Vladimir Ivanov

Vladimir Ivanov's route to Bulgaria's top flight ran through the lower leagues rather than around them. He spent the 2023/24 season at FK Kyustendil in the Yugozapadna Treta Liga, making 15 appearances, and returned to Septemvri Sofia as a free agent on 1 July 2024 — this time into the senior squad. Septemvri were promoted to the Parva Liga in that period, and Ivanov made his debut in the top division.

The Septemvri connection goes back to his teens. After two seasons in the Vitosha Bistritsa U17 side, he joined the club's academy in 2020 and played for the U17 and U19 teams through to 2022, then moved up to Septemvri II in the Treta Liga from the 2021/22 season.

January 2026 brought a change of scene. Ivanov was loaned to Belasitsa Petrich in the Vtora Liga for the remainder of the 2025/26 season and made 13 appearances there before returning to Septemvri Sofia on 30 June 2026.

No fee has ever been attached to his name. Every move so far has been a free transfer or a loan. He has not been capped by Bulgaria at senior level, and there is no record of him appearing for the country's U17, U19 or U21 sides — his youth football was played entirely in club colours.

He has not yet won a trophy or picked up an individual award.