Svetoslav Kovachev

Svetoslav Kovachev
Personal information
Full name Svetoslav Svetlozarov Kovachev
Date of birth (1998-03-14) 14 March 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth Pleven, Bulgaria
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 7+12 in)
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
Akhmat Grozny
Number 98
Youth career
2008–2010 Svoboda Milkovitsa
2010–2011 Spartak Pleven
2011–2016 Ludogorets Razgrad
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2018 Ludogorets Razgrad II 54 (10)
2016–2021 Ludogorets Razgrad 10 (0)
2018–2019Dunav Ruse (loan) 28 (5)
2019Etar (loan) 19 (0)
2020Arda Kardzhali (loan) 24 (5)
2021–2024 Arda Kardzhali 61 (12)
2023–2024Akhmat Grozny (loan) 24 (3)
2024– Akhmat Grozny 10 (0)
International career
2015–2016 Bulgaria U17 3 (0)
2016–2018 Bulgaria U19 15 (0)
2018–2020 Bulgaria U21 7 (0)
2020– Bulgaria 5 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10 November 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 19 November 2023

Svetoslav Svetlozarov Kovachev (Bulgarian: Светослав Светлозаров Ковачев; born 14 March 1998) is a Bulgarian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Russian club Akhmat Grozny.[1]

His younger brother Lachezar is also a footballer, currently playing for Spartak Pleven.

Career

[edit]

Ludogorets Razgrad

[edit]

Born in Pleven, Kovachev started his career in Svoboda Milkovitsa.[2] He joined Ludogorets in 2011 recruited by the Bulgarian legend Plamen Getov.[3] In 2014, he played for Ludogorets U19 in the UEFA Youth League, being a starter in all of the 6 matches.[4]

He made his debut for Ludogorets Razgrad II on 6 December 2015 in a match against FC Pirin Razlog.[5]

On 22 May 2016 he made his complete debut in A Group for Ludogorets in a match against Beroe Stara Zagora.[6]

Kovachev started the 2017–18 season in Ludogorets II by scoring a goal in the first match of the season against Lokomotiv 1929 Sofia.[7] On 29 July 2017 he played for the main team in the 0–0 draw against Lokomotiv Plovdiv coming as a substitute in the First League match.[8] Kovachev was on the bench for the Europa League group stage match against İstanbul Başakşehir, but stayed as an unused substitute.[9] On 21 September 2017 he made his debut for the Bulgarian Cup in the first round against Oborishte.[10]

Kovachev was named captain for the Ludogorets U19 team in the UEFA Youth League in the first match from the Domestic Champions Path against Željezničar U19 on 27 September 2017.[11]

On 15 February 2018 Kovachev was named on bench for the Europa League Round of 32 match against Milan and made his debut as a substitute in the 81st minute.[12][13]

Loan to Dunav

[edit]

In June 2018, Kovachev was loaned to Dunav Ruse, although he spend the pre-season camp with Ludogorets first team.[14] He made his debut for the team in the first league match of the season against Vitosha Bistritsa on 20 July 2018, assisting for the only goal for Dunav.[15]

On 4 November 2018 he scored his first goal for the team in First League, netting the second goal for the 3:0 win over Vitosha Bistritsa.[16]

Arda Kardzhali

[edit]

Kovachev joined Arda Kardzhali on a year long loan on 6 January 2020.[17] He returned to Ludogorets team in end of December 2020, having a contract with Razgrad team until July 2021, which he didn't extend.[18] In February 2021 he signed a 3-year pre-contract with Arda, from July 2021, leaving him out of Ludogorets team until end of the season.[19]

Loan to Akhmat Grozny

[edit]

On 3 August 2023, Kovachev joined Russian Premier League club Akhmat Grozny on a season-long loan with an option to buy.[20]

International career

[edit]

Youth levels

[edit]

Kovachev was called up for the Bulgaria U19 team for the 2017 European Under-19 Championship qualification from 22 to 27 March 2017.[21] After a draw and 2 wins the team qualified for the knockout phase which will be held in July 2017.[22]

Kovachev made his debut for Bulgaria U21 on 27 March 2018 in a European Under-21 qualification match against Kazakhstan U21, keeping a clean sheet for the 3:0 win.[23]

Senior

[edit]

Kovachev received his first call-up for senior Bulgarian squad on 29 August 2018 for the UEFA Nations League matches against Slovenia and Norway on 6 and 9 September.[24] He earned his first cap on 26 February 2020, coming on as a substitute for Ismail Isa during the second half of the 0:1 home loss against Belarus in a friendly game.[25]

Career statistics

[edit]

Club

[edit]
As of match played 27 November 2024[1]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Ludogorets Razgrad II 2015–16 B Group 11 2 11 2
2016–17 Second League 19 2 19 2
2017–18 Second League 24 6 24 6
Total 54 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 54 10
Ludogorets Razgrad 2015–16 A Group 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
2016–17 First League 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
2017–18 First League 5 0 2 0 1 0 8 0
Total 10 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 13 0
Dunav Ruse (loan) 2018–19 First League 28 5 2 0 2[a] 0 32 5
Etar Veliko Tarnovo (loan) 2019–20 First League 19 0 1 0 20 0
Arda Kardzhali (loan) First League 9 2 0 0 9 2
2020–21 First League 15 3 1 0 16 3
Total 24 5 1 0 25 5
Arda Kardzhali 2021–22 First League 24 4 2 0 2[b] 0 28 4
2022–23 First League 35 8 3 0 38 8
2023–24 First League 2 0 0 0 2 0
Total 61 12 5 0 2 0 68 12
Akhmat Grozny (loan) 2023–24 Russian Premier League 24 3 7 1 31 4
Akhmat Grozny 2024–25 Russian Premier League 10 0 6 1 16 1
Career total 230 35 24 2 3 0 2 0 259 37

National team

[edit]
As of 19 November 2023
Bulgaria national team
Year Apps Goals
2020 4 0
2023 1 0
Total 5 0

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Svetoslav Kovachev at Soccerway
  2. ^ Светослав Ковачев капитан на Лудогорец (98)
  3. ^ Младите надежди на Лудогорец разкриват тайни
  4. ^ Таланти от Благоевград, Дупница и Кюстендил пред дебют в Шампионската лига за младежи
  5. ^ Ludogorets II vs Pirin
  6. ^ Берое си гарантира Европа на "Лудогорец арена", "орлите" показаха младата генерация
  7. ^ Лудогорец 2 започна с успех новия сезон във Втора лига, разочарование за Локо (Сф)
  8. ^ Резервите на Лудогорец - тлъста нула срещу Локо Пд
  9. ^ Браво на Лудогорец! Изигра силен мач и изпусна турската сензация Истанбул ББ
  10. ^ Румънец спаси Лудогорец и Херо от голям резил срещу тим от Втора лига
  11. ^ При равен резултат завърши първият мач от Младежка Шампионска лига в Разград
  12. ^ "Europa League (Sky Sports)".
  13. ^ Ковачев: Радвам се, че имах възможност да играя срещу Милан, но ми е гадно, че загубихме
  14. ^ "Дунав взима Светослав Ковачев от Лудогорец" (in Bulgarian). topsport.bg. 9 June 2018.
  15. ^ Витоша (Бистрица) победи Дунав (Русе) с 2:1 на старта на новия сезон в Първа лига
  16. ^ Дунав разби Витоша за 18 минути
  17. ^ "Арда привлече младежки национал". fcarda.bg (in Bulgarian). 6 January 2020.
  18. ^ "Светослав Ковачев е на кръстопът". gong.bg (in Bulgarian). 30 December 2020.
  19. ^ Един от големите таланти на Лудогорец избра Арда
  20. ^ "Светослав Ковачев перешел в "Ахмат"" (in Russian). FC Akhmat Grozny. 3 August 2023.
  21. ^ Съставът на България (U19) за Елитния кръг във Франция
  22. ^ Футболът ни възкръсна! 19-годишните лъвове "изядоха" всички, България с нов грандиозен успех
  23. ^ Браво, момчета! Младежите се развихриха и съсипаха Словения
  24. ^ Съставът на България - петима дебютанти за "лъвовете" срещу Словения и Норвегия, Спас Делев аут
  25. ^ "Експериментален състав на България отстъпи на Беларус (видео+галерия)". sportal.bg. 26 February 2020. Retrieved 27 February 2020.