Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Iliyan Ivanov Kiryakov | ||
Date of birth | 4 August 1967 | ||
Place of birth | Lesicheri, Bulgaria | ||
Height | 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) | ||
Playing position | Full back | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1984–1991 | Etar Veliko Tarnovo | 168 | (15) |
1991–1993 | Deportivo La Coruña | 39 | (3) |
1993–1994 | Mérida | 18 | (1) |
1994 | CSKA Sofia | 18 | (0) |
1995 | Etar Veliko Tarnovo | 8 | (3) |
1995–1996 | Anorthosis | 19 | (8) |
1996–2000 | Aberdeen | 76 | (1) |
2000 | Airdrieonians | 6 | (0) |
2001 | Raith Rovers | 17 | (1) |
2001–2002 | Akademik Svishtov | 12 | (0) |
2002–2003 | Etar 1924 | 28 | (5) |
Total | 412 | (38) | |
National team | |||
1988–1996 | Bulgaria | 53 | (5) |
Teams managed | |||
2016 | Etar Veliko Tarnovo (interim) | ||
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
Iliyan Ivanov Kiryakov (Bulgarian: Илиян Иванов Киряков; born 4 August 1967) is a retired Bulgarian footballer. A player of great energy, he was equally at ease at right or left back.
During a professional career which spanned nearly 20 years, he played for nine different clubs, including three in Scotland.
Kiryakov won more than 50 caps for Bulgaria, and represented the nation at the 1994 World Cup and Euro 1996.
Kiryakov was born in the small town of Lesicheri. In his country, he represented Etar Veliko Tarnovo and PFC CSKA Sofia. In 1991, he moved abroad, signing with Deportivo de La Coruña. In his first season, he was first-choice (only missed three La Liga matches) but the Galicians barely avoided relegation, as 17th; subsequently, as Super Depor came to fruition, he became a fringe player and left.
Kiryakov continued in Spain for 1993–94, playing in the Segunda División with CP Mérida. He then returned to his country for one more year, with PFC CSKA Sofia, signing in the 1995 summer with Cyprus club Anorthosis Famagusta FC.
Kiryakov spent the following five years in Scotland, playing for Aberdeen (scoring once against Dundee United), Airdrieonians (only five months) and Raith Rovers. He finished his career in June 2003 at nearly 36: after a brief spell with lowly Akademik Svishtov, he retired at Etar, his first club.