Robert Stambolziev
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Robert Alexander P. Stambolziev | ||
| Date of birth | October 26, 1990 | ||
| Place of birth | Melbourne, Australia | ||
| Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||
| Playing position | Winger | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | AEK Kouklia | ||
| Number | 10 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1998–2005 | Preston Lions | ||
| 2006 | Hume City | ||
| 2007–2009 | Bristol City | ||
| 2009–2011 | Panathinaikos | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2009–2011 | Panathinaikos | 0 | (0) |
| 2009 | → Kavala (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| 2011–2012 | Proodeftiki | 3 | (0) |
| 2012 | Thrasyvoulos | 10 | (1) |
| 2012–2013 | Olympiakos Nicosia | 24 | (0) |
| 2013– | AEK Kouklia | 7 | (4) |
| National team | |||
| 2008–2009 | Australia U-20 | 7 | (2) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). | |||
Robert Alexander P. Stambolziev (born 26 October 1990 in Melbourne, Australia) is an Australian footballer who plays for AEK Kouklia in the Cypriot First Division.
Career
Early career
Stambolziev grew up in Melbourne's North where he played youth football for the Preston Lions, but was overlooked by the club for their reserve team. In 2006 Stambolziev left Prestion Lions to join Victorian State League Division 1 side Hume City, where he played in the club's reserve team. He was also a part of the European Football Institute of Australia, where at age 14 he travelled to England to trial with the Under-18 youth academy sides of Bristol City, Reading and Southend United. Both Bristol City and Southend United showed interest in signing Stambolziev to their respective academies. He returned to England aged 16 with a representative team from Australia that played in a tour, he was again spotted by Bristol City and officially offered a contract.
Bristol City U-18
In 2007 Stambolziev was signed to Bristol City's youth academy.[1] On 16 January 2008 Stambolziev scored two goals, including a last-gasp winner, in a 2-1 win against Leeds United in the 2007–08 FA Youth Cup. The English media gave Robert the nickname of City's very own 'Wizard of Oz'. The win sent Bristol City into the round of sixteen where they faced Manchester City. He made several appearances for Bristol's Reserve team and had also trained with the club's first-team towards the end of 2008.[2] Stambolziev ended the 2008–09 season having scored 9 goals in 23 league appearances, he was one of four academy graduates that were offered professional contracts with Bristol City's first-team but Stambolziev declined the offer.[3][4][5]
Panathinaikos
2009-2011
In December 2008 it had been reported in Panathinaikos newspapers that Stambolziev was on trial with the club but could not sign with the club until his contract at Bristol City expired. It was believed by Bristol fans that Stambolziev had gone to Greece to visit some relatives. In June 2009 he signed with the Panathinaikos under-21 team.[6] Stambolziev featured for the club's first-team in a pre-season friendly and then soon after he was loaned out to AO Kavala until June 2010, where he joined Australians Zeljko Kalac, Craig Moore, Andreas Govas and Apostolos Giannou.[7] Upon his return to Panathinaikos, he joined the club's reserve-team for the 2010–11 Superleague Greece season. In July 2011 Stambolziev trialled with Birmingham City, playing on the left-wing in a 1-1 draw in a friendly against Worcester City.[8] Stambolziev then trialled with Stoke City where he participated in a friendly match against Newcastle Town, scoring the first goal of Stoke's 6-0 win on 20 July 2011.[9] Satmbolziev again played for Stoke City in a 1-0 friendly loss to Aldershot Town on 23 July.[10] On 23 August Stambolziev trialled for former club Bristol City in a 4-0 friendly win against Reading.[11] He was unable to sign a contract with any of the clubs.
AO Proodeftiki Nikea
In September 2011 Stambolziev signed a one-year contract with Gamma Ethniki side AO Proodeftiki. Stambolziev's first league appearance in the 2011-12 Football League 2 season came in a 1-1 home draw against Kalamata on 27 November, Stambolziev had been substituted onto the field in the 60th minute.[12] He debuted in the 2011–12 Greek Football Cup in a 5-0 loss to Asteras Tripolis, where he was substituted onto the field in the 68th minute.[13][14]
Thrasyvoulos Fylis
In January 2012 Stamvbolziev was transferred to Greek Football League side Thrasyvoulos for the remainder of the 2011–12 season. Stambolziev debuted for Thrasyvoulos in the 2011–12 Greek Football Cup, in a 3-0 loss against Olympiakos Piraeus on 11 January.[15][16] His first league appearances came in a 2-1 away win against Panserraikos on 14 January, where Stambolziev had scored Thrasyvoulos first goal after 16 minutes.[17]
Olympiakos Nicosia
In July 2012, Stambolziev signed with Cypriot First Division side Olympiakos Nicosia on a free transfer for the 2012–13 season.
AEK Kouklia F.C
Stambolziev signed for AEK Kouklia F.C. for the 2013-14 season and scored in his debut.
International career
Australia U-20
During 2008 and 2009, Stambolziev was part of the Australia U-20 team. He made his debut for the squad at the 2009 Under-20 International Cor Groenewegen Tournament held in the Netherlands, where he scored 2 goals in 7 appearances.[18] The tournament in the Netherlands had been preparatin for the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt, where Stambolziev had been overlooked to take part in. Despite attending training camps with the under-20 side in 2008, it had been stated by Stambolziev that the Football Federation Australia's youth team's had neglected him for selection which resulted in his interest of representing Macedonia. It had also been reported that both the Football Federation of Macedonia and the Hellenic Football Federation had been chasing Stambolziev. During an interview on The World Game in 2008, Stambolziev stated that he would play for either team (Macedonia or Greece) upon selection .[19]
Honours
International
- Australia
- Under-20 International Cor Groenewegen Tournament: 1
- 2009
References
- ↑ http://www.macedonianfootball.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=954:interview-with-robert-stambolziev&catid=14:news
- ↑ http://www.bcfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10327~1527493,00.html
- ↑ http://www.bcfc.co.uk/page/AcademyAppearances/0,,10327~1352621,00.html
- ↑ http://www.prestonlions.com/plfc/club_news_0106.php
- ↑ http://www.tribalfootball.com/articles/stambolziev-lands-deal-bristol-city-241597
- ↑ http://www.imscouting.com/players/robert-stambolziev/
- ↑ http://www.greeksoccer.com/news/all_news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1250395987&archive=&start_from=&ucat=1&
- ↑ http://www.oftenpartisan.co.uk/archives/2290/who-is-robert-stambolziev-worcester-city-v-birmingham-city-review.html
- ↑ http://www.tribalfootball.com/articles/whittlesea-kid-robert-stambolziev-chasing-stoke-city-contract-1768002
- ↑ http://www.theshots.co.uk/matchreport.ink?matchid=33068§ion=home&type=m
- ↑ http://www.bcfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10327~2429386,00.html
- ↑ http://www.soccerway.com/matches/2011/11/27/greece/football-league-2/proodeftiki-fc/ps-pae-kalamata/1224373/
- ↑ http://epo.gr/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=19663
- ↑ http://www.soccerway.com/matches/2011/12/21/greece/cup/proodeftiki-fc/asteras-tripolis/1228968/
- ↑ http://www.epo.gr/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=19737
- ↑ http://www.soccerway.com/matches/2012/01/11/greece/cup/olympiakos-cfp/thrasivoulos-fylis/1240923/
- ↑ http://www.soccerway.com/matches/2012/01/14/greece/b-ethniki/panserraikos-fc/thrasivoulos-fylis/1224828/
- ↑ http://www.theleader.com.au/blogs/don-balon/young-socceroos-in-world-cup-warm-up/1516964.aspx
- ↑ http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Latest-City-hopeful-keeps-international-options-open/story-11287678-detail/story.html