Martin Hristov

At nine, Martin Hristov left Orleta, the club in his home city of Pazardzhik, for the Botev Plovdiv academy. He stayed there through the youth ranks, signed his first professional contract in June 2021 and made his senior debut for Botev in the 2022/23 season — though the bulk of that campaign was spent with the reserve side, where he totalled 55 league matches and a single goal.

Two first-team league appearances in a season was not a route into the side, and Botev sent him out. A loan to Botev Vratsa in June 2023 brought 17 league appearances across 2023/24, 18 in all competitions. He was registered with Botev Plovdiv during their Bulgarian Cup-winning season that year but did not play a minute in the competition.

The move that changed things came in July 2024, when he joined Septemvri Sofia on loan. Here he was a regular starter rather than a squad option: 30 league appearances and a goal.

Hristov has worn the Bulgaria shirt at three youth levels — one cap at under-17 in 2019, ten at under-19 in 2021, three at under-21 in 2022. At senior level he has no titles and no individual awards.

He is also known in some records as Martin Christow.