{{Short description|Bulgarian football coach}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}} {{Infobox football biography |name = Nikolay Donev |image = |full_name = Nikolay Lyubenov Donev |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1957|12|15|df=yes}} |birth_place = Bulgaria |height = |position = Goalkeeper |currentclub = |youthyears1 = |youthclubs1 = |years1 = 1977–1987 |clubs1 = Lokomotiv Sofia |years2 = 1980–1981 |clubs2 = → Akademik (loan) |caps2 = 22 |goals2 = 0 |years3 = 1987–1991 |clubs3 = Etar |years4 = 1992 |clubs4 = Hebar |caps4 = 7 |goals4 = 0 |nationalyears1 = 1980–1989 |nationalteam1 = Bulgaria |nationalcaps1 = 11 |nationalgoals1 = 0 |manageryears1 = 2010 |managerclubs1 = Banants (goalkeeper coach) |manageryears2 = 2010–2012 |managerclubs2 = Metalurh Donetsk (goalkeeper coach) |manageryears3 = 2012–2013 |managerclubs3 = Banants (goalkeeper coach) |manageryears4 = 2013–2015 |managerclubs4 = Ludogorets Razgrad (goalkeeper coach) }}

'''Nikolay Lyubenov Donev''' ({{langx|bg|Николай Донев}}; born 15 December 1957) is a Bulgarian football coach and former footballer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://nv.am/a-24/|title=Николай Донев: aрмянам сборная Болгарии вполне по зубам|publisher=nv.am}}</ref>

==Club career==

Donev was regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in Bulgaria during the late 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sport-vt.com/nikolay-donev-navarshva-dnes-65-godini.html|title=Николай Донев навършва днес 65 години|publisher=sport-vt.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://vitoshanews.com/2018/09/05/legendaren-vratar-se-varna-v/|title=Nikolay Donev - Vitosha News article}}</ref> He started his career with Lokomotiv Sofia, helping the club win the league.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sport-vt.com/1-match-ne-stigna-na-hristo-ivanov-da-izravni-rekorda-na-nikolay-donev.html|title=1 мач не стигна на Христо Иванов да изравни рекорда на Николай Донев|publisher=sport-vt.com}}</ref> In 1987, Donev signed for Bulgarian side Etar, helping the club win their first league title and becoming captain of the team.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://korespondentbg.com/bg/kapitanite-na-etar-ot-shampionskata-1991-g-postignaha-uspehi-i-kato-trenori/|title=Nikolay Donev - Korespondent article}}</ref>

==International career==

Donev played for the Bulgaria national football team over a period of nine years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ua-football.com/ukrainian/high/1276164193-nikolay-donev-igroki-hotyat-progressirovat.html|title=Николай Донев: "Игроки хотят прогрессировать"|publisher=ua-football.com}}</ref><ref>{{NFT player|26972}}</ref>

==Post-playing career==

After retiring from professional football, Donev worked as a goalkeeper coach in Ukraine and Armenia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tert.am/am/news/2013/04/29/nikolay-donyev/760757|title=Nikolay Donev - Tert.am article|access-date=22 June 2023|archive-date=22 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230622011235/https://www.tert.am/am/news/2013/04/29/nikolay-donyev/760757|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Donev, Nikolay}} Category:1957 births Category:Living people Category:Bulgarian men's footballers Category:Bulgaria men's international footballers Category:FC Lokomotiv 1929 Sofia players Category:PFC Akademik Sofia players Category:FC Etar (Veliko Tarnovo) players Category:FC Hebar Pazardzhik players Category:Men's association football goalkeepers Category:Bulgarian expatriate sportspeople in Armenia Category:Bulgarian expatriate sportspeople in Ukraine Category:20th-century Bulgarian sportsmen

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