Yanko Valkanov

Yanko Valkanov
Personal information
Full nameYanko Hristov Valkanov
Date of birth25 July 1982
Place of birthStara Zagora, Bulgaria
Height1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing positionCentre back
Club information
Current team
Botev Galabovo
Number5
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
1999–2002CSKA Sofia19(1)
1999–2000→ Beroe (loan)20(1)
2000→ Naftex Burgas (loan)1(0)
2002–2003Marek Dupnitsa16(0)
2003–2006Slavia Sofia64(11)
2006–2007MTZ-RIPO Minsk25(4)
2007–2008Kaunas13(0)
2008MTZ-RIPO Minsk15(0)
2009Shanghai Shenhua27(5)
2010Shenzhen Ruby14(0)
2010Dinamo Minsk11(0)
2011Beroe Stara Zagora6(1)
2012Akzhayik11(2)
2013Belshina Bobruisk8(0)
2013–Botev Galabovo34(1)
National team
2005Bulgaria2(1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 8 December 2014.
† Appearances (Goals).

Yanko Hristov Valkanov (Bulgarian: Янко Христов Вълканов; born 25 July 1982 in Stara Zagora) is a Bulgarian footballer who plays as a defender for Botev Galabovo. His preferred position on the pitch is right-back, but he can play as a central defender as well.

Club career

Early career in Bulgaria

He started his professional football career with CSKA Sofia in the 1999/2000 league season and was quickly loaned out to Beroe Stara Zagora to gain more playing time.[1] The following season he was loaned out once more to Naftex Burgas, however he was unable to establish himself and returned to CSKA Sofia during the league season. At the beginning of the 2002/2003 league season he would transfer to Marek Dupnitsa and during his time with them he would attract the interests of Slavia Sofia and would join them before the start of the 2003/2004 where after several seasons he would establish himself as an integral member of their team.

Belarus and Lithuania

Yanko Valkanov joined reigning Belarusian Cup winners MTZ-RIPO Minsk during the 2006 league season and while he was a squad regular he could not establish himself as a first team regular.[2] By the following season he would move to Lithuanian football club FBK Kaunas during the 2007 league season, however his time with them was not the most productive and halfway through the 2008 league season in July he would returned to MTZ-RIPO Minsk.[2]

Move to China

At the beginning of the 2009 China Super League season he would transfer to Shanghai Shenhua. At first he was criticized for poor performances by both fans and the media, but he began to gain popularity on the other end of the pitch; he has so far scored 5 goals (3 in Chinese Super League, 2 in AFC Champions League), becoming the top scorer of his team. On 17 April, he scored two goals using his right shoulder in a Chinese Super League match against Shenzhen.At the end of 2009 season,his position was transformed to striker by Jia Xiuquan.But he played unbelievable jobs that he had made two assists to Aleksander Rodić at critical moment.

Valkanov transferred to Shenzhen Ruby on 28 February 2010.[3] He was released by Shenzhen in July 2010 after New Zealand defender Ivan Vicelich joined the club.

Return to Belarus

On 8 September 2010, Valkanov signed with FC Dinamo Minsk until the end of the 2010 Belarusian Premier League season.[4] He made his debut four days later in the 4:0 home win against FC Belshina Bobruisk, playing the full 90 minutes.[5]

Later career

In 2011 Valkanov had a short spell with A PFG club Beroe.[6] He signed with Kazakhstani club Akzhayik in February 2012.

International career

He earned his first call-up to the national side for the friendly match against Azerbaijan, which was held on 17 November 2004.

International goal

# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 17 November 2005 Reliant Stadium, Houston, USA  Mexico 1 – 0 3–0 Friendly match

References

  1. ↑ Yanko Valkanov at National-Football-Teams.com
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://www.weltfussball.de/spieler_profil/janko-valkanov/
  3. ↑ 扬科赫莱布加盟深足 申花活雷锋球员送出工资照付
  4. ↑
  5. ↑
  6. ↑

External links