Dimitar Ivankov
Encyclopedia
Dimitar Ivanov Ivankov is a Bulgaria
n football
player who currently plays for Cypriot
side Anorthosis Famagusta FC
. He plays as a goalkeeper, however he is known for his goals, especially from converting penalty kicks. Ivankov is the 3rd best goalscoring keeper in the world with 42 goals (as of April 2010). He won the Turkish
Süper Lig with Bursaspor
in 2010
.
, Ivankov was raised in Levski Sofia's youth teams. For ten seasons he played in 275 matches and scored 25 goals. Ivankov was a champion of Bulgaria in 2000, 2001 and 2002 and the national cup winner for 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003 and 2005.
He joined Turkish club Kayserispor
in June 2005. On May 7, 2008 he played a vital role in Kayseri winning the Turkish Cup, saving 8 penalties and scoring two himself. During three seasons with the club Ivankov earned 94 appearances playing in the Süper Lig, and scored six goals.
In May 2008 the media suggested that Ivankov was wanted by the Greek side Aris Thessaloniki F.C.
, but on June 9, 2008 he signed a contract with Bursaspor
. He scored a crucial goal against Fenerbahçe in the 95th minute. His goal made the game 2–1 to Bursapor.
In March 2010 he scored the 41st senior goal of his career, putting him in third place for the most goals scored by goalkeepers worldwide. He is known for his unorthodox technique of closing his eyes on his run up, only opening them at the last minute to put off the opposing goalkeeper
In November 2010 Ivankov hoped to sign on loan for the rest of the 2010-11 with mid-table Millwall of the Npower Championship in England. According to the manager, Ivankov would be used upfront due to his incredible scoring record throughout his career as a Goalkeeper. Ivankov in response was delighted at the thought of helping Millwall's push up the table and insisted he was there as a striker to 'cut through' any defence in the league, with the game against Leeds Utd the game he looks forward to most.
In 23 June 2011, Ivankov signed a contract with Cypriot First Division
side Anorthosis Famagusta
.He was released by Anorthosis after less than 2 months and two bad games at Europa League 3rd round.He is the main target by the fans for the Uefa Europa League elimination from FK Rabotnicki
.
in 1999 and has since earned 63 caps for his country. He was part of the Bulgarian
squad at Euro 2004
in Portugal
, but he did not play any single match in the competition as Zdravko Zdravkov
was still at best performances in club and as number one of the Bulgarian national team
. After Euro 2004 Ivankov was the first choice for goalkeeper of the Bulgarian team. On 3 March 2010, he played his last match for the national team in a friendly against Poland
.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player who currently plays for Cypriot
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
side Anorthosis Famagusta FC
Anorthosis Famagusta FC
Αnorthosis Famagusta FC is a Cypriot football and volleyball club which is originally based in Famagusta, but is now temporarily based in Larnaca, due to the Turkish invasion. Anorthosis is one of the most successful clubs in Cypriot football, having won 13 league titles, 10 Cypriot Cups and 6...
. He plays as a goalkeeper, however he is known for his goals, especially from converting penalty kicks. Ivankov is the 3rd best goalscoring keeper in the world with 42 goals (as of April 2010). He won the Turkish
Football in Turkey
Association football is a national sport in Turkey, tracing its roots back to the Ottoman Empire. The first matches were played in Selanik, now known as Thessaloníki, in 1875. The sport was brought over by some lovely English people living in the area. The Turkish football league system currently...
Süper Lig with Bursaspor
Bursaspor
Bursaspor is a professional Turkish football club located in the city of Bursa. Formed in 1963, Bursaspor are nicknamed the Yeşil Timsahlar...
in 2010
2009–10 Süper Lig
The 2009–10 Süper Lig was the 52nd season since its establishment. The season commenced on 7 August 2009 with Istanbul B.B. hosting defending champions Beşiktaş at Atatürk Olympic Stadium. The last matches were played on 16 May 2010.Bursaspor won the league beating defending champions Beşiktaş 2–1...
.
Career
Born in SofiaSofia
Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...
, Ivankov was raised in Levski Sofia's youth teams. For ten seasons he played in 275 matches and scored 25 goals. Ivankov was a champion of Bulgaria in 2000, 2001 and 2002 and the national cup winner for 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003 and 2005.
He joined Turkish club Kayserispor
Kayserispor
Kayserispor is a professional Turkish football club located in the city of Kayseri. Formed in 1966, Kayserispor are nicknamed Anadolu Yıldızı . The club colours are red and yellow, and the club play their home matches at Kadir Has Stadium.The club have won one Türkiye Kupası, in 2008...
in June 2005. On May 7, 2008 he played a vital role in Kayseri winning the Turkish Cup, saving 8 penalties and scoring two himself. During three seasons with the club Ivankov earned 94 appearances playing in the Süper Lig, and scored six goals.
In May 2008 the media suggested that Ivankov was wanted by the Greek side Aris Thessaloniki F.C.
Aris Thessaloniki F.C.
Aris Football Club , also known as God of war and the Yellows, is a Greek football club based in the city of Thessaloniki, Macedonia. Formed in 1914, the club was a founding member of Macedonian Football Clubs Association as well as the Hellenic Football Federation, they currently compete in...
, but on June 9, 2008 he signed a contract with Bursaspor
Bursaspor
Bursaspor is a professional Turkish football club located in the city of Bursa. Formed in 1963, Bursaspor are nicknamed the Yeşil Timsahlar...
. He scored a crucial goal against Fenerbahçe in the 95th minute. His goal made the game 2–1 to Bursapor.
In March 2010 he scored the 41st senior goal of his career, putting him in third place for the most goals scored by goalkeepers worldwide. He is known for his unorthodox technique of closing his eyes on his run up, only opening them at the last minute to put off the opposing goalkeeper
In November 2010 Ivankov hoped to sign on loan for the rest of the 2010-11 with mid-table Millwall of the Npower Championship in England. According to the manager, Ivankov would be used upfront due to his incredible scoring record throughout his career as a Goalkeeper. Ivankov in response was delighted at the thought of helping Millwall's push up the table and insisted he was there as a striker to 'cut through' any defence in the league, with the game against Leeds Utd the game he looks forward to most.
In 23 June 2011, Ivankov signed a contract with Cypriot First Division
Cypriot First Division
The Cypriot Championship First Division is the top tier football league competition in Cyprus. As of 2007 it is sponsored by Marfin Popular Bank and is hence officially known as Marfin Laiki League .-Format:...
side Anorthosis Famagusta
Anorthosis Famagusta FC
Αnorthosis Famagusta FC is a Cypriot football and volleyball club which is originally based in Famagusta, but is now temporarily based in Larnaca, due to the Turkish invasion. Anorthosis is one of the most successful clubs in Cypriot football, having won 13 league titles, 10 Cypriot Cups and 6...
.He was released by Anorthosis after less than 2 months and two bad games at Europa League 3rd round.He is the main target by the fans for the Uefa Europa League elimination from FK Rabotnicki
FK Rabotnicki
FK Rabotnički is a football club that plays at the Philip II Arena in Skopje, Republic of Macedonia. They currently compete in the Macedonian First League.-History:...
.
International career
Ivankov earned his first cap with BulgariaBulgaria national football team
The FIFA Bulgaria national football team is an association football team fielded by the Bulgarian Football Union, a member association of UEFA. The team's home ground is Vasil Levski in Sofia and Luboslav Penev is in charge manager after replacement of Lothar Matthäus...
in 1999 and has since earned 63 caps for his country. He was part of the Bulgarian
Bulgaria national football team
The FIFA Bulgaria national football team is an association football team fielded by the Bulgarian Football Union, a member association of UEFA. The team's home ground is Vasil Levski in Sofia and Luboslav Penev is in charge manager after replacement of Lothar Matthäus...
squad at Euro 2004
2004 UEFA European Football Championship
The 2004 UEFA European Football Championship, better known as Euro 2004, was the 12th European Football Championship, a quadrennial football tournament for European national teams. It was hosted in Portugal, for the first time, between 12 June and 4 July 2004, following its selection by UEFA, in...
in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, but he did not play any single match in the competition as Zdravko Zdravkov
Zdravko Zdravkov
Zdravko Zdravkov is a former Bulgarian football goalkeeper. He ended his career at the end of 2006–07 season.-Career:...
was still at best performances in club and as number one of the Bulgarian national team
Bulgaria national football team
The FIFA Bulgaria national football team is an association football team fielded by the Bulgarian Football Union, a member association of UEFA. The team's home ground is Vasil Levski in Sofia and Luboslav Penev is in charge manager after replacement of Lothar Matthäus...
. After Euro 2004 Ivankov was the first choice for goalkeeper of the Bulgarian team. On 3 March 2010, he played his last match for the national team in a friendly against Poland
Poland national football team
The Poland national football team represents Poland in association football and is controlled by the Polish Football Association, the governing body for football in Poland...
.
Honours
Levski Sofia-
- A PFG (3): 2000, 2001, 2002
- Bulgarian CupBulgarian CupThe Bulgarian Cup is a Bulgarian annual football competition. It is the country's main cup competition and all officially registered Bulgarian football teams take part in it. It is sponsored by the Bulgarian Corporate Commercial Bank....
(5): 1998, 2000, 20022002 Bulgarian Cup FinalThe 2002 Bulgarian Cup Final was played at the Slavia Stadium in Sofia on May 15, 2002 and was contested between the sides of CSKA Sofia and Levski Sofia. The match was won by Levski Sofia.-Match details:...
, 2003, 2005 KayserisporKayserisporKayserispor is a professional Turkish football club located in the city of Kayseri. Formed in 1966, Kayserispor are nicknamed Anadolu Yıldızı . The club colours are red and yellow, and the club play their home matches at Kadir Has Stadium.The club have won one Türkiye Kupası, in 2008... - Turkish Cup (1): 2008 BursasporBursasporBursaspor is a professional Turkish football club located in the city of Bursa. Formed in 1963, Bursaspor are nicknamed the Yeşil Timsahlar...
- Süper Lig (1): 20102009–10 Süper LigThe 2009–10 Süper Lig was the 52nd season since its establishment. The season commenced on 7 August 2009 with Istanbul B.B. hosting defending champions Beşiktaş at Atatürk Olympic Stadium. The last matches were played on 16 May 2010.Bursaspor won the league beating defending champions Beşiktaş 2–1...