Viktor Popov

Viktor Nikolaev Popov (Bulgarian: Виктор Николаев Попов; born 5 March 2000) is a Bulgarian professional footballer who plays as a right-back for Ekstraklasa club Korona Kielce and the Bulgaria national team.^[2]

Viktor Popov

Personal information
Full name	Viktor Nikolaev Popov
Date of birth	(2000-03-05) 5 March 2000 (age 25)
Place of birth	Varna, Bulgaria
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[1]
Position(s)	Right-back
Team information
Current team	Korona Kielce
Number	26
Youth career
2010–2019	Cherno More
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2019–2025	Cherno More	180	(2)
2025–	Korona Kielce	0	(0)
International career‡
2018	Bulgaria U19	4	(0)
2019–2022	Bulgaria U21	18	(0)
2019–	Bulgaria	23	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 22:27, 27 May 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 22:54, 10 June 2025 (UTC)

In this Bulgarian name, the patronymic is Nikolaev and the family name is Popov.

Born and raised in Varna, Popov joined Cherno More's academy in 2010. He made his senior debut in May 2019, aged 19. He signed for Korona Kielce in May 2025.

Popov has also represented Bulgaria at various youth levels and made his senior debut in November 2019.

Club career

Cherno More

Popov made his first team debut for Cherno More Varna in a 1–0 home win against Botev Plovdiv on 18 May 2019, playing full 90 minutes.^[3] Ten days later he signed his first professional contract with the club.^[4] On 10 July 2022, he scored his first goal for the club in a 1–0 away win over Lokomotiv Sofia in the opening game of the 2022–23 season. Popov left the club after his contract expired at the end of 2024–25 season.

Korona Kielce

On 30 May 2025, Popov signed a two-year contract as a free agent with Polish club Korona Kielce.^[5]

International career

On 14 November 2019, he earned his first cap for Bulgaria, coming on as a late second half substitute for Strahil Popov in the 0–1 home loss against Paraguay in a friendly match.^[6]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 27 May 2025

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup[a]		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Cherno More	2018–19	First League	2	0	0	0	—		—		2	0
	2019–20	First League	26	0	1	0	—		—		27	0
	2020–21	First League	31	0	1	0	—		1[b]	0	33	0
	2021–22	First League	29	0	2	0	—		—		31	0
	2022–23	First League	30	1	5	0	—		—		35	1
	2023–24	First League	30	0	0	0	—		—		30	0
	2024–25	First League	32	1	5	1	2[c]	0	—		39	2
	Total		180	2	14	1	2	0	1	0	197	3
Korona Kielce	2025–26	Ekstraklasa	0	0	0	0	—		—		0	0
Career total			180	2	14	1	2	0	1	0	197	3

1. Includes Bulgarian Cup
2. Appearance in UEFA Europa League play-off
3. Appearance(s) in UEFA Conference League

International

As of match played 10 June 2025

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Bulgaria	2019	1	0
	2020	2	0
	2022	3	0
	2023	7	0
	2024	8	0
	2025	2	0
Total		23	0