# Velizar Dimitrov

Velizar Kostadinov Dimitrov (Bulgarian: Велизар Димитров; born 13 April 1979) is a Bulgarian former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.
Dimitrov previously played for Minyor Pernik, Lokomotiv Sofia, Marek Dupnitsa and CSKA Sofia, and was part of the Bulgarian UEFA Euro 2004 team. He has worked as a pundit since his retirement.

## Career

He joined CSKA Sofia in 2002, brought in the team by the manager Stoycho Mladenov..
In 2003, when Dimitrov won a number of individual awards as one of the best players in the A PFG, he was close to securing a move to FC Porto, but the deal eventually fell through due to financial reasons.

### Metalurh Donetsk

On 11 June 2008, Dimitrov signed with Metalurh Donetsk on a 2+1-year deal for a reported fee of €500,000. He made his Ukrainian Premier League debut against Karpaty Lviv on 19 July, playing the full 90 minutes.
On 17 November 2012, he scored the only goal in a 1–0 victory over Dynamo Kyiv. He marked his 100th league appearance for Metalurh against Hoverla Uzhhorod on 20 April 2013, by scoring a winning goal for a 2–1 home win.

## International career

Dimitrov played for the league based national side in an unofficial friendly against Azerbaijan on 21 February 2002, scoring a goal for a 3–0 home win. He made his competitive debut for the national team in a 1–0 away loss against Spain on 20 November 2002, coming on as a second-half substitute. On 20 August 2003, Dimitrov opened his senior international goals tally, scoring twice for a 3–0 win over Lithuania.
He was included in the Bulgaria Euro 2004 squad in May 2004 by Plamen Markov and came on as a second-half substitute in Bulgaria's opening game against Sweden on 14 June. He was brought on once again in the match against Italy.

## Career statistics
### Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | League | Season | League | League | Cup | Cup | Continental | Continental | Total | Total |
| Club | League | Season | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Lokomotiv Sofia | A Group | 1997–98 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 0 |
| Minyor Pernik | A Group | 1998–99 | 23 | 4 | ? | ? | — | — | 22 | 4 |
| Litex (loan) | A Group | 1999–00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Minyor Pernik | A Group | 1999–00 | 5 | 2 | ? | ? | — | — | 5 | 2 |
| Lokomotiv Sofia | A Group | 2000–01 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 |
| Marek Dupnitsa | B Group | 2000–01 | 8 | 4 | ? | ? | — | — | 8 | 4 |
| Marek Dupnitsa | A Group | 2001–02 | 35 | 14 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 35 | 14 |
| Marek Dupnitsa | Total | Total | 43 | 18 | ? | ? | 0 | 0 | 43 | 18 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 78 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 83 | 12 |

### International goals

    Scores and results list Bulgaria's goal tally first.
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1 | 20 August 2003 | Vasil Levski, Sofia, Bulgaria | Lithuania | 2–0 | 3–0 | Friendly |
| 2 | 20 August 2003 | Vasil Levski, Sofia, Bulgaria | Lithuania | 3–0 | 3–0 | Friendly |
| 3 | 17 November 2007 | Vasil Levski, Sofia, Bulgaria | Romania | 1–0 | 1–0 | Euro 2008 qualifier |

## Honours
### Club
#### CSKA Sofia

* A PFG: 2002–03, 2004–05, 2007–08
* Bulgarian Cup: 2005–06
* Bulgarian Supercup: 2006

#### Metalurh Donetsk

* Ukrainian Cup: Runner-up 2009–10, 2011–12
* Ukrainian Super Cup: Runner-up 2012