Zlatanov defined volleyball in Bulgaria for a generation, and was elected as a symbol of the era by the Bulgarian National Team.

He was one of 25 players, along with Gardini, on the ballot to determine the best players of the 20th century by the FIVB. He was one of the great all-round players, as his abilities at every part of the game set him apart from most of his peers.

Zlatanov competed on the Bulgarian National Team in three Olympics (1972, 1976 and 1980), earning a Silver Medal at the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow. He played for the Olympic bronze medal in 1972, but lost out in the third-place match.

Outside of the Olympics, Zlatanov helped his countrymen to the silver medal at the 1970 World Championship in Sofia, Bulgaria. In addition, he won eight national championships with the CSKA Volleyball Club of Sofia.

Zlatanov went on to coach in Italy and his son, Hristo Zlatanov, played for the Italian Men’s National Team in World Championship and World League tournaments.