Northern Ireland v Bulgaria

BULGARIA SQUAD

Words Liam Blackburn

GOALKEEPERS

IVAN KARADZHOV ARDA

PLAMEN ILIEV LUDOGORETS

DANIEL NAUMOV CSKA 1948

Age 29 Caps 19 Goals 0

Age 23 Caps 0 Goals 0

Age 31 Caps 0 Goals 0

An ex-Levski Sofia stopper who later played for two Romanian clubs before coming back to Bulgaria and joining Ludogorets, with whom he has won two titles. Iliev was a regular for his country’s Under-21s before making his debut in 2012. Saved a penalty from Emil Forsberg in a 3-2 win over Sweden in 2017.

Karadzhov has played for CSKA Sofia, Lokomotiv Plovdiv, Beroe, Vereya and Arda in Bulgaria while also appearing for Shakhtyor in Belarus. Prior to this international break he had been an unused substitute in four Bulgaria matchday squads but had yet to make his senior bow for his country.

Was in the academies at both CSKA Sofia and Ludogorets. Made his senior debut with Ludogorets but could not establish himself as the club’s number one and moved to Vereya on loan before joining CSKA 1948. Scouts from some of Europe’s biggest clubs have reportedly been keeping tabs on the young goalkeeper.

DEFENDERS

VASIL BOZHIKOV SLOVAN BRATISLAVA

PETAR ZANEV CSKA SOFIA

STRAHIL POPOV HATAYSPOR

Age 32 Caps 32 Goals 2

Age 35 Caps 45 Goals 0

Age 30 Caps 35 Goals 0

Central defender who captains Slovan Bratislava, with whom he has won two Slovak Super Liga titles. Previously played in Bulgaria and Turkey. Scored in two of Bulgaria’s Euro 2020 qualifiers, against Kosovo and Czech Republic. Won his first cap in 2016 and has largely been a mainstay ever since.

Vastly experienced defender who can play at left back or centre back and has previously served as captain for Bulgaria. Joined Celta Vigo on loan earlier in his career when Bulgaria legend Hristo Stoichkov was in charge of the Spanish club. He has also played in Ukraine and Russia.

Right back who had four assists in the 2018-19 Nations League. Popov has played his club football in Turkey since joining Kasimpasa in 2015. Won promotion to the Turkish top flight with Hatayspor last season. Was awarded his first senior international cap in 2014 in a 1-1 draw with Canada.

CICINHO LUDOGORETS

PETKO HRISTOV PRO VERCELLI

ANDREA HRISTOV SLAVIA SOFIA

Age 32 Caps 7 Goals 0

Age 22 Caps 0 Goals 0

Age 22 Caps 0 Goals 0

Born in Brazil, Cicinho received a Bulgarian passport in 2018 and received his first call-up for the country in August 2020. He made his debut in Cardiff against Wales. Joined Ludogorets from Santos in 2015 and has already won five league titles. Two of his three goals for Ludogorets have come this season.

One of the Hristov twins in this squad. Petko began his career with Levski Sofia before moving across the city to join Slavia. Since 2017 he has been with Fiorentina, who signed Hristov off the back of his displays in the 2017 Under-19 Euros. Is currently on his third loan spell away from the club.

The other Hristov twin was also uncapped at senior level prior to this international break. He appeared in the matchday squad for a 1-0 loss to Belarus in February 2020. Andrea has remained with Slavia and played for the club alongside Petko. He has played in Italy as well, having joined Cosenza on loan in 2019.

VALENTIN ANTOV BOLOGNA

DANIEL DIMOV CHERNO MORE

Age 20 Caps 4 Goals 0

Age 32 Caps 2 Goals 0

Antov has plenty of experience already having broken the record for CSKA Sofia’s youngest player when debuting aged 14. He captained the club in his teens and moved to Bologna on loan with an option to buy in February. He made his senior debut for Bulgaria in March 2019.

Captain of his club team, with whom he is in his third spell. Dimov has also played for teams in Israel and Turkey. Scored in a cup game for Cherno More earlier this month. He received his first call-up for Bulgaria’s senior side in October 2010 but only won his first two caps in the World Cup qualifiers against Switzerland and Italy in this international window.

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