Georgi Kitanov

Georgi Kitanov (Bulgarian: Георги Китанов; born 6 March 1995) is a Bulgarian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Petrolul Ploiești.

Georgi Kitanov

Personal information
Full name	Georgi Georgiev Kitanov
Date of birth	6 March 1995
Place of birth	Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria
Height	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[1]
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Club information
Current team	Petrolul Ploiești
Number	1
Youth career
2004–2012	Cherno More
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2012–2016	Cherno More	110	(0)
2016–2019	CSKA Sofia	35	(0)
2018–2019	→ Cherno More (loan)	10	(0)
2019–2020	Astra Giurgiu	13	(0)
2020–	Petrolul Ploiești	7	(0)
National team^‡
2011–2012	Bulgaria U-17	6	(0)
2012–2013	Bulgaria U-19	3	(0)
2012–2016	Bulgaria U-21	18	(0)
2016–2017	Bulgaria	0	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 9 December 2020 ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 19 December 2017

Kitanov has been with Cherno More since the age of 9. He has also represented Bulgaria at under-17, under-19 and under-21 level.

Career

Cherno More

Kitanov was born in Blagoevgrad, but grew up in Varna. He joined Cherno More Academy at the age of nine.[2] In May 2012, he was promoted to the senior squad and given the number 33, for to replace the injured Petar Denchev. Kitanov made his first team debut in a 2–1 league win over Vidima-Rakovski on 14 May, coming on as a substitute for Plamen Kolev at the age of 17 years, 2 months and 8 days.

On 11 August 2012, he was handed his first league start, in a 3–0 home loss against Ludogorets Razgrad on the opening day of the 2012–13 season. A week later, Kitanov made his second start for Cherno More, keeping a clean sheet against Etar 1924 at Ivaylo Stadium. In January 2013, he spent a week on trial at Dutch club PSV Eindhoven.[3]

On 19 October 2014, Kitanov kept a clean sheet in the 4–0 win over Beroe, but was seriously injured in the closing minutes of the match, suffering a broken foot after a challenge from a Beroe player. He underwent an operation and was expected to recover in four months' time at the earliest.[4] Kitanov made his comeback for Cherno More from a serious injury on 26 May 2015, playing for 56 minutes of the 2–1 defeat against Lokomotiv Plovdiv.

On 3 March 2016 against Beroe, Kitanov made his 100th A Group appearance.[5]

CSKA Sofia

On 2 June 2016 Kitanov moved to CSKA Sofia for 3 years.[6] After quickly establishing himself as the first choice goalkeeper, Kitanov lost his status as the primary custodian shortly after the arrival of Lithuanian Vytautas Černiauskas. He was sent on loan at Cherno More on 3 September 2018 until the end of the season.[7]

Astra Giurgiu

On 19 June 2019, Kitanov signed a 3-year contract with Romanian Liga I side Astra Giurgiu.[8]

International career

Under U21

On 26 March 2016 Kitanov was in the starting lineup for the goalless draw with Wales U21.[9][10]

On 21 May 2016 Kitanov was in the starting lineup during the 0-1 defeat from France U21.[11]

Senior

In November 2016 Kitanov received his first call-up to the senior Bulgaria squad for a match against Belarus.[12]

Statistics

As of 20 June 2019

Club performance			League		Cup		Continental		Other		Total
Club	League	Season	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Bulgaria			League		Bulgarian Cup		Europe		Other[lower-alpha 1]		Total
Cherno More	A Group	2011–12	2	0	0	0	–		–		2	0
		2012–13	28	0	1	0	–		–		29	0
		2013–14	35	0	2	0	–		–		37	0
		2014–15	12	0	0	0	–		–		12	0
		2015–16	33	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	35	0
	Total		110	0	4	0	0	0	1	0	115	0
CSKA Sofia	First League	2016–17	33	0	0	0	–		–		33	0
		2017–18	2	0	1	0	–		–		3	0
		2018–19	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total		35	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	36	0
Cherno More (loan)	First League	2018–19	10	0	1	0	–		–		11	0
Astra Giurgiu	Liga I	2019–20	0	0	0	0	–		–		0	0
Career statistics			155	0	6	0	0	0	1	0	162	0

1. Includes Bulgarian Supercup matches.

Honours

Club

Cherno More

• Bulgarian Cup: 2014–15
• Bulgarian Supercup: 2015

References

1. "Профил на Георги Китанов" (in Bulgarian). winner.bg. Archived from the original on 18 February 2017. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
2. "Атанас Илиев и Георги Китанов са бъдещето на Черно море" (in Bulgarian). arenavarna.com. 16 May 2012.
3. "Georgi Kitanov on trial at PSV Eindhoven". scouting-team.com. 10 January 2013.
4. "Китанов: не се сърдя на Гади, стават такива неща, не е искал да ми причини болка" (in Bulgarian). topsport.bg. 22 October 2014. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
5. "Жоро Китанов – най-опитния млад играч в А група" (in Bulgarian). arenavarna.com. 4 March 2016.
6. Георги Китанов премина в ЦСКА
7. Георги Китанов беше преотстъпен
8. Trei noutăți sub comanda lui Alexa. afcastragiurgiu.ro (in Romanian)
9. България не успя да преклони Уелс
10. Младежите не успяха да се справят с Уелс (видео)
11. Младите "лъвове" отстъпиха пред Франция
12. "Petar Hubchev named an expanded group for Belarus". bfunion.bg. 4 November 2016. Archived from the original on 8 November 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2016.

External links

• Profile at uefa.com
• Georgi Kitanov at Soccerway