Share

Text size

Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Very few Bulgarians play in elite football leagues

published on 5/9/22 1:28 PM

Petko Hristov

Photo: BGNES - archive

In the report of CIES Football Observatory in Switzerland, Bulgaria ranks an unimpressive 62nd place out of 80 countries, as the number of Bulgarian football players in foreign clubs has decreased by 9 places in the last 5 years, a drop of 15%.

Bulgaria currently has only 50 players playing in foreign leagues and almost no Bulgarians in the elite Top 5 leagues, according to the CIES Observatory's weekly report. At the moment, only defender Petko Hristov plays in the Italian elite Spetzia, while Ilia Gruev Jr. is about to return with Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga.

The leading country in terms of player exports is Brazil with 1,219 players, followed by France with 978 players and Argentina with 815 players abroad.

Last in the ranking are Peru, Zambia and Uzbekistan.

Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!

Radio Bulgaria Sport Bulgaria CIES Football Observatory football ranking

More from category

Nearly 20,000 football fans expected to attend World Cup qualifier between Bulgaria and Turkiye in Sofia

Nearly 20,000 football fans are expected to attend the World Cup qualifier between Bulgaria and Turkiye. The match will be played on Saturday, October 11, at 9.45 pm at the Vasil Levski National Stadium in Sofia. The game will mark the debut of..

published on 10/10/25 9:46 AM

Aleksandar Vezenkov has once again been named the best player outside NBA

Basketball player Aleksandar Vezenkov was named the best player outside the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the second consecutive year, according to a survey conducted among NBA general managers. The Olympiacos star received 44% of..

published on 10/10/25 9:24 AM

Karlos Nasar

Unstoppable Karlos Nasar becomes world weightlifting champion for the third time, sets new record

Bulgaria's Olympic champion from Paris Karlos Nasar became the world champion in weightlifting for the third time . At the World Championships in Førde , Norway, he took gold in the clean and jerk movement with 222 kg, as well as in the combined..

published on 10/9/25 10:59 PM

1
..
4
5
6
7
8
..
10

WEATHER

Pick city: Sofía

Overcast, rain
Min: 8 | Max: 11

BULGARIA IN PICTURES

Which world-famous Bulgarian artist designed QSL cards for Radio Bulgaria?

shopify analytics ecommerce
tracking