Svetoslav Dyakov

Svetoslav Dyakov (Bulgarian: Светослав Дяков; born 31 May 1984) is a Bulgarian professional footballer who plays for Ludogorets Razgrad and the Bulgarian national team as a midfielder.[1] He is the club captain of Ludogorets and, between 2015 and 2017, was the captain of the national team as well.

Svetoslav Dyakov

Personal information
Full name	Svetoslav Atanasov Dyakov
Date of birth	(1984-05-31) 31 May 1984
Place of birth	Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria
Height	1.76 m (5 ft 9 ^1⁄2 in)
Playing position(s)	Central midfielder
Club information
Current team	Ludogorets Razgrad
Number	18
Youth career
	Pirin Blagoevgrad
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2002–2005	Pirin Blagoevgrad	73	(2)
2005–2008	Pirin 1922	62	(9)
2008–2011	Lokomotiv Sofia	79	(2)
2011–	Ludogorets Razgrad	227	(7)
National team^‡
2004–2005	Bulgaria U21	2	(0)
2012–2017	Bulgaria	36	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 9 August 2020 ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 12 June 2017 (UTC)

Career

Born in Blagoevgrad, Dyakov began his football career in a local club – Pirin. In 2005, he signed with Pirin 1922.

Lokomotiv Sofia

On 18 June 2008, Dyakov became Lokomotiv Sofia's first summer signing. He signed a three-year contract.[2] He made his debut on 9 August 2008, in a 1–0 away win over Minyor Pernik. Dyakov made a further 24 league appearances in the 2008–09 season without scoring.

His first goal came in a 3–0 home win against Sliven 2000 on 6 November 2010. During his three years at Lokomotiv, Dyakov made 79 appearances, scoring two goals.

Ludogorets Razgrad

Dyakov playing for Ludogorets in 2011

After his contract with Lokomotiv expired, Dyakov joined Ludogorets Razgrad on a free transfer. He signed a two-year contract on 4 June 2011.[3] Dyakov made his league debut against Lokomotiv Plovdiv in a 0–0 home draw on 6 August. He enjoyed a successful first season at Ludogorets and quickly established himself as a first team regular. On 19 May 2012, Dyakov scored his first goal as a Ludogorets player in the team's league match against Kaliakra Kavarna after scoring a penalty. Ludogorets won the match 4–0. In his first season with Ludogorets, Dyakov collected his first A Group title winner's medal. He also won for first time in his career Bulgarian Cup and Bulgarian Supercup.

On 18 June 2013, Dyakov was appointed the club captain of Ludogorets for the 2013–14 season.[4] He scored his first-ever European goal on 3 October, in a 3–0 home win over Dinamo Zagreb in the group stage of Europa League. On 19 December, he was named the best midfielder of the year in Bulgaria.[5] On 4 October 2018 Dyakov was in the starting line-up for Ludogorets in the 0:1 away loss against FC Zürich in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League and together with teammate Cosmin Moți became the player with the joint most appearances for (a) Bulgarian team(s) in European club tournaments, alongside Hristo Yovov whose record of 66 matches they equaled.[6] He has (as of 14 April 2020) made 79 appearances (78 in the colors of Ludogorets and 1 as a footballer of Lokomotiv Sofia), trailing teammate Marcelinho who has 80 (all for Ludogorets).[7] In May 2020, Dyakov extended his contract with the team.[8]

International career

On 14 February 2012, Dyakov was called up to the Bulgaria squad, for their friendly fixture against Hungary.[9] Two weeks later, he marked his international début at the age of 27, with an assist[10] to a Valeri Bojinov goal in the 1–1 draw at ETO Park. On 11 September 2012, Dyakov was sent off for a second yellow card in a 2014 World Cup qualifier against Armenia that was won 1–0 by Bulgaria.[11] On 11 October 2013, he received a red card after being cautioned twice against the same opponent – Bulgaria lost the match held in Yerevan by a score of 1–2.[12] On 7 February 2015, Dyakov captained his country in the 0:0 draw with Romania in a non-official friendly match, as Ivelin Popov and Nikolay Bodurov were absent from the team.[13]

Personal life

Dyakov is also enrolled as a student at the South-West University, where he is pursuing coaching studies.[14]

Career statistics

Club

As of 9 July 2020

Club	Season	League		Cup / Supercup		Europe		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Pirin	2002–03	20	1	2	1	–		22	2
	2003–04	24	1	3	0	–		27	1
	2004–05	29	0	1	0	–		30	0
	Total	73	2	6	1	–		79	3
Pirin Blagoevgrad	2005–06	12	1	1	0	–		13	1
	2006–07	23	5	2	1	–		25	6
	2007–08	27	3	2	0	–		29	3
	Total	62	9	5	1	–		67	10
Lokomotiv Sofia	2008–09	25	0	1	0	1	0	27	0
	2009–10	27	0	2	0	–		29	0
	2010–11	27	2	1	0	–		28	2
	Total	79	2	4	0	1	0	84	2
Ludogorets Razgrad	2011–12	29	1	4	0	–		33	1
	2012–13	28	3	0	0	2	0	30	3
	2013–14	22	2	4	1	14	1	40	4
	2014–15	24	0	5	1	11	0	40	1
	2015–16	26	0	1	0	2	0	29	0
	2016–17	22	1	3	0	14	0	39	1
	2017–18	23	0	2	0	12	1	37	1
	2018–19	30	0	3	0	14	0	47	0
	2019–20	22	0	3	0	9	0	34	0
	Total	226	7	25	2	78	2	329	11
Career total		440	20	40	4	79	2	559	26

National team

As of 12 November 2017

Bulgaria national team
Year	Apps	Goals
2012	8	0
2013	7	0
2014	6	0
2015	6	0
2016	8	0
2017	1	0
Total	36	0

Honours

Club

Ludogorets

• Bulgarian League (9): 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20
• Bulgarian Cup (2): 2011–12, 2013–14
• Bulgarian Supercup (4): 2012, 2014, 2018, 2019

Individual

• Best midfielder in the league - 2013,[15] 2014[16]
• 2nd place in the Bulgarian Footballer of the Year rankings - 2014,[16] 2016
• 3rd place in the Bulgarian Footballer of the Year rankings - 2013
• Razgrad Sportsman of the year - 2014[17]

References

1. "Stats Centre: Svetoslav Dyakov Facts". guardian.co.uk. Archived from the original on 30 September 2012.
2. "Локо (Сф) привлече Дяков" (in Bulgarian). topsport.bg. Retrieved 19 June 2008.
3. "Светльо Дяков официално за две години в Лудогорец" (in Bulgarian). gong.bg. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
4. "Съни Дяков е новият капитан на Лудогорец" (in Bulgarian). gong.bg. 18 June 2013. Archived from the original on 18 May 2014.
5. "Светослав Дяков най-добър халф" (in Bulgarian). blitz.bg. 19 December 2013.
6. ""Лудогорец" загуби в Цюрих с гол в края на мача" (in Bulgarian). dariknews.bg. 4 October 2018. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
7. "Постижения и рекорди на Лудогорец в евротурнирите" (in Bulgarian). ludogorets.com. 14 April 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
8. Yanev, Ivaylo (18 May 2020). "Лудогорец преподписа с капитана си" (in Bulgarian). 7sport.net. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
9. "Bulgaria's Petrovs Out of Squad for Hungary Friendly". thebulgariannews.com. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
10. "Лудогорец с асистенция за ремито на националите с Унгария" (in Bulgarian). dariknews.bg. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
11. "България мечтае след голяма драма (видео)". vipzona.bg. 11 September 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
12. "Адио, Рио! Националите не издържаха в Армения" (in Bulgarian). topsport.bg. 11 October 2013. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
13. "Петев се произнесе: Съни ще е капитан! "В един колектив трябва да има дисциплина, за да има и резултати" (in Bulgarian). topsport.bg (citing 7 dni sport). 26 March 2015. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
14. "Светослав Дяков вече е студент в Благоевград" (in Bulgarian). topsport.bg. 29 August 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
15. "Иван Иванов е футболист на годината" (in Bulgarian). sportni.bg. Retrieved 28 December 2013.
16. Dimitrov, Ivaylo (17 February 2015). "Владислав Стоянов е най-добрият български футболист за 2014 година! Лудогорци обраха почти всички индивидуални награди" (in Bulgarian). topsport.bg. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
17. "Избраха Светльо Дяков за "Спортист на годината" на Разград, футболист е победител за трети път в тази класация" (in Bulgarian). topsport.bg. Retrieved 10 December 2014.

Sporting positions
Preceded by Ivelin Popov	Bulgaria captain 2015–2016	Succeeded by Ivelin Popov

External links

• Svetoslav Dyakov at National-Football-Teams.com