# Boban Nikolov

Boban Nikolov (Macedonian: Бобан Николов; born 28 July 1994) is a Macedonian professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Bosnian club Borac Banja Luka and the North Macedonia national team.

## Personal life

Boban Nikolov is an ethnic Aromanian, and he speaks Aromanian.

## Club career
### Viitorul Constanța

On 8 March 2013, Nikolov made his debut for Viitorul Constanța in the Liga I, in a 4–1 defeat to Gaz Metan Mediaș. On 19 May of the same year, he scored his first Liga I goal in a 5–2 win against Steaua București.

### Lecce

On 19 January 2021 he was signed by Italian Serie B club Lecce.

### Sheriff Tiraspol

Seven months later, on 20 August 2021, he signed for Moldovan National Division club Sheriff Tiraspol.

### FCSB

On 17 September 2022, Nikolov signed for Liga I club FCSB on a one-year deal, with an option to extend for a further year.

## International career

On 29 May 2016, Nikolov made his international debut against Azerbaijan, and on 24 March 2017 he scored his first goal in the 2018 World Cup qualifier against Liechtenstein. He was also a regular in the U21 and U19 categories, where he also served as captain. As of April 2020, he has earned a total of 22 caps, scoring 2 goals. He represented the nation at UEFA Euro 2020, their first major tournament.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of match played 6 September 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | Cup | Cup | Europe | Europe | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Viitorul Constanța | 2012–13 | Liga I | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 5 | 1 |
| Viitorul Constanța | 2013–14 | Liga I | 18 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 20 | 0 |
| Viitorul Constanța | 2014–15 | Liga I | 15 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 16 | 1 |
| Viitorul Constanța | Total | Total | 38 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 41 | 2 |
| Vardar | 2015–16 | Macedonian First Football League | 20 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 24 | 1 |
| Vardar | 2016–17 | Macedonian First Football League | 34 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 38 | 9 |
| Vardar | 2017–18 | Macedonian First Football League | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 3 | — | — | 22 | 3 |
| Vardar | Total | Total | 64 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 84 | 13 |
| Fehérvár | 2017–18 | Nemzeti Bajnokság I | 13 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 13 | 3 |
| Fehérvár | 2018–19 | Nemzeti Bajnokság I | 29 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 14 | 0 | — | — | 51 | 3 |
| Fehérvár | 2019–20 | Nemzeti Bajnokság I | 22 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 29 | 3 |
| Fehérvár | 2020–21 | Nemzeti Bajnokság I | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 13 | 2 |
| Fehérvár | Total | Total | 73 | 7 | 12 | 3 | 21 | 1 | — | — | 106 | 11 |
| Lecce | 2020–21 | Serie B | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 15 | 0 |
| Sheriff Tiraspol | 2021–22 | Moldovan National Division | 14 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 1 | — | — | 22 | 4 |
| FCSB | 2022–23 | Liga I | 11 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 13 | 0 |
| Kisvárda | 2023–24 | Nemzeti Bajnokság I | 22 | 1 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 26 | 2 |
| Borac Banja Luka | 2024–25 | Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 237 | 21 | 27 | 6 | 42 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 307 | 32 |

### International

    As of match played 20 November 2022
Appearances and goals by national team and year :
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| North Macedonia |
| North Macedonia | 2016 | 2 | 0 |
| North Macedonia | 2017 | 4 | 1 |
| North Macedonia | 2018 | 7 | 0 |
| North Macedonia | 2019 | 9 | 1 |
| North Macedonia | 2020 | 7 | 0 |
| North Macedonia | 2021 | 11 | 1 |
| North Macedonia | 2022 | 8 | 1 |
| Total | Total | 48 | 4 |

### International goals

    As of match played 5 June 2022. North Macedonia score listed first, score column indicates score after each Nikolov goal.
International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition :
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1 | 24 March 2017 | Rheinpark Stadion, Vaduz, Liechtenstein | 3 | Liechtenstein | 1–0 | 3–0 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 2 | 19 November 2019 | Toše Proeski Arena, Skopje, North Macedonia | 22 | Israel | 1–0 | 1–0 | UEFA Euro 2020 qualification |
| 3 | 8 October 2021 | Rheinpark Stadion, Vaduz, Liechtenstein | 37 | Liechtenstein | 3–0 | 4–0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 4 | 5 June 2022 | Victoria Stadium, Gibraltar | 44 | Gibraltar | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2022–23 UEFA Nations League C |

## Honours

Vardar
* 1. MFL: 2015–16, 2016–17
* Macedonian Super Cup: 2015
Fehérvár
* Nemzeti Bajnokság I: 2017–18
* Magyar Kupa: 2018–19
Sheriff Tiraspol
* Divizia Națională: 2021–22
* Moldovan Cup: 2021–22