Iliyan Kiryakov
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Iliyan Ivanov Kiryakov | ||
| Date of birth | 4 August 1967 | ||
| Place of birth | Lesicheri, Bulgaria | ||
| Height | 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Full back | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1984–1991 | Etar Veliko Tarnovo | 168 | (15) |
| 1991–1993 | Deportivo La Coruña | 39 | (3) |
| 1993–1994 | Mérida | 18 | (1) |
| 1994 | CSKA Sofia | 18 | (0) |
| 1995 | Etar Veliko Tarnovo | 8 | (3) |
| 1995–1996 | Anorthosis | 19 | (8) |
| 1996–2000 | Aberdeen | 76 | (1) |
| 2000 | Airdrieonians | 6 | (0) |
| 2001 | Raith Rovers | 17 | (1) |
| 2001–2002 | Akademik Svishtov | 12 | (0) |
| 2002–2003 | Etar 1924 | 28 | (5) |
| Total | 412 | (38) | |
| International career | |||
| 1988–1996 | Bulgaria | 53 | (5) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2016 | Etar Veliko Tarnovo (interim) | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Iliyan Ivanov Kiryakov (Bulgarian: Илиян Иванов Киряков; born 4 August 1967) is a retired Bulgarian footballer. A player of great energy, he was equally at ease at right or left back.
During a professional career which spanned nearly 20 years, he played for nine different clubs, including three in Scotland.
Kiryakov won more than 50 caps for Bulgaria, and represented the nation at the 1994 World Cup and Euro 1996.
Club career
Kiryakov was born in the small town of Lesicheri. In his country, he represented Etar Veliko Tarnovo and PFC CSKA Sofia. In 1991 he moved abroad, signing with Deportivo de La Coruña. In his first season, he was first-choice (only missed three La Liga matches) but the Galicians barely avoided relegation, as 17th; subsequently, as Super Depor came to fruition, he became a fringe player and left.
Kiryakov continued in Spain for 1993–94, playing in the Segunda División with CP Mérida. He then returned to his country for one more year, with PFC CSKA Sofia, signing in the 1995 summer with Cyprus club Anorthosis Famagusta FC.
Kiryakov spent the following five years in Scotland, playing for Aberdeen, Airdrieonians (only five months[1]) and Raith Rovers.[2] He finished his career in June 2003 at nearly 36: after a brief spell with lowly Akademik Svishtov, he retired at Etar, his first club.
International career
During eight years, Kiryakov played 53 times for Bulgaria, scoring five goals.
He appeared in six matches in the 1994 FIFA World Cup (four complete) as the national side finished in fourth position, and was also picked for the squad at UEFA Euro 1996, where he played in group stage 1–1 draw against Spain.[3]
Honours
Club
- Etar Veliko Tarnovo
References
- ^ Archibald plans Kiriakov swoop; BBC Sport, 22 August 2000
- ^ Rovers return for Dennis; BBC Sport, 27 February 2001
- ^ Iliyan Kiryakov – FIFA competition record (archived)
External links
- BDFutbol profile
- Iliyan Kiryakov at Soccerbase
- Iliyan Kiryakov at National-Football-Teams.com
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- 1967 births
- Living people
- Bulgarian footballers
- Association football defenders
- Bulgarian A Football Group players
- FC Etar Veliko Tarnovo players
- FC Etar 1924 Veliko Tarnovo players
- PFC CSKA Sofia players
- La Liga players
- Segunda División players
- Deportivo de La Coruña players
- CP Mérida footballers
- Scottish Premier League players
- Scottish Football League players
- Aberdeen F.C. players
- Airdrieonians F.C. (1878) players
- Raith Rovers F.C. players
- Cypriot First Division players
- Anorthosis Famagusta FC players
- PFC Akademik Svishtov players
- Bulgaria youth international footballers
- Bulgaria international footballers
- 1994 FIFA World Cup players
- UEFA Euro 1996 players
- Bulgarian expatriate footballers
- Expatriate footballers in Spain
- Expatriate footballers in Scotland
- Expatriate footballers in Cyprus
- Bulgarian expatriates in the United Kingdom
- Bulgarian expatriates in Spain