Aleks Milenov Petkov (Bulgarian: Алекс Миленов Петков; born 25 July 1999) is a Bulgarian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Polish club Śląsk Wrocław.[1]

Aleks Petkov
Personal information
Full name Aleks Milenov Petkov
Date of birth (1999-07-25) 25 July 1999 (age 24)
Place of birth Sofia, Bulgaria
Height 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
Śląsk Wrocław
Number 5
Youth career
2008–2016 Cherno More
2016–2017 Heart of Midlothian
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2020 Heart of Midlothian 0 (0)
2018Berwick Rangers (loan) 6 (0)
2019–2020Clyde (loan) 14 (0)
2020Brechin City (loan) 4 (0)
2020 Levski Sofia 12 (0)
2021–2023 Arda Kardzhali 61 (2)
2023– Śląsk Wrocław 30 (0)
International career
2016 Bulgaria U19 1 (0)
2017 Bulgaria U18 2 (0)
2019–2020 Bulgaria U21 8 (0)
2022– Bulgaria 8 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:45, 4 May 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 25 March 2024

Career edit

Petkov began his career at Cherno More Varna and joined Heart of Midlothian at the age of 16 in June 2016, signing a three-year contract.[2]

On 22 July 2017, Petkov made his first-team debut, replacing John Souttar during a 3–0 League Cup victory over East Fife at Tynecastle Park. On 19 January 2018, Petkov joined Scottish League Two side Berwick Rangers on loan until the end of the season.[3] He made his league debut in a 2–3 home loss against Peterhead eleven days later, playing the full 90 minutes.

During the 2019–20 season Petkov was loaned to Clyde and Brechin City.[4]

On 8 September 2020, Petkov returned to Bulgaria, signing a 1-year deal with Levski Sofia.[5]

On 6 July 2023, after a two-year stint at Arda Kardzhali, Petkov joined Polish side Śląsk Wrocław on a one-year contract, with an option for another two years.[6]

International career edit

Petkov made his debut for the Bulgarian under-21 team on 22 March 2019 in the starting eleven for the friendly against Northern Ireland U21.[7] He earned his first cap for the senior national team on 26 March 2022, coming on as a substitute during the second half in the 1–2 loss against Qatar in a friendly match.[8] On 16 November 2023, he scored an own goal in the 97th minute in the penultimate match of the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying against Hungary.[9]

Personal life edit

His father Milen Petkov was also a professional footballer and Bulgarian international.[10]

Career statistics edit

International edit

As of match played 25 March 2024
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Bulgaria 2022 1 0
2023 5 0
2024 2 0
Total 8 0

References edit

  1. ^ Alex Petkov Stats
  2. ^ "Talented youngsters join club". heartsfc.co.uk. 15 June 2016.
  3. ^ "Irving returns, Petkov loaned out". heartsfc.co.uk. 19 January 2018.
  4. ^ "BRECHIN BRING IN PETKOV". SPFL. 18 February 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  5. ^ "ПФК Левски подписа с Алекс Петков". levski.bg. 8 September 2020. Retrieved 8 September 2020.[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ "Aleks Petkov piłkarzem Śląska Wrocław" (in Polish). Śląsk Wrocław. 6 July 2023.
  7. ^ "България U21 отстъпи с 0:1 в контролата със Северна Ирландия U21" (in Bulgarian). bfunion.bg. 22 March 2019.
  8. ^ "Груба грешка ни попари в Катар, "лъвовете" вече 19 мача без успех далеч от дома" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 26 March 2022. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  9. ^ UEFA.com. "Bulgaria-Hungary | European Qualifiers 2024". UEFA.com. Retrieved 2023-11-17.
  10. ^ "Милен Петков пред БЛИЦ: Получихме шокираща оферта за сина ми, още треперя!". Blitz.bg/sport.

External links edit