Spas Borislavov Delev (Bulgarian: Спас Бориславов Делев; born 22 September 1989) is a Bulgarian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Ludogorets Razgrad and the Bulgaria national team.[2]

Spas Delev
Delev with Bulgaria in 2011
Personal information
Full name Spas Borislavov Delev
Date of birth (1989-09-22) 22 September 1989 (age 34)
Place of birth Klyuch, Bulgaria
Height 1.69 m (5 ft 6+12 in)[1]
Position(s) Winger / Forward
Team information
Current team
Ludogorets Razgrad
Number 90
Youth career
1997–2006 Belasitsa Petrich
2006–2008 Pirin Blagoevgrad
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2010 Pirin Blagoevgrad 26 (11)
2009–2010CSKA Sofia (loan) 26 (2)
2010–2012 CSKA Sofia 39 (16)
2012 Mersin İdmanyurdu 12 (2)
2013 CSKA Sofia 14 (5)
2013 Las Palmas 6 (0)
2014–2015 Lokomotiv Plovdiv 22 (2)
2015–2016 Beroe Stara Zagora 29 (7)
2016–2019 Pogoń Szczecin 72 (11)
2019–2021 Arda Kardzhali 63 (14)
2022– Ludogorets Razgrad 57 (11)
International career
2008–2011 Bulgaria U21 2 (0)
2011– Bulgaria 47 (5)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 09:34, 11 December 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 16 November 2023

Club career edit

Youth career edit

Born in Klyuch, part of Petrich Municipality, Delev started to play football in Pirin.[3] During the season 2007–08 he played for the team in the Bulgarian amateur division. Pirin took first place and were promoted to the "B" professional football group. On 9 August 2008 Delev made his debut in professional football in a match against Botev Krivodol. In this match he scored his first goal in B PFG. In the first half of 2008–09 season Delev scored 8 goals in 16 matches.

New Pirin edit

After the union of the two Pirin clubs from Blagoevgrad in December 2008, Delev joined the part of the team, which plays in the top division. On 4 March 2009, he scored a goal in a match against CSKA Sofia for the Bulgarian Cup and Pirin eliminated their opponent. In the semi-final of that tournament against Levski, Delev had a tragic accident. After spasm of the lungs he remained to lie on the grass, and later was sent to emergency hospital.[4] It was later found out that he had played with a flu.

Delev made his A PFG debut on 8 March, in a match against Cherno More. On 5 April, he scored twice against Belasitsa Petrich. Those were his first goals in A PFG. On 11 June, Delev was named the Best Young Footballer of the 2008–09 season in Bulgaria. Just 19, Delev's goals helped Pirin to reach the Bulgarian Cup final.

CSKA Sofia edit

 
Delev playing for CSKA in 2010

On 27 June 2009, Delev joined CSKA on one-year loan for 2009–10 and later signed a three-year contract. He scored his first goal for CSKA in the second-leg of the UEFA Europa League play-off of against Dynamo Moscow on 27 August 2009, bringing the score to 1–1 with a header.[5] Delev netted the third goal in the victory over The New Saints in the UEFA Europa League play-off.[6] On 16 December 2010, he found the net in a 1–3 away loss to F.C. Porto in the Europa League group stage.[7] He also scored two goals in the Bulgarian Cup semi-final against Litex Lovech on 20 April 2011,[8] as well as the winning goal against Slavia Sofia in the final on 25 May 2011.[9] During the 2010–11 season he managed 13 goals in the league.

Mersin Idmanyurdu edit

On 12 January 2012, Delev signed a 3,5-year contract with Turkish side Mersin İdmanyurdu.[10] Delev's debut came on 15 January, in a 0–2 home loss against Antalyaspor in a Süper Lig match, during which he appeared as a second-half substitute.[11] On 24 January, Delev netted his first goal for the team, opening the scoring in a 1–2 home loss against Kayserispor.[12] In June 2012, he dissolved his contract due to financial reasons.[13]

CSKA Sofia edit

After seven months without a club, Delev returned to CSKA Sofia on 31 January 2013.[14]

Las Palmas edit

On 30 July 2013, Delev completed his move to Las Palmas on a free transfer.[15] He signed a two-year contract and was given the number 22 shirt.

Pogoń Szczecin edit

On 20 June 2016, Delev signed for Polish side Pogoń Szczecin on a three-year contract.[16] He made his Ekstraklasa debut on 16 July, replacing Mateusz Lewandowski in the 66th minute of Pogoń's 2–1 loss against Wisła Kraków.[17] He scored his first goal in a 4–0 away win against Kalisz in a game of Polish Cup on 10 August. His first league goals for Pogon came on 29 October when he scored twice in a 2–1 home win over Ruch Chorzów. He scored a brace in a 2-4 away win against Nieciecza, on 17 March 2018.

Ludogorets Razgrad edit

In December 2021, Delev joined Ludogorets Razgrad.[18]

International career edit

In October 2008, the Bulgaria under-21s manager Ivan Kolev called Delev into the Bulgaria U21 team for the friendly matches with Greece and Macedonia.

He made his debut for the senior side on 26 March 2011, in the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying match against Switzerland.[19] On 4 June 2011, he came on as a substitute in the qualifier against Montenegro.[20]

His first Bulgaria goals came on his 14th appearance on 25 March 2017, scoring twice in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Netherlands, which ended in a 2–0 victory.[21]

Career statistics edit

Club edit

As of 15 December 2023
Club performance League Cup[a] Continental[b] Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
2007–08 Pirin Blagoevgrad A Group 14 8 0 0 14 8
2008–09 12 3 3 1 15 4
Total 26 11 3 1 29 12
2009–10 CSKA Sofia A Group 26 2 3 1 7 1 36 4
2010–11 26 13 4 6 8 2 38 21
2011–12 13 3 2 2 2 0 16 5
Total 65 18 9 9 17 3 90 30
2011–12 Mersin İdmanyurdu Süper Lig 12 2 0 0 12 2
2012–13 CSKA Sofia A Group 14 5 2 0 16 5
2013–14 Las Palmas Segunda 6 0 1 0 7 0
2013–14 Lokomotiv Plovdiv A Group 13 1 3 0 16 1
2014–15 9 1 4 2 13 3
Total 22 2 7 2 29 4
2015–16 Beroe Stara Zagora A Group 29 4 4 0 4 4 37 8
2016–17 Pogoń Szczecin Ekstraklasa 30 4 5 1 35 5
2017–18 28 5 1 0 29 5
2018–19 14 2 0 0 14 2
Total 72 11 6 1 78 12
2019–20 Arda Kardzhali First League 19 1 2 0 21 1
2020–21 26 8 5 2 31 10
2021–22 18 5 2 1 2 0 22 6
Total 63 14 9 3 2 0 74 17
2021–22 Ludogorets Razgrad First League 11 1 1 0 12 1
2022–23 30 7 4 1 15 0 49 8
2023–24 16 3 0 0 13 0 29 3
Total 57 11 5 1 28 0 90 12
Career total 363 76 46 17 51 7 460 100
  1. ^ Includes Bulgarian Supercup matches.
  2. ^ Includes UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference League matches.

International edit

As of match played 16 November 2023
Bulgaria
Year Apps Goals
2011 5 0
2013 4 0
2016 4 0
2017 5 2
2018 4 0
2019 3 0
2020 4 0
2021 6 1
2022 3 1
2023 9 1
Total 47 5

International goals edit

Scores and results list Bulgaria's goal tally first.

No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1
25 March 2017 Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria   Netherlands
1–0
2–0
2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
2
2–0
3
8 September 2021   Georgia 3–0 4–1 Friendly
4
16 November 2022 AEK Arena – Georgios Karapatakis, Larnaca, Cyprus   Cyprus 2–0 2–0 Friendly
5
16 November 2023 Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria   Hungary 1–1 2–2 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying

Honours edit

Pirin Blagoevgrad

CSKA Sofia

Arda Kardzhali

Ludogorets Razgrad

Individual

References edit

  1. ^ "Българите с половин сантиметър по-високи" (in Bulgarian). 7sport.net. 1 September 2011. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  2. ^ "Bulgaria - S. Delev - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". ke.soccerway.com. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  3. ^ "Заради любовта към село Ключ, Делев отказа 2 млн. от Кьолн" (in Bulgarian). Livesport.bg. 21 January 2011. Archived from the original on 10 July 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
  4. ^ [1] Net Info
  5. ^ "Велик ЦСКА! Динамо (Москва) на колене пред евробоеца на България". Спортал.бг. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
  6. ^ "ЦСКА се докопа до 3:0 срещу Дъ Ню Сейнтс". Sportline.bg. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  7. ^ "ЦСКА не стигна до чудо в Порто, "чeрвените" загубиха с 1:3". Топспорт.бг. 15 December 2010. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  8. ^ "Радуканов пропя сръбско за ЦСКА, героят Делев се качва на трактор заради купата". Standartnews.com. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  9. ^ "CSKA Sofia-Slavia Sofia Match Report (1–0)". soccerway.com. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  10. ^ "Mersin İdmanyurdu sign CSKA Sofia striker Spas Delev". turkish-football.com. 12 January 2012. Archived from the original on 16 December 2012.
  11. ^ "Mersin İdmanyurdu vs. Antalyaspor 0–2". soccerway.com. 19 January 2012.
  12. ^ "Mersin İdmanyurduL vs. Kayserispor 1–2". soccerway.com. 25 January 2012.
  13. ^ "Спас Делев заряза Мерсин" (in Bulgarian). novsport.com. 27 June 2012.
  14. ^ "Спас Делев подписа с ЦСКА" (in Bulgarian). gong.bg. 31 January 2013. Archived from the original on 3 February 2013.
  15. ^ "Spas Delev will play in Spain". daily-news.eu. 30 July 2013. Archived from the original on 31 July 2013.
  16. ^ "SPAS DELEV PIŁKARZEM POGONI" (in Polish). pogonszczecin.pl. 20 June 2016.
  17. ^ "Wisła Kraków 2–1 Pogoń Szczecin". soccerway.com. 16 July 2016.
  18. ^ "Лудогорец обяви привличането на Спас Делев" (in Bulgarian). topsport.bg. 23 December 2021. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
  19. ^ "Bulgaria and Switzerland draw a blank". Uefa.com. 26 March 2011.
  20. ^ "Montenegro 1–1 Bulgaria". Uefa.com. 4 June 2011.
  21. ^ "Bulgaria 2-0 Netherlands: Spas Delev's double earns Ivaylo Petev's side shock win over Dutch".
  22. ^ https://www.vbox7.com/play:8ade8ce9f0

External links edit