Petko Hristov
Personal information
Full name Petko Rosenov Hristov
Date of birth (1999-03-01) 1 March 1999
Place of birth Sofia, Bulgaria
Height 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)[1]
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 Spezia
Number 55
Youth career
2008–2013 Levski Sofia
2013–2016 Slavia Sofia
2017–2018 Fiorentina
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2017 Slavia Sofia 26 (1)
2017–2021 Fiorentina 0 (0)
2018–2019 → Ternana (loan) 13 (1)
2019–2020 → Bisceglie (loan) 25 (0)
2020–2021 → Pro Vercelli (loan) 33 (2)
2021– Spezia 29 (2)
2023 → Venezia (loan) 12 (0)
International career‡
2015–2016 Bulgaria U17 14 (0)
2016–2018 Bulgaria U19 15 (0)
2017–2020 Bulgaria U21 18 (0)
2021– Bulgaria 19 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:34, 23 December 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 20 June 2023

Petko Rosenov Hristov (Bulgarian: Петко Росенов Христов; born 1 March 1999) is a Bulgarian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Serie B club Spezia and the Bulgaria national team.[2]

Career

Slavia Sofia

Hristov started his career in Levski Sofia, before relocating to Slavia Sofia in 2013.[3] He made his senior debut for Slavia in a match of the Europa League against Polish club Zagłębie Lubin on 30 June 2016, coming on as a substitute for Georgi Yomov.[4] A month later he made his Bulgarian First League debut in the opening game of the season against CSKA Sofia.[5] He scored his first goal on 10 September in a 5–2 home win over Lokomotiv Plovdiv. On 1 October Petko was joined by his twin brother Andrea Hristov in the central defense for the very first time against Vereya in the starting line-up.[6]

On 3 April 2017, Hristov signed his first professional contract with the club until 31 July 2020.[7]

Fiorentina

On 17 July 2017, Fiorentina confirmed they had signed Hristov on a five-year contract after Firenze Viola, Fiorentina owner, himself liked the player after seeing him in action at the European Under-19 Championship.[8] On 20 August 2017, he was on the bench for the first time in the Serie A match against Inter Milan.[9] He made his unofficial debut for the club against Real Madrid on 24 August coming on as a substitute in added time for the Trofeo Bernabeu game.[10][11]

Ternana (loan)

On 16 August 2018, Hristov joined to Serie C club Ternana on loan until 30 June 2019.[12] He scored his first goal for the club on 4 December 2018 in a league match against Rimini won by Ternana by 3:0.[13]

Bisceglie (loan)

On 9 August 2019, Hristov joined Serie C club Bisceglie on loan until 30 June 2020.[14]

Pro Vercelli (loan)

On 18 September 2020, Hristov joined Serie C club Pro Vercelli on loan until 30 June 2021.

Spezia

After his good performance for Pro Vercelli in Serie C, on 5 July 2021 Hristov moved to Serie A team Spezia, signing a contract until 2025.[15] He made his debut for the team on 13 August in a Coppa Italia match against Pordenone and compleated his Serie A debut on 23 August in a match against Cagliari.[16]

Venezia (loan)

On 26 January 2023, Hristov was loaned to Venezia for the rest of the 2022–23 season.[17]

International career

Youth levels

Hristov was called up for the Bulgaria U19 team for the 2017 European Under-19 Championship qualification from 22 to 27 March 2017.[18] After a draw and 2 wins the team qualified for the knockout phase which was held in July 2017.[19] Petkov played in the all 3 matches from the group stage when Bulgaria were eliminated.

On 5 September 2017, he made his debut for the Bulgaria U21 in a match against Luxembourg U21.[20]

Senior team

He made his debut for Bulgaria national football team on 31 March 2021 in a World Cup qualifier against Northern Ireland. His twin brother Andrea made his debut in the same game as well.[21]

Personal life

Petko Hristov has a twin brother, Andrea, who is also a professional footballer.[22]

Career statistics

Club

As of 1 May 2023.[2]
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Slavia Sofia First League 2016–17 25100104[lower-alpha 1]0301
2017–18 10–––10
Total 261001040311
Fiorentina Serie A 2017–18 0000––00
Ternana (loan) Serie C 2018–19 1311[lower-alpha 2]0––141
Bisceglie (loan) 2019–20 25000––250
Pro Vercelli (loan) 2020–21 33200–3[lower-alpha 3]0362
Spezia Serie A 2021–22 17120––191
2022–23 9020––110
Total 261400000301
Venezia (loan) Serie B 2022–23 90–––91
Career total 13255010701455

International

As of match played 20 June 2023[23]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Bulgaria 202190
202280
202320
Total190

Style of play

Hristov was described from the Italian media as a physically strong defender with great air abilities and being able to read the game which has led him to be compared to legendary Brazilian defender Thiago Silva.[24]

Awards

Individual

References

  1. ↑ Todorov, Nayden (6 May 2015). "Кои са те? Отборът на бъдещето!" (in Bulgarian). 24chasa.bg. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  2. 1 2 Petko Hristov at Soccerway
  3. ↑ "Братята Де Бур" от Овча купел
  4. ↑ Slavia VS. Lubin 1 - 0
  5. ↑ CSKA VS. Slavia 2 - 0
  6. ↑ Slavia vs Vereya
  7. ↑ Славия подписа с трима от героите на България
  8. ↑ "Fiorentina complete Hristov signing". violachannel.tv. 17 July 2017.
  9. ↑ Inter beats Fiorentina by 3:0
  10. ↑ Cristiano Ronaldo goal, assist as Real Madrid win Trofeo Bernabeu game
  11. ↑ Real Madrid 2:1 Fiorentina
  12. ↑ "UFFICIALE: Fiorentina, Hristov saluta e va in prestito alla Ternana". Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  13. ↑ Fere, 3-0 al Liberati con il Rimini nel recupero della prima giornata
  14. ↑ "UFFICIALE: Bisceglie, ecco il bulgaro Hristov in prestito dalla Fiorentina". Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  15. ↑ Ufficiale | Petko Hristov è un nuovo calciatore dello Spezia | Spezia Calcio - Sito ufficiale
  16. ↑ Петко Христов със силен дебют в Серия А при равенство на Специя
  17. ↑ "PETKO HRISTOV JOINS VENEZIA FC". Venezia F.C. 26 January 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  18. ↑ Съставът на България (U19) за Елитния кръг във Франция
  19. ↑ Футболът ни възкръсна! 19-годишните лъвове "изядоха" всички, България с нов грандиозен успех
  20. ↑ Младежите падат от Люксембург
  21. ↑ "Northern Ireland v Bulgaria game report". FIFA. 31 March 2021. Archived from the original on February 2, 2021.
  22. ↑ "Петко и Андреа Христови: Малки сме, за да се главозамайваме". btvnovinite.bg (in Bulgarian). bTV Media Group. 27 June 2017.
  23. ↑ "Petko Hristov". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  24. ↑ Dalla Bulgaria alla Viola per stregare Pioli: ecco Petko Hristov il nuovo Thiago Silva
  25. ↑ Талант №1 Петко Христов: Мечтая да играя в чужбина
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