Bulgarian defender Kaloyan Pehlivanov has been nominated for the Best Young Player of the First Half of the Season award in USL League One.

Pehlivanov plays for AV ALTA FC, a team that is competing in the league for the first time this season. Despite being newcomers, AV ALTA are currently in second place with 25 points, four behind league leaders Velocity, according to Sportal.bg. Pehlivanov is a regular starter in defence.

"The Bulgarian center back made the jump across the Atlantic Ocean to join Antelope Valley and has proven one of the club’s most consistent performers this season. The 21-year-old ranks second among Young Player-eligible players with 50 clearances and is tied with Valentine on 12 interceptions. Pehlivanov has also completed 483 passes at an 84.1 percent accuracy rate," the award organizers wrote about him.

Born in Svilengrad, Pehlivanov previously played for Hebar Pazardzhik before moving to the United States. He joined the newly formed AV ALTA team in January. In April, he was named in the league’s Team of the Week for the fourth round.

USL League One, officially the United Soccer League League One, is the third tier of professional football in the United States, below Major League Soccer and the USL Championship.

Editor: Miglena Ivanova

Posted in English by E. Radkova