Ivaylo Chochev

{{short description|Bulgarian footballer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}} {{Family name hatnote|Lyudmilov|Chochev|lang=Bulgarian}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Ivaylo Chochev | fullname = Ivaylo Lyudmilov Chochev | image = Chochev.jpg | caption = Chochev playing for CSKA in 2013 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1993|02|18|df=y}} | birth_place = Pleven, Bulgaria | height = {{height|m=1.88|precision=0}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://balkanec.bg/ivaylo-chochev-ot-chavdar-etropole-pred-transfer-pri-oranzhevite-7185.html|publisher=balkanec.bg|title=Ивайло Чочев от Чавдар (Етрополе) пред трансфер при "оранжевите"|date=16 June 2012|access-date=15 April 2017}}</ref> | position = Midfielder | currentclub = Ludogorets Razgrad | clubnumber = 18 | youthclubs1 = Spartak Pleven | youthclubs2 = Chavdar Etropole | youthyears1 = 2005–2008 | youthyears2 = 2008–2010 | years1 = 2010–2012 | clubs1 = Chavdar Etropole | caps1 = 61 | goals1 = 17 | years2 = 2013–2014 | clubs2 = CSKA Sofia | caps2 = 50 | goals2 = 8 | years3 = 2014–2019 | clubs3 = Palermo | caps3 = 116 | goals3 = 12 | years4 = 2019–2020 | clubs4 = Pescara | caps4 = 0 | goals4 = 0 | years5 = 2020–2024 | clubs5 = CSKA 1948 | caps5 = 94 | goals5 = 43 | years6 = 2024– | clubs6 = Ludogorets Razgrad | caps6 = 74 | goals6 = 22 | nationalyears1 = 2009 | nationalteam1 = Bulgaria U17 | nationalcaps1 = 3 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | nationalyears2 = 2010–2011 | nationalteam2 = Bulgaria U19 | nationalcaps2 = 5 | nationalgoals2 = 0 | nationalyears3 = 2012–2014 | nationalteam3 = Bulgaria U21 | nationalcaps3 = 9 | nationalgoals3 = 3 | nationalyears4 = 2015– | nationalteam4 = Bulgaria | nationalcaps4 = 51| nationalgoals4 = 4 | club-update = 17:48, 6 April 2026 (UTC) | ntupdate = 18 November 2024 }} '''Ivaylo Lyudmilov Chochev''' ({{langx|bg|Ивайло Людмилов Чочев}}; born 18 February 1993) is a Bulgarian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Ludogorets Razgrad and the Bulgarian national team.

==Career== ===Early career=== Born in Pleven, Chochev began his career with local club Spartak Pleven, before moving to Chavdar Etropole in 2008.<ref>[https://dariknews.bg/regioni/pleven/plevenchaninyt-ivajlo-chochev-zabi-pobedniia-gol-v-macha-bylgariia-shveciia-2045540 Плевенчанинът Ивайло Чочев заби победния гол в мача България - Швеция] 1 September 2017, dariknews.bg</ref>

===CSKA Sofia=== On 16 January 2013, Chochev joined A Group club CSKA Sofia.<ref>[http://sporta.bg/?load=Football::Article&id=1045387&championshipId=17214 ЦСКА взима Ивайло Чочев без пари от Чавдар (Етрополе)] 13.12.2012, http://sporta.bg</ref> He made his debut in a 2–0 home win against Chernomorets Burgas on 10 March 2013.<ref>[http://topsport.ibox.bg/football.live.php?match=82938 ЦСКА 2:0 Черн��морец] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130315044356/http://topsport.ibox.bg/football.live.php?match=82938 |date=2013-03-15 }} 10.03.2013, topsport.bg</ref>

Chochev swiftly became a regular starter. During 2013–14 season he established himself as a key member of the team. On 12 February 2014, it was officially announced that Chochev had signed a new three-year contract and doubled his previous salary.<ref>[http://www.cska.bg/news/category/4/Saobshtenie/384 ЦСКА преподписа с младата си звезда, вдигна му парите двойно] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222183954/http://www.cska.bg/news/category/4/Saobshtenie/384 |date=2014-02-22 }} 12.02.2014, cska.bg</ref>

===Palermo=== On 11 July 2014, Chochev moved to Serie A club Palermo, signing a three-year contract.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/soccer-bulgaria-chochev-idUKL6N0PM4BL20140711|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200613172544/https://uk.reuters.com/article/soccer-bulgaria-chochev-idUKL6N0PM4BL20140711|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 13, 2020|publisher=reuters.com|title=CSKA Sofia midfielder Chochev joins Palermo|date=11 July 2014}}</ref> Monaco and Wolfsburg were also keen on signing him but were not able to come to an agreement in time. Chochev scored his first goal for Palermo on 8 August, netting the tenth in a 12–0 pre-season friendly win over Calciochiese. He made his Serie A debut on 5 October against Empoli, coming on for the last 18 minutes in place of Franco Vázquez as Palermo lost 1–0 at Stadio Carlo Castellani. On 19 October, Chochev started for first time, playing 66 minutes in a 2–1 home win over Cesena. He scored his first Serie A goal on 12 April 2015, in a 3–1 away win over Udinese at Stadio Friuli. A week later on 19 April 2015, he scored another two goals against Genoa in a 2–1 home victory. His outstanding performances, both against Udinese and Genoa, saw him being named Man of the Match twice. On 22 June 2015, Chochev signed a new five-year contract.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://palermocalcio.it/it/1415/news/scheda.php?id=31587|title=CHOCHEV RINNOVA FINO AL 2020|date=22 June 2015|access-date=25 June 2015|publisher=U.S. Città di Palermo|language=it|archive-date=26 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170926191222/https://palermocalcio.it/it/1415/news/scheda.php?id=31587|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On 25 September 2017, he provided two assists in a 2–1 home win over Pro Vercelli. He scored his first league goal of the season and received the man of the match award in a 2–2 away draw against Pescara on 3 November. He scored a volley from outside the box on 19 May 2018, in the last match of the regular season against Salernitana, in a 0-2 away win.

===Pescara=== In June 2019 Chochev joined Pescara, but never played because of his long recovery process from an injury he sustained in March 2019.

===CSKA 1948=== In the summer of 2020, Chochev returned to Bulgaria to sign with the newly promoted to First League team CSKA 1948. He returned in play on 18 October 2020, more than a year and a half after his injury.<ref>[https://topsport.bg/tsska-1948/chochev-otnovo-v-igra-sled-575-dni-dalech-ot-futbolnite-tereni.html Чочев отново в игра след 575 дни далеч от футболните терени]</ref>

===Ludogorets=== On 15 February 2024, Chochev signed for Bulgarian champions Ludogorets Razgrad for a reported fee in the region of a million.<ref>[https://btvsport.bg/bgfootball/7-cifrena-suma-ludogorec-se-pohvali-s-ivajlo-chochev.html]</ref>

==International career== Chochev made his debut with the Under 21 national team during the Under-21 European Championship qualifying category in 2013.

He was called up to the senior national team for a friendly against Canada on 23 May 2014. He made his debut with the national team on 8 June 2015 in a 4–0 friendly loss against Turkey.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=flashscore.com|title=Turkey vs. Bulgaria 4:0|url=http://www.flashscore.com/match/reUEWA4m/#lineups;1|date=2015-06-08|access-date=2015-06-11}}</ref> He made his first start playing the full 90 minutes on 3 September 2015 as Bulgaria lost 0–1 to Norway in Sofia.

Chochev scored his first goal with the national team on June 3, 2016 during the 2016 Kirin Cup in a 2–7 defeat to Japan.<ref>{{cite news |title=Japan 7 Bulgaria 2: Kagawa at the double in dominant win |url=http://www.sportal.co.nz/football/news/japan-7-bulgaria-2-kagawa-at-the-double-in-dominant-win-kirin-cup/q3w5c00habi19c97609wx163 |website=Sportal |date=3 June 2016 |access-date=3 June 2016 |archive-date=5 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305002135/http://www.sportal.co.nz/football/news/japan-7-bulgaria-2-kagawa-at-the-double-in-dominant-win-kirin-cup/q3w5c00habi19c97609wx163 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On 31 August 2017, Chochev scored the winning goal for the 3–2 win over Sweden.<ref>[https://gong.bg/bg-football/nacionalen-tim/multimedia/video/hubchev-preobrazi-bylgariia-natrihme-nosa-na-shvedite-447546 Хубчев преобрази България, натрихме ноcа на шведите]</ref>

On 22 March 2019, Chochev received a heavy injury in a qualification match against Montenegro.

After initially not being in new manager Mladen Krstajić's plans, Chochev was recalled to the national side for the June 2023 Euro qualifiers against Lithuania and Serbia.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://trud.bg/krastaich-obyavi-izbranite-nacionali-za-machovete-s-litva-i-sarbiya-chochev-se-zavrashta/| title = Кръстаич обяви избраните национали за мачовете с Литва и Сърбия - Чочев се завръща| language = bg |author=Koleva, Hristina|publisher = trud.bg| date=30 May 2023 |access-date = 26 June 2023}}</ref>

==Career statistics== ===Club=== {{updated|match played 6 April 2026}} {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:100%; text-align: center" |- !rowspan=2|Club !rowspan=2|Season !colspan=3|League !colspan=2|National cup{{efn|Includes Bulgarian Cup, Coppa Italia}} !colspan=2|Europe !colspan=2|Other !colspan=2|Total |- !Division!!Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals |- |rowspan=4|Chavdar Etropole |2010–11 |rowspan=3|B Group |27||3||0||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||27||3 |- |2011–12 |21||6||0||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||21||6 |- |2012–13 |13||8||1||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||14||8 |- !colspan=2|Total !61!!17!!1!!0!!colspan="2"|–!!colspan="2"|–!!62!!17 |- |rowspan=3|CSKA Sofia |2012–13 |rowspan="2"|A Group |10||0||2||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||12||0 |- |2013–14 |35||7||3||1||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||38||8 |- !colspan=2|Total !45!!7!!5!!1!!0!!0!!colspan="2"|–!!50!!8 |- |rowspan=6|Palermo |2014–15 |rowspan="3"|Serie A |18||3||0||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||18||3 |- |2015–16 |27||0||1||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||28||0 |- |2016–17 |30||3||1||1||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||31||4 |- |2017–18 |rowspan="2"|Serie B |29||5||2||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||31||5 |- |2018–19 |12||1||0||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||12||1 |- !colspan=2|Total !116!!12!!4!!1!!colspan="2"|–!!colspan="2"|–!!120!!13 |- |Pescara |2019–20 |Serie B |0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||0||0 |- |rowspan="5"|CSKA 1948 |2020–21 |rowspan="4"|Bulgarian First League |16||3||2||1||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||18||4 |- |2021–22 |30||13||1||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||31||13 |- |2022–23 |31||21||5||3||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||36||24 |- |2023–24 |17||6||3||1||0||0||colspan="2"|–||20||7 |- !colspan=2|Total !94!!43!!11!!5!!0!!0!!colspan="2"|–!!105!!48 |- |rowspan="4"|Ludogorets Razgrad |2023–24 |rowspan="3"|Bulgarian First League |14||1||2||1||0||0||colspan="2"|–||16||2 |- |2024–25 |32||5||4||1||14{{efn|Six appearances in UEFA Champions League, eight appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League}}||1||1{{efn|name=BSC|Appearance in Bulgarian Supercup}}||1||51||8 |- |2025–26 |28||16||3||1||16{{efn|Four appearances and one goal in UEFA Champions League, twelve appearances and two goals in UEFA Europa League}}||3||1{{efn|name=BSC|Appearance in Bulgarian Supercup}}||0||48||20 |- !colspan=2|Total !74!!22!!9!!3!!30!!4!!2!!1!!115!!30 |- !colspan=3|Career total !390!!101!!30!!10!!30!!4!!2!!1!!452!!116 |} {{notelist}}

===International=== {{Updated|18 November 2025}} {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |colspan=3|Bulgaria |- !Year!!Apps!!Goals |- |2015||4||0 |- |2016||8||1 |- |2017||7||2 |- |2018||2||0 |- |2019||1||0 |- |2020||0||0 |- |2021||9||1 |- |2022||4||0 |- |2023||7||0 |- |2024||4||0 |- |2025||5||0 |- !Total||51||4 |} :''As of match played 5 September 2021. Bulgaria score listed first, score column indicates score after each Chochev goal.''<ref name=SW>{{soccerway|ivaylo-chochev/142278}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |+ International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition |- !scope=col|No. !scope=col data-sort-type=date|Date !scope=col|Venue !scope=col|Cap !scope=col|Opponent !scope=col|Score !scope=col|Result !scope=col|Competition |- !scope=row|1 |3 June 2016 || Toyota Stadium, Toyota, Japan || align=center | 7 || {{fb|JPN}} || align=center | '''2'''–7 || align=center | 2–7 || 2016 Kirin Cup |- !scope=row|2 |31 August 2017 || Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria || align=center | 13 || {{fb|SWE}} || align=center | '''3'''–2 || align=center | 3–2 || rowspan=2 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |- !scope=row|3 |10 October 2017 || Stade Josy Barthel, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg || align=center | 15 || {{fb|LUX}} || align=center | '''1'''–1 || align=center | 1–1 |- !scope=row|4 |5 September 2021 || Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria || align=center | 26 || {{fb|LTU}} || align=center | '''1'''–0 || align=center | 1–0 || 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |}

==Honours== '''Ludogorets Razgrad''' *Bulgarian First League: 2023–24, 2024–25 *Bulgarian Cup: 2024–25<ref>{{cite web |url=https://dsport.bg/vreme-e-za-istoricheski-final-trebal-za-ludogorec-ili-osmislane-na-sezona-za-cska~199358.html |title=Коледа подрани за Лудогорец, ЦСКА сервира Sesame Купа на България на разградчани чрез безумна грешка (ВИДЕО) |publisher=dsport.bg |date=22 May 2025|language=bg}}</ref> *Bulgarian Supercup: 2024<ref>{{cite web |url=https://dsport.bg/na-zivo-sastavite-na-ludogorec-i-botev-plovdiv~189113.html |title=Осма Суперкупа за Лудогорец след абсолютен трилър в леговището на Ботев Пловдив |publisher=dsport.bg |date=4 February 2025|language=bg}}</ref>

'''Indidvidual''' *Best midfielder in Bulgarian football: 2021<ref name="KirilDespodovNumberOneBulgaria2021">{{cite web | title=За втори път Кирил Десподов е Футболист на №1 на България| website=dnevnik.bg |author=Kichukov, Simeon|language=Bulgarian| url=https://www.dnevnik.bg/sport/2022/01/19/4304527_za_vtori_put_kiril_despodov_e_futbolist_na_1_na/| date=19 January 2022|access-date=10 March 2022}}</ref> * Bulgarian First League Top Scorer: 2022–23<ref name="TopScorers">{{cite web|url=https://us.soccerway.com/national/bulgaria/a-pfg/20222023/regular-season/r70062/|title=Players: Topscorers|website=Soccerway|access-date=9 September 2022}}</ref> * Bulgarian Footballer of the Year second place: 2015; third place: 2022, 2023<ref name="KirilDespodovNumberOneBulgaria2023">{{cite web | title=Три зад Бербатов, една зад Стоичков: Кирил Десподов e Футболист №1 за четвърти път| website=dnevnik.bg |author=Kichukov, Simeon|language=Bulgarian| url=https://www.dnevnik.bg/sport/2024/03/18/4602523_tri_zad_berbatov_edna_zad_stoichkov_kiril_despodov_e/| date=18 March 2024|access-date=31 March 2024}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{Soccerway|ivaylo-chochev/142278}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20100531015311/http://www.uefa.com/teamsandplayers/players/player=250012778/profile/index.html Player Profile] at UEFA

{{Bulgarian A Professional Football Group top scorers}} {{PFC Ludogorets Razgrad squad}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chochev, Ivaylo}} Category:1993 births Category:Living people Category:Bulgarian men's footballers Category:Bulgaria men's under-21 international footballers Category:Bulgaria men's international footballers Category:FC Chavdar Etropole players Category:PFC CSKA Sofia players Category:Palermo FC players Category:Delfino Pescara 1936 players Category:FC CSKA 1948 Sofia players Category:PFC Ludogorets Razgrad players Category:First Professional Football League (Bulgaria) players Category:Serie A players Category:Serie B players Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Bulgarian expatriate men's footballers Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Italy Category:Bulgarian expatriate sportspeople in Italy Category:Footballers from Pleven Category:21st-century Bulgarian sportsmen