Dominik Ivilin Yankov (Bulgarian: Доминик Ивилин Янков; born 28 July 2000) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for CF Montréal in Major League Soccer. Born in Canada, he represents Bulgaria on international level.[2]

Dominik Yankov
Dominik Yankov in 2021
Personal information
Full name Dominik Ivilin Yankov
Date of birth (2000-07-28) 28 July 2000 (age 24)
Place of birth Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
CF Montréal
Number 8
Youth career
2008–2013 Power FC
2013–2016 Sunderland
2016–2017 Ludogorets Razgrad
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2024 Ludogorets II 47 (7)
2018–2024 Ludogorets Razgrad 83 (11)
2019–2020Botev Vratsa (loan) 24 (3)
2024– CF Montréal 21 (2)
International career
2017–2018 Bulgaria U19 5 (0)
2019–2022 Bulgaria U21 9 (2)
2020– Bulgaria 17 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:35, 21 November 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 18:35, 21 November 2024 (UTC)

Yankov played in the Power FC Soccer Academy in Toronto until age 13, when he joined Sunderland's Academy. Three years later he moved to Bulgaria, joining Ludogorets, where he made his senior debut.

Career

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Ludogorets Razgrad

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Academy and second team

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Before joining Ludogorets, Yankov spent 5 years playing for Power FC, a private Canadian academy.[3] After that he moved to Sunderland where he spent 3 years, but after his parents decided to return to Bulgaria, they chose the Ludogorets academy as the best place for him to continue his career.[4]

Yankov made his debut in the UEFA Youth League for Ludogorets on 27 September 2017 in the first round of Domestic champions path against Željezničar Sarajevo.[5]

On 27 May 2017, in the last league match of the season, Yankov was set on bench in the match against Spartak Pleven, but remained on bench the whole match.[6][7] He completed his debut for the doubles on 13 August 2017 in a league match against Nesebar.[8]

First team

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Yankov in 2018

In February 2018 Ludogorets manager Dimitar Dimitrov took Yankov in the first team.[9] Yankov made an unofficial debut for the team in a winter break friendly against the Romanian club Botoșani.[10] He completed his debut for the team on 12 May 2018 in a league match against Levski Sofia.[11][12]

Loan to Botev Vratsa

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On 1 August 2019 Yankov was sent on loan to the fellow First League team Botev Vratsa until end of the year with an option to extend the loan until the end of the season.[13] He made his debut for the team three days later in a league match against CSKA Sofia, coming on as a substitute in the 84th minute.[14] In his first match as a starter on 16 August against Slavia Sofia, Yankov scored his first goal for the team and also assisted another.[15]

Return to Ludogorets

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After his successful spell in Botev, Ludogorets coach Pavel Vrba decided to include Yankov in the first team. He returned in play in the Supercup match against Lokomotiv Plovdiv on 2 August.[16] On 19 August he compleated his debut in the Champions League match against FK Budućnost Podgorica.[17] On 25 August, before the Champions League match against FC Midtjylland, he tested positive for COVID-19.[18] He returned in play on 12 September 2020, scoring his debut league goal and helping his team to a win over Lokomotiv Plovdiv.[19] On 24 September 2020 he signed a new long-term contract with the team.[20]

CF Montréal

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On 29 January 2024, Yankov signed with MLS team CF Montréal for an undisclosed fee.[21][22]

International career

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Yankov was born in Canada to Bulgarian parents, which makes him eligible for both Canada and Bulgaria national teams. He represented Canada U15, but later represented Bulgaria on U17, U19 and U21 levels although he received several invites for Canada's youth teams, including a call for the U23 for the 2020 CONCACAF Olympic qualifying.[23] In an interview in June 2020 he explained that he would represent the country that contacts him first.[24] In October 2020 he was called for Bulgaria U21 team, but after an injury of Borislav Tsonev, Yankov received his first call up for the senior team of Bulgaria, declaring he will represent the nation on international level.[25] He completed his debut on 8 October in the UEFA Euro 2020 Play-off match against Hungary, coming as a substitute in the 79th minute.[26] In 2021 he was recalled for the U21 team of Bulgaria for the friendly tournament Antalya Cup, where he was named the team captain.[27] Bulgarian team finished as a runner-up, losing the final game against North Macedonia U21. Yankov scored 2 goals and was named as the best midfielder.[28]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of 21 November 2024[2]
Club performance League Cup Continental Other Total
Club League Season Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Bulgaria League Bulgarian Cup Europe Other[a] Total
Ludogorets Razgrad II Second League 2016–17 0 0 0 0
2017–18 19 2 19 2
2018–19 22 2 22 2
2020–21 1 0 1 0
2022–23 5 3 5 3
Total 47 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 47 7
Ludogorets Razgrad First League 2017–18 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
2018–19 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
2019–20 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
2020–21 28 5 3 0 7 0 1 0 39 5
2021–22 28 4 3 2 9 0 1 1 41 7
2022–23 11 0 2 0 6 0 0 0 19 0
2023–24 9 2 0 0 10 1 0 0 19 3
Total 83 11 10 2 32 1 2 1 127 15
Botev Vratsa (loan) First League 2019–20 24 3 3 2 27 5
United States/Canada League Canadian Championship CONCACAF Other
CF Montréal Major League Soccer 2024 21 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 23 2
Career statistics 154 21 13 4 32 1 2 1 201 27
  1. ^ Includes Bulgarian Supercup matches.

International

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As of match played 10 September 2023
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Bulgaria 2020 3 0
2021 9 0
2022 3 0
2023 2 0
Total 17 0

Honours

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Club

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Ludogorets

Individual

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References

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  1. ^ "Профил на Доминик Ивилин Янков" (in Bulgarian). fpleague.bg. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Bulgaria - D. Yankov - Profile with news, career statistics and history". Soccerway. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  3. ^ "Power Soccer Website – Academy".
  4. ^ "Младите надежди на Лудогорец разкриват тайни". gong.bg.
  5. ^ "Ludogorets U19 kicked off their participation in the UEFA Youth League with a 1:1 even score against Zeljeznicar (Sarajevo)". ludogorets.com.
  6. ^ "С 10 дебютанти Лудогорец II изпрати Спартак (Плевен) в Трета лига". blitz.bg.
  7. ^ "Ludogorets-2 vs Spartak Pleven". int.soccerway.com.
  8. ^ "Nesebar vs Ludogorets II". ludogorets.com.
  9. ^ "Димитър Димитров взе Доминик Янков в първия отбор на Лудогорец". topsport.bg. 8 February 2018.
  10. ^ "Ludogorets defeated 2:0 the fifth team in Romania overall". ludogorets.com.
  11. ^ ""Лудогорец" вдигна седмата поредна титла след зрелищно равенство с "Левски"". dnevnik.bg. 12 May 2018.
  12. ^ "Ludogorets and Levski make a draw 2:2". ludogorets.com.
  13. ^ Лудогорец прати Доминик Янков в Ботев (Враца) до зимата
  14. ^ ЦСКА победи Ботев (Враца) с 1:0
  15. ^ Сашо Ангелов: Страхотно впечатление ми направи Доминик Янков, Божинов е готов за игра
  16. ^ Лудогорец загуби мача за Суперкупата
  17. ^ Лудогорец удари Будучност и чака Мидтиланд
  18. ^ И Доминик Янков с COVID-19
  19. ^ По шампионски! Лудогорец обърна Локо (Пд)
  20. ^ Доминик Янков подписа нов договор с Лудогорец
  21. ^ Лудогорец със силен изходящ трансфер, продаде Доминик Янков в Мейджър Лийг Сокър
  22. ^ CF Montréal acquires midfielder Dominik Yankov
  23. ^ Роден талант на кръстопът между България и Канада
  24. ^ Dominik Yankov on playing for Canada or Bulgaria senior: "whichever country contacts me first"
  25. ^ Доминик Янков бе повикан в лагера на България "А"
  26. ^ Всичко свърши! Отново сме аут от европейското първенство (видео+галерия)
  27. ^ Младежите показаха как се прави и скриха топката на Казахстан с три гола за девет минути
  28. ^ Избраха Доминик Янков за №1 в Анталия
  29. ^ Доминик Янков получи приза за най-прогресиращ млад играч на България

Power FC

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