Svetoslav Kovachev

Bulgarian footballer
Svetoslav Kovachev
Personal information
Full name Svetoslav Svetlozarov Kovachev
Date of birth (1998-03-14) 14 March 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth Pleven, Bulgaria
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 7+1⁄2 in)
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
 Akhmat Grozny
Number 98
Youth career
2008–2010 Svoboda Milkovitsa
2010–2011 Spartak Pleven
2011–2016 Ludogorets Razgrad
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2018 Ludogorets Razgrad II 54 (10)
2016–2021 Ludogorets Razgrad 10 (0)
2018–2019 → Dunav Ruse (loan) 28 (5)
2019 → Etar (loan) 19 (0)
2020 → Arda Kardzhali (loan) 24 (5)
2021– Arda Kardzhali 61 (12)
2023– → Akhmat Grozny (loan) 20 (3)
International career‡
2015–2016 Bulgaria U17 3 (0)
2016–2018 Bulgaria U19 15 (0)
2018–2020 Bulgaria U21 7 (0)
2020– Bulgaria 5 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 28 April 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 19 November 2023

Svetoslav Svetlozarov Kovachev (Bulgarian: Светослав Светлозаров Ковачев; born 14 March 1998) is a Bulgarian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Russian club Akhmat Grozny, on loan from Arda Kardzhali.[1]

His younger brother Lachezar is also a footballer, currently playing for Spartak Pleven.

Career

Ludogorets Razgrad

Born in Pleven, Kovachev started his career in Svoboda Milkovitsa.[2] He joined Ludogorets in 2011 recruited by the Bulgarian legend Plamen Getov.[3] In 2014, he played for Ludogorets U19 in the UEFA Youth League, being a starter in all of the 6 matches.[4]

He made his debut for Ludogorets Razgrad II on 6 December 2015 in a match against FC Pirin Razlog.[5]

On 22 May 2016 he made his complete debut in A Group for Ludogorets in a match against Beroe Stara Zagora.[6]

Kovachev started the 2017-18 season in Ludogorets II by scoring a goal in the first match of the season against Lokomotiv 1929 Sofia.[7] On 29 July 2017 he played for the main team in the 0-0 draw against Lokomotiv Plovdiv coming as a substitute in the First League match.[8] Kovachev was on the bench for the Europa League group stage match against İstanbul Başakşehir, but stayed as an unused substitute.[9] On 21 September 2017 he made his debut for the Bulgarian Cup in the first round against Oborishte.[10]

Kovachev was named captain for the Ludogorets U19 team in the UEFA Youth League in the first match from the Domestic Champions Path against Željezničar U19 on 27 September 2017.[11]

On 15 February 2018 Kovachev was named on bench for the Europa League Round of 32 match against Milan and made his debut as a substitute in the 81st minute.[12][13]

Loan to Dunav

In June 2018, Kovachev was loaned to Dunav Ruse, although he spend the pre-season camp with Ludogorets first team.[14] He made his debut for the team in the first league match of the season against Vitosha Bistritsa on 20 July 2018, assisting for the only goal for Dunav.[15]

On 4 November 2018 he scored his first goal for the team in First League, netting the second goal for the 3:0 win over Vitosha Bistritsa.[16]

Arda Kardzhali

Kovachev joined Arda Kardzhali on a year long loan on 6 January 2020.[17] He returned to Ludogorets team in end of December 2020, having a contract with Razgrad team until July 2021, which he didn't extend.[18] In February 2021 he signed a 3 year pre-contract with Arda, from July 2021, leaving him out of Ludogorets team until end of the season.[19]

Loan to Akhmat Grozny

On 3 August 2023, Kovachev joined Russian Premier League club Akhmat Grozny on a season-long loan with an option to buy.[20]

International career

Youth levels

Kovachev was called up for the Bulgaria U19 team for the 2017 European Under-19 Championship qualification from 22 to 27 March 2017.[21] After a draw and 2 wins the team qualified for the knockout phase which will be held in July 2017.[22]

Kovachev made his debut for Bulgaria U21 on 27 March 2018 in a European Undr-21 qualification match against Kazakhstan U21, keeping a clean sheet for the 3:0 win. [23]

Senior

Kovachev received his first call-up for senior Bulgarian squad on 29 August 2018 for the UEFA Nations League matches against Slovenia and Norway on 6 and 9 September.[24] He earned his first cap on 26 February 2020, coming on as a substitute for Ismail Isa during the second half of the 0:1 home loss against Belarus in a friendly game.[25]

Career statistics

Club

As of 20 April 2024 [1]
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Ludogorets Razgrad II 2015–16 B Group 11 2 – – – 11 2
2016–17 Second League 19 2 – – – 19 2
2017–18 Second League 24 6 – – – 24 6
Total 54 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 54 10
Ludogorets Razgrad 2015–16 A Group 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
2016–17 First League 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
2017–18 First League 5 0 2 0 1 0 — 8 0
Total 10 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 13 0
Dunav Ruse (loan) 2018–19 First League 28 5 2 0 — 2[a] 0 32 5
Etar Veliko Tarnovo (loan) 2019–20 First League 19 0 1 0 — — 20 0
Arda Kardzhali (loan) First League 9 2 0 0 — — 9 2
2020–21 First League 15 3 1 0 — — 16 3
Total 24 5 1 0 — — 25 5
Arda Kardzhali 2021–22 First League 24 4 2 0 2[b] 0 — 28 4
2022–23 First League 35 8 3 0 — — 38 8
2023–24 First League 2 0 0 0 — — 2 0
Total 61 12 5 0 2 0 — 68 12
Akhmat Grozny (loan) 2023–24 Russian Premier League 18 3 6 1 — — 24 4
Career total 214 35 17 1 3 0 2 0 236 36
  1. ^ Relegation Play-offs
  2. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League

National team

As of 19 November 2023
Bulgaria national team
Year Apps Goals
2020 4 0
2023 1 0
Total 5 0

References

  1. ^ a b Svetoslav Kovachev at Soccerway
  2. ^ Светослав Ковачев капитан на Лудогорец (98)
  3. ^ Младите надежди на Лудогорец разкриват тайни
  4. ^ Таланти от Благоевград, Дупница и Кюстендил пред дебют в Шампионската лига за младежи
  5. ^ Ludogorets II vs Pirin
  6. ^ Берое си гарантира Европа на "Лудогорец арена", "орлите" показаха младата генерация
  7. ^ Лудогорец 2 започна с успех новия сезон във Втора лига, разочарование за Локо (Сф)
  8. ^ Резервите на Лудогорец - тлъста нула срещу Локо Пд
  9. ^ Браво на Лудогорец! Изигра силен мач и изпусна турската сензация Истанбул ББ
  10. ^ Румънец спаси Лудогорец и Херо от голям резил срещу тим от Втора лига
  11. ^ При равен резултат завърши първият мач от Младежка Шампионска лига в Разград
  12. ^ "Europa League (Sky Sports)".
  13. ^ Ковачев: Радвам се, че имах възможност да играя срещу Милан, но ми е гадно, че загубихме
  14. ^ "Дунав взима Светослав Ковачев от Лудогорец" (in Bulgarian). topsport.bg. 9 June 2018.
  15. ^ Витоша (Бистрица) победи Дунав (Русе) с 2:1 на старта на новия сезон в Първа лига
  16. ^ Дунав разби Витоша за 18 минути
  17. ^ "Арда привлече младежки национал". fcarda.bg (in Bulgarian). 6 January 2020.
  18. ^ "Светослав Ковачев е на кръстопът". gong.bg (in Bulgarian). 30 December 2020.
  19. ^ Един от големите таланти на Лудогорец избра Арда
  20. ^ "Светослав Ковачев перешел в «Ахмат»" (in Russian). FC Akhmat Grozny. 3 August 2023.
  21. ^ Съставът на България (U19) за Елитния кръг във Франция
  22. ^ Футболът ни възкръсна! 19-годишните лъвове "изядоха" всички, България с нов грандиозен успех
  23. ^ Браво, момчета! Младежите се развихриха и съсипаха Словения
  24. ^ Съставът на България - петима дебютанти за "лъвовете" срещу Словения и Норвегия, Спас Делев аут
  25. ^ "Експериментален състав на България отстъпи на Беларус (видео+галерия)". sportal.bg. 26 February 2020. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
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FC Akhmat Grozny – current squad