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

Ilia Gruev has dedicated Bulgaria’s 2025 Player of the Year award to his Leeds United team-mates after finally landing the honour. According to yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk, he followed in the footsteps of Hristo Stoichkov by collecting the top prize at the start of this month’s international break.

Gruev had finished runner-up in 2022 to five-time winner Kiril Despodov, then missed out again in 2023 and 2024 to his Bulgaria captain. This time he topped the voting ahead of Ivaylo Chochev and Despodov.

The recognition follows his role in Leeds’ promotion back to the Premier League and his involvement in the top flight. In the calendar year 2025 he made 26 appearances under Daniel Farke and won nine caps for Bulgaria.

At the ceremony he thanked his Leeds and national team-mates, his coaches, his girlfriend and his parents, and wished everyone health, happiness, luck and success. Bulgarian Football Union president Georgi Ivanov presented the award and said the winner is an example to young players, adding that dedication can turn goals into reality.

Gruev has withdrawn from Bulgaria’s squad for this month’s fixtures in Indonesia for personal reasons.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

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk