Svetoslav Todorov
Todorov being introduced at Litex Lovech in August 2009
Personal information
Full name Svetoslav Todorov
Date of birth (1978-08-30) 30 August 1978
Place of birth Dobrich, Bulgaria
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[1]
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
1990–1993 Dobrudzha Dobrich
1993–1996 CSKA Sofia
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1996–1997 Dobrudzha Dobrich 12 (2)
1997–2001 Litex Lovech 70 (34)
2001–2002 West Ham United 14 (1)
2002–2007 Portsmouth 77 (33)
2006–2007 → Wigan Athletic (loan) 5 (0)
2007–2009 Charlton Athletic 20 (3)
2009–2012 Litex Lovech 56 (20)
2012–2013 Hoverla Uzhhorod 9 (0)
Total 263 (93)
International career
1998–2007 Bulgaria 41 (7)
Managerial career
2013–2014 Dobrudzha Dobrich
2015–2016 Bulgaria U19
2017 CSKA Sofia II
2017 Botev Galabovo
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Svetoslav Todorov (Bulgarian: Светослав Тодоров; born 30 August 1978) is a former Bulgarian international footballer. He played as a forward. Todorov is the all-time top scorer for Litex Lovech in the Bulgarian A Football Group.

Club career

Early career

After being part of the youth system since the age of 6,[2] Todorov began his career at Bulgarian First Division club Dobrudzha Dobrich in 1996–97, scoring twice in twelve appearances.[3] He then joined Second Division champions Litex Lovech where he scored 34 goals in 70 league games over four seasons (two of them title winning). He managed a career-high 19 league goals during the 1999/2000 season, being overtaken as the top goalscorer by Mihail Mihaylov on the last match day.[4] Todorov captained the team over the course of the autumn part of the 2000/2001 campaign. He scored his first European goals during the summer of 1999, in the qualifying rounds of the UEFA Champions League, all three of them coming against Polish team Widzew Łódź.[5] During his time in Bulgaria he had a clean disciplinary record and was sent off only once (on 13 May 2000, in a 0–1 away loss against Spartak Varna in an A PFG match).[6] His form attracted attention from English clubs and after trials with Preston North End and West Ham United, he joined West Ham in January 2001.[7]

West Ham United

Todorov joined West Ham in January 2001 for a fee of £500,000, rising to £2 million depending on appearances.[7] He made his debut in a 3–0 defeat at Liverpool and scored his first goal for the club in his third game, a 3–2 FA Cup defeat at home to Tottenham,[8][9] and then scored his first league goal for the club against Middlesbrough.[10] However, following manager Harry Redknapp's departure from the club in May 2001, Todorov found himself out of favour and he played just eight games under new manager Glenn Roeder in the 2001–02 season.[9]

Portsmouth

Todorov signed for Portsmouth in March 2002 for £750,000, joining director of football, Harry Redknapp, who had signed him for West Ham; Redknapp described him as, "...a very intelligent footballer [who] will bring good competition in the striking department."[11] He was sent off for violent conduct in his second appearance for Portsmouth in a 2–0 defeat away at Preston and made only one further appearance in the 2001–02 season.[9][12] He became a regular in the first team in the 2002–03 season, making 45 league appearances and scoring 26 goals, including a hat-trick in the final game of the season against Bradford City, as Portsmouth won the Football League First Division championship and were promoted to the Premier League.[9][13] He was the First Division's top scorer, overhauling Nottingham Forest's David Johnson with his hat-trick on the final day of the season; Redknapp said, "Todorov has had a great season. He is leading scorer in the First Division after today's goals. I bought him from my old club West Ham and he got a lot of stick at first... He has done marvellously, proving what a great player he is."[14] Todorov signed a new three-year contract with Portsmouth in July 2003.[15]

Days before the start of the club's debut Premiership season, Todorov severely damaged a cruciate knee ligament in a training accident.[16] He required surgery on his knee and was expected to miss the rest of the 2003–04 season.[16] He made a comeback in the Portsmouth reserve side in February 2004[17][18] and returned to the first team in an away game at Liverpool. He made only the one appearance for Portsmouth in the Premiership during the 2003–04 season and required further surgery on his knee in May 2004, causing him to miss the Euro 2004 championships in the summer of 2004[19] and the entire 2004–05 season.[9] He was given a new contract in August 2005 and, having played very little in the previous two seasons, was offered to other clubs on loan to regain fitness.[20] However, he remained with Portsmouth and was used mostly as a substitute during the 2005–06 season.[21] He scored the winning goal against West Bromwich Albion in manager Harry Redknapp's second game on returning to Portsmouth in December 2005[22] and scored crucial goals against West Ham,[23] Blackburn Rovers[24] and Sunderland[25] as Portsmouth battled against and survived relegation.[26]

After scoring twice for Portsmouth in the opening three games of the 2006–07 season, Todorov joined Wigan Athletic in August 2006 on a season-long loan.[27] Wigan manager, Paul Jewell, described him as "..a pure striker who lives to put the ball in the net."[27] However, he made only five appearances for Wigan, without scoring, and returned to Portsmouth in January 2007.[9] He made one further appearance in the 2006–07 season, as a substitute against Fulham in March 2007.[28]

Charlton Athletic

Having fallen down the pecking order at Portsmouth in the 2006–07 season, Todorov joined relegated side Charlton Athletic in July 2007 on a free transfer in a one-year deal.[29] His first league goal for Charlton came against London rivals Crystal Palace in September 2007,[30] but after suffering a knee injury in a match against Plymouth in October 2007, Todorov was ruled out of the remainder of the 2007–08 season.[31] He signed a new one-year contract in June 2008,[32] but was not offered a new contract at the end of the 2008–09 season.[33]

Litex Lovech

He joined his former club Litex Lovech as a free agent on 16 July 2009. On 8 August 2009, he marked his return to the TBI A Football Group with a goal after coming on as a substitute for Ivelin Popov – wrapping up a 5–0 away win against Lokomotiv Mezdra with an 89th-minute strike.[34] On 25 October 2010, Todorov scored a last-minute goal against Levski Sofia to help his team to a 2–1 home win.[35] In January 2011, Todorov was chosen by the Litex fans as the 2010 Best Club Player for the Year.[36] On 12 July 2011, he netted twice to help his team to a 2–1 away win against Montenegrin side Mogren in the first leg match of the 2011–12 UEFA Champions League qualifying phase.[37] Todorov left the club after the end of the 2011/2012 season.[38]

Hoverla Uzhhorod

In late August 2012, he signed a one-year contract with newly promoted Ukrainian Premier League club FC Hoverla Uzhhorod.[39] Todorov made his debut for FC Hoverla Uzhhorod on 31 August 2012, in the 2:1 home win over Tavriya Simferopol and played the last match of his professional career on 24 November, in the 1:5 away loss against Shakhtar Donetsk.[40] He left the club in January 2013[41] and later announced his retirement.

International career

He used to be part of the Bulgaria U21 team.[2] Todorov made his debut for Bulgaria on 10 March 1998, in the 0:2 loss against Argentina in a friendly match.[42] He was in manager Hristo Bonev's plans for the 1998 World Cup, but missed out due to an injury.[2] For the same reason, he was unable to participate in Euro 2004.

International goals

Scores and results list Bulgaria's goal tally first.[43]
#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.29 March 2000Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia Belarus1–04–1Friendly
2.7 October 2000Georgi Asparuhov Stadium, Sofia Malta3–03–02002 World Cup qualifier
3.27 March 2003Stadion Mladost, Kruševac Serbia and Montenegro2–12–1Friendly
4.7 June 2003Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia Belgium2–22–2Euro 2004 qualifier
5. 12 November 2005Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia Georgia5–06–2Friendly
6.6–2
7.9 May 2006Nagai Stadium, Osaka Japan1–02–12006 Kirin Cup

Career statistics

Club performance League Cup Supercup Continental Total
SeasonClubLeague AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals
Bulgaria League Bulgarian Cup Supercup Europe Total
1996–97Dobrudzha DobrichA PFG12200––122
1997–98Litex Lovech199??––199
1998–9912230–00152
1999–00261933–433325
2000–0113439––1613
England League FA Cup League Cup Europe Total
2000–01West Ham UnitedPremier League811100–92
2001–02601010–80
2001–02PortsmouthFirst Division310000–31
2002–0345261020–4826
2003–04Premier League100000–10
2004–05000000–00
2005–062442010–274
2006–07420000–42
Wigan Athletic500000–50
2007–08Charlton AthleticChampionship720021–93
2008–091310000–131
Bulgaria League Bulgarian Cup Supercup Europe Total
2009–10Litex LovechA PFG112001020152
2010–112584210103110
2011–1220104200633015
Ukraine League Ukrainian Cup Supercup Europe Total
2012–13Hoverla UzhhorodUkrainian Premier League9010––100
Career totals Bulgaria 1385617162013617078
England 1163751610012739
Ukraine 90100000100
Total 26393231781136307117

Awards

Personal life

Todorov is married to Severina and they have a son.[44] His father, Ivan Manolov, is also a football manager and represented Dobrudzha Dobrich in his playing days.[2] Todorov's younger brother, Pavlin, is a former professional footballer and current manager as well.[45]

References

  1. ↑ "Визитка на Светослав Тодоров" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. Archived from the original on 2 July 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Светослав Тодоров вкара гол за 15 млн. лири". dnevnik.bg. 16 April 2003. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
  3. ↑ Hogg, Tony (2005). Who's Who of West Ham United. London: Profile Media. pp. 201–2. ISBN 1-903135-50-8.
  4. ↑ Dimitrov, Ivaylo (15 December 2016). "Сезон 2000/01: Сълзите на един вратар (ВИДЕО)" (in Bulgarian). topsport.bg. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  5. ↑ "Полският кошмар на Литекс от 1999 г. (ВИДЕО)". blitz.bg (in Bulgarian). 15 July 2011. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  6. ↑ "А" ПФГ, XXVI КРЪГ Archived 22 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  7. 1 2 "Hammers snap up Todorov". BBC Sport. 22 January 2001. Retrieved 27 February 2008.
  8. ↑ "Spurs into semis after Cup thriller". BBC. 11 March 2001. Retrieved 16 April 2010.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Svetoslav Todorov". Soccerbase. Racing Post. Archived from the original on 20 March 2008. Retrieved 27 February 2008.
  10. ↑ "Karembeu winner sinks Hammers". BBC. 19 May 2001. Retrieved 16 April 2010.
  11. ↑ "Hammers Pompey seal Todorov deal". BBC Sport. 19 March 2002. Retrieved 29 February 2008.
  12. ↑ "Preston 2–0 Portsmouth". BBC Sport. 30 March 2002. Retrieved 29 February 2008.
  13. ↑ "Bradford 0–5 Portsmouth". BBC Sport. 4 May 2003. Retrieved 29 February 2008.
  14. ↑ "Redknapp sympathy for Merson". Sporting Life. 5 May 2003. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 29 February 2008.
  15. ↑ "Todorov signs new deal". BBC Sport. 23 July 2003. Retrieved 29 February 2008.
  16. 1 2 "Todorov surgery 'a success'". BBC Sport. 4 September 2003. Retrieved 12 April 2008.
  17. ↑ "Todorov on comeback trail". BBC Sport. 18 February 2004. Retrieved 12 April 2008.
  18. ↑ "Todorov targets comeback". BBC Sport. 27 February 2004. Retrieved 12 April 2008.
  19. ↑ "Todorov to miss Euro 2004". BBC Sport. 18 May 2004. Retrieved 12 April 2008.
  20. ↑ "Pompey pair to be offered deals". BBC Sport. 3 August 2005. Retrieved 12 April 2008.
  21. ↑ "Portsmouth player appearances (see 2005–06)". Soccerbase. Racing Post. Archived from the original on 1 May 2008. Retrieved 12 April 2008.
  22. ↑ "Portsmouth 1–0 West Brom". BBC Sport. 17 December 2005. Retrieved 12 April 2008.
  23. ↑ "West Ham 2–4 Portsmouth". BBC Sport. 18 March 2006. Retrieved 12 April 2008.
  24. ↑ "Portsmouth 2–2 Blackburn". BBC Sport. 8 April 2006. Retrieved 12 April 2008.
  25. ↑ "Portsmouth 2–1 Sunderland". BBC Sport. 22 April 2006. Retrieved 12 April 2008.
  26. ↑ "Portsmouth win to ensure survival". BBC Sport. 29 April 2006. Retrieved 12 April 2008.
  27. 1 2 "Todorov makes loan move to Wigan". BBC Sport. 31 August 2006. Retrieved 12 April 2008.
  28. ↑ "Games played by Svetoslav Todorov in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Racing Post. Archived from the original on 20 March 2008. Retrieved 12 April 2008.
  29. ↑ "Charlton sign Todorov and Weaver". BBC Sport. 4 July 2007. Retrieved 29 March 2008.
  30. ↑ "Crystal Palace 0–1 Charlton". BBC Sport. 25 October 2007. Retrieved 29 March 2008.
  31. ↑ "Knee injury ends Todorov's season". BBC Sport. 25 October 2007. Retrieved 29 March 2008.
  32. ↑ "Todorov pens new deal at Charlton". BBC Sport. 3 June 2008. Retrieved 10 June 2008.
  33. ↑ "Charlton hold contract talks with Jonathan Fortune, Matt Holland, Darren Randolph and Zheng Zhi". Kent Messenger. 8 June 2009. Retrieved 15 June 2009. But Darren Ambrose, Svetoslav Todorov, Nicky Weaver, Rashid Yussuff, Aswad Thomas and Harry Arter will not be offered new deals when their contracts expire at the end of the month.
  34. ↑ Литекс тръгна с 5:0 в Мездра, Тоди се завърна с гол Archived 6 October 2015 at the Wayback Machine
  35. ↑ Отново много екшън и драма на Литекс – "Левски", шампионите излизат на върха
  36. ↑ Тоди стана №1 в Литекс
  37. ↑ Светльо Тодоров: заслужено победихме, мачът в Ловеч ще е тежък
  38. ↑ Angelov, Kaloyan (25 May 2012). "Литекс се раздели с трима от асовете си". gol.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  39. ↑ "Тоди подписа с украинци, ветеранът за 1 год. в Ховерла-Закарпатия" (in Bulgarian). topsport.bg. 31 August 2012. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
  40. ↑ Svetoslav Todorov player profile and match log
  41. ↑ "Светльо Тодоров се завръща в Портсмут, Тоди ще играе в благотворителен мач" (in Bulgarian). topsport.bg.bg. 10 April 2013. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
  42. ↑ "Светльо Тодоров: Имах голям късмет да работя с Реднап и Пардю". gong.bg. 10 April 2016. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  43. ↑ "Svetoslav Todorov profile". European Football. Retrieved 17 January 2012.
  44. ↑ "Светльо Тодоров стана баща на момченце!". blitz.bg. 6 June 2011. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  45. ↑ "Братът на Светльо Тодоров стана треньор в Пирин". pirinsport.com. 19 May 2020. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
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