Ilian Iliev (footballer, born 1999)

Ilian Ilianov Iliev (Bulgarian: Илиан Илианов Илиев; born 20 August 1999), also known as Ilian Iliev Jr., is a Bulgarian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for CSKA Sofia.

Ilian Iliev
Iliev with Cherno More Varna in 2019
Personal information
Full name Ilian Ilianov Iliev
Date of birth (1999-08-20) 20 August 1999 (age 25)
Place of birth Funchal, Portugal[1]
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)[2]
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team
CSKA Sofia
Number 73
Youth career
2006–2017 Cherno More
2017–2019 Académica de Coimbra
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2017 Cherno More 3 (0)
2017–2019 Académica de Coimbra 0 (0)
2019–2021 Cherno More 47 (5)
2021–2024 Apollon Limassol 49 (2)
2023–2024Kifisia (loan) 19 (0)
2024Cherno More (loan) 13 (0)
2024– CSKA Sofia 8 (0)
International career
2017 Bulgaria U18 5 (0)
2019–2020 Bulgaria U21 5 (1)
2021– Bulgaria 17 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14:14, 10 November 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 04:35, 16 October 2024 (UTC)

Club career

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Ilian made his first team league début in a 1–3 home defeat against Ludogorets on 9 September 2016, coming on as substitute for Georgi Iliev.[3] He scored his first goal in the top division of Bulgarian football on 30 August 2019, in the 1–1 draw with Dunav Ruse.[4]

On 31 July 2017, Iliev joined Académica de Coimbra's academy.[5]

On 19 July 2021, Iliev agreed a deal to join Cypriot First Division side Apollon Limassol on a four-year contract.[6] Having spent the first-half of the 2023–24 season on loan with A.E. Kifisia, Iliev returned to Cherno More on loan for the remainder of the season in February 2024.[7]

International career

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Iliev made his debut for Bulgaria national team on 25 March 2021 in a World Cup qualifier against Switzerland.[8]

Personal life

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He is the son of former footballer and current manager Ilian Iliev Sr.

Career statistics

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Club

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As of 10 November 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Cherno More 2016–17 3 0 1 0 4 0
Académica de Coimbra 2017–18 0 0 0 0 0 0
2018–19 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0
Cherno More 2019–20 20 3 1 0 21 3
2020–21 27 2 1 0 28 2
Total 47 5 2 0 49 5
Apollon Limassol 2021–22 25 1 1 0 1 0 27 1
2022–23 24 1 1 0 25 1
Total 49 1 2 0 1 0 0 0 52 2
Kifisia (loan) 2023–24 19 0 3 0 22 0
Cherno More (loan) 2023–24 13 0 13 0
CSKA Sofia 2024–25 8 0 1 1 9 1
Career total 139 7 9 1 1 0 0 0 149 8

International

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As of match played 15 October 2024
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Bulgaria 2021 6 0
2022 3 0
2023 3 0
2024 5 0
Total 17 0

Honours

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Apollon Limassol

References

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  1. ^ "Илиан Илиев: Ако е лесно, значи не е за мен" (in Bulgarian). temasport.com. 29 June 2015.
  2. ^ "Състав на "Черно море" за сезон 2016/2017" (in Bulgarian). Cherno More official website. Archived from the original on 22 April 2017. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  3. ^ "Черно море води 58 минути на Лудогорец, но допусна пълен обрат. Синът на Илиан Илиев с дебют на 17 години" (in Bulgarian). petel.bg. 9 September 2016.
  4. ^ Dimitrov, Ivaylo (30 August 2019). "Черно море и Дунав завършиха наравно 1:1" (in Bulgarian). topsport.bg. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
  5. ^ "Илиан Илиев ще играе в Португалия" (in Bulgarian). chernomorepfc.bg. 27 July 2017.
  6. ^ "ΣΥΜΦΩΝΙΑ ΜΕ ΤΣΕΡΝΟ ΜΟΡΕ ΓΙΑ ΤΟΝ ΙΛΙΑΝ ΙΛΙΕΦ" (in Greek). Apollon Limassol FC. 19 July 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  7. ^ "Черно море привлече Илиан Илиев" [The Black Sea attracted Ilian Iliev]. chernomorepfc.bg (in Bulgarian). 28 February 2024. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  8. ^ "Bulgaria v Switzerland game report". FIFA. 25 March 2021. Archived from the original on 29 January 2021.
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