Georgi Hristov (footballer, born 1985)

Georgi Hristov (Bulgarian: Георги Христов; born 10 January 1985) is a Bulgarian former professional footballer who played as a striker.

Georgi Hristov
Hristov with Tampa Bay Rowdies in 2017
Personal information
Full name Georgi Georgiev Hristov
Date of birth (1985-01-10) 10 January 1985
Place of birth Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
Maritsa Plovdiv
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2007 Maritsa Plovdiv 111 (51)
2007–2008 Botev Plovdiv 30 (19)
2008–2010 Levski Sofia 38 (12)
2010 → Wisła Kraków (loan) 3 (0)
2010–2012 Slavia Sofia 30 (4)
2012 Lokomotiv Sofia 13 (2)
2013–2018 Tampa Bay Rowdies 164 (56)
2019 Nashville United
2021 Florida Premier
Total 389 (144)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 25 January 20222

Career

Maritsa Plovdiv

Hristov was born in Plovdiv. He grew up as part of Maritsa Plovdiv's academy and made his debut for the senior team in 2002/2003 season. He played for Maritsa until 2007. During the 2005/2006 season he was B PFG's top scorer, with 18 goals.[1] In the same season he was chosen the best footballer of B PFG East group by other players.

Botev Plovdiv

He signed a contract with Botev during summer of 2007. In his first season in A PFG he became a topscorer, scoring 19 goals[2] and was chosen the best footballer of the season by other players. Hristov became a free-agent on 4 July 2008.

Levski Sofia

Hristov started training with Levski Sofia on 23 June 2008. Later, he signed his contract with 'the Blues'. He scored a hat-trick against his ex-team Botev, in one of his first matches for Levski. On 13 August 2008, Hristov earned a penalty for Levski Sofia in the first leg of a decisive Champions League match against BATE Borisov, but it was not converted and the "bluemen" subsequently lost the match by a score of 0:1.[3] On 26 April 2009 Hristov scored four goals against PFC Belasitsa Petrich. He scored in 56th, 63rd, 65th and 86th minute. The result of the match was 1:7 with a guest win for Levski Sofia. On 9 May 2009 Hristov scored the first goal for Levski Sofia in The Eternal Derby against CSKA. The result of the match was 0:2 with a guest win for Levski. He became a Champion of Bulgaria in 2009.

On 15 July 2009, Hristov opened his goal account for the new season with two goals in the first official match for Levski during 2009/2010 season. The event took place in the 2nd Qualifying round of UEFA Champions League, where Levski beaten the team of UE Sant Julià. The result of the match was 4:0 with a home win for Levski. On 5 August 2009, he also scored against FK Baku to wrap up a 2:0 win for the team from Sofia. In the play-off round Levski was eliminated by Debreceni VSC with 4:1 (on aggregate). However, Levski qualified for UEFA Europa League. On 8 January 2009. the coach of Levski Georgi Ivanov, announced that he gave 'his' ex-kit-number 9 to Hristov.

Wisła Kraków

On 26 February 2010 Wisła Kraków signed the Bulgarian forward on loan from PFC Levski Sofia.[4] On 7 June 2010 it was announced that Hristov's loan contract would be terminated and he would return to Levski, unlike the initial plans of Wisła having him on loan until December 2010.[5]

Return to Bulgaria
Hristov playing for Slavia in a match against Litex Lovech

On 31 August 2010, Hristov moved to PFC Slavia Sofia.[6] In August 2012, he moved to another A PFG outfit PFC Lokomotiv Sofia. In February 2013, he trialed with Major League Soccer club Philadelphia Union.[7]

Tampa Bay Rowdies
Hristov with the Tampa Bay Rowdies in 2015

On 8 March 2013, The Tampa Bay Rowdies, of the North American Soccer League, announced that the club had signed Hristov to a two-year deal. Year two of the contract is a club option.[8] Hristov scored his first goal for the Rowdies in a 2-0 win against the San Antonio Scorpions.[9] Hristov made 22 appearances during his first season in USA, finishing as the club's top scorer with 12 goals. He also made 8 assists. He won the MVP award of the league that year.

On July 4, 2018 Hristov scored his 58th career goal for the Rowdies, making him the Rowdies’ all-time top scorer.

Since retiring from professional football, Hristov has featured for Nashville United during 2020 U.S. Open Cup qualification, and for South Tampa FC of the Florida Suncoast Soccer League, which is a Tampa Bay-area Sunday league.

International career

Georgi Hristov was called up for one friendly match against Bosnia and Herzegovina in August 2008, but remained an unused substitute.[10]

Personal life

Hristov is an avid rock music fan, and cited the American thrash metal band Metallica as his favourite. His older brother Hristo was a guitarist in the rock band P.I.F.[11]

Statistics
(As of 22 May 2018)
Club Season League Domestic League Domestic Cups European Cups Play-offs Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Maritsa Plovdiv 2002–03 V AFG 174–––174
2003–04 V AFG 217–––217
2004–05 V AFG 2610–––2610
2005–06 B Group 241810–112619
2006–07 231222––2514
Total 1115132–1111554
Botev Plovdiv 2007–08 A Group 301943––3422
Total301943-003422
Levski Sofia 2008–09 A Group 25113030–3111
2009–10 12131103–255
Wisła Kraków (loan) 2009–10 Ekstraklasa 3020––50
Levski Sofia 2010–11 A Group 10–00–10
Total381261133–5716
Slavia Sofia 2010–11 A Group 23450––284
2011–12 70–––70
Total30450––354
Lokomotiv Sofia 2012–13 A Group 13231––163
Tampa Bay Rowdies 2013 NASL 221223--2415
2014 259–––259
2015 28210––292
2016 311121––3312
2017 321520––3415
2018 10410––114
Total14853115––15958

Honours

Levski

Individual

References
  1. "Източна "Б" Футболна група – сезон 2005/06, Голмайстори". Bulgarian-football.com. Archived from the original on 17 May 2012. Retrieved 31 May 2006.
  2. "Hristov's goals have Canaries singing". Uefa.com. Retrieved 15 April 2008.
  3. "Левски" играе, БАТЕ бие" (in Bulgarian). Netinfo sport. 13 August 2008. Retrieved 1 August 2009.
  4. "Hristov: Chciałem trafić do dużego klubu". Archived from the original on 2 March 2012. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
  5. "Жоро Христов започва подготовка с Левски" (in Bulgarian). Gong.bg. 7 June 2010. Retrieved 7 June 2010.
  6. "Промени в състава". pfcslavia.com. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
  7. "Match against Crew was under watchful eye of coaches as players fight for contracts | Philadelphia Union". Archived from the original on 17 February 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
  8. "News | Tampa Bay Rowdies". Archived from the original on 14 March 2013. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
  9. "Private Site". usatsbi.wordpress.com.
  10. "Зеница скочи срещу футболните шефове" (in Bulgarian). 7sport.net. 19 August 2008. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  11. "Метълът Георги Христов: Митко Бербатов е като Джеймс Хетфийлд на футбола" (in Bulgarian). dariknews.bg. 1 July 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2009.
  12. "Top goalscorers of A PFG (07/08)". topsport.ibox.bg. 20 May 2008. Retrieved 26 April 2009.
  13. "Георги Христов спечели "Златната топка" на САЩ" (in Bulgarian). focus-sport.net. Retrieved 9 November 2013.

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