Ilia Gruev dedicates Bulgaria award to Leeds team-mates after ending three-year wait | OneFootball

Leeds United midfielder Ilia Gruev has dedicated Bulgaria's 2025 Player of the Year award to his team-mates, ending a three-year wait and following in Hristo Stoichkov's footsteps.

According to yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk, he collected the prize during this month's international break, after finishing runner-up in 2022 to five-time winner Kiril Despodov, then missing out again in 2023 and 2024 to his national captain.

He helped Leeds return to the Premier League, then featured in the top flight, with Daniel Farke trusting him in the second tier and against elite opposition. Gruev made 26 club appearances in 2025 and featured nine times for Bulgaria.

He was voted ahead of Ivaylo Chochev of Ludogrets and Despodov of PAOK. Bulgarian Football Union president Georgi Ivanov presented the trophy.

In his acceptance remarks he thanked Leeds and national team-mates, coaches and family, and wished everyone health, happiness, luck and success. He also reflected that the honour once felt unimaginable, credited those who pushed him in hard times, and expressed pride in the colours he represents.

Gruev has withdrawn from Bulgaria's squad for this month's matches in Indonesia for personal reasons. He had been called up to face Solomon Islands, then either the 2026 FIFA Series hosts or St Kitts and Nevis.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk