Nikolay Minkov

Season	Club	Apps	G	A	Match	RTG	Season
2025/26	Botev Plovdiv · 8th	28	3	2	7.01	22	17
2024/25	Botev Plovdiv	32	3	0	6.94	—	—
2023/24	Botev Plovdiv	29	0	0	6.86	—	—
2022/23	Botev Plovdiv	31	3	0	—	—	—
2021/22	Botev Plovdiv	27	1	0	—	—	—

Domestic-league totals per season. RTG = Field Insider Rating (potential / ceiling); Season = age-blind form that year. 7 earlier seasons and 2 youth-team spells in the full career.

Bulgaria · international

Side	Apps	G
Bulgaria	8	0
Bulgaria U21	1	0
Bulgaria U17	3	0

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

Scout report

Squad depthFull-back

N. Minkov is a 29-year-old full-back at Botev Plovdiv, rated 21.6 overall by Field Insider's model. An experienced operator, he has been a rotation option this season (56.9% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 1.51 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Minkov.

On the season, Minkov graded 17 for current form (age-blind), on 6 clean sheets and 1.507 defensive actions per 90.

We hold a single season for Minkov, so there's no year-on-year comparison to draw yet — the read above is this campaign only.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 22. At 29 Minkov is in his prime years, and a market index of 1.8 reflects that trajectory.

21.6

Ratingi

below regular-starter level

16.6

Seasoni

below regular-starter level

56.9%

Minutes

rotation minutes

1.51

Def. actions / 90

light defensive volume

Output in context · Botev Plovdiv finished 8th of 16 · a mid-table side

Apps

1.51

Def. / 90

Tackles

Interceptions

Clean sheets

1.51 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — light defensive volume, with 6 clean sheets across 28 appearances. Going forward he chipped in 3 goals and 2 assists — a useful bonus from the back.

Strengths

Attacking threat. Chips in from deep: 0.25 goal involvements per 90, useful for a full-back.

Watch points

Game time. Only 56.9% of available minutes — needs a settled run to prove the level.
Defensive numbers. Modest 1.51 defensive actions per 90 for the position.
Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.

Outlook

Rated 21.6 overall — below regular-starter level. Defensively he reads as light defensive volume (1.51 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). Experienced and reliable, but the value curve is easing (1.1× now → 0.8× projected in three years).

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

Per 90 & availability

Minutes played %56.9%

Available fixtures35 of 35

Goals / 900.151

Assists / 900.1

Goal contribution / 900.251

Defensive actions / 901.507

Player flow

Goal involvements5

Shot conversion %37.5

Shot accuracy %53.3

Pass accuracy %79

Dribble success %82.5

Cards / 900.151

Foul involvement / 901.306

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 23–27 (~3), then tapers with age. At 29, Minkov sits on 1.8, past its peak and easing. The blue line is Minkov's projected Rating — 21.6 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 full-backs in the First League with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals3

Shots on target8

Shots15

Passing

Assists2

Pass accuracy79%

Possession

Successful dribbles33

Dribble success82.5%

Fouls won16

Defending

Tackles6

Interceptions22

Blocks2

Fouls committed10

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards3

Red cards0

Transfer history

Free agentJun 2026 – nowFree

Botev PlovdivJun 2021 – Jun 2026

MontanaJun 2019 – Jun 2021Free

DobrudzhaFeb 2019 – Jun 2019Free

CSKA 1948Jun 2018 – Feb 2019Free

Cherno More Varna(back from loan)Jul 2016 – Jun 2018

Dobrudzha(on loan)Feb 2016 – Jul 2016

Cherno More Varnauntil Feb 2016

About N. Minkov

Nikolay Minkov Minkov is a 28-year-old full-back who plays for Botev Plovdiv, born on August 13, 1997. He is from Bulgaria. Botev Plovdiv currently sit 8th of 16 in the First League.

This season

In the current season, N. Minkov has made 28 appearances with 3 goals and 2 assists across 1,792 minutes, averaging a 7.1 match rating over his last 4 rated games, with 3 yellow cards.

Recent matches

March 20, 2026: 1-0 win away at Slavia Sofia (90 minutes, 7.3 rating)
March 14, 2026: 1-3 loss at home vs Botev Vratsa (90 minutes, 6.3 rating)
March 8, 2026: 0-0 draw away at CSKA 1948 (90 minutes, 6.9 rating)
March 3, 2026: 2-0 win at home vs Septemvri Sofia (90 minutes, 7.9 rating)

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates N. Minkov at 21.6 with a Season form score of 16.6. See the full scout report for strengths, watch-points and the market-value outlook.

His honours include 3 career titles — among them the Cup. Full list in the career record.

Career

Across 12 recorded seasons, N. Minkov has totalled 256 club appearances with 22 goals and 2 assists for 6 different clubs. His busiest campaign came in 2024/25, with 32 appearances for Botev Plovdiv.

N. Minkov's career has also included time at Montana, Dobrudzha, CSKA 1948 and Cherno More Varna.

On the international stage, N. Minkov has represented Bulgaria, Bulgaria U21, Bulgaria U17 — 12 caps 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 Plovdiv finished 8th of 16 · a mid-table side

Strengths

Watch points