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Zhivko Atanasov

Zhivko Atanasov
Personal information
Full name Zhivko Stanislavov Atanasov
Date of birth (1991-02-03) 3 February 1991 (age 34)
Place of birth Gorni Bogrov, Bulgaria
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)[1]
Position(s) Centre back
Team information
Current team
Cherno More
Number 3
Youth career
–2010 Levski Sofia
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2012 Levski Sofia 0 (0)
2010–2011Chavdar BS (loan) 35 (0)
2011Septemvri Simitli (loan) 11 (0)
2012–2015 Cherno More 73 (2)
2015 Slavia Sofia 8 (0)
2016–2017 Juve Stabia 26 (1)
2017–2019 Viterbese 68 (6)
2020 Catanzaro 10 (0)
2020–2021 Levski Sofia 28 (4)
2021– Cherno More 126 (8)
International career
2023– Bulgaria 13 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 19:08, 27 May 2025 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals as of 23:36, 20 March 2025 (UTC)

Zhivko Atanasov (Bulgarian: Живко Атанасов; born 3 February 1991) is a Bulgarian professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Cherno More Varna and the Bulgaria national team.

Club career

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Atanasov began his career with Levski Sofia.

In the winter of 2012, Atanasov impressed Cherno More manager Stefan Genov as a trialist during Cherno More's training camp in Turkey.[2] On 17 February 2012, he signed a two-and-a-half-year contract.[3] Atanasov made his debut on 4 March, starting against Levski Sofia at Georgi Asparuhov Stadium in an A Group fixture, playing the full 90 minutes at centre-back in a 2–1 defeat. He scored his first Cherno More goal on 18 April, opening the scoring in a 7–1 home win over Kaliakra Kavarna.

When Aleksandar Aleksandrov was transferred in January 2014, Atanasov formed a partnership with Kiril Kotev in the centre of defence and has become an established first team player.

On 16 January 2020 he signed a 1.5-year contract with Serie C side Catanzaro.[4]

On 4 August 2020, Atanasov returned to his boyhood club Levski Sofia on a 2-year deal.[5] On 14 June 2021, Atanasov terminated his contract with Levski due to financial reasons.

On 16 June 2021, Atanasov returned to former club, Cherno More, on a two-year contract.[6]

International career

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On 16 November 2023, Atanasov earned his first cap for the national team after coming on as a late first half substitute for Ivaylo Chochev in a 2–2 home draw against Hungary in a Euro 2024 qualifier.[7]

Family

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Atanasov's mother, Yordanka Donkova, is a former hurdling athlete notable for winning an Olympic gold medal and bronze medal as well as 9 medals at European indoor and outdoor championships.

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 1 June 2025
Club League Season League Cup Continental Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Cherno More First League 2011–12 15 1 0 0 15 1
2012–13 18 0 3 0 21 0
2013–14 19 1 3 0 22 1
2014–15 21 0 7 1 28 1
Total 73 2 13 1 0 0 0 0 86 3
Levski Sofia First League 2020–21 28 4 2 0 30 4
Cherno More First League 2021–22 29 1 2 0 31 1
2022–23 31 1 5 0 36 1
2023–24 33 4 1 0 34 4
2024–25 33 2 4 0 2 0 39 2
2025–26 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 126 8 12 0 2 0 0 0 140 8
Career total 227 14 27 1 2 0 0 0 256 15

International

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As of match played 18 November 2024
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Bulgaria 2023 2 0
2024 10 0
2025 1 0
Total 13 0

Honours

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Club

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Cherno More

References

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  1. ^ "Профил на Живко Станиславов Атанасов" (in Bulgarian). fpleague.bg. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  2. ^ "Живко Атанасов пред договор с Черно море" (in Bulgarian). football24.bg. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
  3. ^ "Черно море спря селекцията с левскар" (in Bulgarian). topsport.bg. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
  4. ^ "Il difensore Atanasov in giallorosso" (Press release) (in Italian). Catanzaro. 16 January 2020.
  5. ^ "Левски подписа с Живко Атанасов". levski.bg (in Bulgarian). 4 August 2020. Archived from the original on 8 October 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  6. ^ "Черно море започна подготовка с един нов". chernomorepfc.bg (in Bulgarian). 16 June 2021.
  7. ^ Georgiev, Mihail (16 November 2023). "България - Унгария 2:2 (Развой на срещата по минути)" (in Bulgarian). topsport.bg. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
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