{{short description|Bulgarian professional footballer|bot=PearBOT 5}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}} {{family name hatnote|Traychev|Dimitrov|lang=Bulgarian}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Kristian Dimitrov | image = Kristian Dimitrov in 2025.jpg | caption = Dimitrov with Levski Sofia in 2025 | fullname = Kristian Traychev Dimitrov | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1997|2|27}} | birth_place = Plovdiv, Bulgaria | height = {{height|m=1.89|precision=0}}<ref>{{Soccerway|kristian-dimitrov/430411}}</ref> | position = Centre-back | currentclub = Levski Sofia | clubnumber = 50 | youthyears1 = 2005–2013 | youthclubs1 = Lokomotiv Plovdiv | youthyears2 = 2013–2016 | youthclubs2 = Botev Plovdiv | years1 = 2016–2020 | clubs1 = Botev Plovdiv | caps1 = 64 | goals1 = 5 | years2 = 2018 | clubs2 = → Montana (loan) | caps2 = 13 | goals2 = 1 | years3 = 2020–2022 | clubs3 = Hajduk Split | caps3 = 40 | goals3 = 3 | years4 = 2022 | clubs4 = → CFR Cluj (loan) | caps4 = 1 | goals4 = 1 | years5 = 2023– | clubs5 = Levski Sofia | caps5 = 90 | goals5 = 9 | nationalyears1 = 2015–2016 | nationalteam1 = Bulgaria U19 | nationalcaps1 = 6 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | nationalyears2 = 2019– | nationalteam2 = Bulgaria | nationalcaps2 = 24 | nationalgoals2 = 1 | pcupdate = 16:02, 16 May 2026 (UTC) | ntupdate = 1 June 2026 }}
'''Kristian Traychev Dimitrov''' ({{langx|bg|Кристиан Трайчев Димитров}}; born 27 February 1997) is a Bulgarian professional footballer who plays as a defender for Bulgarian First League club Levski Sofia and the Bulgarian national team.<ref name="NFT"/>
== Club career == === Botev Plovdiv === In the summer of 2013, Dimitrov joined Botev Plovdiv at under-17 level from Lokomotiv Plovdiv and progressed through the club's academy system.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=viasport.bg|title=Школата на Ботев с най-много трансферни удари|url=http://viasport.bg/8785-%D0%A8%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B0-%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%91%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%B2-%D1%81-%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%B9%D0%BC%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE-%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%81%D1%84%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%BD%D0%B8-%D1%83%D0%B4%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%B8.html#|date=20 August 2013|language=Bulgarian}}</ref>
Dimitrov made his first-team debut on 13 March 2016, when he came off the bench to replace Serkan Yusein in the 81st minute of a 3–1 league win over Cherno More Varna.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=soccerway.com|title=Botev Plovdiv 3–1 Cherno More|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2016/03/13/bulgaria/a-pfg/fk-botev-plovdiv/pfc-cherno-more-varna/2067004/|date=13 March 2016}}</ref> His first senior goal came in the last round of the 2015–16 season; he scored the second goal in a 2–1 win over Ludogorets Razgrad on 27 May.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=soccerway.com|title=Botev Plovdiv 2–1 Ludogorets Razgrad|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2016/05/27/bulgaria/a-pfg/fk-botev-plovdiv/fk-razgrad-2000/2067060/|date=27 May 2016}}</ref>
Dimitrov began to establish himself in the Botev first team from the 2016–17 season, making eight league starts. On 8 June 2017, he signed a new two-year contract with the club.<ref>{{cite web | title = Кристиан Димитров подписа нов договор с Ботев | url = https://botevplovdiv.bg/Kristian-Dimitrov-podpisa-nov-dogovor-s-Botev-3916.html | publisher = botevplovdiv.bg | date = 8 June 2017 | language = Bulgarian | access-date = 8 June 2017 | archive-date = 29 July 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180729200549/https://botevplovdiv.bg/Kristian-Dimitrov-podpisa-nov-dogovor-s-Botev-3916.html | url-status = dead }}</ref>
On 5 February 2018, Dimitrov joined Second League club Montana on loan for the remainder of the 2017–18 season.<ref>{{cite web | title = Ботев преотстъпи двама във Втора лига | url = https://botevplovdiv.bg/article/botev-preot-stupi-dvama-vuv-vtora-liga | publisher = botevplovdiv.bg | date = 5 February 2018 | language = Bulgarian}}</ref> He made 13 appearances in total. His only goal came on 5 May 2018 when he opened the scoring in a 2–0 away win over Botev Galabovo.<ref>{{cite web | title = Botev Galabovo vs. Montana | url = https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2018/05/05/bulgaria/b-pfg/fk-botev-galabovo/pfc-montana-1921/2473581/ | publisher = soccerway.com | date = 5 May 2018 | language = Bulgarian}}</ref>
In June 2018, Dimitrov returned to Botev and continued his progress during 2018–19, becoming a regular in the defence. On 24 April 2019, he scored a last-minute goal against CSKA Sofia, bringing the score to 3–3 and enabling his team (which had been reduced to nine men) to progress to the final of the Bulgarian Cup 6–5 on aggregate.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=topsport.bg|author=Vutov, Viktor|language=Bulgarian|title=Пловдивско дерби във финала за Купата на България! Героичен Ботев постави ЦСКА на колене с девет души в истински трилър |url=https://topsport.bg/cup/plovdivsko-derbi-vav-finala-za-kupata-na-balgariya-geroichen-botev-postavi-tsska-na-kolene-s-devet-dushi-v-istinski-trilar.html|date=24 April 2019|accessdate=9 June 2019}}</ref>
=== Hajduk Split and the loan to CFR Cluj === On 11 February 2020, it was announced that Dimitrov had signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Hajduk Split.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://botevplovdiv.bg/article/botev-transferira-kristian-dimitrov-v-khai-duk |title=Ботев трансферира Кристиан Димитров в Хайдук |trans-title=Botev transferred Kristian Dimitrov to Hajduk |website=www.botevplovdiv.bg |publisher=Botev Plovdiv |date=11 February 2020 |language=Bulgarian |accessdate=11 February 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://hajduk.hr/vijest/kristian-dimitrov-novi-je-igrac-hajduka/12529 |title=Kristian Dimitrov novi je igrač Hajduka |trans-title= |website=www.hajduk.hr |publisher=HNK Hajduk Split |date=11 February 2020 |language=Croatian |accessdate=11 February 2020}}</ref>
Not finding much playing time in the 2021–22 season, he was loaned out to CFR Cluj in February 2022.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://hajduk.hr/vijest/kristian-dimitrov-odlazi-na-posudbu-u-cfr-cluj-/14527 |title=Kristian Dimitrov odlazi na posudbu u CFR Cluj |trans-title= |website=www.hajduk.hr |publisher=HNK Hajduk Split |date=7 February 2022 |language=Croatian |accessdate=17 December 2022}}</ref> He became a Liga I champion with the Romanian club, featuring in a single game, a 3–1 loss against FCSB, scoring in the 45th minute.<ref>[https://www.24sata.hr/sport/na-zimu-je-otisao-iz-hajduka-zaigrao-jednom-i-osvojio-naslov-837657 Na zimu je otišao iz Hajduka, zaigrao jednom i osvojio naslov] at 24 Sata</ref>
Returning to Hajduk, he spent the first part of the 2022–23 season largely on the bench, starting a single cup match, a 5–1 away win against Tehničar Cvetkovec, where he received a red card for a counter-attack stopping foul in the 33rd minute,<ref>[https://slobodnadalmacija.hr/sport/hajduk/tehnicar-hajduk-bijeli-u-cvetkovcu-krecu-u-obranu-titule-pobjednika-kupa-bez-glavnih-uzdanica-pogledajte-karoglanov-sastav-1231817 Hajduk bez problema pobijedio u Cvetkovcu i plasirao se u osminu finala Kupa: Mlakar, Vuković i Šarić zabijali, Dimitrov ‘pocrvenio‘] at Slobodna Dalmacija</ref> and his contract was terminated by mutual consent on 17 December 2022.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://hajduk.hr/vijest/kristian-dimitrov-vise-nije-igrac-hajduka/15461 |title=Kristian Dimitrov više nije igrač Hajduka |trans-title= |website=www.hajduk.hr |publisher=HNK Hajduk Split |date=17 December 2022 |language=Croatian |accessdate=17 December 2022}}</ref> Dimitrov had scored three goals in 40 league matches at the Croatian club.
=== Levski Sofia === On 30 December 2022, Dimitrov returned to Bulgaria, signing a one-and-a-half-year deal with Levski Sofia.<ref>{{cite web |title=ПФК Левски подписа с Кристиан Димитров |url=https://levski.bg/%d0%bf%d1%84%d0%ba-%d0%bb%d0%b5%d0%b2%d1%81%d0%ba%d0%b8-%d0%bf%d0%be%d0%b4%d0%bf%d0%b8%d1%81%d0%b0-%d1%81-%d0%ba%d1%80%d0%b8%d1%81%d1%82%d0%b8%d0%b0%d0%bd-%d0%b4%d0%b8%d0%bc%d0%b8/ |website=levski.bg |access-date=30 December 2022|language=bg}}</ref>
== International career == In May 2019, following his good performances for Botev, Dimitrov was called up to the national team by new manager Krasimir Balakov. On 7 June 2019, he made his debut, playing the full 90 minutes in the 2–1 away loss against the Czech Republic in a Euro 2020 qualifier.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=flashscore.com|author=|language=English|title=Czech Republic vs. Bulgaria 2-1|url=https://www.flashscore.com/match/Srp188Jk/#lineups;1|date=7 June 2019|accessdate=13 June 2019}}</ref>
== Style of play == Krasimir Balakov compared Dimitrov with the legendary Bulgarian defender Trifon Ivanov, while being manager of Bulgaria.<ref>[https://gong.bg/bg-football/efbet-liga/kristian-dimitrov-razkri-kakvo-mu-e-kazal-balykov-577491 Кристиан Димитров разкри какво му е казал Балъков]</ref>
==Career statistics== ===Club=== {{updated|26 May 2025}} {|class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes Bulgarian Cup, Croatian Cup}} !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="6" valign="center"|Botev Plovdiv |2015–16 |First League |3||1||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||3||1 |- |2016–17 |First League |12||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||13||0 |- |2017–18 |First League |0||0||2||0||0||0||0||0||2||0 |- |2018–19 |First League |31||4||5||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||36||5 |- |2019–20 |First League |18||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||18||0 |- ! colspan=2 | Total ! 64 !! 5 !! 8 !! 1 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 72 !! 6 |- |Montana (loan) |2017–18 |Second League |13||1||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||13||1 |- |rowspan="5" valign="center"|Hajduk Split |2019–20 |1. HNL |14||1||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||14||1 |- |2020–21 |1. HNL |20||2||1||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||21||2 |- |2021–22 |1. HNL |6||0||3||0||1{{efn|name=UECL|Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa Conference League}}||0||colspan="2"|—||10||0 |- |2022–23 |1. HNL |0||0||1||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||1||0 |- ! colspan=2 | Total ! 40 !! 3 !! 5 !! 0 !! 1 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 46 !! 3 |- |CFR Cluj (loan) |2021–22 |Liga I |1||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||1||1 |- |rowspan=4|Levski Sofia |2022–23 |First League |8||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||1||0||9||0 |- |2023–24 |First League |25||2||1||0||4{{efn|name=UECL}}||0||colspan="2"|—||30||2 |- |2024–25 |First League |27||5||2||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||29||5 |- ! colspan=2 | Total ! 60 !! 7 !! 3 !! 0 !! 4 !! 0 !! 1 !! 0 !! 68 !! 7 |- !colspan="3"|Career statistics !! 178 !! 17 !! 16 !! 1 !! 5 !! 0 !! 1 !! 0 !! 200 !! 18 |} {{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
===International stats=== {{updated|match played 1 June 2026}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by national team and year |- !National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="5"|Bulgaria |2019||6||1 |- |2020||6||0 |- |2021||2||0 |- |2023||3||0 |- |2025||6||0 |- |2026||1||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total||24||1 |}
:''Scores and results list Bulgaria's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Dimitrov goal.''
{| class="wikitable sortable" |+ List of international goals scored by Kristian Dimitrov<ref name="NFT">{{cite web|url=http://www.national-football-teams.com/player/23267/Kristian.Dimitrov.html|title=Dimitrov, Kristian|publisher=National Football Teams|accessdate=10 June 2019}}</ref> ! No. !! Date !! Venue !! Cap !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition |- |align=center | 1 || 10 June 2019 || Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria || align=center|6 || {{fb|KOS}} || align=center|2–1 || align=center|2–3 || UEFA Euro 2020 qualification |}
==Honours== '''Botev Plovdiv''' *Bulgarian Cup: 2016–17 *Bulgarian Supercup: 2017
'''CFR Cluj''' *Liga I: 2021–22
'''Hajduk Split''' *Croatian Cup: 2021–22
'''Levski Sofia''' *Bulgarian First League: 2025–26<ref>{{cite web |title=Levski Sofia crowned Bulgarian champions to end Ludogorets's long reign |url=https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/levski-sofia-crowned-bulgarian-champions-end-ludogoretss-long-reign-2026-05-03/ |website=reuters.com |access-date=4 May 2026 |language=en |date=3 May 2026}}</ref>
'''Individual''' *Bulgarian First League Best Defender: 2018–19<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.prosport.ro/fotbal-intern/liga-1/exclusiv-u-craiova-aproape-de-a-transfera-un-international-bulgar-in-sezonul-trecut-a-fost-declarat-cel-mai-bun-fundas-central-din-prima-liga-a-bulgariei-18236188|title = EXCLUSIV | U Craiova, aproape de a transfera un internațional bulgar! În sezonul trecut a fost declarat cel mai bun fundaș central din prima ligă a Bulgariei|date = 15 July 2019}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{PFC Levski Sofia squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dimitrov, Kristian}} Category:1997 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from Plovdiv Category:Men's association football defenders Category:Bulgarian men's footballers Category:Bulgaria men's under-21 international footballers Category:Bulgaria men's youth international footballers Category:Bulgaria men's international footballers Category:Botev Plovdiv players Category:FC Montana players Category:HNK Hajduk Split players Category:CFR Cluj players Category:PFC Levski Sofia players Category:First Professional Football League (Bulgaria) players Category:Second Professional Football League (Bulgaria) players Category:Croatian Football League players Category:Liga I players Category:Bulgarian expatriate men's footballers Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Croatia Category:Bulgarian expatriate sportspeople in Croatia Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Romania Category:Bulgarian expatriate sportspeople in Romania Category:21st-century Bulgarian sportsmen