Iliyan Kiryakov

Iliyan Kiryakov
Personal information
Full name Iliyan Ivanov Kiryakov
Date of birth (1967-08-04) 4 August 1967
Place of birth Lesicheri, Bulgaria
Height 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
Playing position Full back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1984–1991 Etar Veliko Tarnovo 168 (15)
1991–1993 Deportivo La Coruña 39 (3)
1993–1994 Mérida 18 (1)
1994 CSKA Sofia 18 (0)
1995 Etar Veliko Tarnovo 8 (3)
1995–1996 Anorthosis 19 (8)
1996–2000 Aberdeen 76 (1)
2000 Airdrieonians 6 (0)
2001 Raith Rovers 17 (1)
2001–2002 Akademik Svishtov 12 (0)
2002–2003 Etar 1924 28 (5)
Total 412 (38)
National team
1988–1996 Bulgaria 53 (5)
Teams managed
2016 Etar Veliko Tarnovo (interim)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.


Iliyan Ivanov Kiryakov (Bulgarian: Илиян Иванов Киряков; born 4 August 1967) is a retired Bulgarian footballer. A player of great energy, he was equally at ease at right or left back.

During a professional career which spanned nearly 20 years, he played for nine different clubs, including three in Scotland.

Kiryakov won more than 50 caps for Bulgaria, and represented the nation at the 1994 World Cup and Euro 1996.

Club career

Kiryakov was born in the small town of Lesicheri. In his country, he represented Etar Veliko Tarnovo and PFC CSKA Sofia. In 1991 he moved abroad, signing with Deportivo de La Coruña. In his first season, he was first-choice (only missed three La Liga matches) but the Galicians barely avoided relegation, as 17th; subsequently, as Super Depor came to fruition, he became a fringe player and left.

Kiryakov continued in Spain for 1993–94, playing in the Segunda División with CP Mérida. He then returned to his country for one more year, with PFC CSKA Sofia, signing in the 1995 summer with Cyprus club Anorthosis Famagusta FC.

Kiryakov spent the following five years in Scotland, playing for Aberdeen, Airdrieonians (only five months[1]) and Raith Rovers.[2] He finished his career in June 2003 at nearly 36: after a brief spell with lowly Akademik Svishtov, he retired at Etar, his first club.

International career

During eight years, Kiryakov played 53 times for Bulgaria, scoring five goals.

He appeared in six matches in the 1994 FIFA World Cup (four complete) as the national side finished in fourth position, and was also picked for the squad at UEFA Euro 1996, where he played in group stage 1–1 draw against Spain.[3]

Honours

Club

Etar Veliko Tarnovo

References

  1. ↑ Archibald plans Kiriakov swoop; BBC Sport, 22 August 2000
  2. ↑ Rovers return for Dennis; BBC Sport, 27 February 2001
  3. ↑ Iliyan Kiryakov – FIFA competition record
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