Aleks Petkov

Bulgarian footballer
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)
2018 → Berwick Rangers (loan) 6 (0)
2019–2020 → Clyde (loan) 14 (0)
2020 → Brechin City (loan) 4 (0)
2020 Levski Sofia 12 (0)
2021–2023 Arda Kardzhali 61 (2)
2023– Śląsk Wrocław 25 (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 March 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 25 March 2024

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]

Career

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

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

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

Career statistics

International

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

  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

  • Aleks Petkov at Soccerway
  • v
  • t
  • e
Śląsk Wrocław – current squad