Stefan Velkov

{{short description|Bulgarian footballer (born 1996)}} {{family name hatnote|Ivov|Velkov|lang=Bulgarian}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Stefan Velkov | image = Stefan Velkov 19.jpg | caption = Velkov with Slavia Sofia in 2013 | full_name = Stefan Ivov Velkov | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|12|12|df=y}} | birth_place = Sofia, Bulgaria | height = 1.90 m<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.fpleague.bg/bg/statistics/player?teamID=1011&playerID=1514&sortID=| title = Профил на Стефан Ивов Велков| language = Bulgarian| publisher = fpleague.bg| access-date = 9 May 2018}}</ref> | position = Centre-back | currentclub = Vejle | clubnumber = 13 | youthyears1 = 2005–2013 |youthclubs1 = Slavia Sofia | years1 = 2013–2018 | clubs1 = Slavia Sofia | caps1 = 86 | goals1 = 2 | years2 = 2018–2020 | clubs2 = Den Bosch | caps2 = 41 | goals2 = 4 | years3 = 2020 | clubs3 = → RKC Waalwijk (loan) | caps3 = 3 | goals3 = 0 | years4 = 2020–2021 | clubs4 = KFC Uerdingen | caps4 = 5 | goals4 = 0 | years5 = 2021–2022 | clubs5 = MSV Duisburg | caps5 = 19 | goals5 = 0 | years6 = 2022– | clubs6 = Vejle | caps6 = 96 | goals6 = 8 | nationalyears1 = 2011–2012 | nationalteam1 = Bulgaria U16 | nationalcaps1 = 5 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | nationalyears2 = 2012–2013 | nationalteam2 = Bulgaria U17 | nationalcaps2 = 21 | nationalgoals2 = 1 | nationalyears3 = 2013 | nationalteam3 = Bulgaria U19 | nationalcaps3 = 3 | nationalgoals3 = 0 | nationalyears4 = 2013–2018 | nationalteam4 = Bulgaria U21 | nationalcaps4 = 20 | nationalgoals4 = 2 | nationalyears5 = 2020– | nationalteam5 = Bulgaria | nationalcaps5 = 2 | nationalgoals5 = 0 | club-update = 13:12, 17 March 2026 (UTC) | nationalteam-update = 22:54, 18 November 2025 (UTC) }} '''Stefan Ivov Velkov''' ({{langx|bg|Стефан Ивов Велков}}; born 12 December 1996) is a Bulgarian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Danish Superliga club Vejle.<ref name="WF">{{Worldfootball.net|stefan-velkov|new_id=pe302991}}</ref>

==Career== ===Slavia Sofia=== Born in Sofia, Velkov began his football career with Slavia Sofia in 2005.<ref>{{cite web |title=Суперталантът Стефан Велков: Ходя на мачове с градския транспорт |trans-title=Supertalent Stefan Velkov: I go to games by public transport |language=Bulgarian |url=http://www.novsport.com/news784411_1003.html |publisher=novsport.com |date=19 October 2013 |accessdate=29 December 2013 }}</ref> He made his first-team debut on 27 July 2013, at 16 years 227 days, coming on as a substitute for Hristo Yanev in a 0–0 away league draw against Cherno More Varna. On 18 December 2013, it was reported that Velkov was on trial with Manchester United.<ref>{{cite web |title=Transfer news: Manchester United eye teenage Bulgarian defender |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/transfer-news-manchester-united-eye-teenage-bulgarian-defender-9013573.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220524/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/transfer-news-manchester-united-eye-teenage-bulgarian-defender-9013573.html |archive-date=24 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |work=The Independent |publisher=Independent Print |date=18 December 2013 |accessdate=27 December 2013}}</ref> After the great debut season and a few trials in big European teams, Velkov got a serious injury, which took him out of football for a minimum of six months.<ref>{{cite web |title=Стефан Велков ще бъде извън игра 6 месеца след нова тежка контузия |url=http://www.dnevnik.bg/sport/2014/08/07/2357957_stefan_velkov_shte_bude_izvun_igra_6_meseca_sled_nova/|work=dnevnik.bg |publisher=dnevnik|date=7 August 2014}}</ref>

In March 2015, Velkov extended his contract with Slavia for a further three years.<ref>{{cite web |title=Стефан Велков преподписа със "Славия", възстановява се от тежка контузия |url=http://topsport.ibox.bg/material/id_596633524|work=topsport.bg |publisher=topsport editorial board |date=16 March 2015 |accessdate=17 March 2015}}</ref> He returned to training in April, but he did not take part in any further matches, so he missed the entire 2014–15 season.<ref>[http://www.sportal.bg/news.php?news=541695 Стефан Велков се завърна в първия отбор на Славия]</ref>

Velkov returned to play in the first match of the 2015–16 season against Lokomotiv Plovdiv as a substitute in the 88th minute.<ref>[http://www.blitz.bg/sport/article/282871 „А” група започна с класическа „бяла” победа]</ref>

Velkov scored his debut goal for Slavia in the league on 17 September 2016 in a match against Ludogorets Razgrad, lost by his team with 3–1.<ref>[http://www.sportal.bg/news.php?news=624657 Звездата на Лудогорец започна да вкарва и в Първа лига]</ref>

===Den Bosch=== On 10 August 2018, Velkov signed for the Dutch Eerste Divisie team Den Bosch. He made his debut a week later, playing the full 90 minutes in a 2–1 away win over FC Volendam.<ref>{{cite news |first=Jan |last=Martens |title=Vernieuwd FC Den Bosch wint in Volendam na sterke tweede helft |url=https://www.bd.nl/fc-den-bosch/vernieuwd-fc-den-bosch-wint-in-volendam-na-sterke-tweede-helft~a3bad98f/ |website=bd.nl |publisher=de Persgroep Nederland |date=17 August 2018 |accessdate=23 August 2018 }}</ref> He scored his first goal for the club on 25 September, in a 2–1 loss against Heracles Almelo in the KNVB Cup.

===MSV Duisburg=== After a short stint at KFC Uerdingen he moved to MSV Duisburg in January 2021.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.msv-duisburg.de/aktuelles/artikel/aggressiver-kopfballstarker-innenverteidiger-velkov-wird-ein-zebra|title="Aggressiver, kopfballstarker Innenverteidiger": Velkov wird ein Zebra|publisher=msv-duisburg.de|date=23 January 2021|accessdate=23 January 2021}}</ref> He signed a new one-year contract on 27 May 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Zebras setzen auch weiter auf Marlon Frey & Stefan Velkov|url=https://www.msv-duisburg.de/aktuelles/artikel/zebras-setzen-auch-weiter-auf-marlon-frey-stefan-velkov/|publisher=msv-duisburg.de|date=27 May 2021|access-date=27 May 2021}}</ref> In the summer of 2022, he left Duisburg.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Tobi Fleckstein verlängert – Erste Abgänge fix|url=https://www.msv-duisburg.de/aktuelles/artikel/tobi-fleckstein-verlaengert-erste-abgaenge-fix/|publisher=msv-duisburg.de|date=16 May 2022|access-date=16 May 2022}}</ref>

===Vejle=== On 17 June 2022, Velkov signed with newly relegated Danish 1st Division side Vejle Boldklub, penning a deal until June 2024.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://vejle-boldklub.dk/vejle-boldklub-forstaerker-sig-med-ny-forsvarsprofil/|title=Vejle Boldklub forstærker sig med ny forsvarsprofil|website=vejle-boldklub.dk|date=17 June 2022|access-date=17 June 2022}}</ref> On 29 May 2025, Velkov extended his contract with the club until June 2027.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://vejle-boldklub.dk/vejle-boldklub-forlaenger-med-stefan-velkov|title=Vejle Boldklub forlænger med Stefan Velkov|trans-title=Vejle Boldklub extends the contract with Stefan Velkov|language=da|publisher=Vejle Boldklub|date=29 May 2025|access-date=24 July 2025}}</ref>

==International career== ===Youth levels=== Velkov represented Bulgaria at the under-16, under-17 and under-19 levels. On 1 June 2013, he made his debut for the Bulgaria under-21 side at the age of 16 years, 5 months and 22 days, making him the second-youngest player to debut for the team after Nikolay Mihaylov.<ref>[http://www.blitz.bg/sport/bg-futbol/mladezhki-natsional-pred-transfer-v-napoli_179802.html Младежки национал пред трансфер в Наполи]</ref><ref>[http://www.viasport.bg/new/9536/%D0%A1%D1%82%D0%B5%D1%84%D0%B0%D0%BD-%D0%92%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B2-%D1%89%D0%B5-%D0%B8%D0%B3%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B5-%D1%81%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%BE-%D0%B7%D0%B0-%D0%BC%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%B6%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B5.html Стефан Велков ще играе само за младежите]</ref> On 25 March 2016 Velkov was in the starting lineup for the goalless draw with Wales U21.<ref>[http://gong.bg/bg-football/nacionalen-tim/bylgariia-ne-uspia-da-prekloni-uels-370521 България не успя да преклони Уелс]</ref><ref>[http://www.sportal.bg/news.php?news=596624 Младежите не успяха да се справят с Уелс (видео)]</ref> He served as the team captain.

===Senior level=== On 14 March 2017, he received his first call-up for Bulgaria senior team for the match against the Netherlands on 25 March 2017,<ref>[http://www.sportal.bg/news.php?news=653810 Много изненади и 6-ма от ЦСКА-София в състава на България за мача с Холандия]</ref> in which he was an unused substitute.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.flashscore.com/match/zBtaVVUE/#lineups;1|publisher=flashscore.com|title=Bulgaria NT vs. Netherlands NT 2:0|date=25 March 2017|accessdate=2 April 2017}}</ref> Velkov earned his first cap on 26 February 2020, playing the first 75 minutes of the 1–0 home loss against Belarus in a friendly game.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=sportal.bg|title=Експериментален състав на България отстъпи на Беларус (видео+галерия)|url=https://www.sportal.bg/news.php?news=829846|date=26 February 2020|accessdate=27 February 2020}}</ref>

==Career statistics== ===Club=== {{updated|1 March 2026}}<ref>{{soccerway|access-date=5 October 2025}}</ref>

{| 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"|Cup !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="6"|Slavia Sofia |2013–14 |A Group |21||0||2||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||23||1 |- |2014–15 |A Group |0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||0||0 |- |2015–16 |A Group |24||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||25||0 |- |2016–17 |Bulgarian First League |19||1||1||0||2{{efn|Appearances in UEFA Europa League}}||0||2{{efn|Appearances in Bulgarian First League relegation play-offs}}||0||24||1 |- |2017–18 |Bulgarian First League |22||1||2||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||24||1 |- !colspan="2"|Total !86!!2!!6!!1!!2!!0!!2!!0!!96!!3 |- |rowspan="3"|Den Bosch |2018–19 |Eerste Divisie |20||2||1||1||colspan="2"|—||2{{efn|Appearances in Eredivisie promotion play-offs}}||0||23||3 |- |2019–20 |Eerste Divisie |21||2||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||22||2 |- !colspan="2"|Total !41!!4!!2!!1!!0!!0!!2!!0!!45!!5 |- |Waalwijk (loan) |2019–20 |Eredivisie |3||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||3||0 |- |KFC Uerdingen |2020–21 |3. Liga |5||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||5||0 |- |rowspan="3"|MSV Duisburg |2020–21 |3. Liga |3||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||3||0 |- |2021–22 |3. Liga |16||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||16||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !19!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!colspan="2"|—!!colspan="2"|—!!19!!0 |- |rowspan="5"|Vejle |2022–23 |Danish 1st Division |27||1||5||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||32||2 |- |2023–24 |Danish Superliga |26||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||27||0 |- |2024–25 |Danish Superliga |23||3||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||23||3 |- |2025–26 |Danish Superliga |20||4||1||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||21||5 |- !colspan="2"|Total !96!!8!!7!!2!!colspan="2"|—!!colspan="2"|—!!103!!10 |- !colspan=3|Career total !250!!13!!15!!4!!2!!0!!4!!0!!271!!18 |} {{Notelist}}

===International=== {{updated|match played 18 November 2020}}<ref>{{NFT player}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by national team and year |- !National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="3"|Bulgaria |- |2020||1||0 |- |2025||1||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total||2||0 |}

==Honours== '''Slavia Sofia''' *Bulgarian Cup: 2017–18<ref>{{cite news |url=https://gong.bg/bg-football/kupa-na-bulgaria/multimedia/video/slaviia-triumfira-s-kupata-vyv-finala-na-gosho-petkov-levski-otnovo-kapo-484528 |title=Славия триумфира с купата във финала на Гошо Петков, Левски отново капо |website=Gong.bg |language=Bulgarian |date=9 May 2018 |access-date=21 September 2025}}</ref>

'''Vejle''' *Danish 1st Division: 2022–23<ref name="vejle23">{{cite news |last1=Baunsgaard |first1=Casper Hede |title=Mesterlig Mucolli-træffer da Vejle vandt NordicBet Ligaen |url=https://bold.dk/fodbold/stillinger/1-division/nyheder/mesterlig-mucolli-traeffer-da-vejle-vandt-nordicbet-ligaen |access-date=18 April 2025 |work=Bold |date=21 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230521183237/https://bold.dk/fodbold/stillinger/1-division/nyheder/mesterlig-mucolli-traeffer-da-vejle-vandt-nordicbet-ligaen |archive-date=21 May 2023 |language=da}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{Soccerway}} *{{WorldFootball.net |new_id=pe302991}}

{{Vejle BK squad}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Velkov, Stefan}} Category:1996 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from Sofia Category:Bulgarian men's footballers Category:Men's association football central defenders Category:PFC Slavia Sofia players Category:FC Den Bosch players Category:RKC Waalwijk players Category:KFC Uerdingen 05 players Category:MSV Duisburg players Category:Vejle Boldklub players Category:First Professional Football League (Bulgaria) players Category:Eerste Divisie players Category:3. Liga players Category:Bulgaria men's youth international footballers Category:Bulgaria men's under-21 international footballers Category:Bulgaria men's international footballers Category:Bulgarian expatriate men's footballers Category:Bulgarian expatriate sportspeople in the Netherlands Category:Expatriate men's footballers in the Netherlands Category:Bulgarian expatriate sportspeople in Germany Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Germany Category:Bulgarian expatriate sportspeople in Denmark Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Denmark Category:21st-century Bulgarian sportsmen