Zhivko Atanasov (Bulgarian: Живко Атанасов; born 3 February 1991) is a Bulgarian professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Cherno More Varna and the Bulgaria national team.
 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Zhivko Stanislavov Atanasov | ||
| Date of birth | 3 February 1991 | ||
| Place of birth | Gorni Bogrov, Bulgaria | ||
| Height | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Centre back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Cherno More | ||
| Number | 3 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2010 | Levski Sofia | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2010–2012 | Levski Sofia | 0 | (0) |
| 2010–2011 | → Chavdar BS (loan) | 35 | (0) |
| 2011 | → Septemvri Simitli (loan) | 11 | (0) |
| 2012–2015 | Cherno More | 73 | (2) |
| 2015 | Slavia Sofia | 8 | (0) |
| 2016–2017 | Juve Stabia | 26 | (1) |
| 2017–2019 | Viterbese | 68 | (6) |
| 2020 | Catanzaro | 10 | (0) |
| 2020–2021 | Levski Sofia | 30 | (4) |
| 2021– | Cherno More | 109 | (8) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2023– | Bulgaria | 12 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:08, 8 December 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:03, 18 November 2024 (UTC) | |||
Career
editAtanasov began his career with Levski Sofia.
In the winter of 2012, Atanasov impressed Cherno More manager Stefan Genov as a trialist during Cherno More's training camp in Turkey.[2] On 17 February 2012, he signed a two-and-a-half-year contract.[3] Atanasov made his debut on 4 March, starting against Levski Sofia at Georgi Asparuhov Stadium in an A Group fixture, playing the full 90 minutes at centre-back in a 2–1 defeat. He scored his first Cherno More goal on 18 April, opening the scoring in a 7–1 home win over Kaliakra Kavarna.
When Aleksandar Aleksandrov was transferred in January 2014, Atanasov formed a partnership with Kiril Kotev in the centre of defence and has become an established first team player.
On 16 January 2020 he signed a 1.5-year contract with Serie C side Catanzaro.[4]
On 4 August 2020, Atanasov returned to his boyhood club Levski Sofia on a 2-year deal.[5]
On 16 November 2023, he earned his first cap for the national team after coming on as a late first half substitute for Ivaylo Chochev in the 2:2 home draw with Hungary in a Euro 2024 qualifier.[6]
Family
editAtanasov's mother, Yordanka Donkova, is a former hurdling athlete notable for winning an Olympic gold medal and bronze medal as well as 9 medals at European indoor and outdoor championships.
Career statistics
editClub
edit- As of match played 28 September 2024
| Club | League | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Cherno More | First League | 2011–12 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 15 | 1 | ||
| 2012–13 | 18 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 21 | 0 | ||||
| 2013–14 | 19 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 22 | 1 | ||||
| 2014–15 | 21 | 0 | 7 | 1 | — | — | 28 | 1 | ||||
| Total | 73 | 2 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 86 | 3 | ||
| Cherno More | First League | 2021–22 | 29 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 31 | 1 | ||
| 2022–23 | 31 | 1 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 36 | 1 | ||||
| 2023–24 | 33 | 4 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 34 | 4 | ||||
| 2024–25 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 10 | 1 | |||
| Total | 103 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 113 | 7 | ||
| Career total | 180 | 9 | 21 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 203 | 10 | ||
International
edit- As of match played 18 November 2024
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bulgaria | 2023 | 2 | 0 |
| 2024 | 10 | 0 | |
| Total | 12 | 0 | |
Honours
editClub
edit- Cherno More
References
edit- ^ "Профил на Живко Станиславов Атанасов" (in Bulgarian). fpleague.bg. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
- ^ "Живко Атанасов пред договор с Черно море" (in Bulgarian). football24.bg. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
- ^ "Черно море спря селекцията с левскар" (in Bulgarian). topsport.bg. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
- ^ "Il difensore Atanasov in giallorosso" (Press release) (in Italian). Catanzaro. 16 January 2020.
- ^ "Левски подписа с Живко Атанасов". levski.bg (in Bulgarian). 4 August 2020.
- ^ Georgiev, Mihail (16 November 2023). "България - Унгария 2:2 (Развой на срещата по минути)" (in Bulgarian). topsport.bg. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
External links
edit- Zhivko Atanasov at Soccerway