Dimitar Mitov

In this Bulgarian name, the patronymic is Veselinov and the family name is Mitov.

Dimitar Mitov
Personal information
Full name Dimitar Veselinov Mitov[1]
Date of birth (1997-01-22) 22 January 1997 (age 27)
Place of birth Montana, Bulgaria
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[2]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 Aberdeen
Number 1
Youth career
2008–2013 Chavdar Etropole
2013–2015 Charlton Athletic
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2017 Charlton Athletic 0 (0)
2015 → Canvey Island (loan) 1 (0)
2017–2023 Cambridge United 146 (0)
2023–2024 St Johnstone 38 (0)
2024– Aberdeen 10 (0)
International career‡
Bulgaria U16
2013 Bulgaria U17 5 (0)
2014–2015 Bulgaria U19 3 (0)
2023– Bulgaria 9 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 08:34, 1 November 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:00, 18 November 2024 (UTC)

Dimitar Veselinov Mitov (Bulgarian: Димитър Веселинов Митов; born 22 January 1997) is a Bulgarian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Scottish Premiership club Aberdeen and the Bulgaria national team.

Club career

Early career in Bulgaria

Born in Montana, Mitov spent part of his childhood in Kozloduy,[3] where he began training football at the age of nine. Initially, he was deployed as an outfield player. After a short stint with Dunav Selanovtsi, in 2009, at age 12, he had a successful tryout with Hristo Stoichkov's academy and joined the ranks of Chavdar Etropole.[4]

Charlton Athletic

Mitov joined Charlton Athletic in 2013 from Bulgarian club Chavdar Etropole, after undergoing a trial at Nottingham Forest.[5] In April 2015, he scored a goal from his own six-yard box against Coventry City U18's, gaining press attention.[6] He featured for the club at under-18, under-21 and under-23 level but did not make a senior appearance for the club.[7]

Canvey Island (loan)

In February 2015, Mitov joined Isthmian League Premier Division club Canvey Island on a one-month loan. He made a single appearance in a 1–1 draw with Lewes on 28 February.[8]

Cambridge United

Following his release from Charlton Athletic, Mitov joined League Two club Cambridge United on a two-year contract.[9] On 8 August 2017, he made his debut in a 4–1 EFL Cup defeat to Bristol Rovers.[10] Mitov's first league appearances for Cambridge came in the final three games of the 2017–18 season, playing against Morecambe, Newport County and Port Vale.

On 16 May 2018, he extended his contract with Cambridge United. The contract kept him at the club until 2021 and was subsequently extended.[11] During the 2018–19 season, Mitov replaced David Forde as the first choice goalkeeper: he went on to make a total amount of 21 league appearances in total over the season.[citation needed]

During the 2020–21 season, Mitov made 20 league appearances as United gained promotion to League One. [12]

On 23 August 2021, Mitov won Carabao Cup First Round Player of the Round for his outstanding performance in a match against Swindon Town, which the U’s won on penalties.[13] On 8 January 2022, he gained attention for his performance after his team caused a monumental cup upset by beating Newcastle United 1–0 at St James’ Park in the third round of the FA Cup, making numerous saves to keep them in the game. [14] On 30 April 2022, Mitov was named United’s Player of the Season.[15]

At the end of the 2022–23 season, Mitov departed Cambridge following the expiration of his contract, after helping the U’s dramatically stay up in League One on the final day, following a 2–0 win over Forest Green. [16]

St Johnstone

On 14 July 2023, Mitov joined Scottish Premiership club St Johnstone on a two-year contract.[17][18] On 26 August, he kept his first clean sheet of the season in a goalless league draw against Celtic.[19] Mitov helped keep up St Johnstone on the final day of the season, saving a crucial penalty in a 2–1 defeat of Motherwell. He subsequently won all but one of the club’s Player of the Season awards.[20]

Aberdeen

On 19 June 2024, Mitov signed for fellow Scottish Premiership club Aberdeen on a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee.[21] According to Mitov, he chose to move to Aberdeen because of the club's "huge history".[22] He made an instant impact at the club, saving a penalty in a 1–0 win over Ross County.[23] Mitov heavily contributed to an early 13-match winning streak for the Dons under new manager Jimmy Thelin.[24] On 1 December 2024, he suffered a hamstring injury[25] against Hearts in the 46th minute, and was replaced by Ross Doohan.[26]

International career

Mitov has represented Bulgaria at every age level from under-16 to under-19. He also captained his nation at under-17 and under-19 level.[7]

In August 2023, he received his first call-up to the Bulgarian senior national team by head coach Mladen Krstajić, for a friendly game against Iran and a UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying game against Montenegro.[27][28] On 7 September 2023, Mitov earned his first cap, playing the full 90 minutes in the 0-1 loss against the former.[29] Mitov has since taken over the number 1 shirt from the likes of Daniel Naumov and Ivan Dyulgerov. Mitov kept his first international clean sheet in a 1–0 win over Tanzania in March 2024, and played every single game of the 2024 Nations League group stage for Bulgaria. [30]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 6 October 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Charlton Athletic 2015–16[31] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2016–17[32] League One 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Canvey Island (loan) 2014–15 Isthmian League Premier Division 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Cambridge United 2017–18[33] League Two 3 0 0 0 1 0 3 0 7 0
2018–19[34] 21 0 0 0 1 0 3 0 25 0
2019–20[35] 27 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 27 0
2020–21[36] 20 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 22 0
2021–22[37] League One 42 0 5 0 2 0 2 0 51 0
2022–23[38] 33 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 33 0
Total 146 0 6 0 5 0 8 0 165 0
St Johnstone 2023–24[39] Scottish Premiership 38 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 41 0
Aberdeen 2024–25[40] Scottish Premiership 7 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 12 0
Career total 190 0 7 0 11 0 8 0 216 0

International

As of match played 18 November 2024
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Bulgaria 2023 2 0
2024 7 0
Total 9 0

Honours

Individual

References

  1. ^ "List of Players under Written Contract Registered Between 01/05/2018 and 31/05/2018". The Football Association. p. 6. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  2. ^ "Dimitar Mitov - Goalkeeper - First Team - Cambridge United".
  3. ^ "Вратарят Димитър Митов пред bTV: Смятам, че съм роден победител!". btvnovinite.bg (in Bulgarian). bTV Media Group. 16 January 2022. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  4. ^ "Наш вратар на проби в Нотингам" (in Bulgarian). kozloduy-bg.info. 5 November 2012. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  5. ^ "Нотингам хареса и Димитър Митов" (in Bulgarian). Blitz Sport. 11 November 2012. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  6. ^ Mason, Aaron (5 June 2017). "Wallop! Watch this stunning goal from new U's keeper Dimitar Mitov". cambridgenews. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  7. ^ a b "'I can take away my experience from Charlton Athletic'". Kent Live. 5 June 2017. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  8. ^ "Canvey Island grab last-gasp equaliser to preserve recent unbeaten record". Echo. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  9. ^ "Dimitar Mitov: Cambridge United to sign Charlton Athletic goalkeeper". BBC Sport. 5 June 2017. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  10. ^ "Bristol Rovers 4-1 Cambridge United". BBC Sport. 8 August 2017. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  11. ^ "Dimitar Mitov Signs Three Year Contract Extension with the U's".
  12. ^ "Cambridge United Promoted to League One | Cambridge United F.C." www.cambridgeunited.com. Retrieved 6 December 2024.
  13. ^ "Mitov wins Player of the Round | Cambridge United F.C." www.cambridgeunited.com. Retrieved 6 December 2024.
  14. ^ "Ironside scores as Cambridge stun Newcastle". BBC Sport. 8 January 2022. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  15. ^ "Mitov wins Player of the Season". Cambridge United. 30 April 2022.
  16. ^ "2023 Retained List published". Cambridge United. 12 May 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  17. ^ "Dimitar Mitov signs for Saints". St Johnstone Football Club. 14 July 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  18. ^ "Dimitar Mitov: St Johnstone make first summer signing by adding goalkeeper". BBC Sport. 14 July 2023. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  19. ^ Lindsay, Clive (27 August 2023). "Celtic 0-0 St Johnstone: Lackustre champions held as Perth side secure first point of season". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  20. ^ "Motherwell 1-2 St Johnstone". BBC Sport. 19 May 2024. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  21. ^ "Dimitar Mitov arrives at Pittodrie". Aberdeen Football Club. 14 July 2023. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  22. ^ "St Johnstone sell Mitov as Aberdeen trigger clause". BBC Sport. 19 June 2024. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  23. ^ "Ross County 0-1 Aberdeen". BBC Sport. 31 August 2024. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  24. ^ "Aberdeen win 13 in a row… now Celtic test awaits". BBC Sport. 6 October 2024. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  25. ^ https://www.afc.co.uk/2024/12/03/injury-update-dimitar-mitov/
  26. ^ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/c93qz3yp5vxt#Line-ups
  27. ^ "Разширен състав на България „А" за двубоите с Иран и Черна гора" (in Bulgarian). Bulgarian Football Union. 21 August 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  28. ^ "Mitov receives maiden Bulgaria call-up". BBC Sport. 21 August 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  29. ^ Kichukov, Simeon (7 September 2023). "Футболните национали загубиха от Иран в приятелски мач" (in Bulgarian). dnevnik.bg. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  30. ^ "Tanzania 0-1 Bulgaria". BBC Sport. 22 March 2024. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  31. ^ "Games played by Dimitar Mitov in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  32. ^ "Games played by Dimitar Mitov in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  33. ^ "Games played by Dimitar Mitov in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  34. ^ "Games played by Dimitar Mitov in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  35. ^ "Games played by Dimitar Mitov in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  36. ^ "Games played by Dimitar Mitov in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  37. ^ "Games played by Dimitar Mitov in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  38. ^ "Games played by Dimitar Mitov in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  39. ^ "Games played by Dimitar Mitov in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  40. ^ "Games played by Dimitar Mitov in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  41. ^ "Mitov wins Player of the Season". Cambridge United FC. 30 April 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  42. ^ "St Johnstone Player of the Year winners 2023/24". Perth St Johnstone FC. 5 May 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  43. ^ "St Johnstone Player of the Year winners 2023/24". Perth St Johnstone FC. 5 May 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2024.