Nik Tzanev

Nikola Chivarov Tzanev (born 23 December 1996) is a New Zealand professional football goalkeeper who plays for AFC Wimbledon. He is a product of the Brentford academy and is a New Zealand international.

Nik Tzanev
Tzanev lining up for Potters Bar Town in 2019.
Personal information
Full name Nikola Chivarov Tzanev[1]
Date of birth (1996-12-23) 23 December 1996
Place of birth Wellington, New Zealand
Height 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)[2]
Playing position(s) Goalkeeper
Club information
Current team
 AFC Wimbledon
Number 13
Youth career
Crystal Palace
0000–2015 Brentford
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2016 Brentford 0 (0)
2015 → Lewes (loan) 6 (0)
2017– AFC Wimbledon 2 (0)
2019 → Potters Bar Town (loan) 15 (0)
2019–2020 → Sutton United (loan) 19 (0)
National team‡
2015 New Zealand U20 3 (0)
2018– New Zealand 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 11:06, 11 June 2020 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 20:08, 14 August 2019 (UTC)

Club career

Brentford

A goalkeeper, Tzanev moved from his native New Zealand to England in 2006 and trained with a Chelsea development programme before joining the academy at Crystal Palace.[3] He moved to join the academy at Brentford and progressed through the ranks to sign a Youth Development contract in 2013, which enabled him to continue his education through to his A-levels.[4] He made 39 appearances for the youth team during the final three seasons of his youth career and won the club's Youth Team Player of the Year award for his performances during the 2014–15 season.[5][6][7][8] Tzanev was awarded a one-year Development Squad contract at the end of the 2014–15 season,[9] but made just eight appearances before his release at the end of the 2015–16 season.[10]

Lewes (loan)

On 8 September 2015, Tzanev joined Isthmian League Premier Division strugglers Lewes on a one-month youth loan.[11] He made six appearances before his loan expired.[12]

AFC Wimbledon

During the course of the 2016–17 season, Tzanev trialled with EFL clubs Wycombe Wanderers and Hartlepool United.[13][14] He joined the AFC Wimbledon Development Squad on trial in March 2017 and impressed enough to be awarded a contract until the end of the season on 28 April 2017.[2][15][16] He was called into the first team squad for the club's final match of the season versus Oldham Athletic and remained an unused substitute during the 0–0 draw.[17] Tzanev signed a new contract on 8 May 2017 and was an unused substitute on five occasions during the 2017–18 season.[18][19]

Tzanev signed a new contract in July 2018,[20] but received just one call into the first team squad during the first half of the 2018–19 season,[21] before departing Kingsmeadow on loan until the end of the campaign in January 2019.[22] He signed a contract extension in February 2019 and injury to first-choice goalkeeper Nathan Trott allowed him to make his debut for the club on the opening day of the 2019–20 season,[23] in a 2–1 defeat to Rotherham United.[24] Tzanev made three further appearances before spending the remainder of the season away on loan.[24][25]

Potters Bar Town (loan)

On 18 January 2019, Tzanev joined Isthmian League Premier Division club Potters Bar Town on a one-month loan,[26] which was subsequently extended until the end of the season.[22] He made 15 appearances during his spell.[27]

Sutton United (loan)

On 15 November 2019, Tzanev joined National League club Sutton United on a loan which was later extended until the end of the 2019–20 season.[25][28] He made 19 appearances before the season was ended early.[29][30]

International career

Tzanev won his maiden call up to the New Zealand U20 squad for two friendlies versus Uzbekistan in April 2015 and made his debut in the second match,[31] playing the full 90 minutes.[32] He was called into the New Zealand squad for the 2015 U20 World Cup, held on home turf and he made two appearances as the All Whites reached the last-16.[33] He was subsequently called into the U23 squad for the 2015 Pacific Games, but failed to make an appearance.[34]

Tzanev received his maiden senior international call-up for a friendly match versus Canada on 25 March 2018 and was an unused substitute during the 1–0 defeat.[35][36] He was named in a youthful squad for the 2018 Intercontinental Cup and made his full international debut with a start in a 1–0 victory over Chinese Taipei on 5 June 2018.[37][38]

Personal life

Tzanev was born in Wellington and moved to Auckland at age three, before moving to London in 2006 at age 9.[3] He attended Hinchley Wood School.[39] He holds dual nationality with Bulgaria.[40]

Career statistics
As of match played 14 March 2020
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals Apps GoalsAppsGoals
Lewes (loan) 2015–16[41] Isthmian League Premier Division 6 0 — — — 6 0
AFC Wimbledon 2016–17[42] League One 0 0 — — — 0 0
2017–18[43] 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2018–19[44] 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2019–20[24] 2 0 0 0 1 0 1[lower-alpha 1] 0 4 0
Total 2 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 4 0
Potters Bar Town (loan) 2018–19[27] Isthmian League Premier Division 15 0 — — 0 0 15 0
Sutton United (loan) 2019–20[29] National League 19 0 — — 2[lower-alpha 2] 0 21 0
Career total 4200010 3 0460
  1. Appearance in EFL Trophy
  2. Appearances in FA Trophy

Honours
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References
  1. "EFL Free Transfers 2015–16" (PDF). p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 January 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
  2. "Nikola Tzanev – Goalkeeper – First team – AFC Wimbledon". www.afcwimbledon.co.uk. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  3. Gellard, Paul (9 May 2017). "Remember You're A Womble… An Interview With Nik Tzanev". oceaniafootball.co.uk. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  4. Brett, Ciaran. "Brentford Youth Team goalkeeper Nik Tzanev reacts to being named Youth Team Player of the Year". www.brentfordfc.co.uk. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  5. Brett, Ciaran. "YOUTH TEAM STATS 2012/13". www.brentfordfc.co.uk. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  6. Brett, Ciaran. "2013/14 YOUTH TEAM STATISTICS". www.brentfordfc.co.uk. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  7. Brett, Ciaran. "2014/15 Youth Team player statistics". www.brentfordfc.co.uk. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  8. Brett, Ciaran. "Nik Tvanev wins Youth Team Players's Player of the Year Award for Brentford FC". www.brentfordfc.co.uk. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  9. Brett, Ciaran. "Four young players will be leaving Brentford when their contracts expire at the end of the season". Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  10. "2015/16 Development Squad Stats – News – Brentford FC". www.brentfordfc.co.uk. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  11. "Nik Tzanev joins Lewes on Youth Loan". www.brentfordfc.co.uk. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  12. Brett, Ciaran. "Nik Tzanev returns to Brentford after loan spell with Ryman Premier League side Lewes". www.brentfordfc.co.uk. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  13. "Wanderers hold QPR to 0–0 draw". Bucks Free Press. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
  14. "Alex Bruton scores York City reserves' consolation in 2–1 defeat to Hartlepool as Derwin Martina makes debut". York Press. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
  15. AFC Wimbledon TV (8 May 2017), Nik Tzanev delighted to join AFC Wimbledon, event occurs at 0:26, retrieved 10 May 2017
  16. Slavin, Chris. "Young Dons bow out of cup". Retrieved 17 March 2017.
  17. "Nik Tzanev Player Profile – ESPN FC". www.espnfc.co.uk. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  18. Slavin, Chris. "Nik signs for Wimbledon". Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  19. "Nik Tzanev Player Profile – ESPN FC". www.espnfc.co.uk. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  20. "Kiwi international Nik commits his future to AFC Wimbledon". Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  21. "Nik Tzanev Player Profile – ESPN FC". www.espnfc.co.uk. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  22. "Striker signs new contract at AFC Wimbledon". www.afcwimbledon.co.uk. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  23. Cawley, Richard. "AFC Wimbledon keeper Nik Tzanev puts skiing plans on ice as he chases his dream". Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  24. "Games played by Nik Tzanev in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  25. "Dons keeper extends loan spell after making his mark". www.afcwimbledon.co.uk. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  26. "Nik goes out on loan to Bostik Premier League club". www.afcwimbledon.co.uk. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  27. "Potters Bar Town | Appearances | Nikola Tzanev | 2018–2019 | Football Web Pages". www.footballwebpages.co.uk. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
  28. "Nik goes on loan to National League neighbours". www.afcwimbledon.co.uk. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  29. Nik Tzanev at Soccerway. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  30. "National League clubs vote to end regular season immediately". BBC Sport. 22 April 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  31. Wickham, Chris. "Brentford Youth Team goalkeeper Nik Tzanev gets New Zealand Under-20 call-up for Uzbekistan friendlies". www.brentfordfc.co.uk. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  32. Wickham, Chris. "Brentford Youth Team goalkeeper Nik Tzanev plays for New Zealand Under-20 against Uzbekistan". www.brentfordfc.co.uk. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  33. Brett, Ciaran. "New Zealand International Nik Tzanev reflects on Under-20 World Cup and ahead to Brentord season". www.brentfordfc.co.uk. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  34. Wickham, Chris. "Brentford goalkeeper Nik Tzanev in New Zealand Under-23's Pacific Games and Olympic Games squad". www.brentfordfc.co.uk. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  35. "Nik's progress rewarded with international call-up – News – AFC Wimbledon". Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  36. "Nik Tzanev Player Profile – ESPN FC". www.espnfc.co.uk. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  37. "All Whites squad named for Intercontinental Cup". www.nzfootball.co.nz. Archived from the original on 26 May 2018. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  38. "Nik Tzanev". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmerman. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  39. "Hinchley Wood School Newsletter: Winter 2012" (PDF).
  40. "Nik Tzanev :: Nikola Chivarov Tzanev :: Brentford". www.thefinalball.com. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  41. "Lewes | Appearances | Nik Tzanev | 2015–2016 | Football Web Pages". www.footballwebpages.co.uk. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  42. "Games played by Nik Tzanev in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  43. "Games played by Nik Tzanev in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  44. "Games played by Nik Tzanev in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
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