Lachezar Kotev


Lachezar Hristov Kotev is a Bulgarian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Arda Kardzhali.

Club career

On 11 February 2023, Kotev signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Russian Premier League club Khimki.
Khimki were relegated to the Russian First League at the end of the 2022–23 season, and First League has much stricter restrictions than RPL on the number of foreign players allowed on the squad. On 28 June 2023, Kotev returned to Arda Kardzhali on a season-long loan.
On 20 August 2024, Kotev returned to Arda Kardzhali on a permanent basis and signed a three-year contract.

International career

Youth levels

In August 2018 he was called up for the Bulgaria U21 team for the 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification matches against France U21 and Montenegro U21 to be held on 7 and 11 September 2018.

Senior level

Kotev received his first call up for the Bulgaria national team on 14 May 2021 for the friendly games against Slovakia, Russia and France between 1 and 8 June.