Aleksandar Branekov

Aleksandar Branekov

Personal information
Full name	Aleksandar Georgiev Branekov
Date of birth	31 May 1987
Place of birth	Sofia, Bulgaria
Height	1.92 m (6 ft 3 ^1⁄2 in)
Playing position	Centre back
Club information
Current team	CSKA Sofia
Number	6
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
2005–2010	CSKA Sofia	28	(2)
2007–2008	→ Lokomotiv Plovdiv (loan)	7	(0)
2010–2011	Vidima-Rakovski	41	(4)
2012–2015	Lokomotiv Sofia	92	(3)
2015–	CSKA Sofia	10	(1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 16:20, 6 December 2015 (UTC). † Appearances (goals)

Aleksandar Georgiev Branekov (Bulgarian: Александър Георгиев Бранеков; born 31 May 1987) is a Bulgarian professional footballer who currently plays for CSKA Sofia as a centre back.

Career

Branekov is a product of the CSKA Sofia Academy. He marked his first-team debut with goal, opening the scoring in a 2–1 away win over Lokomotiv Sofia on 6 November 2005.^[1] Branekov spent a 2007–08 season on loan with Lokomotiv Plovdiv to build up his first team experience, but earned only 7 appearances in the A Group.

In June 2008, Branekov returned to CSKA. Аfter the game with Lokomotiv Sofia on 5 May 2010, in which Branekov scored goal for the 5–1 home win, he came into conflict with the fans and was removed from the first team.^[2] In June 2010, he was released from CSKA.

A month later, Branekov signed a contract as a free agent with Vidima-Rakovski Sevlievo and quickly established himself as a key player. During his time with Vidima, he scored 4 goals in 41 matches in the A Group.

On 1 February 2012, Branekov signed a one-and-a-half-year contract with Lokomotiv Sofia.^[3] He made his debut in a 2–0 home win over Lokomotiv Plovdiv on 5 March. In January 2013, Branekov was announced as Lokomotiv's new club captain. On 10 June 2013, he signed a two-year contract extension, keeping him at Lokomotiv until 30 June 2015.^[4] On 22 February 2014, he scored his first goal in a Lokomotiv shirt against Neftochimic Burgas, in a 5–1 home league win. On 13 March, Branekov scored the only goal in a home win over Chernomorets Burgas in the Bulgarian Cup.

On 1st of July 2015, Branekov returned to his favorite club CSKA Sofia, although the fact that the team will play amateur football next season. He had an opportunity to join the enemy Levski Sofia but he rejected the offer from them.^[5]

Career statistics

As of 22 December 2015.

Club	Season	Division	League		Cup		Europe		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
CSKA Sofia	2005–06	A Group	13	1	0	0	0	0	13	1
	2006–07		2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
	2008–09		6	0	0	0	0	0	6	0
	2009–10		7	1	1	0	2	0	10	1
	Total		28	2	1	0	2	0	31	2
Lokomotiv Plovdiv (loan)	2007–08	A Group	7	0	2	0	–		9	0
	Total		7	0	2	0	–		9	0
Vidima-Rakovski	2010–11	A Group	27	2	0	0	–		27	2
	2011–12		14	2	0	0	–		14	2
	Total		41	4	0	0	–		41	4
Lokomotiv Sofia	2011–12	A Group	13	0	0	0	–		13	0
	2012–13		27	0	7	0	–		34	0
	2013–14		26	2	7	1	–		33	3
	2014–15		26	1	2	0	–		28	1
	Total		92	3	16	1	–		108	4
CSKA Sofia	2015–16	V Group	10	1	3	0	–		13	1
	Total		10	1	3	0	–		13	1
Career total			178	10	22	1	2	0	202	11

Honours

CSKA Sofia

• Bulgarian Cup (1): 2006
• Bulgarian Supercup (1): 2008

References

1. "Aleksandar Branekov: All appearances 2005-06 season". guardian.touch-line.com.
2. "Армейците изгониха от тима Бранеков" (in Bulgarian). segabg.com. 5 May 2010.
3. "Бранеков подписа с Локомотив София" (in Bulgarian). gol.bg. 1 February 2012.
4. "Бранеков остава в Локо (Сф), подписа за 2 години" (in Bulgarian). novsport.com. 11 June 2013.
5. "Александър Бранеков пред сензационен трансфер в "Левски (видео)". sportal.bg (in Bulgarian). 25 June 2015. Retrieved 27 April 2016.

External links

• Aleksandar Branekov profile at Soccerway
• Player Profile at guardian.touch-line.com