Martin Minchev Explained

Martin Minchev
Fullname:Martin Yankov Minchev
Birth Date:22 April 2001
Birth Place:Varna, Bulgaria
Height:1.84 m[1]
Position:Winger, Forward
Currentclub:Çaykur Rizespor
Clubnumber:90
Youthyears1:2008–2018
Youthclubs1:Cherno More
Years1:2017–2020
Caps1:78
Goals1:10
Years2:2020–2023
Caps2:10
Goals2:7
Years3:2020–2023
Caps3:70
Goals3:10
Years4:2023–
Clubs4:Çaykur Rizespor
Caps4:35
Goals4:3
Nationalyears1:2017
Nationalcaps1:4
Nationalgoals1:1
Nationalyears2:2017–2018
Nationalcaps2:4
Nationalgoals2:3
Nationalyears3:2018–2019
Nationalcaps3:4
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:2019–2022
Nationalcaps4:14
Nationalgoals4:2
Nationalyears5:2019–
Nationalcaps5:18
Nationalgoals5:0
Club-Update:22:47, 26 May 2024 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:8 June 2024 (UTC)

Martin Yankov Minchev (Bulgarian: Мартин Янков Минчев; born 22 April 2001) is a Bulgarian professional footballer who plays as a winger or forward for Turkish Süper Lig club Çaykur Rizespor and the Bulgaria national football team.

Career

Cherno More

Born in Varna, Minchev joined Cherno More's youth academy at the age of seven in 2008 and progressed through the age groups.[2]

On 23 April 2017, a day after his 16th birthday, Minchev was given his professional debut by manager Georgi Ivanov in a 3–2 league victory over Lokomotiv Plovdiv, replacing Ivan Kokonov in the 76th minute.[3] In doing so, he became Cherno More's youngest-ever first team player in the Bulgarian league, aged 16 years and one day.[4] In the beginning of June 2017 he spent five days on trial at Serie A club Torino, where he trained with the U17 team and took part in one friendly match, scoring a hat-trick.[5]

Minchev began to establish himself in the Cherno More first team during the 2017–18 season. On 30 March 2018, he scored his first competitive goal for the club, netting Cherno More's first in a 2–1 league victory against Pirin Blagoevgrad.[6]

Sparta Prague

On 26 June 2020, Minchev moved abroad, signing a four-year contract with Sparta Prague.[7]

Çaykur Rizespor

On 10 September 2023, Minchev signed a three-year contract with Turkish club Çaykur Rizespor.[8]

CSKA Sofia

After only one season for the first team of Çaykur Rizespor, Minchev was loaned to CSKA Sofia until the end of season 2024–25 with an option to buy.

International career

Youth teams

Minchev made his Bulgaria under-18 debut at the age of 15 in January 2017 during the 2017 Granatkin Memorial Cup. He scored his first goal in the Bulgaria's fifth game of the tournament against Slovakia on 18 January.

On 19 September 2017, Minchev made his debut for Bulgaria U17 in a friendly against Turkey U17, scoring the second consolation goal in a 2–5 home defeat.[9]

In August 2018, Minchev took part in the Vaclav Jezek Tournament with Bulgaria U18. He scored three goals during the tournament in Vrchlabí, Czech Republic, and was named Player of the Tournament.[10]

National team

After a good run of form with Cherno More, on 11 March 2019 Minchev was called up by manager Petar Hubchev to the Bulgaria squad for the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying matches against Montenegro and Kosovo.[11] He made his first senior appearance for Bulgaria in a 1–1 home draw against Montenegro on 22 March at the Vasil Levski National Stadium, coming on as a substitute for Spas Delev in the 82nd minute.[12] Minutes later he had a great opportunity to score a winning goal, but the ball ran inches wide.[13]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubLeagueSeasonLeagueCupContinentalTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsApps Goals
Cherno MoreFirst League2016–17400040
2017–1822250272
2018–1927231303
2019–2025621277
Total7810102008812
Sparta Prague BČFL2020–211111
FNL2021–225555
2022–234141
Total1070000107
Sparta PragueFortuna liga2020–211403040210
2021–222445170365
2022–232954220357
2023–2431003061
Total70101231609813
Çaykur RizesporSüper Lig2023–2433310343
Career total1913023516023035

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Bulgaria201930
202010
202100
202270
202340
202430
Total180

Honours

Club

Sparta Prague

2022–23[14]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Профил на Мартин Янков Минчев. Bulgarian. fpleague.bg. 15 June 2018.
  2. Web site: Мартин Минчев стъпил на "Тича" с фланелка на Юнайтед с №7 и Роналдо на гърба . petel.bg . 23 April 2018 . Bulgarian.
  3. News: Cherno More vs. Lokomotiv Plovdiv . soccerway.com . 23 April 2017 .
  4. Web site: 16-годишен дебютира за Черно море ден след рождения си ден . varnautre.bg . 23 April 2017 . Bulgarian.
  5. Web site: Нападател на Черно море впечатли Торино . sportal.bg . 12 June 2017 . Bulgarian.
  6. Web site: Мартин Минчев – за него ще се говори още дълго време . temasport.com . 1 April 2018 . Bulgarian.
  7. Web site: Spartu posiluje Martin Minčev . Sparta signs Martin Minchev . Sparta Prague . 26 June 2020 . cs.
  8. Web site: Šťastný. Pavel. Sparta hlásí odchody: Höjer a Minčev do Turecka, podpisy na tři roky . Sparta reports departures: Höjer and Minčev to Turkey, signing for three years . . 10 September 2023 . cs. Blesk.
  9. Web site: България U17 загуби от Турция U17 в контрола . Bulgarian Football Union . 19 September 2017 . Bulgarian.
  10. Web site: Мартин Минчев най-добър на турнира в Чехия . viasport.bg . 26 August 2018 . Bulgarian.
  11. Web site: The Bulgarian squad for the games against Montenegro and Kosovo has been announced . bfunion.bg . 11 March 2019.
  12. Web site: European Qualifier: Bulgaria 1–1 Montenegro . uefa.com . 22 March 2019.
  13. https://www.sportal.bg/news.php?news=777172 Мартин Минчев: Само шанс не ми достигна да вкарам
  14. News: Czech News Agency. 23 May 2023. 23 May 2023. Sparta v euforii! Remíza na Slovácku odstartovala mistrovské oslavy. Sport.cz. cs.