ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Growing up in his native Bulgaria, Tampa Bay Rowdies forward Georgi Hristov’s future was in part formed on the asphalt of his neighborhood’s streets.  

“We were very social as kids,” Hristov said this week. “We spent a lot of time together, even seven, eight, nine years old we would be out in the streets and our mothers would get mad because we wouldn’t go back home until late at night, just playing with the soccer balls on the streets, on the cement, that’s how I spent most of my time.”

Those memories, and the relationships that were forged, are the reason Hristov returns regularly to see friends and family. While the west coast of Florida may have become his home in recent years, the sense of place that has helped Hristov remained grounded throughout his career on both sides of the Atlantic remains special.

“It’s always great to go back,” Hristov added. “I spent so many years there. I miss my family, my friends, when you grow up in a different culture it stays with you all the time, and there were certain things I was missing a lot, so it was good to go back there.”

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Rowdies’ fans have certainly been happy to have him in Tampa Bay, though. Hristov made his 100th league appearance for the club last season, a feat that was commemorated by a memorable Tifo by supporters group Ralph’s Mob, and has been a consistent threat in attack over his four prior seasons with the club. The club’s modern-era leader in goals with 34, Hristov struck 11 times a season ago as he flourished alongside Joe Cole after the English midfielder joined the club last May.

The duo have struck up a strong relationship off the field, too. On his way back to the U.S. from his trip   home, Hristov and his wife stopped off in London for a few days, and joined Cole and fellow former England international Frank Lampard at Chelsea’s Premier League clash with West Bromwich Albion.

“We had a great time together, all of us,” said Hristov. “It’s really, really nice  to see that people who have played on the highest level are such great people, and obviously Joe is the same guy, and he’s a very good friend of mine on and off the field, and I’m very happy to learn from him both on and off the field.”

Hristov’s origins have helped him remain the same way. Growing up during the fall of Communism, and the massive changes it ushered into Eastern Europe in the early 1990s, life wasn’t easy. As he puts it, “you could have money, but you didn’t have a lot of food in the stores. That’s how it was, ‘91, ’92.”

He was shielded from a lot by his parents, Georgi Sr. and Ivanka, and grandparents. But as he grew older, the challenges they faced to make sure the family had what it needed to get by became more and more obvious. It’s something he carries with him to this day, as he looks to provide a good life for his two children.

“I think sometimes it’s almost necessary to go through tough times,” he said. “It builds your character and makes you appreciate small things. It helps you stay grounded and stay humble, and I’ve been raised this way. My grandparents and my parents always told me that you just need to have enough. Enough is always enough, you know what I mean?

“I’ve never strived for crazy things. I’ve always had dreams, playing for big teams, and I think I’ve done it in my country, but just coming from… I can’t really say a tough childhood, I had an unbelievable childhood, but later on I figured out what it was for my parents during that time.”

Now as he enters his fifth season with Tampa Bay, Hristov is settled, and excited to see what the future brings as the Rowdies join the USL for the new season. With the club’s continued growth under the stewardship of Owner Bill Edwards, there was no other uniform Hristov could see himself playing in this year.

“I think it’s just the mentality of the whole club and the direction it’s going,” he said. “I didn’t feel very comfortable playing for any other team in the country. That’s why I decided to stay here.”