PROFILPELAJAR.COM

Petko Hristov
	Hristov with Spezia in 2024
Personal information
Full name	Petko Rosenov Hristov
Date of birth	1 March 1999 (age 25)
Place of birth	Sofia, Bulgaria
Height	1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s)	Centre-back
Team information
Current team	Spezia
Number	55
Youth career
2008–2013	Levski Sofia
2013–2016	Slavia Sofia
2017–2018	Fiorentina
Senior career*
Years	Team
2016–2017	Slavia Sofia
2017–2021	Fiorentina
2018–2019	→ Ternana (loan)
2019–2020	→ Bisceglie (loan)
2020–2021	→ Pro Vercelli (loan)
2021–	Spezia
2023	→ Venezia (loan)
International career‡
2015–2016	Bulgaria U17
2016–2018	Bulgaria U19
2017–2020	Bulgaria U21
2021–	Bulgaria
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:02, 14 December 2024 (UTC); ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 20 June 2023

Petko Rosenov Hristov (Bulgarian: Петко Росенов Христов; born 1 March 1999) is a Bulgarian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Serie B club Spezia and the Bulgaria national team.^[2]

Career

Slavia Sofia

Hristov started his career in Levski Sofia, before relocating to Slavia Sofia in 2013.^[3] He made his senior debut for Slavia in a match of the Europa League against Polish club Zagłębie Lubin on 30 June 2016, coming on as a substitute for Georgi Yomov.^[4] A month later he made his Bulgarian First League debut in the opening game of the season against CSKA Sofia.^[5] He scored his first goal on 10 September in a 5–2 home win over Lokomotiv Plovdiv. On 1 October Petko was joined by his twin brother Andrea Hristov in the central defense for the very first time against Vereya in the starting line-up.^[6]

On 3 April 2017, Hristov signed his first professional contract with the club until 31 July 2020.^[7]

Fiorentina

On 17 July 2017, Fiorentina confirmed they had signed Hristov on a five-year contract after Firenze Viola, Fiorentina owner, himself liked the player after seeing him in action at the European Under-19 Championship.^[8] On 20 August 2017, he was on the bench for the first time in the Serie A match against Inter Milan.^[9] He made his unofficial debut for the club against Real Madrid on 24 August coming on as a substitute in added time for the Trofeo Bernabeu game.^[10]^[11]

Ternana (loan)

On 16 August 2018, Hristov joined Serie C club Ternana on loan until 30 June 2019.^[12] He scored his first goal for the club on 4 December 2018 in a league match against Rimini won by Ternana by 3:0.^[13]

Bisceglie (loan)

On 9 August 2019, Hristov joined Serie C club Bisceglie on loan until 30 June 2020.^[14]

Pro Vercelli (loan)

On 18 September 2020, Hristov joined Serie C club Pro Vercelli on loan until 30 June 2021.

Spezia

After his good performance for Pro Vercelli in Serie C, on 5 July 2021 Hristov moved to Serie A team Spezia, signing a contract until 2025.^[15] He made his debut for the team on 13 August in a Coppa Italia match against Pordenone and compleated his Serie A debut on 23 August in a match against Cagliari.^[16]

Venezia (loan)

On 26 January 2023, Hristov was loaned to Venezia for the rest of the 2022–23 season.^[17]

International career

Youth levels

Hristov was called up for the Bulgaria U19 team for the 2017 European Under-19 Championship qualification from 22 to 27 March 2017.^[18] After a draw and 2 wins the team qualified for the knockout phase which was held in July 2017.^[19] Petkov played in all 3 matches from the group stage when Bulgaria were eliminated.

On 5 September 2017, he made his debut for the Bulgaria U21 in a match against Luxembourg U21.^[20]

Senior team

He made his debut for the Bulgaria national football team on 31 March 2021 in a World Cup qualifier against Northern Ireland. His twin brother Andrea made his debut in the same game as well.^[21]

Personal life

Petko Hristov has a twin brother, Andrea, who is also a professional footballer.^[22]

Career statistics

Club

As of 1 May 2023.^[2]

Club	Season	League			Cup		Continental		Other		Total
Club	Season	Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Slavia Sofia	First League	2016–17	25	1	0	0	1	0	4^[a]	0	30	1
	First League	2017–18	1	0	–		–		–		1	0
	Total		26	1	0	0	1	0	4	0	31	1
Fiorentina	Serie A	2017–18	0	0	0	0	–		–		0	0
Ternana (loan)	Serie C	2018–19	13	1	1^[b]	0	–		–		14	1
Bisceglie (loan)		2019–20	25	0	0	0	–		–		25	0
Pro Vercelli (loan)		2020–21	33	2	0	0	–		3^[c]	0	36	2
Spezia	Serie A	2021–22	17	1	2	0	–		–		19	1
	Serie A	2022–23	9	0	2	0	–		–		11	0
	Total		26	1	4	0	0	0	0	0	30	1
Venezia (loan)	Serie B	2022–23	9	0	–		–		–		9	1
Career total			132	5	5	0	1	0	7	0	145	5

^ Relegation Play-offs
^ Appearances in Coppa Italia Serie C
^ Appearances in Serie B – Promotion play-offs

International

As of match played 20 June 2023^[23]

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team	Year	Apps
Bulgaria	2021	9
	2022	8
	2023	2
Total		19

Style of play

Hristov was described from the Italian media as a physically strong defender with great air abilities and being able to read the game which has led him to be compared to legendary Brazilian defender Thiago Silva.^[24]

Awards

Individual

Bulgarian Youth Footballer of the Year (1): 2016 ^[25]

References

^ Todorov, Nayden (6 May 2015). "Кои са те? Отборът на бъдещето!" (in Bulgarian). 24chasa.bg. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
^ ^a ^b Petko Hristov at Soccerway
^ "Братята Де Бур" от Овча купел
^ Slavia VS. Lubin 1 - 0
^ CSKA VS. Slavia 2 - 0
^ Slavia vs Vereya
^ Славия подписа с трима от героите на България
^ "Fiorentina complete Hristov signing". violachannel.tv. 17 July 2017.
^ Inter beats Fiorentina by 3:0
^ Cristiano Ronaldo goal, assist as Real Madrid win Trofeo Bernabeu game
^ Real Madrid 2:1 Fiorentina
^ "UFFICIALE: Fiorentina, Hristov saluta e va in prestito alla Ternana". Retrieved 16 August 2018.
^ Fere, 3-0 al Liberati con il Rimini nel recupero della prima giornata
^ "UFFICIALE: Bisceglie, ecco il bulgaro Hristov in prestito dalla Fiorentina". Retrieved 12 August 2019.
^ Ufficiale | Petko Hristov è un nuovo calciatore dello Spezia | Spezia Calcio - Sito ufficiale
^ Петко Христов със силен дебют в Серия А при равенство на Специя
^ "PETKO HRISTOV JOINS VENEZIA FC". Venezia F.C. 26 January 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
^ Съставът на България (U19) за Елитния кръг във Франция
^ Футболът ни възкръсна! 19-годишните лъвове "изядоха" всички, България с нов грандиозен успех
^ Младежите падат от Люксембург
^ "Northern Ireland v Bulgaria game report". FIFA. 31 March 2021. Archived from the original on 2 February 2021.
^ "Петко и Андреа Христови: Малки сме, за да се главозамайваме". btvnovinite.bg (in Bulgarian). bTV Media Group. 27 June 2017.
^ "Petko Hristov". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
^ Dalla Bulgaria alla Viola per stregare Pioli: ecco Petko Hristov il nuovo Thiago Silva
^ Талант №1 Петко Христов: Мечтая да играя в чужбина

[23] Relegation Play-offs

[Coppa_Italia_Serie_C-24] Appearances in Coppa Italia Serie C

[Serie_B–Promotion_play-offs-25] Appearances in Serie B – Promotion play-offs

[1] Todorov, Nayden (6 May 2015). "Кои са те? Отборът на бъдещето!" (in Bulgarian). 24chasa.bg. Retrieved 31 December 2016.

[soccerway-2] Petko Hristov at Soccerway

[3] "Братята Де Бур" от Овча купел

[4] Slavia VS. Lubin 1 - 0

[5] CSKA VS. Slavia 2 - 0

[6] Slavia vs Vereya

[7] Славия подписа с трима от героите на България

[8] "Fiorentina complete Hristov signing". violachannel.tv. 17 July 2017.

[9] Inter beats Fiorentina by 3:0

[10] Cristiano Ronaldo goal, assist as Real Madrid win Trofeo Bernabeu game

[11] Real Madrid 2:1 Fiorentina

[12] "UFFICIALE: Fiorentina, Hristov saluta e va in prestito alla Ternana". Retrieved 16 August 2018.

[13] Fere, 3-0 al Liberati con il Rimini nel recupero della prima giornata

[14] "UFFICIALE: Bisceglie, ecco il bulgaro Hristov in prestito dalla Fiorentina". Retrieved 12 August 2019.

[15] Ufficiale | Petko Hristov è un nuovo calciatore dello Spezia | Spezia Calcio - Sito ufficiale

[16] Петко Христов със силен дебют в Серия А при равенство на Специя

[17] "PETKO HRISTOV JOINS VENEZIA FC". Venezia F.C. 26 January 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2023.

[18] Съставът на България (U19) за Елитния кръг във Франция

[19] Футболът ни възкръсна! 19-годишните лъвове "изядоха" всички, България с нов грандиозен успех

[20] Младежите падат от Люксембург

[21] "Northern Ireland v Bulgaria game report". FIFA. 31 March 2021. Archived from the original on 2 February 2021.

[22] "Петко и Андреа Христови: Малки сме, за да се главозамайваме". btvnovinite.bg (in Bulgarian). bTV Media Group. 27 June 2017.

[NFT-26] "Petko Hristov". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 4 May 2023.

[27] Dalla Bulgaria alla Viola per stregare Pioli: ecco Petko Hristov il nuovo Thiago Silva

[28] Талант №1 Петко Христов: Мечтая да играя в чужбина

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

[19]

[20]

[21]

[22]

[a]

[b]

[c]

[23]

[24]

[25]

Petko Hristov