Aleksandar Veselinov Vasilev (Bulgarian: Александър Веселинов Василев; born 27 April 1995) is a Bulgarian retired professional footballer who played as a left-back or left winger.[2]
Aleksandar Vasilev started his career playing for his hometown club Levski Strazhitsa. He moved eventually to Vidima-Rakovski, before being invited to join Hristo Stoichkov's academy at Chavdar Etropole.[3] In 2012, he made his professional football debut for Chavdar in the B Group, providing the winning goal for the team in a 1-0 win against Akademik Sofia.[4] In the following season he made 22 appearances for the club, most of them as a substitute. In the summer of 2013 he moved to fellow B Group side Kaliakra Kavarna, where he established himself as a main squad player for the club in the 2013–14 B Group.
On 6 June 2014 he signed for Ludogorets together with his Bulgaria U19 teammate, Preslav Petrov.[5] On 2 August 2014 Vasilev made his official debut for Ludogorets in an A Group match against Marek Dupnitsa.[6] A year later, on 21 August 2015, he scored his first goal for the team in a 3-0 win against Pirin Blagoevgrad.[7]
On 14 June 2016, Vasilev signed for Beroe Stara Zagora on a season long loan deal.[8] He made his debut on 7 August 2016 in a league match against Slavia Sofia, debuting with a goal in a 2-1 win for Beroe.[9] His good performances led him being called-up back by Ludogorets's main squad on 6 January 2017.[10]
Vasilev returned in play for Ludogorets II on 13 March 2017 in a match against Tsarsko Selo Sofia.[11] On 18 March 2017 he played his first match for the season for Ludogorets in a 2:2 draw against Dunav Ruse.[12] For the Bulgarian Cup match on 18 April 2017 against Litex Lovech, Vasilev played the full match and scored one goal for the 4:0 win.[13]
On 1 June 2018, Vasilev signed with Beroe Stara Zagora.[14]
Vasilev surprisingly announced his retirement on 5 January 2024 at age of just 28 in order to start his own business, despite the fact he was a starter in Cherno More, which ended 2023 as First League leaders.[15][16]
On 14 March 2017 Vasilev received his first call up for Bulgaria main squad for the match against Netherlands on 25 March 2017.[17] He completed the match on the bench staying as unused substitute for the 2:0 win over Netherlands.[18] On 18 November 2020, Vasilev earned his first cap, coming on as a substitute for Cicinho and playing the last 30 minutes of the 0:0 away draw with Ireland in a Nations League match.[19]
Ludogorets