Evdokiya Popadinova

Evdokiya Dimitrova Popadiynova (Bulgarian: Евдокия Димитрова Попадинова,^[1] born 26 October 1996) is a Bulgarian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Australian A-League Women club Brisbane Roar and the Bulgaria women's national team.

Evdokiya Popadiynova
Евдокия Попадинова

Popadinova in 2020
Personal information
Full name	Evdokiya Dimitrova Popadiynova[1][2]
Date of birth	(1996-10-26) 26 October 1996 (age 28)
Place of birth	Hadzhidimovo, Bulgaria
Height	1.63 m (5 ft 4 in)
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	Brisbane Roar
Number	17
Youth career
	Sportika Blagoevgrad
College career
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2016–2017	Northwestern Ohio	44	(36)
2018–2019	Florida Gulf Coast Eagles	33	(22)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2013–2015	Sportika Blagoevgrad	?	(?)
2015	Bristol Academy	4	(0)
2016	London Bees	13	(3)
2020	AaB	4	(1)
2020–2022	Napoli	23	(4)
2022–2023	Sassuolo	6	(1)
2023–2024	Lazio	14	(4)
2024–	Brisbane Roar	0	(0)
International career
2011	Bulgaria U17	3	(2)
2012–2014	Bulgaria U19	8	(2)
2014–	Bulgaria	10	(4)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 11 February 2024 (UTC)

Club career

Early years

Popadinova (L) playing for London Bees

Popadinova has played for Sportika Blagoevgrad in her home country before moving to England to sign with Bristol Academy.^[3] In doing so she is the first Bulgarian to make an appearance in the FA WSL.^[4] In March 2016, Popadinova signed with FA WSL 2 team London Bees.^[5]

College

In 2016, Popadinova enrolled at the University of Northwestern Ohio to play for their Division II NAIA program. Following two years with the Racers, Popadinova transferred to play with the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles in NCAA Division I.^[6] Ahead of her senior season, Popadinova was named on the MAC Hermann Trophy watchlist, one of only two players from her conference.^[7]

Brisbane Roar

In August 2024, Popadinova joined Australian club Brisbane Roar.^[8]

International career

At age 16, Popadinova made her senior debut for Bulgaria on 20 August 2013, coming on as a substitute to score in the 4–2 away win over Macedonia in a friendly match.^[9]

International goals

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	14 June 2021	TFF Riva Facility, Istanbul, Turkey	Turkey	1–3	1–3	Friendly
2.	15 February 2023	Gold City Sports Complex, Alanya, Turkey	Hong Kong	1–0	2–0	2023 Turkish Women's Cup
3.	18 February 2023		North Macedonia	2–1	2–1
4.	21 February 2023		Kosovo	1–1	1–2
5.	9 April 2024	Stadion Aleksandar Shalamanov, Sofia, Bulgaria	Armenia	2–2	2–3	UEFA Women's Euro 2025 qualifying

Awards

Individual

• Bulgarian Women Footballer of the Year (6): 2016,^[10] 2017,^[11] 2018, 2019,^[12] 2020, 2023^[13]
• WHAC Newcomer of the Year: 2016
• WHAC Offensive Player of the Year: 2017
• NAIA First Team All-American: 2016, 2017 ^[14]
• ASUN Women's Soccer All-Decade Team (2010–19)^[15]

References

1. "Състав на женския национален отбор за приятелските срещи с Босна и Херцеговина и Турция". Bulgaria Football Union (in Bulgarian). 28 May 2021. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
2. "Evdokiya Popadiynova | | Women's Under-19". UEFA. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
3. "Exclusive: Bristol Academy Make Seven New Signings". Bristol City.
4. "Номинации за жена на годината в категория "Спорт" (in Bulgarian). graziaonline.bg. 2015. Archived from the original on 2 November 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
5. "Seven players join the Bees!". London Bees. Archived from the original on 5 March 2017. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
6. "@FGCU_WSoccer Adds High-Scoring Bulgarian Evdokia Popadinova As Transfer". FGCU Athletics. 27 June 2018.
7. "Popadinova garners MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List honors". FGCU Athletics. August 2019.
8. "Bulgarian international striker Evdokia Popadinova joins Brisbane Roar". Brisbane Roar. 20 August 2024.
9. "Жените победиха Македония с 4:2 насред Скопие" (in Bulgarian). Bulgarian Football Union. 20 August 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
10. "Евдокия Попадинова най-добра сред жените в България" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 7 January 2017. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
11. Yotova, Ralitsa (7 January 2018). "Ивелин Попов е "Футболист на годината" за трети пореден път!" (in Bulgarian). topsport.bg. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
12. Petkov, Georgi (5 January 2020). "Димитър Илиев е "Футболист на годината", получи наградата си лично от Бербатов". topsport.bg. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
13. Kichukov, Simeon (18 March 2024). "Три зад Бербатов, една зад Стоичков: Кирил Десподов e Футболист №1 за четвърти път". dnevnik.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 30 March 2024.
14. NAIA Archive
15. "ASUN Conference Women's Soccer 2010-19 All-Decade Team". ASUN Conference. 9 July 2020. Retrieved 27 August 2021.

External links

• Evdokiya Popadinova at Soccerway
• UNOH profile
• FGCU profile

Sporting positions
Preceded by Taylor Mulder (Siena Heights University)	WHAC Newcomer of the Year 2016	Succeeded by Rikke Sevecke (University of Northwestern Ohio)
Preceded by Camilla Andersen (University of Northwestern Ohio)	WHAC Offensive Player of the Year 2017	Succeeded by Jackie Gardner (University of Northwestern Ohio)
Preceded by Olivia Doak (Lipscomb University)	ASUN Player of the Year 2019	Succeeded by Thais Reiss (University of North Florida)