Nikolay Mihaylov facts for kids
Mihaylov in 2012
|
|||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 28 June 1988 | ||
| Place of birth | Sofia, Bulgaria | ||
| Height | 1.94 m | ||
| Playing position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Levski Sofia | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2004–2007 | Levski Sofia | 12 | (0) |
| 2007–2010 | Liverpool | 0 | (0) |
| 2007–2010 | → Twente (loan) | 6 | (0) |
| 2010–2013 | Twente | 82 | (0) |
| 2013–2014 | Hellas Verona | 0 | (0) |
| 2014–2015 | Mersin İdmanyurdu | 9 | (0) |
| 2016–2017 | Mersin İdmanyurdu | 29 | (0) |
| 2017–2018 | Omonia | 10 | (0) |
| 2018–2024 | Levski Sofia | 52 | (0) |
| Total | 216 | (0) | |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2004–2008 | Bulgaria U21 | 22 | (1) |
| 2006–2022 | Bulgaria | 46 | (0) |
† Appearances (Goals). |
|||
Nikolay Borislavov Mihaylov (Bulgarian: Николай Бориславов Михайлов; born on June 28, 1988) is a former professional footballer from Bulgaria. He played as a goalkeeper.
Contents
About Nikolay Mihaylov
Nikolay Mihaylov comes from a family of famous goalkeepers. His father, Borislav Mihaylov, was also a goalkeeper and played many games for Bulgaria's national team. He even became the head of the Bulgarian Football Union. Nikolay's grandfather, Biser Mihaylov, was also a goalkeeper for Levski Sofia in the 1960s. His stepmother since 1998 is Maria Petrova, a world champion in rhythmic gymnastics.
Nikolay's Football Journey
Starting at Levski Sofia
Nikolay began his football career at a young age with Levski Sofia, a top team in his home country. He played his first full game at just 17 years old in a UEFA Cup match. However, some fans were not always happy with his performance, especially after a mistake in a Champions League game in 2006.
Moving to Liverpool
In 2007, Nikolay joined Liverpool on a three-year contract. Liverpool saw him as a promising young talent who could become their main goalkeeper in the future. However, he faced a problem: he could not get a work permit to play in the United Kingdom. Because of this, he was loaned to FC Twente in the Netherlands.
Playing for Twente
At FC Twente, Nikolay competed for a spot in the first team. Even though he didn't play many games at first, Twente recognized his talent. They extended his loan for another year.
On August 27, 2008, Nikolay played his first game for Twente against Arsenal in a Champions League qualifying match. He also made his Eredivisie (Dutch league) debut soon after. A memorable moment was in July 2009, when he came on as a substitute, saved a penalty kick, and made important saves to keep the score level in a Champions League qualifier.
Twente was very impressed with Nikolay's progress. In February 2010, he officially moved from Liverpool to Twente permanently. He signed a three-year contract with the Dutch club.
During the 2010–11 season, Nikolay became Twente's main goalkeeper. He played well in the Champions League, even stopping another penalty. Twente did well in the competition, finishing third in their group, which allowed them to continue in the UEFA Europa League.
In 2011, Nikolay received a special award in Bulgaria. He was named the Bulgarian Footballer of the Year. This was a big achievement, as the last goalkeeper to win this award was his own father, Borislav Mihaylov!
Other Clubs
After his time at Twente, Nikolay played for a few other clubs. He joined Mersin İdmanyurdu in Turkey in 2014. He made his debut in the Turkish Cup and later in the Süper Lig. In one game, he even saved a penalty kick.
In December 2017, he signed with Omonia, a club in Cyprus.
Back to Levski Sofia
In November 2018, Nikolay returned to his first club, Levski Sofia. He quickly became the team's main goalkeeper again. He continued to play for Levski Sofia until 2024.
Playing for Bulgaria
Nikolay Mihaylov also played for the Bulgarian national team. He made his first appearance for the senior team in May 2006. He played in many friendly matches and important qualifying games for tournaments like the Euro 2012 and the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Achievements and Awards
Club Honours
Levski Sofia
- A Group (Bulgarian League Champion): 2005–06, 2006–07
- Bulgarian Cup: 2004–05, 2006-07, 2021–22
- Bulgarian Supercup: 2005
Twente
- Eredivisie (Dutch League Champion): 2009–10
- Johan Cruijff Shield (Dutch Super Cup): 2010, 2011
- KNVB Cup (Dutch Cup): 2011
Individual Awards
- Bulgarian Footballer of the Year: 2011
- Dutch Football Goalkeeper of the Year: 2011
- Bulgarian First League Best Goalkeeper: 2021–22
Images for kids
-
Mihaylov at Sofia airport
See also
In Spanish: Nikolái Mihaylov para niños
