Vasil Bozhikov

Vasil Bozhikov

Personal information
Full name	Vasil Georgiev Bozhikov
Date of birth	2 June 1988
Place of birth	Gotse Delchev, Bulgaria
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing position	Left back / Centre back
Club information
Current team	Kasımpaşa
Number	3
Youth career
	Pirin Gotse Delchev
	Botev Plovdiv
	Botev 2002
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2006–2008	Gigant Saedinenie	67	(3)
2009–2011	Minyor Pernik	70	(0)
2012–2015	Litex Lovech	91	(1)
2015–	Kasımpaşa	14	(0)
National team^‡
2009	Bulgaria U21	6	(0)
2016–	Bulgaria	2	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 25 March 2016. ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 29 March 2016

Vasil Bozhikov (Bulgarian: Васил Божиков; born 2 June 1988 in Gotse Delchev^[1]) is a Bulgarian footballer who plays for Turkish club Kasımpaşa in the Süper Lig. He normally plays as a defender in a left back position, but can also play on the right side and the centre of defense.

Career

Minyor Pernik

Bozhikov joined Minyor in February 2009 and made his league debut on 16 March 2009 in a 0–0 home draw against Litex Lovech. At the end of July 2011, Bozhikov spent a week on trial with Belgian side Genk, playing in a pre-season match against Bayer 04 Leverkusen, but he did not sign for Genk.^[2] During his spell at Pernik, Bozhikov made a total of 70 league appearances for the club.

Litex Lovech

On 1 December 2011, Minyor Pernik announced on their official website, that they have reached an agreement with Litex for the transfer of Bozhikov, with the player joining the Lovech side on 1 January 2012. He made his debut on 22 April 2012 in a 1–1 home draw against Ludogorets Razgrad.

Kasımpaşa

Bozhikov signed with Turkish side Kasımpaşa on 15 July 2015 on a 2+1-year deal for a reported fee of €400,000.^[3] He made his debut for the club on 23 September against Tire 1922 in the Turkish Cup, playing full 90 minutes. He played his first Süper Lig game on 28 September, coming on as a first-half substitute for Kenneth Omeruo in a 1–1 home draw against Rizespor.^[4] On 4 October, Bozhikov made his first league start in Kasımpaşa's fixture away at Antalyaspor.^[5]

International career

In February 2014, Bozhikov was named in the senior Bulgarian squad for the first time, ahead of a friendly against Belarus in March, but did not feature.

In March 2016, he was called up for friendly matches against Portugal and against Macedonia, and made his senior debut from the bench on 26 March, in a 1–0 away win over Portugal, replacing Strahil Popov in the 88th minute. On 29 March, Bozhikov made his first Bulgaria start in a friendly against Macedonia at Philip II Arena.

Career statistics

As of 26 January 2016

Club	Season	League		Cup		Europe		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Minyor Pernik	2008–09	14	0	1	0	—		15	0
	2009–10	23	0	3	0	—		26	0
	2010–11	22	0	2	0	—		24	0
	2011–12	11	0	0	0	—		11	0
	Total	70	0	6	0	0	0	76	0
Litex Lovech	2011–12	4	0	0	0	—		4	0
	2012–13	27	0	2	0	—		29	0
	2013–14	34	0	6	1	—		40	1
	2014–15	26	1	4	1	4	0	34	2
	2015–16	0	0	0	0	2	1	2	1
	Total	91	1	12	2	6	1	109	4
Kasımpaşa	2015–16	14	0	2	0	—		16	0
	Total	14	0	2	0	0	0	16	0
Career total		175	1	20	2	6	1	201	4

References

1. "Васил Божиков пред Novsport: Публиката в Перник е уникална" (in Bulgarian). novsport.com. 26 September 2009.
2. "Божиков не успя с пробите в Генк" (in Bulgarian). bgfootball.com. 29 July 2011.
3. "Защитник на Литекс подписа с Касъмпаша" (in Bulgarian). gong.bg. 15 July 2015.
4. "Kasımpaşa vs. Rizespor". soccerway.com. 28 September 2015.
5. "Antalyaspor vs. Kasımpaşa". soccerway.com. 4 October 2015.

External links

• Player Profile at National-Football-Teams
• (French) Footmercato profile