Lechkov (pictured) has once again focused on the failures of the government in his electoral campaign, which has proven enough to win re-election. Photo by Yuliana Nikolova (Sofia Photo Agency)
Yordan Lechkov, a member of Bulgaria's "golden generation" of footballers, secured re-election as mayor of his hometown of Sliven, in southeastern Bulgaria, exit polls showed after polling stations closed on Sunday.
Lechkov, who is best remembered for his headed goal against defending champions Germany, which put Bulgaria in the World Cup semi-final in 1994, received 59% according to pollsters National Centre for Public Opinion Research, defeating his Socialist opponent Martin Slavov.
Although he ran as an independent, Lechkov was backed by the rightist Union of Democratic Forces (UDF) and the GERB party of Sofia mayor Boyko Borisov.