{{Short description|Bulgarian footballer and manager}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Valentin Iliev | image = Iliev 2018.jpg | image_size = 200 | fullname = Valentin Iliev Ivanov | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1980|7|11|df=y}} | birth_place = Knezha, Bulgaria | height = {{height|ft=6|in=1}}<ref>{{cite web|publisher=7sport.net|url=http://www.7sport.net/archive7ds/2011/09/01/fb_nacionali/d6206_12.htm|title=Българите с половин сантиметър по-високи|date=1 September 2011|access-date=3 May 2015|language=bg|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208124138/http://www.7sport.net/archive7ds/2011/09/01/fb_nacionali/d6206_12.htm|archive-date=8 December 2015}}</ref> | currentclub = CSKA Sofia II (manager) | position = Centre back | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = | years1 = 1999–2001 | clubs1 = Botev Vratsa | caps1 = 37 | goals1 = 3 | years2 = 2002–2004 | clubs2 = Metalurh Zaporizhzhia | caps2 = 21 | goals2 = 1 | years3 = 2002–2004 | clubs3 = → Metalurh-2 Zaporizhzhia | caps3 = 4 | goals3 = 0 | years4 = 2004–2007 | clubs4 = CSKA Sofia | caps4 = 79 | goals4 = 7 | years5 = 2008–2009 | clubs5 = Terek Grozny | caps5 = 47 | goals5 = 5 | years6 = 2010 | clubs6 = Universitatea Craiova | caps6 = 25 | goals6 = 6 | years7 = 2011–2012 | clubs7 = Steaua București | caps7 = 26 | goals7 = 4 | years8 = 2012–2013 | clubs8 = Volyn Lutsk | caps8 = 18 | goals8 = 0 | years9 = 2013–2015 | clubs9 = CSKA Sofia | caps9 = 40 | goals9 = 5 | years10 = 2015–2016 | clubs10 = Universitatea Craiova | caps10 = 20 | goals10 = 1 | totalcaps = 317 | totalgoals = 32 <!-- LEAGUE GAMES ONLY --> | nationalyears1 = 2005–2013 | nationalteam1 = Bulgaria | nationalcaps1 = 23 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | manageryears1 = 2016–2018 |managerclubs1 = CSKA 1948 | manageryears2 = 2018–2019 |managerclubs2 = Universitatea Craiova (assistant) | manageryears3 = 2019–2021 |managerclubs3 = Botev Vratsa (assistant) | manageryears4 = 2021 |managerclubs4 = Tsarsko Selo Sofia (assistant) | manageryears5 = 2022 |managerclubs5 = CSKA 1948 II | manageryears6 = 2023 |managerclubs6 = Spartak Varna | manageryears7 = 2023–2024 |managerclubs7 = CSKA 1948 II | manageryears8 = 2024 |managerclubs8 = CSKA 1948 | manageryears9 = 2025 |managerclubs9 = CSKA Sofia II | manageryears10 = 2025 |managerclubs10 = CSKA Sofia (caretaker) | manageryears11 = 2025– |managerclubs11 = CSKA Sofia II | club-update = }}

'''Valentin Iliev Ivanov''' ({{langx|bg|Валентин Илиев Иванов}}; born 11 August 1980) is a Bulgarian professional football and former player who is currently in charge of CSKA Sofia II.

==Personal life== Iliev's father, Iliya Valov, was goalkeeper for CSKA and Bulgaria's national team.<ref>{{cite web| url =http://shans.vratza.com/material.php?id=25518| title =Валентиновците от "Ботев" Враца| work =Шанс Експрес| access-date =25 April 2009| language =bg| url-status =dead| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20120222222045/http://shans.vratza.com/material.php?id=25518| archive-date =22 February 2012}}</ref>

==Playing career==

===Early career=== Iliev started his career in his home town Vratsa, where he played for the local team Botev Vratsa. In June 2001 he signed with Ukrainian club Metalurg from Zaporizhzhya, where he played 21 matches and scored one goal.

===CSKA Sofia=== In November 2004, Iliev joined CSKA Sofia. He collected his first A Group title winner's medal at the end of the 2004–05 season. Iliev scored 4 league goals in 18 matches that season.

On 23 August 2005, Iliev scored a goal, which helped CSKA secure a historic 1–0 away win over Liverpool in the third qualifying round of the Champions League. However, it did not help them qualify for the Champions League group phase, as the "armymen" were eliminated after an aggregate score of 2–3, having lost their home game. He developed a knack for scoring key goals for CSKA, making good use of his powerful heading ability. In April 2006, Iliev was given the captain's armband, as Emil Gargorov was stripped from that role as a result of loss in the Eternal derby of Bulgarian football against Levski Sofia.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.sportal.bg/news.php?id=6311 | title = Разжалваха Гъргоров като капитан на ЦСКА | work = sportal.bg | date = 3 April 2006 | language = bg | access-date = 10 October 2014 | archive-date = 10 October 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161010215106/http://www.sportal.bg/news.php?id=6311 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

In July 2006, it was announced that Iliev would be CSKA's permanent club captain. On 30 July, he captained the team that won the 2006 Bulgarian Supercup against Levski Sofia. Iliev helped CSKA to keep a clean sheet throughout the match, as they defeated Levski 3–0 on penalties. On 28 September 2006, he scored his second-ever European goal in a 2–2 home draw (after extra time) against Beşiktaş in the first round of the 2006–07 UEFA Cup.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://topsport.ibox.bg/news/id_380520250 | title = ЦСКА отпадна след 2:2 с Бешикташ | work = topsport.bg | date = 28 September 2006 | language = bg}}</ref>

Despite some disciplinary issues, most notably his physical confrontation with Jose Emilio Furtado in May 2007, resulting in Iliev being stripped of the CSKA captaincy,<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.segabg.com/online/new/articlenew.asp?issueid=2640&sectionid=12&id=0002201 | title = Фуртадо – аут от ЦСКА, капитанът Илиев – в тъч | work = Sega bg | date = 10 May 2007 | language = bg | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120415141746/http://www.segabg.com/article.php?issueid=2640&sectionid=12&id=0002201 | archive-date = 15 April 2012 | access-date = 20 June 2013 }}</ref> he remained a cult figure for CSKA fans.

===Terek Grozny=== Iliev signed with Russian side Terek Grozny in February 2008 on a two-and-a-half-year deal for a reported fee of €750,000.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.7sport.net/archive7ds/2008/02/23/the_day/d4959_4.htm | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141015125956/http://www.7sport.net/archive7ds/2008/02/23/the_day/d4959_4.htm | url-status = usurped | archive-date = 15 October 2014 | title = Вальо Илиев подписа за 2,5 г. с Терек | language = bg | publisher = 7sport.net | date = 23 February 2008}}</ref> His first goal in the Russian Premier League came on 3 August, scoring the only goal in a 1–0 home win over Saturn Ramenskoye. On 23 August, he scored the winning goal for a 2–1 win against Lokomotiv Moscow. On 2 November 2008, Iliev scored another vital goal, this time a last-minute equaliser, in a 1–1 home draw against FC Moscow.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://sporta.bg/?load=Football::Article&championshipId=656&id=7030 | title = Вальо Илиев донесе точка на Терек с гол в последната минута | language = bg | publisher = sporta.bg | date = 3 November 2008}}</ref>

Iliev left Terek in February 2010, cancelling his contract by mutual agreement two months before it expired.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://gong.bg/bg-football/a-grupa/valio-iliev-se-razdeli-s-terek-chaka-otgovor-ot-cska-115412 | title = Вальо Илиев се раздели с Терек | language = bg | publisher = gong.bg | date = 6 February 2010}}</ref>

===Universitatea Craiova=== On 11 February 2010, Iliev signed a one-and-a-half-year contract with Romanian club Universitatea Craiova as a free agent.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.craiova-maxima.ro/stiri/1390/Valentin+Iliev+a+semnat+pentru+Craiova.htm | title = Valentin Iliev a semnat pentru Craiova | language = ro | date = 11 February 2010 | publisher = craiova-maxima.ro}}</ref>

===Steaua București=== In February 2011, Iliev signed a contract for one and a half years with Steaua București.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.steauafc.com/ro/articol/ilievasemnat/ | title = Iliev a semnat cu Steaua | language = ro | publisher = steauafc.com | date = 19 February 2011}}</ref> On 19 December 2011, Iliev scored his first goal for Steaua against CSU Vointa Sibiu in a Liga 1 match, goal which proved to be decisive.

===Volyn Lutsk=== On 12 July 2012, Iliev joined Ukrainian club Volyn Lutsk on a two-year deal.

===Return to CSKA Sofia=== On 16 July 2013, Iliev re-signed with CSKA Sofia and was announced as CSKA's new club captain. He made his second CSKA debut in a 0–0 home draw against Cherno More on 3 August. Iliev scored his first goal since his return to the club on 24 August, scoring an equaliser, away to Lokomotiv Sofia in a 1–1 draw. On 16 April 2014, he signed a one-year contract extension, keeping him at CSKA until 30 June 2015.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://gong.bg/bg-football/a-grupa/valio-iliev-se-razdeli-s-terek-chaka-otgovor-ot-cska-115412 | title = Вальо Илиев преподписа с ЦСКА | language = bg | publisher = gong.bg | date = 16 April 2014}}</ref> He ended 2013–14 season with 4 goals in 28 matches.

In October 2014, Iliev underwent an ankle surgery on his right foot. Following surgery, he was ruled out for about three months.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.sportal.bg/news.php?news=511835 | title = Удар за ЦСКА – Вальо Илиев аут до края на годината | language = bg | publisher = sportal.bg | date = 6 October 2014}}</ref> He returned to first team action in April 2015.

===Universitatea Craiova=== On 29 September 2015, Iliev signed a one-year contract with Romanian club Universitatea Craiova as a free agent.

==International career== In October 2010, after a long absence from the national team, Iliev was recalled to the national side by the new manager Lothar Matthäus for the Euro 2012 qualifier against Wales. On 8 October 2010, he started the match, but sustained an injury during the first half and was replaced by Pavel Vidanov.

==Managerial career== Iliev joined CSKA 1948 in 2016 and oversaw successive promotions, from the fourth tier to the Second League. He was sacked after four matches of the 2018–19 season.<ref>{{Cite web | title = Concediat! Fotbalistul preferat de Becali, dat afară la prima experienţă de antrenor principal | work = ProSport | date = 21 August 2018 | access-date = 22 August 2018 | url = http://www1.prosport.ro/fotbal-extern/campionate-externe/concediat-fotbalistul-preferat-de-becali-dat-afara-la-prima-experienta-de-antrenor-principal-17455215 }}</ref>

==Outside football== Iliev is a sexton at a church in Bistritsa.<ref>{{Cite web | title = Валентин Илиев между футбола и църквата (ВИДЕО) | first = Dimitar | last = Tasev | website = btvnovinite.bg | date = 18 February 2018 | access-date = 22 August 2018 | url = https://btvnovinite.bg/sport/valentin-iliev-mezhdu-futbola-i-carkvata-video.html }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | title = Povestea incredibilă a fostului stelist Iliev. Lucrează la o biserică! • Fanatik.ro | work = Fanatik.ro | date = 19 February 2018 | access-date = 2018-08-22 | url = https://www.fanatik.ro/valentin-iliev-fost-jucator-la-fcsb-lucreaza-intr-o-biserica-17901125 }}</ref>

==Career statistics==

===Club=== {{updated|31 May 2015}} {|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, Russian Cup, Cupa României}} !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="5" valign="center"|CSKA Sofia |2004–05 |A Group |18||4||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||18||4 |- |2005–06 |A Group |24||1||3||0||8{{efn|Three appearances and one goal in UEFA Champions League, five appearances in UEFA Cup}}||1||1{{efn|name=BSC|Appearance in Bulgarian Supercup}}||0||36||2 |- |2006–07 |A Group |23||1||2||0||5{{efn|name=UEF|Appearances in UEFA Cup}}||1||1{{efn|name=BSC}}||0||31||2 |- |2007–08 |A Group |14||1||1||0||3{{efn|name=UEF}}||0||colspan="2"|—||18||1 |- ! colspan=2 | Total !79!!7!!6!!0!!16!!2!!2!!0!!103!!9 |- |rowspan="3" valign="center"|Terek Grozny |2008 |Russian Premier League |25||3||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||25||3 |- |2009 |Russian Premier League |22||2||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||22||2 |- ! colspan=2 | Total !47!!5!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!47!!5 |- |rowspan="3" valign="center"|Universitatea Craiova |2009–10 |Liga I |15||3||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||15||3 |- |2010–11 |Liga I |10||3||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||10||3 |- ! colspan=2 | Total !25!!6!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!25!!6 |- |rowspan="3" valign="center"|Steaua București |2010–11 |Liga I |4||0||1||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||5||0 |- |2011–12 |Liga I |22||4||2||0||6{{efn|name=UEL|Appearances in UEFA Europa League}}||0||colspan="2"|—||30||4 |- ! colspan=2 | Total !26!!4!!3!!0!!6!!0!!0!!0!!35!!4 |- |Volyn Lutsk |2012–13 |Ukrainian Premier League |18||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||18||0 |- |rowspan="3" valign="center"|CSKA Sofia |2013–14 |A Group |28||4||4||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||32||4 |- |2014–15 |A Group |12||1||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||12||1 |- ! colspan=2 | Total !40!!5!!4!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!44!!5 |- ! colspan=3 | Career total !235!!27!!13!!0!!22!!2!!2!!0!!272!!29 |} {{notelist}}

==Managerial statistics== {{updated|23 May 2026}} {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Managerial record by team and tenure |- !rowspan=2| Team !rowspan=2| From !rowspan=2| To !colspan=8| Record |- !{{Tooltip| G| Games managed}} !{{Tooltip| W| Wins}} !{{Tooltip| D| Draws}} !{{Tooltip| L| Losses}} !{{Tooltip| Win %| Winning percentage}} !{{Tooltip| GF| Goals for}} !{{Tooltip| GA| Goals against}} !{{Tooltip| GD| Goal difference}} |- |align=left|CSKA 1948 |align=left|2 September 2016 |align=left|21 August 2018 {{WDL|60|52|8|0}} |align=centre|205 |align=centre|26 |align=centre|179 |- |align=left|CSKA 1948 II |align=left|30 May 2022 |align=left|14 December 2022 {{WDL|17|10|5|2}} |align=centre|31 |align=centre|9 |align=centre|22 |- |align=left|Spartak Varna |align=left|6 June 2023 |align=left|22 August 2023 {{WDL|6|3|1|2}} |align=centre|4 |align=centre|5 |align=centre|-1 |- |align=left|CSKA 1948 II |align=left|21 September 2023 |align=left|5 April 2024 {{WDL|17|6|6|5}} |align=centre|15 |align=centre|16 |align=centre|-1 |- |align=left|CSKA 1948 |align=left|5 April 2024 |align=left|29 October 2024 {{WDL|27|9|11|7}} |align=centre|28 |align=centre|27 |align=centre|1 |- |align=left|CSKA Sofia II |align=left|16 September 2025 |align=left|20 September 2025 {{WDL|0|0|0|0}} |align=centre|0 |align=centre|0 |align=centre|0 |- |align=left|CSKA Sofia ''(caretaker)'' |align=left|20 September 2025 |align=left|24 September 2025 {{WDL|1|0|1|0}} |align=centre|1 |align=centre|1 |align=centre|0 |- |align=left|CSKA Sofia II |align=left|24 September 2025 |align=left|Present {{WDL|23|13|5|5}} |align=centre|44 |align=centre|19 |align=centre|15 |- !colspan=3|Career total {{WDLtot|151|93|37|21}} !align=left|328 !align=left|103 !align=left|225 |}

==Honours== '''CSKA Sofia''' *First Professional Football League: 2004–05 *Bulgarian Cup: 2005–06 *Bulgarian Supercup: 2006

'''Steaua București''' *Cupa României: 2010–11

'''Individual''' *Best A PFG defender: 2005<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sportni.bg/index.phtml?tid=40&oid=2766350|publisher=sportni.bg|title=Иван Иванов е футболист на годината|access-date=2013-12-28|language=bg|archive-date=26 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226083604/http://www.sportni.bg/index.phtml?tid=40&oid=2766350|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [http://www.steauafc.com/ro/jucator/271/ Official FCSB profile] {{in lang|ro}} * {{NFT player|id=4986}} * {{RomanianSoccer|910/valentin-iliev-ivanov}} * {{FFU}}

{{PFC CSKA Sofia managers}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Iliev, Valentin}} Category:1980 births Category:Living people Category:People from Knezha Category:Sportspeople from Pleven Province Category:Bulgarian men's footballers Category:Bulgarian football managers Category:Men's association football defenders Category:POFC Botev Vratsa players Category:FC Metalurh Zaporizhzhia players Category:FC Metalurh-2 Zaporizhzhia players Category:PFC CSKA Sofia players Category:FC Akhmat Grozny players Category:FC U Craiova 1948 players Category:FCSB players Category:FC Volyn Lutsk players Category:CS Universitatea Craiova players Category:First Professional Football League (Bulgaria) players Category:Ukrainian Premier League players Category:Ukrainian Second League players Category:Russian Premier League players Category:Liga I players Category:Bulgarian expatriate men's footballers Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Ukraine Category:Bulgarian expatriate sportspeople in Ukraine Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Russia Category:Bulgarian expatriate sportspeople in Russia Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Romania Category:Bulgarian expatriate sportspeople in Romania Category:Bulgaria men's international footballers Category:FC CSKA 1948 Sofia managers Category:21st-century Bulgarian sportsmen