Ivelin Popov is a renowned football midfielder who has achieved significant success both at home in Bulgaria and in Russia. He is the captain of the national team and its personification in recent years.
Ivelin Popov is a native of the capital of Bulgaria, Sofia. The future footballer was born on October 26, 1987. Popov's football biography began early. At first, the boy played the ball in the yard with his peers, and in 1993 he was enrolled in the children's football school of the Bulgarian "Septemvri". In this team, Iveline received his first football education. His talent showed itself brightly already at the level of children's teams, which contributed to the invitation to the youth club "Levski" in 1997.
The beginning of the career of Ivelina Popopova
Ivelin Popov spent seven fruitful years at Levski. His work on the field turned into real creativity, and football thought became more and more professional every year. However, Ivelina failed to sign a contract with the main club Levski and move from the youth level to the adult level.
The talent of the young Popov could not be wasted. As you know, one of the main connoisseurs of young football players who show great promise are Dutch football scouts. In January 2005, Ivelin Popov moved to the Dutch Feyenord. The school of this famous football club was the starting point before the start of a long and successful adult career for a player. After his first season at Feyenord, Ivelin Popov signed a contract with the Bulgarian club Litex, with which the player managed to win several titles in the domestic arena at once.
Professional career of Ivelina Popov
Since 2005, Popov began his career in big football in the Bulgarian "Litex". In the spring of 2006, the young midfielder showed his skills and class. In nine matches, Iveline was able to score five times. Such an outstanding result allowed Popov to become one of the best young footballers in Bulgaria. The midfielder did a lot on the field, but his character often provoked conflicts with the coaching staff. Periodically, Popov, for the purpose of educational measures, was sent to the double, but then returned to the main team again. Popov played 96 matches for Litex and scored 25 times. He hit the gates of rivals not only within the framework of the domestic championship. His career includes several goals in European competition.
Achievements of Ivelin Popov in Litex
In the Bulgarian Litex Ivelin Popov won four significant trophies. Perhaps the most valuable of them is the victory in the Bulgarian Championship in the 2009-2010 season. The midfielder's club has been going for this title for a long time. The previous two seasons did not manage to win the championship gold, but there were other significant victories. For example, the second most important title in Bulgarian football is the National Cup. Popov is a two-time trophy winner (seasons 2007-2008 and 2008-2009). Another memorable victory by the midfielder's team during Popov's time was won in the country's Super Cup in 2010.
Foreign career Ivelina Popova
In 2010, Ivelin Popov was leased by Litex. The already well-known midfielder in Europe was admitted to the ranks of the Turkish Gaziantepspor. True, the transaction amount was a small amount, only 500 thousand euros. The Turks had the right to buy out the player for three years from the date of the signing of the lease.
In Turkey, Popov secured the main squad and even signed a full-fledged contract with the new team on December 14, 2010, for five years. The footballer's debut on the fields of Turkey in the Super League took place in the match with Galatasaray (Istanbul), and Ivelin scored his first goal against the opponent as part of the next round of the domestic championship with the Bujaspora club. The general statistics of Ivelin Popov in Turkey is as follows: played 60 matches and scored nine goals.
In 2012, Ivelin Popov moved to Russia. His first club in our country was "Kuban". In Krasnodar, the midfielder spent three full seasons, took part in eighty matches and was able to score with nineteen goals scored.
Since 2015, the "golden" path of a player has begun on Russian football fields. After signing a contract with Spartak Moscow, Ivelin Popov became a player in the main squad of the team, which claims the highest places every season. In the 2016-2017 season, the “red-whites”, after a long break, were able to win the title of champions of Russia. Popov was an integral part of that team. In 2017, the midfielder added the victory in the Russian Super Cup to gold in the domestic championship. In total, Popov played 77 matches in Spartak and scored six goals, some of which were recognized by the fans as the most beautiful goals of the tour.
In 2018, Popov was loaned to Rubin, but did not stay there for long. Soon he moved to Rostov, where he is currently playing.
Career in the national team of Bulgaria
Ivelin Popov has been drafted into the ranks of the Bulgarian national team since 2007. Already in 2010 he entered the field with a captain's armband, thus becoming the youngest captain in the history of the Bulgarian national team. The midfielder still plays for the national team. He has 14 goals scored.
Popov's personal life is going as well as his football career. He is married to singer Elena Parisheva. The lovers have two children: son Yvelin and daughter Emma.
