Nikola Iliev
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Nikola Iliyanov Iliev[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 6 June 2004 | ||
| Place of birth | Yudelnik, Bulgaria[2] | ||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Attacking midfielder, forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Botev Plovdiv | ||
| Number | 21 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2016–2020 | Botev Plovdiv | ||
| 2020–2023 | Inter Milan | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2019–2020 | Botev Plovdiv | 2 | (0) |
| 2022–2024 | Inter Milan | 0 | (0) |
| 2023–2024 | → CSKA 1948 II (loan) | 1 | (1) |
| 2023–2024 | → CSKA 1948 (loan) | 21 | (1) |
| 2024– | Botev Plovdiv | 12 | (1) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2021–2023 | Bulgaria U19 | 14 | (3) |
| 2023– | Bulgaria U21 | 9 | (3) |
| 2022– | Bulgaria | 8 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 07:36, 12 December 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 10:33, 14 October 2024 (UTC) | |||
Nikola Iliyanov Iliev (Bulgarian: Никола Илиянов Илиев; born 6 June 2004) is a Bulgarian footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder and forward for Bulgarian First League club Botev Plovdiv and the Bulgaria national team. He was included in The Guardian's "Next Generation" list for 2021.[3]
Career
[edit]Born in Yudelnik, Slivo Pole Municipality, Iliev began his football career at Botev Plovdiv.[4] He made his professional debut for the team in a league match against Slavia Sofia on 29 September 2019.[5] In June 2020, he completed his move to Inter Milan, signing a 4-year contract.[6]
On 31 May 2022, Iliev scored the winning goal for Inter U19 against Roma U19, making Inter Serie A Primavera champions.[7]
On 26 October 2022, he scored all 4 goals in Inter's 4–2 win against Viktoria Plzeň in the UEFA Youth League.[8]
On 5 February 2023, he was announced as Bulgarian Youth Footballer of 2022.[9]
On 10 August 2023, Iliev joined CSKA 1948 on a one-year loan with an option to make the transfer permanent.[10]
International career
[edit]Iliev received his first call-up for the Bulgaria senior national team on 5 September 2022, for the UEFA Nations League games against Gibraltar and North Macedonia on 23 and 26 September 2022.[11] He made his debut in the match against Gibraltar, won 5–1 by Bulgaria.[12]
Career statistics
[edit]Club
[edit]- As of 29 July 2024[13]
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Botev Plovdiv | 2019–20 | First League | 2 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 2020–21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| CSKA 1948 (loan) | 2023–24 | First League | 21 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 25 | 2 |
| CSKA 1948 II (loan) | 2023–24 | Second League | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Botev Plovdiv | 2024–25 | First League | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| Career total | 26 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 33 | 5 | ||
- Notes
- ^ Appearances in the Bulgarian Cup
International
[edit]- As of 20 June 2023
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bulgaria | 2022 | 4 | 0 |
| 2023 | 4 | 0 | |
| Total | 8 | 0 |
Honours
[edit]Individual
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Nikola Iliev - Stats and titles won". footballdatabase.eu. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
- ^ Nikola Iliev at WorldFootball.net
- ^ "Next Generation 2021: 60 of the best young talents in world football". The Guardian. 7 October 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
- ^ "Ботев (Пловдив) получил от Интер парите за Никола Илиев" (in Bulgarian). bnr.bg. 24 September 2020. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
- ^ С 10 души Славия победи Ботев, отмениха гол на "канарчетата" при доста спорни обстоятелства
- ^ Никола Илиев подписа с Интер за 4 години
- ^ Герой в Италия! Фамозен гол на Никола Илиев донесе шампионска титла на Интер U19
- ^ Inter-Plzeň | UEFA Youth League 2022/23
- ^ Никола Илиев грабна приза за най-прогресиращ млад играч в българския футбол
- ^ "Nikola Iliev joins CSKA 1948 Sofia" (Press release). Inter Milan. 10 August 2023. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
- ^ Кръстаич обяви играчите за Гибралтар и Северна Македония, Чочев и Михайлов са аут
- ^ Зрелищен успех за младата България в дебюта на Младен Кърстаич
- ^ Nikola Iliev at Soccerway
- ^ Kichukov, Simeon (5 February 2023). "За трети път Кирил Десподов беше избран за Футболист №1 на България". dnevnik.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 11 February 2023.
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- 2004 births
- Living people
- People from Rousse Province
- Bulgarian men's footballers
- Bulgaria men's youth international footballers
- Men's association football forwards
- First Professional Football League (Bulgaria) players
- Botev Plovdiv players
- Inter Milan players
- Bulgarian expatriate men's footballers
- Bulgarian expatriate sportspeople in Italy
- Expatriate men's footballers in Italy
- Bulgarian football forward stubs