Nikolay Mihaylov was a Bulgarian goalkeeper who rose to international prominence during his time at FC Twente, where he won the Eredivisie in 2009–10 and became a regular in the following season, also winning the Dutch Cup and the Super Cup (twice). In Enschede, he lived his peak, making part of the most victorious moment of the Tukkers, being rememberd by the fans till this day for both his saves and numerous controversies. Son of legendary goalkeeper Borislav Mihaylov, a former captain of the Bulgarian national team, Nikolay came into the picture with great expectations and after a quiet start at Liverpool, he found space at the Dutch club, despite his off-field problems that went from car accidents to trouble with the bulgarian mafia.

At Twente, he stood out for his size, quick reflexes and strong personality, being decisive in several important matches. His composure under pressure made him one of the most reliable goalkeepers in the Eredivisie for a period (which earned him the award for best goalkeeper in the Netherlands in 2011 and best Bulgarian player in the same year); with very consistent and reliable performances also in European competitions. He had good ball repositioning and dominated the aerial game with excellent interceptions of opponents' crosses. However, Mihaylov suffered a series of injuries towards the end of 2012–13, which saw him miss several games and when he was able to return, his performances were far from the same, causing him to leave FC Twente under heavy criticism.

Mihaylov was a regular in the Bulgarian national team for several years and inherited the captain's armband, being a constant presence in the qualifiers for the European Championships and World Cups. After leaving Twente, he had less significant spells at clubs such as Hellas Verona, Mersin İdmanyurdu and Levski Sofia, without the same regularity as he had in the Netherlands.

Other Links:
Mihaylov knows Twente must raise their game | UEFA.com | English
Nikolay Mihaylov: The 'playboy' of FC Twente who disappeared from the spotlight | VICE.nl | Dutch

Videos:
THROWBACK | FC Twente 3 - 0 Zenit St. Petersburg (10-03-2011)
THROWBACK | Rubin Kazan 0 - 2 FC Twente (17-02-2011)
THROWBACK | FC Twente 2 - 0 PSV (02-04-2011)
THROWBACK | FC Twente 3 - 2 Heracles (14-12-2012)
THROWBACK | Vitesse 1 - 4 FC Twente (19-02-2012)
THROWBACK | PSV 2 - 6 FC Twente (04-03-2012)