title: Manuel Mendoza (footballer, born 1976)
text: # Manuel Mendoza (footballer, born 1976)
  
  Manuel Mendoza (born October 10, 1976) is an Ecuadorian football defender.
  
  ## Club career
  
  In the 2002-03 season, Mendoza played for the Bulgarian side Levski Sofia, with whom he won the Bulgarian Cup.
  
  Although not scoring a single goal in the Premier League, Mendoza scored in the last minute against the arch-rivals CSKA Sofia in the semi-final of the Bulgarian Cup, giving Levski a 1-0 win and entering Levski's folklore forever. Mendoza is the first Ecuadorian player in Bulgarian football.
  
  After the end of the season, he returned to Deportivo Cuenca and became a champion of Ecuador in 2004.
  
  In Ecuador, Mendoza played also for LDU Portoviejo, SD Aucas, Deportivo Quito, Deportivo Azogues and CD Olmedo.
  
  ## Club playing honours
  
  ### Levski Sofia
  
  * Bulgarian Cup: 2003
  
  ### Deportivo Cuenca
  
  * Ecuadorian Serie A: 2004
  