Milen Gamakov (Bulgarian: Милен Гамаков; born 12 April 1994) is a Bulgarian professional footballer who plays as a defender or midfielder for Hebar Pazardzhik.[2]

Milen Gamakov
Personal information
Full name Milen Georgiev Gamakov
Date of birth (1994-04-12) 12 April 1994 (age 30)
Place of birth Burgas, Bulgaria
Height 1.89 m (6 ft 2+12 in)[1]
Position(s) Centre back / Defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team
Hebar
Number 20
Youth career
2009–2012 Chernomorets Burgas
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2014 Chernomorets Burgas 27 (0)
2013Neftochimic 1986 (loan) 8 (0)
2014–2016 Botev Plovdiv 55 (4)
2016–2018 Lechia Gdańsk 4 (0)
2017Ruch Chorzów (loan) 2 (0)
2017Stomil Olsztyn (loan) 11 (0)
2018–2021 Slavia Sofia 71 (0)
2021 Žalgiris 20 (1)
2022 Taraz 22 (1)
2023 Sozopol 14 (2)
2023–2024 Dobrudzha 31 (0)
2024– Hebar 8 (0)
International career
2010 Bulgaria U17 3 (0)
2011–2013 Bulgaria U19 2 (0)
2013–2016 Bulgaria U21 20 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 25 September 2024

Career

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Early career and loan

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Gamakov is youth player of Chernomorets Burgas since 2009. In 2013, he was sent on loan at Neftochimic Burgas till end of season 2013. He won promotion in A group with the team.

Chernomorets Burgas

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After the 2012–13 season and his good performances at Neftochimic, he returned to Chernomorets. He made his debut for the team in the first match of 2013–14 season against Cherno More Varna as a substitute.

Botev Plovdiv

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On 12 July 2014, Gamakov signed with Botev Plovdiv.[3]

On 13 August, he scored a goal in the Bulgarian Supercup final, but despite his performance Botev lost 1–3 to Ludogorets Razgrad.[4]

Milen scored the opening goal in the derby game against Beroe Stara Zagora on 24 October.[5] He was among the best players in the match although he was substituted at the 68th minute of a 3–1 win.

On 15 March 2015, Gamakov scored the first goal with a header in a 2–0 home win over CSKA Sofia.[6]

On 16 and 23 May Milen Gamakov was included in the starting lineup as a defensive midfielder for the 3-2 home win over CSKA Sofia and the 1–2 away defeat to Beroe Stara Zagora. He played well, but received yellow cards in both games.[7][8]

Milen Gamakov was named the second-place winner of the best youth player in A Grupa for the 2014–15 season. His teammate Tsvetelin Chunchukov won the first prize.[9][10]

2015–16 season

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For Botev, the 2015–16 season was marked with a lot of managerial changes. Despite this, Gamakov was regularly included in the starting lineup. In February 2016, due to a lot of injuries of his team mates, Nikolay Kostov started using Gamakov as a central defender.[11][12]

On 13 March 2016, Gamakov played as a midfielder and scored one of the goals in a 3–1 win over Cherno More Varna.[13]

Lechia Gdańsk

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In June 2016, Gamakov signed with Polish Ekstraklasa side Lechia Gdańsk.[14] He spent the second half of the 2016–17 season on loan at Ruch Chorzów.[15]

Slavia Sofia

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On 1 June 2018, Gamakov signed a two-year contract with Slavia Sofia.[16]

International career

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Under-21

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Gamakov made him international debut for Bulgaria U21 in a 3–1 friendly win against Azerbaijan, with Gamakov scoring in the additional time.

Antoni Zdravkov was appointed manager of the under-21 team in October 2014 and selected Gamakov as the new captain.[17]

Gamakov missed the game against Wales due to a ban. In the next game, on 9 June 2015, he played 90 minutes during a 1–0 win in a friendly game over Cyprus.[18][19]

In September 2015, Gamakov was in the starting lineup for a 0–2 away victory over Romania and a 3–0 home win over Luxembourg. He was the captain of the team and played 90 minutes in both games.[20]

On 25 March 2016, Gamakov was in the starting lineup as a captain for the goalless draw with Wales.[21][22] Four days later, on 29 March, he played in another goalless draw, this time against Luxembourg.[23]

On 21 May 2016, Gamakov was in the starting lineup during the 0–1 defeat from France.[24] On 6 June he played during the 0-2 defeat in a friendly game from Norway U21.[25][26]

Senior

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Gamakov was included in the Bulgaria national football team for the first time on 6 November 2014.[27] He remain and unused substitute for a 1–1 draw with Malta.[28]

Club statistics

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As of 27 May 2016
Club performance League Cup Continental Other Total
Club League Season Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Bulgaria League CCB Cup Europe Other[a] Total
Chernomorets Burgas A Group 2012–13 0 0 0 0 0 0
Neftochimic Burgas (loan) B Group 2012–13 8 0 0 0 8 0
Chernomorets Burgas A Group 2013–14 27 0 2 0 29 0
Total 27 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 29 0
Botev Plovdiv A Group 2014–15 28 3 1 0 2 0 1 1 32 4
2015–16 27 1 1 0 28 1
Total 55 4 2 0 2 0 1 1 60 5
Career Total 90 4 4 0 2 0 1 1 97 5
  1. ^ Includes Bulgarian Supercup matches.

Honours

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Žalgiris[29]

References

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  1. ^ "Профил на Милен Гамаков". sportal.bg. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  2. ^ Milen Gamakov at Soccerway
  3. ^ "Milen Gamakov Sign for Botev Plovdiv". botevplovdiv.bg. 12 July 2014.
  4. ^ Ботев загуби от Лудогорец във финала за Суперкупата
  5. ^ Ботев се върна в Топ 6 след убедителен успех над Берое
  6. ^ "Направихме го! Ботев влетя в шестицата с чиста победа над ЦСКА". Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  7. ^ Ботев допусна обрат в Стара Загора
  8. ^ Ботев 3:2 ЦСКА, "А" група; 16.05.2015 17:30
  9. ^ Ботев с трима призьори в класацията „Футболист на футболистите“
  10. ^ Марселиньо спечели приза "Футболист на футболистите"
  11. ^ Ботев надделя в градското дерби
  12. ^ Ботев изпусна Пирин в последната минута
  13. ^ "Ботев влезе със сладка победа над Черно море в 105-ата си година". Archived from the original on 14 March 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  14. ^ "Милен Гамаков премина в Лехия (Гданск)" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 16 June 2016.
  15. ^ "Milen Gamakow wraca do Lechii" (in Polish). 90minut. 30 June 2017. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  16. ^ "Официално: Гамаков в Славия" (in Bulgarian). blitz.bg. 1 June 2018.
  17. ^ Гамаков е новият капитан на младежите
  18. ^ Младежите удариха Кипър
  19. ^ Капитанът Гамаков: Полезна контрола и заслужена победа
  20. ^ Терзиев и Гамаков се присъединиха към тима
  21. ^ България не успя да преклони Уелс
  22. ^ Младежите не успяха да се справят с Уелс (видео)
  23. ^ Младежите на България се провалиха в Люксембург
  24. ^ Младите "лъвове" отстъпиха пред Франция
  25. ^ Ново поражение за младежите, този път загубиха от Норвегия (видео)
  26. ^ България U21 загуби от Норвегия U21 с 0:2 в контрола
  27. ^ Милен Гамаков с първа повиквателна за представителния отбор на България, Терзиев го заменя при младежите
  28. ^ Malta make their mark in Sofia
  29. ^ "Milen Gamakow". 90minut.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 12 April 2024.
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