Nikola Iliev

Bulgarian footballer
Nikola Iliev
Personal information
Full name Nikola Iliyanov Iliev[1]
Date of birth (2004-06-06) 6 June 2004 (age 19)
Place of birth Yudelnik, Bulgaria[2]
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Attacking midfielder, forward
Team information
Current team
 CSKA 1948
(on loan from Inter Milan)
Number 17
Youth career
2016–2020 Botev Plovdiv
2020–2023 Inter Milan
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2020 Botev Plovdiv 2 (0)
2022– Inter Milan 0 (0)
2023– → CSKA 1948 (loan) 14 (0)
International career‡
2021–2023 Bulgaria U19 14 (3)
2023– Bulgaria U21 6 (2)
2022– Bulgaria 8 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 07:30, 29 December 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 08:28, 22 November 2023 (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 CSKA 1948, on loan from Serie A club Inter Milan, and the Bulgaria national team. He was included in The Guardian's "Next Generation" list for 2021.[3]

Career

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

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

Club

As of 7 October 2021[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
Career total 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
Notes
  1. ^ Appearances in the Bulgarian Cup

International

As of 20 June 2023
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Bulgaria 2022 4 0
2023 4 0
Total 8 0

Honours

Individual

References

  1. ^ "Nikola Iliev - Stats and titles won". footballdatabase.eu. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  2. ^ Nikola Iliev at WorldFootball.net
  3. ^ "Next Generation 2021: 60 of the best young talents in world football". The Guardian. 7 October 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  4. ^ "Ботев (Пловдив) получил от Интер парите за Никола Илиев" (in Bulgarian). bnr.bg. 24 September 2020. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  5. ^ С 10 души Славия победи Ботев, отмениха гол на "канарчетата" при доста спорни обстоятелства
  6. ^ Никола Илиев подписа с Интер за 4 години
  7. ^ Герой в Италия! Фамозен гол на Никола Илиев донесе шампионска титла на Интер U19
  8. ^ Inter-Plzeň | UEFA Youth League 2022/23
  9. ^ Никола Илиев грабна приза за най-прогресиращ млад играч в българския футбол
  10. ^ "Nikola Iliev joins CSKA 1948 Sofia" (Press release). Inter Milan. 10 August 2023. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  11. ^ Кръстаич обяви играчите за Гибралтар и Северна Македония, Чочев и Михайлов са аут
  12. ^ Зрелищен успех за младата България в дебюта на Младен Кърстаич
  13. ^ Nikola Iliev at Soccerway
  14. ^ 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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