Aleks Petkov
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Aleks Milenov Petkov | ||
| Date of birth | 25 July 1999 | ||
| Place of birth | Sofia, Bulgaria | ||
| Height | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Centre-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Kifisia | ||
| Number | 5 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2008–2016 | Cherno More | ||
| 2016–2017 | Heart of Midlothian | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2017–2020 | Heart of Midlothian | 0 | (0) |
| 2018 | → Berwick Rangers (loan) | 6 | (0) |
| 2019–2020 | → Clyde (loan) | 14 | (0) |
| 2020 | → Brechin City (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 2020 | Levski Sofia | 12 | (0) |
| 2021–2023 | Arda Kardzhali | 61 | (2) |
| 2023–2025 | Śląsk Wrocław | 57 | (1) |
| 2025– | Kifisia | 0 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2017 | Bulgaria U18 | 2 | (0) |
| 2016 | Bulgaria U19 | 1 | (0) |
| 2019–2020 | Bulgaria U21 | 8 | (0) |
| 2022– | Bulgaria | 17 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 14:24, 27 May 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 6 June 2025 | |||
Aleks Milenov Petkov (Bulgarian: Алекс Миленов Петков; born 25 July 1999) is a Bulgarian professional footballer who played as a centre-back for Greek club Kifisia and the Bulgaria national team.
Club career
Petkov began his career at Cherno More Varna and joined Heart of Midlothian at the age of 16 in June 2016, signing a three-year contract.[1]
On 22 July 2017, Petkov made his first-team debut, replacing John Souttar during a 3–0 League Cup victory over East Fife at Tynecastle Park. On 19 January 2018, Petkov joined Scottish League Two side Berwick Rangers on loan until the end of the season.[2] He made his league debut in a 2–3 home loss against Peterhead eleven days later, playing the full 90 minutes.
During the 2019–20 season Petkov was loaned to Clyde and Brechin City.[3]
On 8 September 2020, Petkov returned to Bulgaria, signing a 1-year deal with Levski Sofia.[4]
On 6 July 2023, after a two-year stint at Arda Kardzhali, Petkov joined Polish side Śląsk Wrocław on a one-year contract, with an option for another two years.[5]
On 13 August 2025, Petkov signed with Super League Greece newcomers Kifisia. Hours later, Śląsk released a statement claiming Petkov unilaterally terminated his contract with the club without just cause, and that they would be seeking compensation and fines for both the player and Kifisia.[6]
International career
Petkov made his debut for the Bulgarian under-21 team on 22 March 2019 in the starting eleven for the friendly against Northern Ireland U21.[7] He earned his first cap for the senior national team on 26 March 2022, coming on as a substitute during the second half in the 1–2 loss against Qatar in a friendly match.[8] On 16 November 2023, he scored an own goal in the 97th minute in the penultimate match of the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying against Hungary.[9]
Personal life
His father Milen Petkov was also a professional footballer and Bulgarian international.[10]
Career statistics
International
- As of match played 6 June 2025
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bulgaria | 2022 | 1 | 0 |
| 2023 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 9 | 0 | |
| 2025 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 17 | 0 | |
References
- ^ "Talented youngsters join club". heartsfc.co.uk. 15 June 2016.
- ^ "Irving returns, Petkov loaned out". heartsfc.co.uk. 19 January 2018.
- ^ "BRECHIN BRING IN PETKOV". SPFL. 18 February 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
- ^ "ПФК Левски подписа с Алекс Петков". levski.bg. 8 September 2020. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
- ^ "Aleks Petkov piłkarzem Śląska Wrocław" (in Polish). Śląsk Wrocław. 6 July 2023.
- ^ Galiński, Tomasz (13 August 2025). "Kolejna afera w Śląsku Wrocław. "Klub wystąpi o dyskwalifikację"" [Another scandal at Śląsk Wrocław. "The club will request disqualification"]. sportowefakty.wp.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 19 August 2025.
- ^ "България U21 отстъпи с 0:1 в контролата със Северна Ирландия U21" (in Bulgarian). bfunion.bg. 22 March 2019.
- ^ "Груба грешка ни попари в Катар, "лъвовете" вече 19 мача без успех далеч от дома" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 26 March 2022. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
- ^ UEFA.com. "Bulgaria-Hungary | European Qualifiers 2024". UEFA. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
- ^ "Милен Петков пред БЛИЦ: Получихме шокираща оферта за сина ми, още треперя!". Blitz.bg/sport.