Svetoslav Todorov

Svetoslav Todorov

Todorov being introduced at Litex Lovech in August 2009
Personal information
Full nameSvetoslav Todorov
Date of birth30 August 1978
Place of birthDobrich, Bulgaria
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Playing positionStriker
Club information
Current team
Bulgaria U19 (Manager)
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
1996–1997Dobrudzha Dobrich12(2)
1997–2001Litex Lovech70(34)
2001–2002West Ham United14(1)
2002–2007Portsmouth75(33)
2006–2007→ Wigan Athletic (loan)5(0)
2007–2009Charlton Athletic20(3)
2009–2012Litex Lovech56(20)
2012–2013Hoverla9(0)
Total261(93)
National team
1998–2007Bulgaria41(7)
Teams managed
2013–2014Dobrudzha Dobrich
2015–Bulgaria U19
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 30 November 2012.
† Appearances (Goals).

Svetoslav Todorov (Bulgarian: Светослав Тодоров; born 30 August 1978 in Dobrich, Bulgaria) is a former Bulgarian international footballer who currently is a manager of the Bulgarian U19 squad.[1] He played as a forward. Todorov is the all-time top scorer for Litex Lovech in the Bulgarian A Football Group.

Club career

Early career

Todorov began his career at Bulgarian First Division club Dobrudzha Dobrich in 1996–97, scoring twice in twelve appearances.[2] He then joined Second Division champions Litex Lovech where he scored 34 goals in 70 league games over four seasons. His form attracted attention from English clubs and after trials with Preston North End and West Ham United, he joined West Ham in January 2001.[3] During his time in Bulgaria he had a clean disciplinary record and was sent off only once (on 13 May 2000, in a 0–1 away loss against Spartak Varna in an A PFG match).[4]

West Ham United

Todorov joined West Ham for a fee of £500,000, rising to £2 million depending on appearances.[3] He made his debut in a 3–0 defeat at Liverpool and scored his first goal for the club in his third game, a 3–2 FA Cup defeat at home to Tottenham,[5][6] and then scored his first league goal for the club against Middlesbrough.[7] However, following manager Harry Redknapp's departure from the club in May 2001, Todorov found himself out of favour and he played just eight games under new manager Glenn Roeder in the 2001–02 season.[6]

Portsmouth

Todorov signed for Portsmouth in March 2002 for £750,000, joining director of football, Harry Redknapp, who had signed him for West Ham; Redknapp described him as, "...a very intelligent footballer [who] will bring good competition in the striking department."[8] He was sent off for violent conduct in his second appearance for Portsmouth in a 2–0 defeat away at Preston and made only one further appearance in the 2001–02 season.[6][9] He became a regular in the first team in the 2002–03 season, making 45 league appearances and scoring 26 goals, including a hat-trick in the final game of the season against Bradford City, as Portsmouth won the Football League First Division championship and were promoted to the Premier League.[6][10] He was the First Division's top scorer, overhauling Nottingham Forest's David Johnson with his hat-trick on the final day of the season; Redknapp said, "Todorov has had a great season. He is leading scorer in the First Division after today's goals. I bought him from my old club West Ham and he got a lot of stick at first... He has done marvellously, proving what a great player he is."[11] Todorov signed a new three-year contract with Portsmouth in July 2003.[12]

Days before the start of the club's debut Premiership season, Todorov severely damaged a cruciate knee ligament in a training accident.[13] He required surgery on his knee and was expected to miss the rest of the 2003–04 season.[13] He made a comeback in the Portsmouth reserve side in February 2004[14][15] and returned to the first team in an away game at Liverpool. He made only the one appearance for Portsmouth in the Premiership in the 2003–04 and required further surgery on his knee in May 2004, causing him to miss the Euro 2004 championships in summer 2004[16] and the entire 2004–05 season.[6] He was given a new contract in August 2005 and, having played very little in the previous two seasons, was offered to other clubs on loan to regain fitness.[17] However, he remained with Portsmouth and was used mostly as a substitute during the 2005–06 season.[18] He scored the winning goal against West Bromwich Albion in manager Harry Redknapp's second game on returning to Portsmouth in December 2005[19] and scored crucial goals against West Ham,[20] Blackburn Rovers[21] and Sunderland[22] as Portsmouth battled against and survived relegation.[23]

After scoring twice for Portsmouth in the opening three games of the 2006–07 season, Todorov joined Wigan Athletic in August 2006 on a season-long loan.[24] Wigan manager, Paul Jewell, described him as "..a pure striker who lives to put the ball in the net."[24] However, he made only five appearances for Wigan, without scoring, and returned to Portsmouth in January 2007.[6] He made one further appearance in the 2006–07 season, as a substitute against Fulham in March 2007.[25]

Charlton Athletic

Having fallen down the pecking order at Portsmouth in the 2006–07 season, Todorov joined relegated side Charlton Athletic in July 2007 on a free transfer in a one-year deal.[26] His first league goal for Charlton came against London rivals Crystal Palace in September 2007,[27] but after suffering a knee injury in a match against Plymouth in October 2007, Todorov was ruled out of the remainder of the 2007–08 season.[28] He signed a new one-year contract in June 2008,[29] but was not offered a new contract at the end of the 2008–09 season.[30]

Litex Lovech

He joined his former club Litex Lovech as a free agent on 16 July 2009. On 8 August 2009, he marked his return to the TBI A Football Group with a goal after coming on as a substitute for Ivelin Popov – wrapping up a 5–0 away win against Lokomotiv Mezdra with an 89th minute strike.[31] On 25 October 2010, Todorov scored a last-minute goal against Levski Sofia to help his team to a 2–1 home win.[32] In January 2011, Todorov was chosen by the Litex fans as the 2010 Best Club Player for the Year.[33] On 12 July 2011, he netted twice to help his team to a 2–1 away win against Montenegrin side Mogren in the first leg match of the 2011–12 UEFA Champions League qualifying phase.[34] Todorov left the club during the summer of 2012.

Hoverla Uzhhorod

In late August 2012, he signed a one-year contract with newly promoted Ukrainian Premier League club FC Hoverla Uzhhorod.[35] Todorov made his debut for FC Hoverla Uzhhorod on 31 August 2012, in the 2:1 home win over Tavriya Simferopol and played the last match of his professional career on 24 November, in the 1:5 away loss against Shakhtar Donetsk.[36] He left the club in January 2013[37] and later announced his retirement.

International goals

Scores and results list Bulgaria's goal tally first.[38]
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 29 March 2000 Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia  Belarus 1–0 4–1 Friendly
2. 7 October 2000 Georgi Asparuhov Stadium, Sofia  Malta 3–0 3–0 2002 World Cup qualifier
3. 27 March 2003 Stadion Mladost, Kruševac  Serbia and Montenegro 2–1 2–1 Friendly
4. 7 June 2003 Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia  Belgium 2–2 2–2 Euro 2004 qualifier
5. 12 November 2005 Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia  Georgia 5–0 6–2 Friendly
6. 6–2
7. 9 May 2006 Nagai Stadium, Osaka  Japan 1–0 2–1 2006 Kirin Cup

Career statistics

Last updated 1 January 2012

Club performance League Cup League Cup Continental Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Bulgaria League Bulgarian Cup League Cup Europe Total
1996–97Dobrudzha DobrichA PFG122
1997–98Litex LovechA PFG199
1998–9912230
1999-00261933
2000–0113439
England League FA Cup League Cup Europe Total
2000–01West Ham UnitedPremier League8111
2001–0260
2001–02PortsmouthFirst Division31
2002–034526
2003–04Premier League10
2004–0500
2005–06244
2006–0742
2006–07Wigan AthleticPremier League50
2007–08Charlton AthleticChampionship72
2008–09131
Bulgaria League Bulgarian Cup Bulgarian Supercup Europe Total
2009–10Litex LovechA PFG112001020152
2010–112584210103110
2011–121162263
Total Bulgaria 823613142053
England 11637

Awards

References

  1. ↑ http://gong.bg/view_article.php?article_id=366251
  2. ↑ Hogg, Tony (2005). Who's Who of West Ham United. London: Profile Media. pp. 201–2. ISBN 1-903135-50-8.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Hammers snap up Todorov". BBC Sport. 22 January 2001. Retrieved 27 February 2008.
  4. ↑ "А" ПФГ, ХХVI КРЪГ
  5. ↑ "Spurs into semis after Cup thriller". BBC. 11 March 2001. Retrieved 16 April 2010.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 "Svetoslav Todorov". Soccerbase. Racing Post. Retrieved 27 February 2008.
  7. ↑ "Karembeu winner sinks Hammers". BBC. 19 May 2001. Retrieved 16 April 2010.
  8. ↑ "Hammers Pompey seal Todorov deal". BBC Sport. 19 March 2002. Retrieved 29 February 2008.
  9. ↑ "Preston 2–0 Portsmouth". BBC Sport. 30 March 2002. Retrieved 29 February 2008.
  10. ↑ "Bradford 0–5 Portsmouth". BBC Sport. 4 May 2003. Retrieved 29 February 2008.
  11. ↑ "Redknapp sympathy for Merson". Sporting Life. 5 May 2003. Retrieved 29 February 2008.
  12. ↑ "Todorov signs new deal". BBC Sport. 23 July 2003. Retrieved 29 February 2008.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Todorov surgery 'a success'". BBC Sport. 4 September 2003. Retrieved 12 April 2008.
  14. ↑ "Todorov on comeback trail". BBC Sport. 18 February 2004. Retrieved 12 April 2008.
  15. ↑ "Todorov targets comeback". BBC Sport. 27 February 2004. Retrieved 12 April 2008.
  16. ↑ "Todorov to miss Euro 2004". BBC Sport. 18 May 2004. Retrieved 12 April 2008.
  17. ↑ "Pompey pair to be offered deals". BBC Sport. 3 August 2005. Retrieved 12 April 2008.
  18. ↑ "Portsmouth player appearances (see 2005–06)". Soccerbase. Racing Post. Retrieved 12 April 2008.
  19. ↑ "Portsmouth 1–0 West Brom". BBC Sport. 17 December 2005. Retrieved 12 April 2008.
  20. ↑ "West Ham 2–4 Portsmouth". BBC Sport. 18 March 2006. Retrieved 12 April 2008.
  21. ↑ "Portsmouth 2–2 Blackburn". BBC Sport. 8 April 2006. Retrieved 12 April 2008.
  22. ↑ "Portsmouth 2–1 Sunderland". BBC Sport. 22 April 2006. Retrieved 12 April 2008.
  23. ↑ "Portsmouth win to ensure survival". BBC Sport. 29 April 2006. Retrieved 12 April 2008.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 "Todorov makes loan move to Wigan". BBC Sport. 31 August 2006. Retrieved 12 April 2008.
  25. ↑ "Games played by Svetoslav Todorov in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Racing Post. Retrieved 12 April 2008.
  26. ↑ "Charlton sign Todorov and Weaver". BBC Sport. 4 July 2007. Retrieved 29 March 2008.
  27. ↑ "Crystal Palace 0–1 Charlton". BBC Sport. 25 October 2007. Retrieved 29 March 2008.
  28. ↑ "Knee injury ends Todorov's season". BBC Sport. 25 October 2007. Retrieved 29 March 2008.
  29. ↑ "Todorov pens new deal at Charlton". BBC Sport. 3 June 2008. Retrieved 10 June 2008.
  30. ↑ "Charlton hold contract talks with Jonathan Fortune, Matt Holland, Darren Randolph and Zheng Zhi". Kent Messenger. 8 June 2009. Retrieved 15 June 2009. But Darren Ambrose, Svetoslav Todorov, Nicky Weaver, Rashid Yussuff, Aswad Thomas and Harry Arter will not be offered new deals when their contracts expire at the end of the month.
  31. ↑ Литекс тръгна с 5:0 в Мездра, Тоди се завърна с гол
  32. ↑ Отново много екшън и драма на Литекс – "Левски", шампионите излизат на върха
  33. ↑ Тоди стана №1 в Литекс
  34. ↑ Светльо Тодоров: Заслужено победихме, мачът в Ловеч ще е тежък
  35. ↑ Тоди подписа с украинци, ветеранът за 1 год. в Ховерла-Закарпатия
  36. ↑ Svetoslav Todorov player profile and match log
  37. ↑ Светльо Тодоров се завръща в Портсмут, Тоди ще играе в благотворителен мач
  38. ↑ "Svetoslav Todorov profile". European Football. Retrieved 17 January 2012.

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