Hapoel
Elin Topuzakov played for which team from 2008 to 2009?
Elin Topuzakov Elin Kalinov Topuzakov ( ; born 5 February 1977 in Dimitrovgrad ) is a former Bulgarian football defender and now assistant manager of Bulgaria . He is nicknamed Balls ( ) because of his last name . In his career , he played as a sweeper or center back . Topuzakov also used to be a regular start-up for the Bulgarian national football team . Career . Youth career . Elin developed his abilities in F.C . Dimitrovgrads Youth Academy between 1990 and 1994 . He played as a striker . Levski Sofia – 1st spell . Topuzakov joined PFC Levski Sofia in January 1996 . There he was qualified as a defender . Topuzakov was among the few players who have won three consecutive titles for Levski ( in 2000 , 2001 and 2002 ) . With Levski Sofia he reached 1/4 finals of UEFA Cup in 2005–06 . Next season , Levski Sofia with Topuzakov , reached the group-stage of UEFA Champions League , becoming the first Bulgarian team that reached the groups . Between 2005 and 2008 he was the captain of the team . Hapoel Tel Aviv . On 3 January 2008 Levski and Hapoel Tel Aviv agreed on the transfers of Elin Topuzakov and Dimitar Telkiyski . They signed their official contacts with Hapoel on 7 January 2008 . Topuzakov chose to play with kit number 5 . Both Topuzakov and Telkiyski made their debut for Hapoel Tel Aviv F.C . on 12 January 2008 against Hapoel Kfar Saba , in a 2–1 defeat . In 2008 , he won the Fans player of the year award with his teammate Dimitar Telkiyski . After 2008–2009 season end , Topuzakov became a free-agent . Levski Sofia – 2nd spell . On 5 July 2009 , Topuzakov returned Levski Sofia . Elin signed a 2-years contract . He took number 11 , which at that time was worn by Georgi Hristov , but Hristov stepped it back to Topuzakov . During 2009/2010 season , the Levskis team started their European campaign with 9:0 ( on aggregate ) in the second Qualifying round of Champions League against UE Sant Julià . Topuzakov re-debut for Levski on 21 July 2009 in the second match of the 2nd Qualifying round of UEFA Champions League , where Levski beaten the team of UE Sant Julià . The result of the match was 0:5 with a guest win for Levski . On the next round , Levski Sofia faced FK Baku . The blues eliminated the team from Azerbaijan with 2:0 ( on aggregate ) . In the play-off round Levski was eliminated by Debreceni VSC with 4:1 ( on aggregate ) . However , Levski qualified for UEFA Europa League . In 2009/2010 season , after couple of bad games and results , Levski however achieved qualifying for UEFA Europa League becoming 3rd in the final ranking . Hapoel Ramat Gan Givatayim . On 10 August 2010 he and his teammate Dimitar Telkiyski once again relocated to Israel , to join Hapoel Ramat Gan . Managerial career . In March 2014 , Topuzakov was unveiled as the new manager of Levski Sofia when Antoni Zdravkov stepped down ( mainly due to health reasons ) . On 16 June 2017 he was announced as the new manager of Arda Kardzhali , following PSI Groups acquisition of the club . He was released from his duties in late August 2018 . In October 2019 , Topuzakov joined Georgi Dermendzhievs coaching staff , becoming assistant manager of Bulgaria . Playing style . Topuzakov has started his career as a striker , but later he was converted to a right defender . After a couple of months , he started playing as a central defender . His variety of playing skills makes him one of the most frequently scoring defenders that have ever played for Levski Sofia . Topuzakov is famous for his sliding tackles . Personal life . Topuzakov is married to Bulgarian model Vesela Toteva . Together with his wife , in 2013 he appeared on the popular Slavis Show . Achievements . Notable achievements . Topuzakov is part of an exclusive list of players with over 20 appearances in The Eternal Derby of Bulgaria - he has participated in 23 league editions of the rivalry . He was also the player with the most appearances for ( a ) Bulgarian team ( s ) in European competitions ( 65 ) until his record was surpassed by former teammate Hristo Yovov on 19 July 2012 - in Levski Sofias 1–0 home win over Bosnian club FK Sarajevo in a UEFA Europa League match . As of 2018 , Topuzakov occupies the 4th place in the list . Together with Krasimir Bezinski and Momchil Tsvetanov he also holds the record for the most times an individual player has won the Bulgarian Cup - 6 . Awards . - Bulgarian Championship 1999-00 , 2000–01 , 2001–02 , 2005–06 , 2006–07 - Bulgarian Cup 1998 , 2000 , 2002 , 2003 , 2005 , 2007 - Bulgarian Supercup 2005 , 2007 , 2009 - UEFA Cup 2005-06 : 1/4 finals - UEFA Champions League 2006-07 : Group-stage - Fans player of the year award 2008 External links . - Topuzakov returns Levski - Topuzakov at Levskis site