Mihaylov Junior Crowned Bulgarian Footballer of 2011

Twente goalkeeper Nikolay Mihaylov receives the 2011 Bulgarian player of the year award from his father, Bulgarian Football Union (BFS) president Borislav Mihaylov (R). Photo by Meridian Match

Dutch club Twente's goalkeeper Nikolay Mihaylov was named Bulgaria's best football player of the year at an official ceremony in Sofia Friday.

Bulgaria's young international stopper was picked up by journalists ahead of Aston Vila midfielder Stilyan Petrov and Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov. Thus, Mihaylov broke the hegemony of Berbatov, who had won the Bulgarian Footballer of the Year a record seven times.

The Manchester United forward, who had already announced that he preferred otyher players to be acknowledged instead of receiving the award once again, finished third.

After the ceremony, Nikolay Mihaylov admitted that his dream was to play for Italian giants Milan, BGNES reports. The promising youngster is said to be chased by Tottenham Hotspur, who are allegedly ready to pay EUR 6 M for him.

Nikolay Mihaylov is the son of Borislav Mihaylov, a legendary Bulgarian goalkeeper, the player with the most international appearances for Bulgaria and member of UEFA's executive committee. Nikolay's grandfather, Bisser Mihaylov, also used to be the country's international goalkeeper.

Bulgaria's traditional Footballer of the Year survey recently made headlines across the world, as the country's Prime Minister Boyko Borisov was curiously placed first in an Internet poll among fans. It is widely believed that Borisov, an amateur football player in his free time, was mocked for his passion for sports.

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