Kristiyan Malinov

Following his move to Botev Vratsa, Malinov's current-season form is up 0% on last season (Season 0→6), while his Rating eased 30→11. His peak season for form remains 2020/21 (Season 37).

Domestic career

Season	Club	Apps	G	A	Match	RTG	Season
2025/26	Botev Vratsa · 10th	11	0	1	6.85	11	6
2024/25	Debreceni VSC	10	1	0	—	—	—
2023/24	Kortrijk · 2nd	18	0	0	—	30	0
2022/23	OH Leuven · 2nd	21	0	1	6.65	37	19
2021/22	OH Leuven · 2nd	18	0	0	6.77	42	15

Domestic-league totals per season. RTG = Field Insider Rating (potential / ceiling); Season = age-blind form that year. 8 earlier seasons and 1 youth-team spell in the full career.

Bulgaria · international

Side	Apps	G
Bulgaria	31	0
Bulgaria U21	9	1
Bulgaria U17	3	0

Career caps & goals — tournament breakdown in the full career.

Scout report

Experienced headCentral midfielder

K. Malinov is a 32-year-old central midfielder at Botev Vratsa, rated 10.6 overall by Field Insider's model. A seasoned veteran, he has been a fringe squad member this season (19.6% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 2.35 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Malinov.

On the season, Malinov graded 6 for current form (age-blind), on 0 goals, 1 assist and 2.347 defensive actions per 90.

Year-on-year, that's a clear step up on last season (Season 0 → 6). Over the 5 seasons on record his form has drifted down, peaking in 2020/21.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 11. At 32 Malinov is into the veteran stage, where the age curve weighs on the projection, and a market index of 0.5 reflects that trajectory.

From the career report

Read the full career report →

Past his 2020/21 peak — the recent trend is downward, so buyers are paying for what's left, not what was.

Peak: 2020/21Trending down

10.6

Ratingi

below regular-starter level

6.4

Seasoni

below regular-starter level

19.6%

Minutes

limited game time

2.35

Def. actions / 90

moderate defensive volume

Output in context · Botev Vratsa finished 10th of 16 · a mid-table side

Apps

2.35

Def. / 90

Tackles

Interceptions

Clean sheets

2.35 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — moderate defensive volume, with 3 clean sheets across 11 appearances. Going forward he chipped in 0 goals and 1 assist — a useful bonus from the back.

Watch points

Game time. Only 19.6% of available minutes — needs a settled run to prove the level.
Age curve. At 32, both level and resale value are on the downslope.
Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.

Outlook

Rated 10.6 overall — below regular-starter level. Defensively he reads as moderate defensive volume (2.35 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). Veteran phase — a short-term, lower-fee proposition as both level and value decline (0.8× and falling).

Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.

Per 90 & availability

Minutes played %19.6%

Available fixtures37 of 37

Goals / 900

Assists / 900.138

Goal contribution / 900.138

Defensive actions / 902.347

Player flow

Goal involvements1

Pass accuracy %78

Dribble success %66.7

Cards / 900.276

Foul involvement / 903.865

Season-by-season progression

Rating (potential)Season (form)

Value & potential by age

Market valueRating

Solid = now · dashed = projected

The gold line is market value — an index (not €) blending rating, age and league. It climbs through the early 20s, peaks around ages 22–27 (~1), then tapers with age. At 32, Malinov sits on 0.5, past its peak and easing. The blue line is Malinov's projected Rating — 10.6 today — recomputed at each age, so it follows the same rise-and-fall as a career matures and declines. Solid = up to today; dashed = projected.

Season statistics

Bars = where he ranks among central midfielders in the First League with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals0

Passing

Assists1

Pass accuracy78%

Possession

Successful dribbles4

Dribble success66.7%

Fouls won14

Defending

Tackles2

Interceptions10

Blocks5

Fouls committed14

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards2

Red cards0

Transfer history

Free agentJun 2026 – nowFree

Botev VratsaJun 2025 – Jun 2026Free

Debreceni VSCJan 2025 – Jun 2025

KortrijkAug 2023 – Jan 2025

OH LeuvenAug 2020 – Aug 2023

CSKA SofiaJul 2016 – Aug 2020Free

LLitex(back from loan)Jun 2014 – Jul 2016

Dobrudzha(on loan)Jul 2013 – Jun 2014

LLitexuntil Jul 2013

About K. Malinov

Kristiyan Aleksandrov Malinov is a 32-year-old central midfielder who plays for Botev Vratsa, born on March 30, 1994 in Kavrakirovo, standing 170 cm tall. He is from Bulgaria. Botev Vratsa currently sit 10th of 16 in the First League.

This season

In the current season, K. Malinov has made 11 appearances with 0 goals and 1 assist across 652 minutes, averaging a 7 match rating over his last 4 rated games, with 2 yellow cards.

Recent matches

April 6, 2026: 0-0 draw away at Septemvri Sofia (48 minutes, 6.9 rating)
March 22, 2026: 1-2 loss at home vs Lokomotiv Plovdiv (78 minutes, 6.7 rating)
March 14, 2026: 3-1 win away at Botev Plovdiv (90 minutes, 6.9 rating)
March 7, 2026: 1-0 win at home vs Arda Kardzhali (90 minutes, 1 assist, 7.5 rating)

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates K. Malinov at 10.6 with a Season form score of 6.4. See the full scout report for strengths, watch-points and the market-value outlook.

Career

Across 13 recorded seasons, K. Malinov has totalled 289 club appearances with 18 goals and 3 assists for 8 different clubs. His busiest campaign came in 2018/19, with 31 appearances for CSKA Sofia.

K. Malinov's career has also included time at Debreceni VSC, Kortrijk, OH Leuven, CSKA Sofia, LLitex and Dobrudzha.

On the international stage, K. Malinov has represented Bulgaria, Bulgaria U21, Bulgaria U17 — 43 caps and 1 goal in our records.

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.

Profile

Season stats

Performance data · by competition

Career

Scout report

Output in context · Botev Vratsa finished 10th of 16 · a mid-table side

Watch points