Nikolay Todorov (footballer, born 1996)

Nikolay Todorov
Personal information
Full name Nikolay Nikolaev Todorov
Date of birth (1996-08-24) 24 August 1996 (age 28)
Place of birth Pleven, Bulgaria
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s) Centre-forward
Team information
Current team
 Hamilton Academical
Number 18
Youth career
2003–2011 FC Pleven
2011–2013 Brooke House College
2014–2015 Nottingham Forest
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2016 Nottingham Forest 0 (0)
2015 → Worcester City (loan) 2 (0)
2016 → Hemel Hempstead (loan) 9 (2)
2016–2018 Heart of Midlothian 0 (0)
2016–2017 → Cowdenbeath (loan) 19 (6)
2017–2018 → Livingston (loan) 32 (10)
2018 → Queen of the South (loan) 8 (1)
2018–2019 Rieti 18 (4)
2019 Falkirk 7 (0)
2019–2021 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 48 (12)
2021–2023 Dunfermline Athletic 47 (11)
2023–2024 Airdrieonians 32 (6)
2024– Hamilton Academical 0 (0)
International career
2017 Bulgaria U21 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 01:28, 20 July 2024 (UTC)

Nikolay Todorov (Bulgarian: Николай Тодоров; born 24 August 1996) is a Bulgarian footballer who plays as a centre-forward for Scottish Championship club Hamilton Academical.

Todorov was a Bulgaria U21 international. Known for his physical presence, good in either box in defence or attack; a powerful player and very good in the air; good with both feet. At the age of 7, Todorov started his career with Spartak Pleven's youth system before winning a scholarship in England. In 2014, he joined Nottingham Forest in their Under-21s academy, loan spells followed at Hemel Hempstead and Worcester City in England.

Todorov joined Heart of Midlothian in 2016, loan spells followed at Cowdenbeath and Livingston where he was part of the 2017–18 promotion winning team finishing as champions. He spent the first half of the 2017–18 season back on loan at Livingston, before spending the second half of the season at Queen of the South. He subsequently had a short spell in Italy with Rieti, before returning to Scotland with Falkirk and then Inverness Caledonian Thistle. Todorov signed for Dunfermline in June 2021, winning the League One title in 2023.[1] Todorov left Dunfermline at the end of his contract.[2] He then joined Airdrieonians for a season, with whom he won the Scottish Challenge Cup.

Career

Born in Pleven, Todorov joined FC Pleven's Academy at seven years old.[3] In 2011, he joined Brooke House College and played three years for the college's football team, Brooke House College Football Academy under manager Ben Watts.

In 2014, Todorov joined Nottingham Forest at Under-21 level.[4] On 10 January 2015, he signed his second professional contract with the club.[5] Although he played for the Under-21s, he failed to feature for the first team and was officially released in May 2016.[6]

Todorov had already joined up with Scottish Premiership club Heart of Midlothian in April 2016, to try earn himself a contract.[7] After a successful two-month trial period, he then signed a one-year contract in June 2016.[8] In July 2016, Todorov had a six-month loan spell at Scottish League Two club Cowdenbeath.[9] He made his debut on the opening day of the 2016–17 season in a 1–0 home defeat to Elgin City on 6 August 2016.[10] The following week, Todorov scored his first ever league goal in a 4–3 away loss at Forfar Athletic, with a header from a cross six yards out in the 59th minute.[11] Todorov was mainly played as a centre back due to an injury crisis, before being recalled by Hearts in January 2017.[12] Todorov then went on loan to Livingston in January 2017,[13] helping Livingston win the 2016–17 Scottish League One title.[14] He signed a new one-year contract with Hearts at the end of the 2016–17 season.[15] Todorov spent the first half of the 2017–18 season back on loan at Livingston.[16]

On 31 January 2018, Todorov joined Queen of the South on loan for the remainder of the 2017–18 season.[17]

On 14 August 2018, Todorov signed a two-year contract with Italian Serie C club Rieti.[18] He then returned to Scottish football in January 2019, signing for Falkirk.[19] Following Falkirk's relegation to League One, he left and signed for Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

Todorov spent two seasons with Dunfermline before signing for Airdrieonians in June 2023, where he scored the winner in a 3-2 win against his former club, Inverness.[20] Todorov enjoyed a successful season with the Diamonds, scoring the winning penalty in the 2024 Scottish Challenge Cup final and helped the club reach the Premiership play-offs as the club's top scorer.[21][22]

In July 2024, Todorov joined Airdrie's Lanarkshire rivals and fellow Scottish Championship club Hamilton Academical on a two-year deal.[23]

International career

Todorov has represented Bulgaria on U15, U16 and U21 level. On 30 May 2017, he received his first call-up for Bulgaria U21 for the friendly matches against Georgia U21 and Greece U21 on 8 and 12 June 2017.[24]

Style of play

Todorov is primarily a centre forward, he can however be utilised as a centre back; two-footed, he has the ability to score with his right foot, as well as his left foot, he is a big, powerful strong player and good in the air.[13]

Personal life

His father is also called Nikolay Todorov (born 1964), who was also a professional footballer and playing for the national team of Bulgaria.[3]

On 1 February 2019 he married his Scottish girlfriend Jennifer Clark in a small ceremony.[25]

Career statistics

As of 8 May 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup[a] League Cup[b] Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Nottingham Forest 2015–16[26] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Worcester City (loan) 2015–16[27] National League North 2 0 0 0 — — 2 0
Hemel Hempstead (loan) 2015–16[27] National League South 9 0 0 0 — — 9 0
Heart of Midlothian 2016–17[28] Scottish Premiership 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
2017–18[29] 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Cowdenbeath (loan) 2016–17[28] Scottish League Two 19 3 1 0 1 1 1[c] 1 22 5
Livingston (loan) 2016–17[28] Scottish League One 14 4 — — — 14 4
2017–18[29] Scottish Championship 18 2 0 0 4 1 2[c] 1 24 4
Queen of the South (loan) 8 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 1
F.C. Rieti 2018–19 Serie C 18 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 18 2
Falkirk 2018–19[27] Scottish Championship 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 0
Inverness Caledonian Thistle 2019–20[27] 22 3 2 1 4 2 3[c] 1 31 7
2020–21[27] 26 9 2 2 4 0 0 0 32 11
Inverness Total 48 12 4 3 8 2 3 1 63 18
Dunfermline Athletic 2021–22[27] Scottish Championship 16 2 1 0 5 3 0 0 22 5
2022-23[30] Scottish League One 31 9 2 0 3 2 2[c] 1 38 12
Dunfermline Total 47 11 3 0 8 5 2 1 60 17
Career total 190 35 8 3 21 9 8 4 227 51
  1. ^ Cup competitions include the Scottish Cup
  2. ^ League Cup competitions include the Scottish League Cup
  3. ^ a b c d Appearance/s in the Scottish Challenge Cup

Honours

Club

Livingston
Inverness Caledonian Thisle

Dunfermline Athletic

Airdrieonians

Individual

References

  1. ^ a b "Dunfermline Athletic win cinch League 1 | SPFL".
  2. ^ "Squad Update". dafc.co.uk. 2023-05-07.
  3. ^ a b Yotova, Ralitsa (18 April 2016). "От Плевен до шампиона на Европа - историята на Николай Тодоров" (in Bulgarian). topsport.bg. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
  4. ^ "From Pleven to the champion of Europe". premierleaguepredictions.online. 29 August 2016. Archived from the original on 19 May 2017. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
  5. ^ "Four Nottingham Forest youngsters have signed professional contracts with the club". Nottingham Forest F.C. 10 February 2015.
  6. ^ "Retained list 2016". Nottingham Forest F.C. 27 May 2016. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  7. ^ Anderson, Barry (11 April 2016). "Hearts take Bulgarian striker on trial". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  8. ^ "Talented youngsters join club". Heart of Midlothian F.C. 15 June 2016. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  9. ^ Mackenzie, Alasdair (27 July 2016). "Hearts youngster Nikolay Todorov joins Cowdenbeath on six-month loan". The Herald (Glasgow). Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  10. ^ "Cowdenbeath 0–1 Elgin". Cowdenbeath F.C. 6 August 2016. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  11. ^ "Forfar 4–3 Cowdenbeath". Cowdenbeath F.C. 13 August 2016. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  12. ^ "Bulgarian recalled by Hearts". Central Fife Times & Advertiser. 19 January 2017. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  13. ^ a b "Change of Heart for Nikolay Todorov". Livingston F.C. 23 January 2017. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  14. ^ a b "Livingston 2–1 Alloa Athletic". Livingston F.C. 8 April 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  15. ^ "New deal for Todorov". Heart of Midlothian F.C. 12 May 2017. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  16. ^ "Todorov returns to Livingston on loan". SPFL. 24 June 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  17. ^ "Todorov Signs". Queen of the South F.C. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  18. ^ "Un "ariete" bulgaro per il Rieti: ingaggiato Nikolay Todorov" (in Italian). Corriere di Rieti. 14 August 2018.
  19. ^ "Scottish Championship January ins and outs". BBC Sport.
  20. ^ "Nikolay Todorov discusses exit before making Airdrie move". Dunfermline Press. 13 June 2023.
  21. ^ a b "SPFL Trust Cup final: Reaction as Airdrieonians beat The New Saints". BBC Sport. 2024-03-24. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  22. ^ "Scottish Premiership: Airdrieonians & Partick eye top tier". BBC Sport. 2024-05-06. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  23. ^ "NIKOLAY TODOROV JOINS ACCIES - Hamilton Accies". hamiltonacciesfc.co.uk. 2024-07-19. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  24. ^ "Съставът на България U21 за контролите с Грузия и Гърция". Bulgarian Football Union. 30 May 2017. Archived from the original on 23 August 2017. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
  25. ^ Nikolay Todorov passed under marriage
  26. ^ "Games played by Nikolay Todorov in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  27. ^ a b c d e f Nikolay Todorov at Soccerway. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  28. ^ a b c "Games played by Nikolay Todorov in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  29. ^ a b "Games played by Nikolay Todorov in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  30. ^ "Games played by Nikolay Todorov in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 May 2023.