Nikolay Bodurov
{{short description|Bulgarian footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2022}}
{{family name hatnote|Georgiev|Bodurov|lang=Bulgarian}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Nikolay Bodurov
| image = Bodurov 2017.jpg
| image_size = 190
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1986|5|30|df=y}}
| birth_place = Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria
| position = Centre-back
| currentclub = Pirin Blagoevgrad
| clubnumber = 5
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 =
| years1 = 2004–2009
| clubs1 = Pirin Blagoevgrad
| caps1 = 104
| goals1 = 1
| years2 = 2009–2014
| clubs2 = Litex Lovech
| caps2 = 109
| goals2 = 8
| years3 = 2014–2016
| clubs3 = Fulham
| caps3 = 41
| goals3 = 1
| years4 = 2016
| clubs4 = → Midtjylland (loan)
| caps4 = 15
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2017–2019
| clubs5 = CSKA Sofia
| caps5 = 95
| goals5 = 3
| years6 = 2020
| clubs6 = Esteghlal
| caps6 = 3
| goals6 = 0
| years7 = 2020–
| clubs7 = Pirin Blagoevgrad
| caps7 = 74
| goals7 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2010–2019
| nationalteam1 = Bulgaria
| nationalcaps1 = 50
| nationalgoals1 = 2
| club-update = 16 September 2024
| ntupdate =
}}
Nikolay Georgiev Bodurov ({{langx|bg|Николай Георгиев Бодуров}}; born 30 May 1986) is a Bulgarian professional footballer who plays for Pirin Blagoevgrad and the Bulgaria national team. Bodurov plays mainly as a centre back but has also played as a right back on some occasions.
He started his professional career at his hometown club Pirin Blagoevgrad, playing five seasons before moving to Litex Lovech in 2009, with whom he won two league titles. In 2014, he signed with Fulham for a fee in the region of €1 million and then spent time on loan at Midtjylland during the 2015–16 season. In August 2016, his contract with Fulham was cancelled by mutual consent.
Internationally, Bodurov made his debut for Bulgaria in 2010.
Career
=Pirin Blagoevgrad=
Born in Blagoevgrad, Bodurov started to play football at early age with Pirin 1922. He made his way through the youth ranks at the club before making his first team debut on 8 August 2004 against Shumen, when he was only 18 years old. Bodurov quickly established himself in the Pirin 1922 first-team. He earned 29 league appearances in 2004–05 season and helped the team to win promotion to A Group.
Bodurov scored his only goal for Pirin during a 2007–08 season. On 27 October 2007, he scored a last-minute goal to secure a 1–0 away win over Vidima-Rakovski.
In the 2008–09 season with the team, he qualified for the final of Bulgarian Cup. Bodurov played in 125 matches at the club of Blagoevgrad until 2009.
=Litex Lovech=
In July 2009, Litex Lovech signed Bodurov{{cite web|publisher=dariknews.bg|title=Литекс взе Бодуров от Пирин|url=http://dariknews.bg/view_article.php?article_id=372079|date=5 July 2009|language=bg}} on a four-year deal.{{citation needed|date=March 2013}} He was given the number 33 shirt. He made his competitive debut for Litex on 1 August 2009, against Levski Sofia for the Bulgarian Supercup. Bodurov made his league debut against Montana on 30 August, playing the full 90 minutes. The game ended with a 3–0 victory to Litex.{{cite web|publisher=soccerway.com|title=Litex 3–0 Montana|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2009/08/30/bulgaria/a-pfg/pfk-litex-lovech/pfc-montana-1921/787331/|date=30 August 2009}} On 25 March 2010, he netted his first goal for the club, scoring header in the 1–0 home win against Sliven 2000.{{cite web|publisher=gong.bg|title=Литекс стигна до минимален успех срещу Сливен|url=http://gong.bg/view_article.php?article_id=126411|date=25 March 2010|language=bg}} In his first season playing for Litex, he made 18 appearances in the A PFG and ended the season winning his first league golden medal. During a campaign, he was mainly used as a right-back.{{cite web|publisher=topsport.com|title=Бодуров недоволства от Червенков|url=http://topsport.ibox.bg/news/id_910526053|date=6 March 2010|language=bg}}
On 20 December 2010, Bodurov was named 2010 A PFG Defender of the Year.{{cite web|publisher=webcafe.bg|title=Годината на Бодуров|url=http://www.webcafe.bg/id_744752835|date=23 December 2010|language=bg}} He collected his second A PFG title winner's medal at the end of the 2010–11 season.
On 3 August 2011, he scored the only goal for Litex in a 1–3 away loss against Wisła Kraków in the Champions League qualifying match.{{cite web|publisher=UEFA|title=Wisła within sight after ousting Litex|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/01f4-0e79156d119c-e7ae7a6cfc7f-1000--wisla-within-sight-after-ousting-litex/|date=3 August 2011}} On 21 August 2011, as a result of injury to regular captain Nebojša Jelenković,{{cite web|publisher=blitz.bg|title=Литекс размаза слабака Светкавица с 6:0|url=http://www.blitz.bg/sport/article/102379|date=21 August 2011|language=bg}} Bodurov captained Litex for the first time in the last 22 minutes against Svetkavitsa at the Lovech Stadium in a 6–0 Litex victory.{{cite web|publisher=topsport.bg|title=Литекс закопа Светкавица|url=http://topsport.ibox.bg/news/id_900593567|date=21 August 2011|language=bg}} A week later, he scored his first league goal of the 2011–12 season in a 2–0 win at Slavia Sofia.{{cite web|publisher=soccerway.com|title=Slavia 0–2 Litex|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2011/08/28/bulgaria/a-pfg/pfc-slavia-sofia/pfk-litex-lovech/1182242/|date=21 August 2011}}
=Fulham=
On 1 August 2014, Bodurov signed a three-year contract with English side Fulham with an additional one-year option.{{cite web|publisher=Sky Sports|title=Fulham sign Nikolay Bodurov on three-year deal|url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11681/9402968/transfer-news-fulham-sign-bulgaria-international-nikolay-bodurov-on-a-three-year-contract|date=1 August 2014}} The 28-year-old immediately joined up with his new club on their pre-season tour of Austria at a training camp in Innsbruck. He made his league debut in the opening game of the season, in a 2–1 loss to Ipswich Town on 9 August, playing full 90 minutes in the centre of defence.{{cite web|publisher=BBC|title=Ipswich Town 2–1 Fulham|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/28646535|date=9 August 2014}} Bodurov scored his first goal for Fulham to open the scoring against Derby County in a 2–0 home win on 28 February 2015.{{cite web|work=The Guardian|title=Fulham's Nikolay Bodurov's brilliant shot sinks leaders Derby County|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/28/fulham-derby-county-championship-match-report|date=28 February 2015}} Bodurov's contract was cancelled by mutual consent on 26 August 2016.{{cite web|publisher=fulhamfc.com|title=Bodurov Departs|url=http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2016/august/26/nikolay-bodurov-departs|date=26 August 2016}}
==FC Midtjylland (loan)==
On 1 February 2016, Bodurov signed on loan for Midtjylland for the remainder of the campaign.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35459697|title=Fulham sign Rohan Ince and Zakaria Labyad on loan|work=BBC Sport |date=February 2016 }} He played 15 games in the Danish Superliga and helped his team finish third. Bodurov also participated in Europa League matches against Manchester United, scoring an own goal.{{cite web|url=http://www.manutd.com/en/Fixtures-And-Results/Match-Reports/2016/Feb/match-report-manchester-united-v-midtjylland-europa-league.aspx|title=Manchester United 5 Midtjylland 1 (Agg 6-3) – Official Manchester United Website}}
=CSKA Sofia=
On 23 January 2017, Bodurov signed with CSKA Sofia until the end of the season.{{cite web | title = Николай Бодуров е футболист на ЦСКА | url = http://cska.bg/index.php?main_page=document_general_info&cPath=65&products_id=2273 | publisher = cska.bg | date = 23 January 2017 | language = bg}} He quickly established himself as a key player for the "redmen", but was frozen out of the first team in August 2019 (alongside Rúben Pinto) by manager Ljupko Petrović, reportedly for disciplinary reasons.{{cite web | title = ЦСКА замина за Украйна без Бодуров и Пинто, Люпко мълчи на летището | url = https://news.bg/cska/tsska-zamina-za-ukrayna-bez-bodurov-i-pinto-lyupko-malchi-na-letishteto.html | publisher = news.bg | date = 14 August 2019 | access-date=5 September 2019 |language = bg}} After Petrović's resignation, it was confirmed by owner Grisha Ganchev that Bodurov will not be reinstated to the first team.{{cite web | title = Гриша Ганчев с ексклузивно интервю пред ТОПСПОРТ: За ЦСКА, новия стадион, емблемата, целите, Борислав Михайлов и... Бодуров | url = https://topsport.bg/cska/grisha-ganchev-s-ekskluzivno-intervyu-pred-topsport-za-tsska-noviya-stadion-emblemata-tselite-borislav-mihaylov-i-bodurov.html |author=Domuschiev, Angel|publisher = topsport.bg | date = 15 October 2019 | access-date=19 December 2019 |language = bg}}
=Esteghlal=
On 30 January 2020, Bodurov signed for Iranian club Esteghlal{{cite web|url=https://www.fcesteghlal.ir/news/158/نیکولای-بودورف-به-استقلال-پیوست|script-title=fa:نیکولای بودورف به استقلال پیوست|trans-title=Nikolay Bodurov joined Esteghlal|publisher=Esteghlal F.C.|language=fa|date=30 January 2020|access-date=30 January 2020}} on a six-month contract until the end of the season, with an option to extend his contract until the end of the 2020–21 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.khabaronline.ir/news/1347858/بودوروف-رسما-به-استقلال-پیوست-عکس|script-title=fa:بودوروف رسماً به استقلال پیوست/عکس|trans-title=Bodurov officially joined Esteghlal|publisher=Khabar Online|language=fa|date=1 February 2020|access-date=2 February 2020}} He was handed the number 20 jersey.{{cite web|url=https://www.tarafdari.com/node/1525746|script-title=fa:نیکولای بودوروف، مدافع جدید استقلال شماره 20 را بر تن می کند|trans-title=Nikolay Bodurov will wear Esteghlal's number 20|publisher=Tarafdari|language=fa|date=1 February 2020|access-date=2 February 2020|first=Foad|last=Baghlani}} On 10 February 2020, he made his official debut for the club in an AFC Champions League away match against Al-Shorta.{{cite web|url=https://www.tarafdari.com/node/1534481|script-title=fa:الشرطه 1-1 استقلال؛ تساوی تلخ که با مصدومیت قائدی همراه بود|trans-title= Al-Shorta 1-1 Esteghlal|publisher=Tarafdari|language=fa|date=10 February 2020|access-date=14 February 2020|first=Ali|last=Kalhori}}
International career
On 8 October 2010, Bodurov made his debut for the Bulgaria national team{{NFT player|id=15776}} in the 1–0 away win in a Euro 2012 qualifying match against Wales in Cardiff. During a 2014 World Cup qualifying match against Denmark on 26 March 2013, Bodurov ruptured his ligament of ankle,{{cite web|publisher=novsport.com|title=Бодуров е със скъсана връзка|url=http://www.novsport.com/news535961_1042.html|date=27 March 2013|language=bg}} and received surgery two days later.{{cite web|publisher=gong.bg|title=Оперираха Бодуров, аут до края на сезона|url=http://gong.bg/view_article.php?article_id=337015|date=28 March 2013|language=bg}} He reclaimed his starting spot for the national team following his return from injury, but was sent off on 11 October 2013, in the 1–2 away loss against Armenia in a World Cup qualifier.{{cite web|publisher=topsport.bg|title=Адио, Рио! Националите не издържаха в Армения|url=http://topsport.ibox.bg/material/id_1153494886|date=11 October 2013|language=bg}}
On 9 September 2014, Bodurov captained his country for the first time in the 2–1 away victory over Azerbaijan in a Euro 2016 qualifier after regular captain Ivelin Popov had sustained an injury a few days prior to the match. He subsequently dedicated the win to Popov.{{cite web|publisher=topsport.bg|url=http://topsport.ibox.bg/material/id_1632645425|title=България показа характер и пречупи азерите в Баку, Венци Христов ни донесе успеха|date=9 September 2014|language=bg}}{{cite web|publisher=topsport.bg|url=http://topsport.ibox.bg/news/id_1944335509|title=Бодуров: Ивелине, това е за теб, трудна победа|date=9 September 2014|language=bg}}
=International goals=
:Scores and results list Bulgaria's goal tally first.
| class="wikitable" | ||||||
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 13 October 2014 | Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway | {{fb|NOR}} | align=center | 1–1 | align=center | 1–2 | UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying |
| 2. | 26 March 2018 | Pancho Aréna, Felcsút, Hungary | {{fb|KAZ}} | align=center | 2–1 | align=center | 2–1 | Friendly |
Career statistics
=Club=
File:Nikolay Bodurov.JPG in 2009]]
Updated 17 February 2020
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" | ||||||||||
| rowspan=2|Club
!rowspan=2|Season !colspan=3|League !colspan=2|Cup !colspan=2|League Cup !colspan=2|Continental !colspan=2|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan=2|Pirin 1922
|2004–05 | rowspan=1|B Group |29 | 0 | 5 | 0 | colspan=2|– | colspan=2|– | 34 | 0 | |||
| 2005–06
| rowspan=1|A Group |13 | 0 | 3 | 0 | colspan=2|– | colspan=2|– | 16 | 0 | |||
| rowspan=4|Pirin Blagoevgrad
|2006–07 | rowspan=1|B Group |16 | 0 | 3 | 0 | colspan=2|– | colspan=2|– | 19 | 0 | |||
| 2007–08
| rowspan=2|A Group |27 | 1 | 3 | 0 | colspan=2|– | colspan=2|– | 30 | 1 | |||
| 2008–09
|22 | 0 | 4 | 0 | colspan=2|– | colspan=2|– | 26 | 0 | |||
| colspan=2 |Pirin total
!107 | 1 | 21 | 0 | colspan=2|– | 0 | 0 | 128 | 1 | ||
| rowspan=7|Litex Lovech
| rowspan=6|A Group |18 | 2 | 2 | 0 | colspan=2|– | 0 | 0 | 20 | 2 | ||
| 2010–11
|25 | 2 | 3 | 0 | colspan=2|– | 5 | 0 | 33 | 2 | ||
| 2011–12
|19 | 3 | 3 | 0 | colspan=2|– | 6 | 1 | 28 | 4 | ||
| 2012–13
|18 | 0 | 5 | 0 | colspan=2|– | colspan=2|– | 23 | 0 | |||
| 2013–14
|27 | 1 | 2 | 0 | colspan=2|– | colspan=2|– | 29 | 1 | |||
| 2014–15
|2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|– | 4 | 0 | 6 | 0 | ||
| colspan=2 |Litex total
!109 | 8 | 15 | 0 | colspan=2|– | 15 | 1 | 139 | 9 | ||
| rowspan=3|Fulham
| rowspan=2|Championship |38 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan=2|– | 44 | 1 | ||
| 2015–16
|3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan=2|– | 5 | 0 | ||
| colspan=2 |Fulham total
!41 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 49 | 1 | |
| rowspan=2|Midtjylland
| rowspan=1|Danish Superliga |15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|– | 2 | 0 | 17 | 0 | ||
| colspan=2 |Midtjylland total
!15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 17 | 0 | |
| rowspan="5" valign="center"|CSKA Sofia
| rowspan=4|First League |16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 16 | 1 | |||
| 2017–18
|33 | 2 | 3 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 36 | 3 | |||
| 2018–19
|29 | 0 | 4 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 3 | 0 | 36 | 0 | ||
| 2019–20
|2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||
| colspan=2 |CSKA total
!80 | 3 | 7 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | 6 | 0 | 93 | 4 | ||
| Esteghlal
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| colspan=3|Career total
!352 | 13 | 47 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 25 | 1 | 428 | 15 |
=National team=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan=3 | Bulgaria | ||
| Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 3 | 0 |
| 2011 | 4 | 0 |
| 2012 | 9 | 0 |
| 2013 | 6 | 0 |
| 2014 | 6 | 1 |
| 2015 | 5 | 0 |
| 2016 | 2 | 0 |
| 2017 | 4 | 0 |
| 2018 | 8 | 1 |
| 2019 | 3 | 0 |
| Total||50||2 |
Honours
=Litex Lovech=
Personal life
Bodurov has a daughter, named Nikol, who was born in 2017.{{cite web | title = Николай Бодуров стана татко на момиченце | url = https://gong.bg/bg-football/drugi/yellow/nikolaj-bodurov-stana-tatko-na-momichence-415066 |publisher = gong.bg | date = 20 January 2017 | access-date=12 February 2020 |language = bg}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{FC Pirin Blagoevgrad squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bodurov, Nikolay}}
Category:Bulgarian men's footballers
Category:Bulgaria men's international footballers
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:PFC Pirin Blagoevgrad players
Category:FC Midtjylland players
Category:PFC CSKA Sofia players
Category:Esteghlal F.C. players
Category:OFC Pirin Blagoevgrad players
Category:First Professional Football League (Bulgaria) players
Category:Second Professional Football League (Bulgaria) players
Category:English Football League players
Category:Danish Superliga players
Category:Persian Gulf Pro League players
Category:Bulgarian expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England
Category:Bulgarian expatriate sportspeople in England
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Denmark
Category:Bulgarian expatriate sportspeople in Denmark
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Iran