Nikolay Mihaylov - Career

Career

Talented Mikhaylov started as a youngster with home country topteam Levski Sofia, making his full 90 minutes debut at the age of just 17 years old in the UEFA cup match against Auxerre. He nevertheless wasn't popular with their fans. Mikhaylov's poor performances in some matches, particularly his blunder in the Champions League game against Werder Bremen on 31 October 2006, provoked a negative campaign among Levski supporters who associated his career with protection from his influential father. In June 2007, he almost joined ACF Fiorentina, but instead transferred to Liverpool on a three year contract, with an option for a further two years.

Mihaylov was acquired by Liverpool as a talent, whom might become their first team keeper in the future. As at that time Liverpool's first choice keeper was Pepe Reina with Charles Itandje as back up. And by the 14th of July it became clear that the transfer had hit a problem; Mihaylov wouldn't qualify for a British work permit. As a consequence the Bulgarian U-21 International joined FC Twente on a one year loan. At FC Twente is the 19 year old Mihaylov to compete with Sander Boschker and Cees Paauwe for first team action. Although not playing any matches for the first team, Twente did recognize his talent and in 2008 they extended his loan with a year to August 2009.

On 27 August 2008 finally made his debut for FC Twente in their 4–0 defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in the second leg of the third qualifying round for the UEFA Champions League and went on to make his Eredivisie debut in a 1–1 draw at Roda on 30 August 2008. On 14 March 2009, Mihaylov made his second appearance for Twente in the Dutch league against Willem II, playing the full 90 minutes and earning himself a booking, managing to keep a clean sheet in Twente's 2:0 away win. On 29 July 2009, Mihaylov came on as a substitute for midfielder Kenneth Perez, following the dismissal of starting keeper Sander Boschker in the 27th minute of Twente's away game against Sporting CP in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round. He stopped the penalty taken by João Moutinho and made a number of key saves to keep the scores level at 0:0. Mihaylov played the full 90 minutes in the return leg and was not at fault for the Portuguese side's last-minute equalizing goal, which allowed Sporting CP to advance on the away goals rule.

FC Twente had become impressed with Michaylov, not only his talent, but also his progress did convince them. And after several year of being loaned out to FC Twente, on 5 February 2010 he officially was transferred for a fee of €1.8m from Liverpool F.C. to FC Twente. The 21 year old Bulgarian keeper signed a contract for three years with the Dutch club.

At the 2010/2011 season, he has established himself as the starting goalkeeper for FC Twente. Having played in the Champions League, Mihaylov impressed with great appearances in the competition that season, among others by stopping a penalty-shot. In the Champions League did FC Twente draw to play against his "nightmare" club Werder, as it were mentioned by the Bulgarian media. He only conceded one goal in the two matches played against Werder. With further appearances against Tottenham Hotspur and last year's Champions League winner FC Internazionale Milano in the group, FC Twente managed on their debut in the Champions League nevertheless to end at third place, allowing continuation in the UEFA Europa League. In which FC Twente was defeated in the quarterfinals by Villareal, after having defeated Rubin Kazan and Zenit.

Mihaylov was recently quoted saying that Liverpool now have retained an option to buy him back from Twente, as he has played enough games for his native country's national team to qualify for a work permit.

On 23 December 2011, Mihaylov attended a ceremony in Sofia, where he was honoured with the Bulgarian Footballer of the Year award (Stiliyan Petrov and Dimitar Berbatov came second and third respectively). The last Bulgarian goalkeeper to have received this distinction is his father Borislav Mihailov.