Stoian Mladenov
Encyclopedia
Stoian Mladenov is a retired Bulgarian football (soccer)
midfielder
who played professionally in Europe and the United States.
In 1993, Mladenov began his career with Lokomotiv Ruse
before moving to Rakovski Ruse in 1994 and F.C. Etar
in 1995. Mladenov left Bulgaria for Malta in 1996, signing with Nadur Youngsters F.C.
He was the 1996-1997 Best Foreign Player as Nadur won the Gozo Football League First Division
championship. In 1997, Mladenov moved to the United States and joined the Long Island Rough Riders
. He played for their U-23 team that season. He then moved to the Minnesota Thunder
early in the 1998 A-League
season. He spent three seasons with the Thunder. In 2000, he was named to the First Team All League team. Mladenov also played part of the 1999-2000National Professional Soccer League season with the Cleveland Crunch
. On June 11, 2001, the Thunder sent Mladenov to the Rochester Rhinos as part of a three team trade which sent Andrew Restrepo
from the Rhinos to the Atlanta Silverbacks
and Steve Armas
from the Silverbacks to the Thunder. Mladenov played for the Rhinos through the 2003 season. In 2001, he was again named First Team All League. In December 2003, Mladenov signed with LASK Linz
of the second division Austrian Football First League
. He returned to the Rhinos for the 2005 season.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
who played professionally in Europe and the United States.
In 1993, Mladenov began his career with Lokomotiv Ruse
Lokomotiv Ruse
Lokomotiv Ruse was a Bulgarian football club founded in 1930. It was disbanded in 2002 due to financial difficulties.- Honors :* Winner of the Cup of the Ministry of Railways * Quarterfinal in the Bulgarian National Championship...
before moving to Rakovski Ruse in 1994 and F.C. Etar
F.C. Etar
Football Club Etar was a Bulgarian professional association football club from Veliko Tarnovo. Founded on 24 April 1924, the club spent most of its history in the Bulgarian A PFG....
in 1995. Mladenov left Bulgaria for Malta in 1996, signing with Nadur Youngsters F.C.
Nadur Youngsters F.C.
Nadur Youngsters Football Club is a Maltese Football Club from the village of Nadur,in the island of Gozo.The club was founded in 1958 and won the Gozo Football League for ten times to achieve the Golden Star for sports excellence.The team currently competes in the Gozo Football League...
He was the 1996-1997 Best Foreign Player as Nadur won the Gozo Football League First Division
Gozo Football League First Division
The Gozitan First Division, also known as Melita First Division for sponsorship reasons, is the top level of the Gozitan football league system...
championship. In 1997, Mladenov moved to the United States and joined the Long Island Rough Riders
Long Island Rough Riders
Long Island Rough Riders is an American soccer team based in South Huntington, New York, United States. Founded in 1994, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Mid Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference.The team plays its...
. He played for their U-23 team that season. He then moved to the Minnesota Thunder
Minnesota Thunder
Minnesota Thunder was an American professional soccer team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Founded in 1990, the team played in the USL First Division , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2009. The team played its home games at the National Sports Center in nearby...
early in the 1998 A-League
1998 A-League
-Northeast Division:-Atlantic Division:-Central Division:-Pacific Division:-Eastern Conference:-Western Conference:-Eastern Conference semifinal 1:-Eastern Conference semifinal 2:-Western Conference semifinal 1:...
season. He spent three seasons with the Thunder. In 2000, he was named to the First Team All League team. Mladenov also played part of the 1999-2000National Professional Soccer League season with the Cleveland Crunch
Cleveland Crunch
The Cleveland Crunch was formed in 1989 as an expansion team in the Major Soccer League to replace the Cleveland Force, which had folded on July 22, 1988. Akron businessmen George S. Hoffman and Stuart Lichter formed an ownership group, named Al Miller general manager and former Force star Kai...
. On June 11, 2001, the Thunder sent Mladenov to the Rochester Rhinos as part of a three team trade which sent Andrew Restrepo
Andrew Restrepo
Andrew Restrepo is a retired U.S. soccer defender who played one season with the MetroStars in Major League Soccer....
from the Rhinos to the Atlanta Silverbacks
Atlanta Silverbacks
Atlanta Silverbacks is an American professional soccer team based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1995, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, having previously sat out the 2009 and 2010 seasons while the ownership...
and Steve Armas
Steve Armas
Anibal “Steve” Armas is a retired U.S. soccer midfielder who spent one season in Major League Soccer and several seasons in the United Soccer Leagues...
from the Silverbacks to the Thunder. Mladenov played for the Rhinos through the 2003 season. In 2001, he was again named First Team All League. In December 2003, Mladenov signed with LASK Linz
LASK Linz
LASK Linz is an Austrian association football club, from the Upper-Austrian state capital Linz. It is the oldest football club hailing from that region, and currently plays in the Austrian Football First League. The club's colours are black and white...
of the second division Austrian Football First League
Austrian Football First League
The Austrian Football First League is the second highest professional division in Austrian football. It contains 10 teams and is run in the same fashion as the Austrian Bundesliga...
. He returned to the Rhinos for the 2005 season.