Georgi Ventsislavov Milanov (; born 19 February 1992) is a Bulgarian professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Liga I club Dinamo BucureÃÂti and the Bulgaria national team.
Born in Levski, Pleven Province, Milanov began playing football at the local club, before joined the Litex Lovech Academy, together with his twin brother Iliya, in 2005. He was part of a group of young players at the club who guided the club to win the Bulgarian U-17 Championship in June 2009, with Milanov scoring in the final against Levski Sofia.
On 1 August 2009, Milanov made his first team debut, at 17 years 152 days, coming off the bench in the 2009 Bulgarian Supercup against Levski Sofia, which ended in a 1âÂÂ0 defeat at Vasil Levski National Stadium. A week later, he made his league debut against Lokomotiv Mezdra, scoring the opening goal in a 5âÂÂ0 victory. On 3 December, he scored his first ever Bulgarian Cup goal, in a 4âÂÂ0 win over Pirin Gotse Delchev which sent them through to the 1/8 finals. Milanov play regularly in his first season, making 31 appearances in all competitions and collected his first A PFG title winner's medal at the end of the 2009âÂÂ10 season.
On 14 August 2010, in a 2âÂÂ1 home victory over Pirin Blagoevgrad, Milanov netted his first goal of 2010âÂÂ11 season. He ended his second season with 5 goals in 36 appearances in all competitions. Milanov helped Litex retain the A PFG title by a 3-point margin after being pushed by Levski Sofia for much of the season.
In 2011âÂÂ12 season, Milanov scored 6 goals in 25 league matches. On 24 May 2012, he was credited with the ABF A PFG Young Player of the Season award, by the professional footballers association of Bulgaria.
On 19 August 2012, Milanov scored his first goal of 2012âÂÂ13 season in a 1âÂÂ1 away draw against Lokomotiv Plovdiv. On 27 October, he scored his first ever hat-trick in the A PFG, against Montana, in a 3âÂÂ1 victory at Ogosta Stadium; he scored from a penalty kick and a two free-kicks. On 27 December 2012, he became the youngest ever recipient of the Bulgarian Footballer of the Year award. On 30 March 2013, as a result of injuries to regular captains Nebojà ¡a Jelenkoviàand Nikolay Bodurov, Milanov captained Litex for the first time against Botev Vratsa in a 5âÂÂ1 home win. On 14 April, he played his 100th match for Litex in the league in a 2âÂÂ1 away loss against Slavia Sofia.
On 5 July 2013, Milanov signed with Russian Premier League side CSKA Moscow on a five-year deal for an initial fee of 5,4 million leva, with a further 2 million leva depending on CSKA appearances in the UEFA competitions in the next two years. He was given the number 23 jersey. He made his official debut on 18 August 2013, in the 1âÂÂ0 home win over Kuban Krasnodar in a league match after coming on as a late substitute for Keisuke Honda. Although having had trouble fitting into the club at start, Milanov is improving at a fast rate according to head coach Leonid Slutsky, resulting in him becoming a regular starter plus in him receiving playing time in important European matches in the group stages of the 2013âÂÂ14 UEFA Champions League. He provided his first assist in a 4âÂÂ1 home win over Terek Grozny; it was the opening goal of the match netted by teammate Seydou Doumbia.
Milanov scored his first official goal for CSKA Moscow in a game against FC Zenit Saint Petersburg on 16 March 2014 â a long range effort that eventually won the game for his team; being the only goal scored in the whole match. His classy goal didn't go unnoticed, as he was voted player of the week for matchday 21 in the Russian Premier League.
For the 2016âÂÂ17 season, Milanov received the number 8 jersey upon his return from Grasshopper. He scored his first goal of the season in a 0âÂÂ1 away win against FC Ural, saving his team from a 0âÂÂ0 draw in the last seconds of the game.
Upon the expiration of his contract at the end of the 2017âÂÂ18 season, he left CSKA as a free agent.
On 16 February 2016, CSKA Moscow announced that Milanov had joined Swiss Super League side Grasshopper Club Zürich on loan for the remainder of the season.
On 3 September 2018, he joined Hungarian club Fehérvár FC. He made his debut on 15 September in a 2âÂÂ1 away loss against Puskás Akadémia FC. He scored his first goal for the club on 23 September in a 0âÂÂ2 win against Cigánd SE, in a match for the Magyar Kupa. On 8 November 2018, he scored the only goal in a 1âÂÂ0 home win against PAOK in a Europa League match.
On 21 July 2020, Milanov left Fehérvár on mutual agreement.
After more than a year without a club, Milanov joined Levski Sofia on 29 July 2021, signing a one-year contract with the club.
On 19 January 2024, Dinamo BucureÃÂti announced the signing of Milanov, when the club was in the Liga I relegation zone. Milanov made his debut for the team on 27 January 2024, in the 1-2 loss against Rapid BucureÃÂti, when he came in as a substitute in the 78th minute to replace Dennis Politic. On 12 February 2024, he provided an assist for Darko Velkovski in the 2-0 away win against champions Farul ConstanÃÂa and he was selected as man of the match.
Milanov was called up to the Bulgaria under-21 team for the first time in February 2010, making his competitive debut on 3 March, in a 0âÂÂ2 loss against Montenegro U21.
Milanov was called up to the senior Bulgaria squad for the first time in September 2011, and made his full international debut in a friendly against Ukraine at Valeriy Lobanovskyi Dynamo Stadium on 7 October, playing 24 minutes as a substitute of a 3âÂÂ0 loss for Bulgaria. On 7 September 2012, Milanov scored his first international goal in a 2âÂÂ2 home draw against Italy during 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying.
On 28 March 2015 Milanov made an assist for the Bulgarian national team during the 2âÂÂ2 draw with Italy.
His twin brother Iliya, is also a football player, who plays as a defender for Bulgarian Third League club Rilski Sportist.
Litex Lovech
CSKA Moscow
MOL Fehérvár
Levski Sofia