Nikolay Arabov

{{short description|Bulgarian footballer and manager}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}} {{family name hatnote|Asenov|Arabov|lang=Bulgarian}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Nikolay Arabov | image = | fullname = Nikolay Asenov Arabov | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1953|11|14}} | birth_place = Sliven, Bulgaria | height = {{Height|m=1.76|precision=0}} | position = Centre-back | years1 = 1971–1986 | clubs1 = Sliven | caps1 = 391 | goals1 = 11 | years3 = 1987–1988 | clubs3 = Anagennisi Deryneia | caps3 = 23 | goals3 = 1 | years4 = 1988 | clubs4 = Lokomotiv Plovdiv | caps4 = 7 | goals4 = 0 | years5 = 1988–1990 | clubs5 = Spartak Pleven | caps5 = 45 | goals5 = 3 | years6 = 1990–1991 | clubs6 = Cherveno Zname Pavlikeni | caps6 = | goals6 = | years7 = 1992–1993 | clubs7 = Sliven | caps7 = 14 | goals7 = 2 | years8 = 1993–1994 | clubs8 = KF Tirana | caps8 = 25 | goals8 = 0 | totalcaps = 505 | totalgoals = 17 | nationalyears1= 1976–1986 | nationalteam1 = Bulgaria | nationalcaps1 = 42 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | manageryears1 = | managerclubs1 = Akademik Svishtov | manageryears2 = | managerclubs2 = Tirana | manageryears3 = 2001 | managerclubs3 = Partizani Tirana | manageryears4 = 2002 | managerclubs4 = Flamurtari | manageryears5 = 2009 | managerclubs5 = Botev Kozloduy }}

'''Nikolay Asenov Arabov''' ({{langx|bg|Николай Aсенов Арабов}}; born 14 November 1953) is a Bulgarian former professional footballer and manager who played as a defender from 1971 to 1994, most notably for Sliven.

Arabov was capped 42 times for the Bulgaria national football team and represented the nation at the 1986 FIFA World Cup.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=736|title=Nikolay Arabov stats|publisher=eu-football.info}}</ref>

==Career== Arabov made his debut for Sliven in 1971 and stayed in the club for 15 years, with 310 games in the A PFG. Capped 42 times for the Bulgaria national football team in the period 1976 – 1986,<ref>{{cite web|author=Mamrud, Roberto |title=Bulgaria – Record International Players |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/bulg-recintlp.html |date=29 October 2009 |url-status=live |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091006183920/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/bulg-recintlp.html |archivedate=6 October 2009 }}</ref> including 3 games at 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico.<ref>{{FIFA player|45732}}</ref> Arabov has also played for Spartak Pleven, Lokomotiv Plovdiv, Anagennisi Dherynia and Albanian KF Tirana before returning to Sliven for its last season in A PFG (1993). After his retirement as a player Arabov worked for many years in Albania, coaching KF Tirana, KF Partizani, and KS Flamurtari.

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Arabov, Nikolay}} Category:1953 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from Sliven Category:Men's association football defenders Category:Bulgarian men's footballers Category:Bulgaria men's international footballers Category:1986 FIFA World Cup players Category:FC Sliven players Category:OFC Spartak Pleven players Category:Anagennisi Deryneia FC players Category:PFC Lokomotiv Plovdiv players Category:KF Tirana players Category:Bulgarian expatriate men's footballers Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Cyprus Category:Bulgarian expatriate sportspeople in Cyprus Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Albania Category:Bulgarian expatriate sportspeople in Albania Category:Kategoria Superiore players Category:First Professional Football League (Bulgaria) players Category:Cypriot First Division players Category:Bulgarian football managers Category:FK Partizani Tirana managers Category:Flamurtari FC managers Category:Bulgarian expatriate football managers Category:Expatriate football managers in Albania Category:20th-century Bulgarian sportsmen