Martin Andreev Kamburov (Bulgarian: Мартин Андреев Камбуров; born 13 October 1980) is a Bulgarian former professional footballer who played as a striker. He is the top scorer in Bulgarian First League history with 256 goals.[1]
Born in Svilengrad,[2] Kamburov began his career with Botev Plovdiv. He made his first-team debut during 1998–99 season, scoring his first goal in a 3–1 away loss against Neftochimic Burgas on 6 March 1999. Then he switched to local rivals Lokomotiv Plovdiv, with whom he won the top Bulgarian league, A PFG, in 2004, and the bronze medals in 2005. Kamburov was also the league top scorer in these two seasons with 26 and 27 goals respectively.[3]
Al-Ahli
In December 2005, Kamburov was transferred to the UAE in Al-Ahli (Dubai) side for €2 million and signed a five-year contract.[4] He was capped 33 times and scored 16 goals. In 2007, he returned to his former club – Lokomotiv Plovdiv.
Lokomotiv Sofia
Lokomotiv Sofia signed Martin Kamburov on 9 January 2009 to a three-year deal. He was given the number 19 shirt. Kamburov had an excellent start to the season, netting 10 goals in just 6 games, including a spectacular hat-trick in Loko Sofia's away game against Levski Sofia on 11 April 2009 to help the team from the Nadezhda district secure a historic 3:0 win. Kamburov became the top scorer in the 2008/2009 season in the Bulgarian A Professional Football Group, managing 17 goals in total, a remarkable achievement given that he only played in half of the season's games.[5]
In the winter of 2009, Kamburov won the best forward of A PFG award once again. At around the same time, he was again called up for the Bulgaria national football team, with his selection greeted with enthusiasm by most Bulgarian fans.[6]
Kamburov ended the 2009/2010 season with 29 matches and 16 goals.
Dalian Shide
Kamburov was transferred to Dalian Shide in July 2010.[7] He made his debut for Dalian on 28 July and scored his first CSL goal on 1 August.
CSKA Sofia
On 18 December 2012 Kamburov signed a one-and-a-half-year deal with CSKA Sofia.[8] His official debut came in the 0:2 home loss against Litex Lovech on 2 March 2013 and he scored his first goal on 31 March 2013 in the 3:0 home win over Minyor Pernik.[9] Kamburov made his first appearance in The Eternal Derby on 27 April 2013, coming on as a second-half substitute in a match that was lost 1:2 by his team.[10]
Lokomotiv Plovdiv
In the summer of 2013, Kamburov rejoined Lokomotiv Plovdiv.[11] He became the league's top scorer in the 2013–14 season for fourth time in his career with 20 goals in 35 matches.
CSKA Sofia
On 5 June 2014, Kamburov returned to CSKA Sofia, signing a contract for a period of one year.[12] Kamburov's second stint with the "armymen" turned out to be even shorter than the first, as he made just two official appearances for the team - in the matches with Moldovan team Zimbru Chisinau in the UEFA Europa League,[13][14] before leaving the club in late July 2014,[15] in part due to his belief that he may not be able to get sufficient playing time for them.[16]
Lokomotiv Plovdiv
Kamburov then rejoined Lokomotiv Plovdiv and scored a goal in his first game of the 2014–15 season - a 2–1 away win over Haskovo on 2 August.[17]
On 3 August 2017, Kamburov's contract was terminated by mutual agreement.[18]
Beroe
On 8 August 2017, Kamburov signed with Beroe Stara Zagora.[19] Following the departure of Martin Raynov in February 2019, Kamburov was made captain of Beroe. On 5 March 2019, he signed a one-year contract extension, keeping him at Beroe until 2020.[20]
CSKA 1948
In June 2020, while still part of the Beroe team with which he completed the season, Kamburov signed a deal with CSKA 1948.[21]
Beroe
On 13 September 2021, Kamburov scored the only goal in Beroe's 1:0 win over Tsarsko Selo, which was the 254th occasion of him finding the net in the Bulgarian top division. He thus surpassed Petar Zhekov's record of 253 goals.[1]