with politics, I will not be a candidate for president or for vice president from Bulgaria's ruling party GERB," Stoichkov stated at the international hunting tourism expo El Salon de Cazadores, Venatoria - 2011 in Madrid as cited by Darik Radio.

Stoichkov's name was tangled by the press in Bulgaria's upcoming October 2011 presidential elections race after in the past week he became a goodwill ambassador of the "Professional Football against Hunger" campaign sponsored by Bulgaria's Kristalina Georgieva, EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid, and was then made Bulgarian consul in Barcelona by Prime Minister Boyko Borisov.

"I remain outside politics and I have always been outside politics. You know that I am now an ambassador in the team of Kristalina Georgieva. Other than that, I don't care about anything having to do with Bulgarian politics. I can support some individuals and I have done that in the past but putting me where I don't belong is no good, I have too much dignity for that," Stoichkov is quoted as saying.

He has also commented on his appointment as Bulgaria's consul in Barcelona by saying he does not have an action plan yet for this new position.

"It is going to be a tough job but I have accepted this offer. I have been living in Barcelona for 20 years now. It will not be easy but it also won't be hard. I know the situation on the ground," the legend of Bulgarian football team and of Barcelona FC declared.

It is still unclear when Stoichkov will assume his new position which was surprisingly announced by Borisov on Thursday.

Stoichkov also said he did not plan to become a coach of the Bulgarian national team again, and that he is a passionate hunter and prefers to hunt in Bulgaria.

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