Aleksandar Vasilev (footballer, born 1995)

Aleksandar Veselinov Vasilev (Bulgarian: Александър Веселинов Василев; born 27 April 1995) is a Bulgarian retired professional footballer who played as a left-back or left winger.[2]

Aleksandar Vasilev
Vasilev with Lokomotiv Plovdiv
Personal information
Full name Aleksandar Veselinov Vasilev
Date of birth (1995-04-27) 27 April 1995 (age 29)
Place of birth Strazhitsa, Bulgaria
Height 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)[1]
Position(s) Left-back, left winger
Youth career
Levski Strazhitsa
Vidima-Rakovski
0000–2012 Chavdar Etropole
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2013 Chavdar Etropole 23 (2)
2013–2014 Kaliakra Kavarna 23 (1)
2014–2018 Ludogorets Razgrad 27 (1)
2015–2018 Ludogorets Razgrad II 28 (4)
2016Beroe Stara Zagora (loan) 15 (1)
2018–2021 Beroe Stara Zagora 93 (1)
2022 Lokomotiv Plovdiv 28 (0)
2023–2024 Cherno More 32 (1)
Total 269 (11)
International career
2011–2012 Bulgaria U17 5 (0)
2012–2014 Bulgaria U19 11 (0)
2013–2016 Bulgaria U21 11 (0)
2020 Bulgaria 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

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Early career

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Aleksandar Vasilev started his career playing for his hometown club Levski Strazhitsa. He moved eventually to Vidima-Rakovski, before being invited to join Hristo Stoichkov's academy at Chavdar Etropole.[3] In 2012, he made his professional football debut for Chavdar in the B Group, providing the winning goal for the team in a 1-0 win against Akademik Sofia.[4] In the following season he made 22 appearances for the club, most of them as a substitute. In the summer of 2013 he moved to fellow B Group side Kaliakra Kavarna, where he established himself as a main squad player for the club in the 2013–14 B Group.

Ludogorets Razgrad

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On 6 June 2014 he signed for Ludogorets together with his Bulgaria U19 teammate, Preslav Petrov.[5] On 2 August 2014 Vasilev made his official debut for Ludogorets in an A Group match against Marek Dupnitsa.[6] A year later, on 21 August 2015, he scored his first goal for the team in a 3-0 win against Pirin Blagoevgrad.[7]

Loan to Beroe Stara Zagora

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On 14 June 2016, Vasilev signed for Beroe Stara Zagora on a season long loan deal.[8] He made his debut on 7 August 2016 in a league match against Slavia Sofia, debuting with a goal in a 2-1 win for Beroe.[9] His good performances led him being called-up back by Ludogorets's main squad on 6 January 2017.[10]

Return to Ludogorets Razgrad

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Vasilev returned in play for Ludogorets II on 13 March 2017 in a match against Tsarsko Selo Sofia.[11] On 18 March 2017 he played his first match for the season for Ludogorets in a 2:2 draw against Dunav Ruse.[12] For the Bulgarian Cup match on 18 April 2017 against Litex Lovech, Vasilev played the full match and scored one goal for the 4:0 win.[13]

Beroe Stara Zagora

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On 1 June 2018, Vasilev signed with Beroe Stara Zagora.[14]

Retirement

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Vasilev surprisingly announced his retirement on 5 January 2024 at age of just 28 in order to start his own business, despite the fact he was a starter in Cherno More, which ended 2023 as First League leaders.[15][16]

International career

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Senior level

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On 14 March 2017 Vasilev received his first call up for Bulgaria main squad for the match against Netherlands on 25 March 2017.[17] He completed the match on the bench staying as unused substitute for the 2:0 win over Netherlands.[18] On 18 November 2020, Vasilev earned his first cap, coming on as a substitute for Cicinho and playing the last 30 minutes of the 0:0 away draw with Ireland in a Nations League match.[19]

Career statistics

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As of 21 February 2019
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Chavdar Etropole 2011–12 B Group 1 1 0 0 1 1
2012–13 22 1 1 0 23 1
Total 23 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 24 2
Kaliakra Kavarna 2013–14 B Group 23 1 1 0 24 1
Ludogorets Razgrad 2014–15 A Group 7 0 1 0 0 0 1[b] 0 9 0
2015–16 9 1 2 0 0 0 0[b] 0 11 1
2016–17 Bulgarian First League 5 0 2 1 0 0 7 1
2017–18 6 0 2 0 0 0 8 0
Total 27 1 7 1 0 0 1 0 35 2
Ludogorets II 2015–16 B Group 14 2 14 2
2016–17 Bulgarian Second League 7 2 7 2
2017–18 7 0 7 0
Total 28 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 28 4
Beroe Stara Zagora (loan) 2016–17 Bulgarian First League 20 1 2 1 4 0 26 2
Beroe Stara Zagora 2017–18 Bulgarian First League 6 0 0 0 0 0 6 0
2018–19 17 1 2 0 0 0 19 2
Total 43 2 4 1 4 0 0 0 51 4
Career total 144 10 11 2 4 0 1 0 162 12
  1. ^ Includes Bulgarian Cup.
  2. ^ a b Appearance in Bulgarian Supercup

Honours

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Ludogorets

References

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  1. ^ "Профил на Александър Веселинов Василев" (in Bulgarian). fpleague.bg. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  2. ^ "Aleksandar Vasilev Facts". Soccerway. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  3. ^ Александър Василев: Чест е да носиш фланелката на Лудогорец
  4. ^ Chavdar vs Akademik
  5. ^ Лудогорец с нов двоен удар – взе национали
  6. ^ Лудогорец с първа победа в “А” група
  7. ^ Пирин - Лудогорец 0:3, мачът по минути
  8. ^ Александър Василев ще играе в „Берое“ през новия сезон
  9. ^ Берое прати Славия на дъното
  10. ^ БГ халф е второто ново попълнение на Лудогорец - тимът води четирима големи таланти в Турция
  11. ^ Ludogorets II vs Tsarsko Selo
  12. ^ Дунав спря Лудогорец, вратар лиши русенци от победата
  13. ^ Лудогорец разпиля Литекс за Купата
  14. ^ "Берое привлече Александър Василев" (in Bulgarian). beroe.bg. 1 June 2018.
  15. ^ Бивш играч на Локо спря с футбола само на 28 години
  16. ^ Приказката му във футбола остана недовършена
  17. ^ Хубчев взе играч от дубъла на „Лудогорец“
  18. ^ България победи Холандия с 2:0
  19. ^ "Ирландия - България 0:0" (in Bulgarian). topsport.bg. 18 November 2020. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
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