Velizar Dimitrov

Velizar Dimitrov (Bulgarian: Велизар Димитров; born 13 April 1979) is a former Bulgarian professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

Velizar Dimitrov
Personal information
Date of birth (1979-04-13) 13 April 1979
Place of birth Pernik, Bulgaria
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in)
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Youth career
Minyor Pernik
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–1998 Lokomotiv Sofia 3 (0)
1998–2000 Minyor Pernik 28 (6)
1999 → Litex (loan) 0 (0)
2000 Lokomotiv Sofia 2 (0)
2001–2002 Marek Dupnitsa 43 (18)
2002–2008 CSKA Sofia 115 (36)
2008–2013 Metalurh Donetsk 108 (18)
Total 296 (78)
National team
2002–2010 Bulgaria 31 (3)
Teams managed
2014–2015 Metalurh Donetsk (Scout)
2016–2021 CSKA Sofia (Scout)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

He has previously played for Minyor Pernik, Lokomotiv Sofia, Marek Dupnitsa and CSKA Sofia. Dimitrov was part of the Bulgarian 2004 European Football Championship team, who exited in the first round, finishing bottom of Group C, having finished top of Qualifying Group 8 in the pre-tournament phase. He has also worked as a pundit since his retirement.

Career

He joined CSKA Sofia in 2002, brought in the team by the manager Stoycho Mladenov..

In 2003, when Dimitrov won a number of individual awards as one of the best players in the A PFG, he was close to securing a move to FC Porto, but the deal eventually fell through due to financial reasons.[1]

Metalurh Donetsk

On 11 June 2008, Dimitrov signed with Metalurh Donetsk on a 2+1-year deal for a reported fee of €500,000.[2] He made his Ukrainian Premier League debut against Karpaty Lviv on 19 July, playing the full 90 minutes.[3]

On 17 November 2012, he scored the only goal in a 1–0 victory over Dynamo Kyiv.[4][5] He marked his 100th league appearance for Metalurh against Hoverla Uzhhorod on 20 April 2013, by scoring a winning goal for a 2–1 home win.[6]

International career

Dimitrov played for the league based national side in an unofficial friendly against Azerbaijan on 21 February 2002, scoring a goal for a 3–0 home win.[7] He made his competitive debut for the national team in a 1–0 away loss against Spain on 20 November 2002, coming on as a second-half substitute.[8] On 20 August 2003, Dimitrov opened his senior international goals tally, scoring twice for a 3–0 win over Lithuania.

He was included in the Bulgaria Euro 2004 squad in May 2004 by Plamen Markov and came on as a second-half substitute in Bulgaria's opening game against Sweden on 14 June.[9] He was brought on once again in the match against Italy.

Career statistics

Club
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club League Season League Cup Continental Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Lokomotiv Sofia A Group 1997–98 3010—40
Minyor Pernik 1998–99 234??—224
Litex (loan)[10] 1999–00 00002020
Minyor Pernik 1999–00 52??—52
Lokomotiv Sofia 2000–01 2000—20
Marek Dupnitsa B Group 2000–01 84??—84
A Group 2001–02 351400—3514
Total 4318??004318
Career total 781052008312

International goals
Scores and results list Bulgaria's goal tally first.
#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1. 20 August 2003Vasil Levski, Sofia, Bulgaria Lithuania2–03–0Friendly
2.3–0
3.17 November 2007Vasil Levski, Sofia, Bulgaria Romania1–01–0Euro 2008 qualifier

Honours

Club
CSKA Sofia
Metalurh Donetsk

References
  1. "Велизар разкри учителите си за "велизарките", "подражавах на Емо Костадинов и Гиби Искренов". topsport.bg. 15 February 2014.
  2. "Велизар Димитров е играч на Металург Донецк" (in Bulgarian). sportline.bg. 11 June 2008.
  3. "Metalurh Donetsk 1–0 Karpaty Lviv". soccerway.com. 19 July 2008.
  4. "Велизар Димитров в идеалния отбор на 16-ия кръг в Украйна" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 21 November 2012.
  5. "Metalurh Donetsk 1–0 Dynamo Kyiv". soccerway.com. 17 November 2012.
  6. "Като в приказка" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 21 April 2013.
  7. "Националите ни с лекота се справиха с азерите" (in Bulgarian). more.info.bg. 21 February 2002. Archived from the original on 28 June 2013.
  8. "Испания – България 1:0" (in Bulgarian). more.info.bg. 20 November 2002. Archived from the original on 28 June 2013.
  9. "Sweden 5–0 Bulgaria". bbc.co.uk. 14 June 2004.
  10. "Dimitrov Statistics for Litex". worldfootball.net.
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