Goran Popov

Goran Popov (Macedonian: Горан Попов; born 2 October 1984) is a retired Macedonian footballer,[2] who played as a defender for Macedonian side Vardar and the Macedonia national team.

Goran Popov
Personal information
Full name Goran Popov[1]
Date of birth (1984-10-02) 2 October 1984
Place of birth Strumica, SFR Yugoslavia
Height 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Left back / Left midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2003 Belasica 6 (0)
2003Proodeftiki (loan) 0 (0)
2004 AEK Athens 8 (0)
2004 Red Star Belgrade 0 (0)
2004–2005Odra Wodzisław (loan) 11 (0)
2005–2007 Egaleo 45 (1)
2007–2008Levadiakos (loan) 20 (0)
2008–2010 Heerenveen 51 (2)
2010–2014 Dynamo Kyiv 48 (2)
2012–2014West Bromwich Albion (loan) 18 (0)
2014–2017 Vardar 43 (3)
2017 Doxa Katokopias 0 (0)
2017–2019 Vardar 19 (3)
National team
2002 Macedonia U-19 5 (2)
Macedonia U-21 10 (2)
2004–2014 Macedonia 46 (2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Popov started his career with local side Belasica and moved to Greece with Proodeftiki and AEK Athens. He signed for Red Star Belgrade in 2004 but injuries prevented him from making an impact and he returned to Greek football with Egaleo after a short loan spell in Poland with Odra Wodzisław. Egaleo were relegated in 2007 and Popov joined Levadiakos before moving to Dutch club Heerenveen in July 2008. At Heerenveen he finally found some success and won the KNVB Cup in 2009 scoring in the final against FC Twente. After good form in European competitions Popov signed for Ukrainian side Dynamo Kyiv.

Life and career

Popov was born in Strumica, Socialist Republic of Macedonia, SFR Yugoslavia and played football with local club Belasica making six appearances as the side finished second in the First Macedonian Football League. He moved on to Greek side Proodeftiki and then AEK Athens. His time at Athens was short and after eight matches he left for Red Star Belgrade where he made his debut away at PSV Eindhoven in the UEFA Champions League as Red Star lost 5–0.[3] Injuries prevented him from making at impact with Red Star and he joined Polish side Odra Wodzisław on loan. At the end of the 2004–05 season Popov returned to Greek football with Egaleo spending two seasons there and then one season with Levadiakos. In 2008, he made the move to Dutch football with Heerenveen where he won the KNVB Cup in 2009 and impressed enough in European football to earn a move to Ukrainian giants Dynamo Kyiv in June 2010.[4]

On 10 August 2012, Popov initially signed for English Premier League side Stoke City on a season long loan deal,[5] but the move fell through after he failed to be granted a UK work permit.[6] On deadline day, Popov received a UK work permit and he signed instead on a season-long loan for West Bromwich Albion. After Artim Šakiri, Goran Popov is the second Macedonian football player who has ever played at West Bromwich Albion.

On 3 February 2013, Popov was dismissed by referee Mark Clattenberg for allegedly spitting at fullback Kyle Walker, in a game that ended 10 to Tottenham Hotspur.

On 9 July 2013, Popov signed a one-year loan deal to return to West Bromwich Albion.[7]

On 18 September, Popov signed a three-year contract with Vardar for undisclosed fee.[8] At the end of the 2018–19 season, Popov's contract with Vardar expired and he retired from football.[9]

International career

Goran Popov has been part of the Macedonian U-19 and U-21 teams before making his debut senior for the Macedonian national team in June 2004[10] in a friendly match against Estonia. He has earned a total of 46 caps, scoring 2 goals[11] and his final international was a May 2014 friendly against Cameroon.[12]

International goals

#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.30 May 2004A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia Estonia2–4WinFriendly
2.19 November 2008Estadi Comunal d'Aixovall, Andorra la Vella, Andorra Montenegro2–1LostFriendly
Correct as of 13 January 2013[13]

Career statistics

Club

Statistics accurate as of match played 4 January 2014[14]

Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Europe Other[A] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Belasica 2002–03 1. MFL 6000001070
AEK Athens 2003–04 Alpha Ethniki 8000000080
Red Star Belgrade 2004–05 First League 0000003030
Odra Wodzisław (loan) 2004–05 Ekstraklasa 1100000110
Egaleo 2005–06 Alpha Ethniki 1900000190
2006–07 Superleague Greece 2610000261
Total 45100000000451
Levadiakos (loan) 2007–08 Superleague Greece 2000000200
Heerenveen 2008–09 Eredivisie 241520040333
2009–10 Eredivisie 27131008010392
Total 512830012010725
Dynamo Kyiv 2010–11 Ukrainian Premier League 1513000110291
2011–12 Ukrainian Premier League 16110006010241
2012–13 Ukrainian Premier League 100000201040
Total 322400019020572
West Bromwich Albion (loan) 2012–13 Premier League 1201000130
2013–14 Premier League 20102050
Total 14020200000180
Career total 187514320350302418
A. ^ The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the Johan Cruijff-schaal XIV and Ukrainian Super Cup.

International

As of August 2012[15]

Macedonia national team
YearAppsGoals
200421
200560
200610
200750
200851
2009100
201060
201160
201230
201420
Total462

Personal life

He is the younger brother of Robert Popov who is also a football player.

References

  1. "Barclays Premier League Squad Numbers 2013/14". Premier League. 16 August 2013. Archived from the original on 25 September 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
  2. Zo zette Goran Popov Friesland op stelten vice.com
  3. "PSV progress in style". UEFA.com. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  4. Zlateski, Alexsadar. "Goran Popov made season debut for Dynamo Kyiv". Macedonian Football. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  5. "Potters Swoop For Goran Popov". Stoke City F.C. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
  6. "Popov set to pop off after work permit blow". The Sentinel. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  7. "Goran Popov rejoins West Brom on season-long loan deal". bbc.co.uk/sport/. BBC Sport. 9 July 2013. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  8. Официјално: Горан Попов во Ф.К. Вардар 3 години Archived 20 September 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  9. Горан Попов: "С Вукоевичем дали Гармашу прозвище "Кутия", sportarena.com, 12 August 2019
  10. Goran Popov at UEFA.com
  11. Appearances for (North) Macedonia National Team - RSSSF
  12. "Player Database". eu-football.info. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  13. Football PLAYER: Goran Popov
  14. "Goran Popov". Soccerway. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  15. "Popov, Goran". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmerman. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
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