Dimitar Mitov (Bulgarian: Димитър Митов; born 22 January 1997) is a Bulgarian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for EFL League One club Cambridge United.
Personal information | |||
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Full name | Dimitar Veselinov Mitov[1] | ||
Date of birth | (1997-01-22) 22 January 1997 (age 25) | ||
Place of birth | Montana, Bulgaria | ||
Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[2] | ||
Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
Club information | |||
Current team | Cambridge United | ||
Number | 1 | ||
Youth career | |||
2008–2013 | Chavdar Etropole | ||
2013–2015 | Charlton Athletic | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2015–2017 | Charlton Athletic | 0 | (0) |
2015 | → Canvey Island (loan) | 1 | (0) |
2017– | Cambridge United | 127 | (0) |
National team | |||
Bulgaria U16 | |||
2013 | Bulgaria U17 | 5 | (0) |
2014–2015 | Bulgaria U19 | 3 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16 October 2022 (UTC) |
Born in Montana, Mitov spent part of his childhood in Kozloduy,[3] where he began training football at the age of nine. Initially, he was deployed as an outfield player. After a short stint with Dunav Selanovtsi, in 2009, at age 12, he had a successful tryout with Hristo Stoichkov's academy and joined the ranks of Chavdar Etropole.[4]
Mitov joined Charlton Athletic in 2013 from Bulgarian club Chavdar Etropole, after undergoing a trial at Nottingham Forest.[5] In April 2015, he scored a goal from his own six-yard box against Coventry City U18's, gaining press attention.[6] He featured for the club at under-18, under-21 and under-23 level but did not make a senior appearance for the club.[7]
In February 2015, Mitov joined Isthmian League Premier Division club Canvey Island on a one-month loan. He made a single appearance in a 1–1 draw with Lewes on 28 February.[8]
Following his release from Charlton Athletic, Mitov joined League Two club Cambridge United on a two-year contract.[9]
On 8 August 2017, he made his debut in a 4–1 EFL Cup defeat to Bristol Rovers.[10] Mitov's first league appearances for Cambridge came in the final 3 games of the 2017–18 season, playing against Morecambe, Newport County and Port Vale.
On 16 May 2018, he extended his contract with Cambridge United. The contract kept him at the club until 2021 and was subsequently extended.[11]
During the 2018–19 season, Mitov replaced David Forde as the first choice goalkeeper. Mitov made 21 league appearances in total over the season. Forde was then released at the end of the season, after falling down the pecking order.
He put in a remarkable performance in his team's 1–0 FA Cup victory over Newcastle United on 8 January 2022. On 30 April 2022, Mitov was named the Cambridge Player of the Season.[12]
Mitov has represented Bulgaria at every age level from under-16 to under-19. He also captained his nation at under-17 and under-19 level.[7]
Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
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Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Charlton Athletic | 2015–16[13] | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2016–17[14] | League One | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Charlton Athletic total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Canvey Island (loan) | 2014–15 | Isthmian League Premier Division | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Cambridge United | 2017–18[15] | League Two | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
2018–19[16] | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 25 | 0 | ||
2019–20[17] | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 0 | ||
2020–21[18] | 20 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0 | ||
2021–22[19] | League One | 42 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 51 | 0 | |
2022–23[20] | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | ||
Cambridge United total | 127 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 146 | 0 | ||
Career total | 128 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 147 | 0 |
Cambridge United F.C. Player of the Year | |
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Cambridge United F.C. – current squad | |
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