Aleksandar Branekov

Aleksandar Branekov (Bulgarian: Александър Бранеков; born 31 May 1987) is a former Bulgarian professional footballer who played as a centre back.

Aleksandar Branekov

Personal information
Full name	Aleksandar Georgiev Branekov
Date of birth	(1987-05-31) 31 May 1987 (age 37)
Place of birth	Sofia, Bulgaria
Height	1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)
Position(s)	Centre back
Team information
Current team	FA Levski-Spartak 1962 (youth coach)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2005–2010	CSKA Sofia	28	(2)
2007–2008	→ Lokomotiv Plovdiv (loan)	7	(1)
2010–2011	Vidima-Rakovski	41	(4)
2012–2015	Lokomotiv Sofia	92	(3)
2015–2016	CSKA Sofia	10	(1)
2016–2017	Slavia Sofia	9	(1)
2017	Septemvri Sofia	4	(0)
2017–2018	Lokomotiv Sofia	17	(0)
Total		208	(12)
Managerial career
2020–	FA Levski-Spartak 1962 (youth coach)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

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. After 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 1 July 2015, Branekov returned to his favorite club CSKA Sofia despite the fact that the team would play amateur football the following season. He had an opportunity to join the rival club Levski Sofia but he rejected the offer from them.^[5]

On 14 June 2017, Branekov joined Septemvri Sofia.^[6] He made his debut for the team on 17 July 2017 in a match against Dunav Ruse.^[7] On 31 August 2017, his contract was terminated by mutual consent.^[8]

On 4 September 2017, Branekov signed with Second League club Lokomotiv Sofia.^[9] At the end of the 2017–18 season, he announced his retirement from football.^[10] Branekov subsequently became a youth coach in Emil Velev's academy - FA Levski-Spartak 1962 in Sofia.^[11]

Personal

On 2 September 2020, Branekov was arrested for being involved in a riot (throwing paving stones at police officers) during the protests against the Borisov government.^[12] He was released by the Sofia District Court after 72 hours.^[13] In November 2023, Branekov received a two-year suspended sentence.^[14]

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.
6. "Септември стартира с четирима нови подготовката за новия сезон" (in Bulgarian). fcseptemvri.com. 14 June 2017.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
7. "Септември започна със загуба в Първа Професионална Лига". Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
8. "Септември се раздели с Бранеков и Даниел Георгиев" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 2 September 2017.
9. "Бранеков: Разбрах се с Локо София, питайте Чандъров защо напуснах Септември" (in Bulgarian). novsport.com. 4 September 2017.
10. "Бранеков прекрати футболната си кариера" (in Bulgarian). gong.bg. 13 June 2018.
11. Анализът на видео като основа в развитието на треньори и отбори
12. Popov, Aleksandar (4 September 2020). "Бившият играч на ЦСКА Бранеков арестуван на протеста" (in Bulgarian). dnes.bg. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
13. "Районният съд освободи бившия футболист Александър Бранеков" (in Bulgarian). novini.bg. 6 September 2020. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
14. "Бивш футболист е осъден за хвърлено паве по полицаи на протестите през 2020 г." (in Bulgarian). dnevnik.bg. 9 November 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2023.

External links

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