Spas Delev

Spas Delev
Personal information
Full nameSpas Borislavov Delev
Date of birth22 September 1989
Place of birthKlyuch, Bulgaria
Height1.69 m (5 ft 6 1⁄2 in)[1]
Playing positionForward / Winger
Club information
Current team
Lokomotiv Plovdiv
Number25
Youth career
Belasitsa Petrich
Pirin Blagoevgrad
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2008–2010Pirin Blagoevgrad26(11)
2009–2010→ CSKA Sofia (loan)26(2)
2010–2012CSKA Sofia39(16)
2012Mersin İdmanyurdu12(2)
2013CSKA Sofia14(5)
2013Las Palmas6(0)
2014–Lokomotiv Plovdiv13(1)
National team‡
2008–2009Bulgaria U21
2011–2013Bulgaria9(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19 May 2014.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 21:16, 6 September 2013 (UTC)

Spas Borislavov Delev (Bulgarian: Спас Бориславов Делев; born 22 September 1989) is a Bulgarian footballer who currently plays as a forward for Lokomotiv Plovdiv.

Club career

Youth career

Born in Klyuch, part of Petrich municipality, Blagoevgrad Province, Delev started to play football in Pirin.[2] During the season 2007–08 he played for the team in the Bulgarian amateur division. Pirin took first place and were promoted to the "B" professional football group. On 9 August 2008 Delev made his debut in professional football in a match against Botev Krivodol. In this match he scored his first goal in B PFG. In the first half of 2008–09 season Delev scored 8 goals in 16 matches.

New Pirin

After the union of the two Pirin clubs from Blagoevgrad in December 2008, Delev joined the part of the team, which plays in the top division. On 4 March 2009, he scored a goal in a match against CSKA Sofia for the Bulgarian Cup and Pirin eliminated their opponent. In the semi-final of that tournament against Levski, Delev had a tragic accident. Аfter spasm of the lungs he remained to lie on the grass, and later was sent to emergency hospital.[3] It was later found out that he had played with a flu.

Delev made his A PFG debut on 8 March, in a match against Cherno More. On 5 April, he scored twice against Belasitsa Petrich. Those were his first goals in A PFG. On 11 June, Delev was named the Best Young Footballer of the 2008–09 season in Bulgaria. Just 19, Delev's goals helped Pirin to reach the Bulgarian Cup final.

CSKA Sofia

On 27 June 2009, Delev joined CSKA on one-year loan for 2009–10 and later signed a three-year contract. He scored his first goal for CSKA in the second-leg of the UEFA Europa League play-off of against Dynamo Moscow on 27 August 2009, bringing the score to 1–1 with a header.[4] Delev netted the third goal in the victory over The New Saints in the UEFA Europa League play-off.[5] On 16 December 2010, he found the net in a 1–3 away loss to F.C. Porto in the Europa League group stage.[6] He also scored two goals in the Bulgarian Cup semi-final against Litex Lovech on 20 April 2011,[7] as well as the winning goal against Slavia Sofia in the final on 25 May 2011.[8] During the 2010–11 season he managed 13 goals in the league.

Mersin Idmanyurdu

On 12 January 2012, Delev signed a 3,5-year contract with Turkish side Mersin İdmanyurdu.[9] Delev's debut came on 15 January, in a 0–2 home loss against Antalyaspor in a Süper Lig match, during which he appeared as a second half substitute.[10] On 24 January, Delev netted his first goal for the team, opening the scoring in a 1–2 home loss against Kayserispor.[11] In June 2012, he dissolved his contract due to financial reasons.[12]

CSKA Sofia

After seven months without a club, Delev returned to CSKA Sofia on 31 January 2013.[13]

Las Palmas

On 30 July 2013, Delev completed his move to Las Palmas on a free transfer.[14] He signed a two-year contract and was given the number 22 shirt.

International career

Delev with Bulgaria in 2011

In October 2008, the Bulgarian under-21's manager Ivan Kolev called Delev into the Bulgaria U21 team for the friendly matches with Greece and Macedonia.

He made his debut for the senior side on 26 March 2011, in the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying match against Switzerland.[15] On 4 June 2011, he came on as a substitute in the qualifier against Montenegro.[16]

Career statistics

Club

As of 23 November 2011
Club performance League Cup Continental Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Bulgaria League Bulgarian Cup Europe Total
2009–10CSKA SofiaA PFG2623171364
2010–11261368824023
2011–121332220165
Career total 651811111739332

International

Bulgaria national team
YearAppsGoals
201150
201320
Total70

Honours

Pirin Blagoevgrad
CSKA Sofia
Individual

References

  1. ↑ "Българите с половин сантиметър по-високи" (in Bulgarian). 7sport.net. 1 September 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  2. ↑ "Заради любовта към село Ключ, Делев отказа 2 млн. от Кьолн" (in Bulgarian). Livesport.bg. 21 January 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
  3. ↑ Net Info
  4. ↑ "Велик ЦСКА! Динамо (Москва) на колене пред евробоеца на България". Спортал.бг. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
  5. ↑ "ЦСКА се докопа до 3:0 срещу Дъ Ню Сейнтс". Sportline.bg. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  6. ↑ "ЦСКА не стигна до чудо в Порто, "чeрвените" загубиха с 1:3". Топспорт.бг. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  7. ↑ "Радуканов пропя сръбско за ЦСКА, героят Делев се качва на трактор заради купата". Standartnews.com. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  8. ↑ "CSKA Sofia-Slavia Sofia Match Report (1–0)". soccerway.com. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  9. ↑ "Mersin İdmanyurdu sign CSKA Sofia striker Spas Delev". turkish-football.com. 12 January 2012.
  10. ↑ "Mersin İdmanyurdu vs. Antalyaspor 0–2". soccerway.com. 19 January 2012.
  11. ↑ "Mersin İdmanyurduL vs. Kayserispor 1–2". soccerway.com. 25 January 2012.
  12. ↑ "Спас Делев заряза Мерсин" (in Bulgarian). novsport.com. 27 June 2012.
  13. ↑ "Спас Делев подписа с ЦСКА" (in Bulgarian). gong.bg. 31 January 2013.
  14. ↑ "Spas Delev will play in Spain". daily-news.eu. 30 July 2013.
  15. ↑ "Bulgaria and Switzerland draw a blank". Uefa.com. 26 March 2011. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
  16. ↑ "Montenegro 1–1 Bulgaria". Uefa.com. 4 June 2011. Retrieved 22 August 2011.