Martin Kamburov

In this Bulgarian name, the patronymic is Andreev and the family name is Kamburov.

Martin Andreev Kamburov (Bulgarian: Мартин Андреев Камбуров; born 13 October 1980) is a Bulgarian former professional footballer who played as a striker. He is the top scorer in Bulgarian First League history with 256 goals.^[1]

Martin Kamburov

Kamburov with Lokomotiv Plovdiv in 2017
Personal information
Full name	Martin Andreev Kamburov
Date of birth	(1980-10-13) 13 October 1980 (age 44)
Place of birth	Svilengrad, Bulgaria
Height	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s)	Striker
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1998–1999	Botev Plovdiv	11	(1)
2000	Lokomotiv Plovdiv	4	(0)
2000–2001	Svilengrad	19	(7)
2001	Botev Plovdiv	9	(1)
2001–2002	Spartak Pleven	31	(6)
2002–2006	Lokomotiv Plovdiv	91	(73)
2006–2007	Al-Ahli Dubai	22	(13)
2007	Lokomotiv Plovdiv	11	(5)
2007–2008	Asteras Tripolis	10	(1)
2009–2010	Lokomotiv Sofia	44	(33)
2010–2012	Dalian Shide	64	(27)
2013	CSKA Sofia	11	(3)
2013–2014	Lokomotiv Plovdiv	35	(20)
2014	CSKA Sofia	0	(0)
2014–2017	Lokomotiv Plovdiv	91	(47)
2017–2020	Beroe Stara Zagora	94	(48)
2020	CSKA 1948	15	(9)
2021	Beroe Stara Zagora	28	(10)
Total		591	(305)
International career
2003–2010	Bulgaria	15	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Kamburov spent the majority of his career with Lokomotiv Plovdiv. He is Lokomotiv's all-time 2nd highest goalscorer in the Bulgarian League, scoring 145 goals in his five periods with the club. He also played for Botev Plovdiv, Svilengrad, Spartak Pleven, Lokomotiv Sofia, CSKA Sofia, Al-Ahli Dubai, Greek side Asteras Tripolis, Chinese Dalian Shide, Beroe Stara Zagora and CSKA 1948.

Career

Early career

Born in Svilengrad,^[2] Kamburov began his career with Botev Plovdiv. He made his first-team debut during 1998–99 season, scoring his first goal in a 3–1 away loss against Neftochimic Burgas on 6 March 1999. Then he switched to local rivals Lokomotiv Plovdiv, with whom he won the top Bulgarian league, A PFG, in 2004, and the bronze medals in 2005. Kamburov was also the league top scorer in these two seasons with 26 and 27 goals respectively.^[3]

Al-Ahli

In December 2005, Kamburov was transferred to the UAE in Al-Ahli (Dubai) side for €2 million and signed a five-year contract.^[4] He was capped 33 times and scored 16 goals. In 2007, he returned to his former club – Lokomotiv Plovdiv.

Lokomotiv Sofia

Lokomotiv Sofia signed Martin Kamburov on 9 January 2009 to a three-year deal. He was given the number 19 shirt. Kamburov had an excellent start to the season, netting 10 goals in just 6 games, including a spectacular hat-trick in Loko Sofia's away game against Levski Sofia on 11 April 2009 to help the team from the Nadezhda district secure a historic 3:0 win. Kamburov became the top scorer in the 2008/2009 season in the Bulgarian A Professional Football Group, managing 17 goals in total, a remarkable achievement given that he only played in half of the season's games.^[5] In the winter of 2009, Kamburov won the best forward of A PFG award once again. At around the same time, he was again called up for the Bulgaria national football team, with his selection greeted with enthusiasm by most Bulgarian fans.^[6]

Kamburov ended the 2009/2010 season with 29 matches and 16 goals.

Dalian Shide

Kamburov was transferred to Dalian Shide in July 2010.^[7] He made his debut for Dalian on 28 July and scored his first CSL goal on 1 August.

CSKA Sofia

On 18 December 2012 Kamburov signed a one-and-a-half-year deal with CSKA Sofia.^[8] His official debut came in the 0:2 home loss against Litex Lovech on 2 March 2013 and he scored his first goal on 31 March 2013 in the 3:0 home win over Minyor Pernik.^[9] Kamburov made his first appearance in The Eternal Derby on 27 April 2013, coming on as a second-half substitute in a match that was lost 1:2 by his team.^[10]

Lokomotiv Plovdiv

In the summer of 2013, Kamburov rejoined Lokomotiv Plovdiv.^[11] He became the league's top scorer in the 2013–14 season for fourth time in his career with 20 goals in 35 matches.

CSKA Sofia

On 5 June 2014, Kamburov returned to CSKA Sofia, signing a contract for a period of one year.^[12] Kamburov's second stint with the "armymen" turned out to be even shorter than the first, as he made just two official appearances for the team - in the matches with Moldovan team Zimbru Chisinau in the UEFA Europa League,^[13][14] before leaving the club in late July 2014,^[15] in part due to his belief that he may not be able to get sufficient playing time for them.^[16]

Lokomotiv Plovdiv

Kamburov then rejoined Lokomotiv Plovdiv and scored a goal in his first game of the 2014–15 season - a 2–1 away win over Haskovo on 2 August.^[17] On 3 August 2017, Kamburov's contract was terminated by mutual agreement.^[18]

Beroe

On 8 August 2017, Kamburov signed with Beroe Stara Zagora.^[19] Following the departure of Martin Raynov in February 2019, Kamburov was made captain of Beroe. On 5 March 2019, he signed a one-year contract extension, keeping him at Beroe until 2020.^[20]

CSKA 1948

In June 2020, while still part of the Beroe team with which he completed the season, Kamburov signed a deal with CSKA 1948.^[21]

Beroe

On 13 September 2021, Kamburov scored the only goal in Beroe's 1:0 win over Tsarsko Selo, which was the 254th occasion of him finding the net in the Bulgarian top division. He thus surpassed Petar Zhekov's record of 253 goals.^[1]

International career

Kamburov earned his first cap for Bulgaria on 18 November 2003, replacing goalscorer Vladimir Manchev in the 1:0 away win over South Korea in a friendly match.^[22][23]

Statistics

As of 1 December 2021

Club	Season	League	Domestic League		Domestic Cups		European Cups		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Botev Plovdiv	1998-99	A PFG	9	1	–		–		9	1
	1999-00		2	0	1	1	–		3	1
	Total		11	1	1	1	–		12	2
Svilengrad	1999-00	V AFG	11	4	–		–		11	4
Lokomotiv Plovdiv	2000-01	B PFG	4	0	–		–		4	0
Svilengrad	2000-01	V AFG	8	3	–		–		8	3
Botev Plovdiv	2000-01	A PFG	6	2	0	0	–		6	2
Spartak Pleven	2001-02		20	5	0	0	–		20	5
Lokomotiv Plovdiv	2002-03		20	8	0	0	–		20	8
	2003-04		29	25	0	0	–		29	25
	2004-05		29	27	0	0	–		29	27
	2005-06		13	13	0	0	–		13	13
	Total		91	73	0	0	–		91	73
Al-Ahli	2005-06	Gulf League	12	7	0	0	–		12	7
	2006-07		21	9	0	0	–		21	9
	Total		33	16	0	0	–		33	16
Lokomotiv Plovdiv	2007-08	A PFG	12	5	0	0	–		12	5
Asteras Tripoli	2007-08	Superleague	5	1	0	0	–		5	1
	2008-09		5	0	0	0	–		5	0
	Total		10	1	0	0	–		10	1
Lokomotiv Sofia	2008-09	A PFG	15	17	0	0	–		15	17
	2009-10		29	16	0	0	–		29	16
	Total		44	33	0	0	–		44	33
Dalian Shide	2010	CSL	15	7	0	0	–		15	7
	2011		25	10	0	0	–		25	10
	2012		24	10	0	0	–		24	10
	Total		64	27	0	0	–		64	27
CSKA Sofia	2012-13	A PFG	11	3	2	0	–		13	3
Lokomotiv Plovdiv	2013-14		35	20	4	1	–		39	21
CSKA Sofia	2014-15		0	0	0	0	2	0	2	0
Lokomotiv Plovdiv	2014-15		28	13	4	1	–		32	14
	2015-16		28	18	2	0	–		30	18
	2016-17	First League	33	16	2	1	–		35	17
	Total		89	47	8	2	–		97	49
Beroe Stara Zagora	2017-18	First League	30	14	0	0	–		30	14
	2018-19		35	16	2	0	–		37	16
	2019-20		29	18	2	0	–		31	18
	Total		94	48	4	0	–		98	48
CSKA 1948	2020-21	First League	15	9	0	0	–		15	9
Beroe Stara Zagora	2020-21		14	5	1	1	–		15	6
	2021-22		12	5	1	1	–		13	6
	Total		26	10	2	2	–		28	12
Total	Bulgaria		477	263	21	6	2	0	500	269
Total	UAE		33	16	0	0	0	0	33	16
Total	Greece		10	1	0	0	0	0	10	1
Total	China		64	27	0	0	0	0	64	27
Total	Career		584	307	21	6	2	0	607	313

Honours

Lokomotiv Plovdiv

• A Group: 2003–04
• Bulgarian Supercup: 2004

Al-Ahli Dubai

• UAE Pro League: 2005–06

Individual

• A Group top scorer: 2003–04 (25 goals), 2004–05 (27 goals), 2008–09 (17 goals), 2013–14 (20 goals), 2015–16 (18 goals), 2019–20 (18 goals)
• Best forward in the A Group: 2009, 2013,^[24] 2014,^[25] 2020, 2021^[26]
• 2nd place in the Bulgarian Footballer of the Year ranking – 2017,^[27] 2021^[26]

References

1. "Камбуров подобри рекорда по голове в българския футбол". dnevnik.bg (in Bulgarian). 13 September 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
2. "Националът Мартин Камбуров открива спортна площадка в Свиленград". haskovo.info. 27 June 2008. Retrieved January 12, 2012.
3. "Локо Пловдив: Марто, върни се в твоя дом!". livesport.bg. Archived from the original on November 29, 2011. Retrieved January 12, 2012.
4. "Kamburov signed with Al-Ahli". footballbulgaria.gol.bg. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Retrieved December 7, 2005.
5. "Kamburov honoured as Bulgaria's best". uefa.com. Retrieved June 8, 2009.
6. "Мъри извика Иван Иванов и Мартин Камбуров в националния". topsport.bg. 22 February 2010. Retrieved January 12, 2012.
7. 保超最佳射手加盟实德 哥斯达黎加两外援走人(in Chinese)
8. "Kamburov leaves Dalien to join CSKA Sofia". London: guardian.co.uk. April 21, 2008. Retrieved December 18, 2012.
9. "Класически ЦСКА мина лесно през Миньор, Камбуров и Варела с дебютни попадения". topsport.bg. 31 March 2013. Retrieved April 14, 2013.
10. "Levski Sofia vs. CSKA Sofia matchcast" (in Bulgarian). topsport.bg. Archived from the original on April 30, 2013. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
11. Тема Спорт (2 December 2013). "Мартин Камбуров: Локо е трън в очите на другите, вижда се колко "не ставам" (in Bulgarian). topsport.bg. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
12. Domuschiev, Angel (5 June 2014). "Камбуров пред Topsport.bg: върнах се в ЦСКА основно заради Стойчо" (in Bulgarian). topsport.bg. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
13. flashscore contributors (17 July 2014). "CSKA Sofia vs. Zimbru Chisinau 1:1". Retrieved August 6, 2014. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
14. flashscore contributors (24 July 2014). "Zimbru Chisinau vs. CSKA Sofia 0:0". Retrieved January 20, 2015. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
15. Domuschiev, Angel (30 July 2014). "Камбуров пред Topsport.bg: за мен Локо е това, което за Стойчо ЦСКА, Младенов не ме изгони, аз настоях да си тръгна" (in Bulgarian). topsport.bg. Retrieved August 5, 2014.
16. topsport editors (4 August 2014). "Камбуров: сам поисках да си тръгна от ЦСКА, никой не ме е гонил, да не се заблуждаваме, борбата ще е голяма" (in Bulgarian). topsport.bg. Retrieved August 5, 2014. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
17. flashscore contributors (6 August 2014). "FC Haskovo vs. Loko Plovdiv 1:2". flashscore.com. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
18. "Локомотив разтрогна по взаимно съгласие с Мартин Камбуров" (in Bulgarian). lokomotivpd.com. 3 August 2017.
19. "Мартин Камбуров е играч на Берое" (in Bulgarian). beroe.bg. 8 August 2017.
20. "Берое удължи договорите на Цветков и Камбуров" (in Bulgarian). beroe.bg. 5 March 2019.
21. "Официално: Мартин Камбуров подписа с ЦСКА 1948" (in Bulgarian). topsport.bg. 9 June 2020. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
22. "Match log for Martin Kamburov" (in Bulgarian). eu-football.info. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
23. "Футболният отбор на България победи Корея с 1:0 пред 40 000 зрители в Сеул" (in Bulgarian). dnevnik.bg. 18 November 2003. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
24. "Иван Иванов е футболист на годината" (in Bulgarian). sportni.bg. Retrieved 2013-12-28.
25. Dimitrov, Ivaylo (17 February 2015). "Владислав Стоянов е най-добрият български футболист за 2014 година! Лудогорци обраха почти всички индивидуални награди". topsport.bg. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
26. Kichukov, Simeon (19 January 2022). "За втори път Кирил Десподов е Футболист на №1 на България". dnevnik.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 10 March 2022.
27. Yotova, Ralitsa (7 January 2018). "Ивелин Попов е "Футболист на годината" за трети пореден път!" (in Bulgarian). topsport.bg. Retrieved 15 January 2018.

External links

• Martin Kamburov at National-Football-Teams.com
• Martin Kamburov at Soccerway