Ivelin Popov
Encyclopedia
Ivelin Popov (born 26 October 1987) is a Bulgaria
n footballer, currently playing for Gaziantepspor
as an all-round attacking midfielder.
, Popov started to play football in Septemvri Sofia's academy. In 2005, he trained for four months with Feyenoord but did not sign with the team because he was not 18 years old. In September 2005, he returned to Bulgaria
and played in a tournament for Beroe's youth team and there he was spotted by the Litex Lovech scouts.
On 18 September 2008, Popov scored a goal in the first round of the UEFA Cup
against Aston Villa, and according to the commentator, was being watched by scouts from Sunderland
.
In July 2009, Popov was given the captain's armband.
During the week of 16 August 2010, Popov arrived at Premier League club Blackburn Rovers
for a trial as confirmed by club chairman John Williams who controls club transfer funds. Williams, is quoted as saying "He is one of a number of strikers currently under consideration. We have not made an offer to his club." on 19 August 2010. It was later revealed that Popov had completed his trial with the club successfully, and that they were considering making a bid for the player. The work permit issue revealed by some sections of the media has since been reputed as untrue however. Popov was also connected with the newly promoted Spanish club Hércules
, but they didn't agree to pay €3 million. The saga ended when he was signed by the Turkish
club Gaziantepspor
for a reported fee of €1.8 million.
's fourth game of the season, in the match away to Galatasaray
in a 1–0 defeat. Popov scored his first league goal for Gaziantepspor against Bucaspor
on 16 October.
called Popov up to the Bulgaria national team
squad for the friendly match with Wales
. On 11 February 2009, he scored his first goal for Bulgaria against Switzerland. On 2 April 2009, Popov scored the first of two goals for Bulgaria in the 2-0 win against Cyprus.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n footballer, currently playing for Gaziantepspor
Gaziantepspor
Gaziantepspor is a professional Turkish football club located in the city of Gaziantep. Formed in 1969, Gaziantepspor are nicknamed the Şahinler . The club colours are black and red, and they play their home matches at Kamil Ocak Stadyumu....
as an all-round attacking midfielder.
Youth career
Born in SofiaSofia
Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...
, Popov started to play football in Septemvri Sofia's academy. In 2005, he trained for four months with Feyenoord but did not sign with the team because he was not 18 years old. In September 2005, he returned to Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
and played in a tournament for Beroe's youth team and there he was spotted by the Litex Lovech scouts.
Litex Lovech
Popov signed his first professional contract with Litex Lovech in December 2005. He made his official debut in the Bulgarian top division in a match against CSKA Sofia on 12 March 2006. He played 59 minutes. The result of the match was a 1–1 draw. On 9 April 2006 he scored his first goal in professional football against Lokomotiv Sofia. The result of the match was a 3–1 win for Litex. The same season, Popov played in 11 matches and scored five goals.On 18 September 2008, Popov scored a goal in the first round of the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
against Aston Villa, and according to the commentator, was being watched by scouts from Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
.
In July 2009, Popov was given the captain's armband.
During the week of 16 August 2010, Popov arrived at Premier League club Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
for a trial as confirmed by club chairman John Williams who controls club transfer funds. Williams, is quoted as saying "He is one of a number of strikers currently under consideration. We have not made an offer to his club." on 19 August 2010. It was later revealed that Popov had completed his trial with the club successfully, and that they were considering making a bid for the player. The work permit issue revealed by some sections of the media has since been reputed as untrue however. Popov was also connected with the newly promoted Spanish club Hércules
Hércules CF
Hércules Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Alicante, in the autonomous community of Valencia. Founded in 1922, it currently plays in the Spanish second division, and holds home games at the Estadio José Rico Pérez, which seats 30,000 spectators.-History:After first...
, but they didn't agree to pay €3 million. The saga ended when he was signed by the Turkish
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
club Gaziantepspor
Gaziantepspor
Gaziantepspor is a professional Turkish football club located in the city of Gaziantep. Formed in 1969, Gaziantepspor are nicknamed the Şahinler . The club colours are black and red, and they play their home matches at Kamil Ocak Stadyumu....
for a reported fee of €1.8 million.
Gaziantepspor
Popov was given the number 71 shirt at Kamil Ocak Stadium. He made his first Süper Lig appearance on 13 September 2010, in GaziantepsporGaziantepspor
Gaziantepspor is a professional Turkish football club located in the city of Gaziantep. Formed in 1969, Gaziantepspor are nicknamed the Şahinler . The club colours are black and red, and they play their home matches at Kamil Ocak Stadyumu....
's fourth game of the season, in the match away to Galatasaray
Galatasaray S.K. (football team)
Galatasaray Anonim Şirketi is a Turkish football club, part of the Galatasaray S.K. multi-sport club of Istanbul. Galatasaray is a major sports club in Turkey, holding 17 Turkish Super League titles and the highest number of Turkish Cups....
in a 1–0 defeat. Popov scored his first league goal for Gaziantepspor against Bucaspor
Bucaspor
Bucaspor is a professional Turkish football club located in the city of Izmir. Formed in 1928, Bucaspor are nicknamed Fırtına . The club colours are yellow and navy....
on 16 October.
Club statistics
As of 21 July 2011| Club | Season | League | Cup | Europe | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Litex Lovech PFC Litex Lovech PFC Litex Lovech or simply Litex is a Bulgarian football club from the town of Lovech, which currently competes in the Bulgarian A Professional Football Group, the top division of Bulgarian football... |
2005–06 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 5 |
| 2006–07 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 21 | 1 | |
| 2007–08 | 25 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 35 | 16 | |
| 2008–09 | 22 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 29 | 9 | |
| 2009–10 | 18 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 6 | |
| 2010–11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | |
| Total | 96 | 25 | 10 | 5 | 17 | 8 | 121 | 38 | |
| Gaziantepspor Gaziantepspor Gaziantepspor is a professional Turkish football club located in the city of Gaziantep. Formed in 1969, Gaziantepspor are nicknamed the Şahinler . The club colours are black and red, and they play their home matches at Kamil Ocak Stadyumu.... |
2010–11 | 28 | 2 | 7 | 2 | – | – | 35 | 4 |
| 2011–12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | |
| Career totals | 124 | 27 | 17 | 7 | 19 | 9 | 159 | 43 | |
International career
In August 2007, Dimitar PenevDimitar Penev
Dimitar Penev is a Bulgarian football coach and former player and central defender of CSKA Sofia. He played 90 games for Bulgaria national football team and scored 2 goals. He is regarded as one of his country's best ever defenders, winning Bulgarian footballer of the year in 1967 and 1971, he...
called Popov up to the Bulgaria national team
Bulgaria national football team
The FIFA Bulgaria national football team is an association football team fielded by the Bulgarian Football Union, a member association of UEFA. The team's home ground is Vasil Levski in Sofia and Luboslav Penev is in charge manager after replacement of Lothar Matthäus...
squad for the friendly match with Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
. On 11 February 2009, he scored his first goal for Bulgaria against Switzerland. On 2 April 2009, Popov scored the first of two goals for Bulgaria in the 2-0 win against Cyprus.
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 11 February 2009 | Switzerland | 0–1 | 1–1 | Friendly. | |
| 2. | 1 April 2009 | Sofia Sofia Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated... , Bulgaria Bulgaria Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east... |
1–0 | 2–0 | World Cup 2010 Qual. | |
| 3. | 19 May 2010 | Belgium | 0-1 | 1–2 | Friendly. | |
| 4. | 8 October 2010 | Cardiff Cardiff Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for... , Wales Wales Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²... |
0-1 | 0-1 | Euro 2012 Qual. | |
| 5. | 9 February 2011 | Antalya Antalya Antalya is a city on the Mediterranean coast of southwestern Turkey. With a population 1,001,318 as of 2010. It is the eighth most populous city in Turkey and country's biggest international sea resort.- History :... , Turkey Turkey Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe... |
1-1 | 2–2 | Friendly. | |
| 6. | 9 February 2011 | Antalya Antalya Antalya is a city on the Mediterranean coast of southwestern Turkey. With a population 1,001,318 as of 2010. It is the eighth most populous city in Turkey and country's biggest international sea resort.- History :... , Turkey Turkey Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe... |
2-2 | 2–2 | Friendly. | |
| 7. | 4 June 2011 | Podgorica Podgorica Podgorica , is the capital and largest city of Montenegro.Podgorica's favourable position at the confluence of the Ribnica and Morača rivers and the meeting point of the fertile Zeta Plain and Bjelopavlići Valley has encouraged settlement... , Montenegro Montenegro Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the... |
1-1 | 1–1 | Euro 2012 Qual. |
Club
Litex Lovech- Bulgarian A PFG: 2009–10
- Bulgarian SupercupBulgarian SupercupThe Bulgarian Supercup is an annually held football match between the football club that has won the Bulgarian A Professional Football Group and the club that has won the Bulgarian Cup...
: 2010 - Bulgarian CupBulgarian CupThe Bulgarian Cup is a Bulgarian annual football competition. It is the country's main cup competition and all officially registered Bulgarian football teams take part in it. It is sponsored by the Bulgarian Corporate Commercial Bank....
: 2007–08, 2008–09 - Bulgarian Players' Player of the Year: 2009-10