*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:55, 28 August 2024 (UTC)
Dimitar Ivanov Evtimov (Bulgarian: Димитър Иванов Евтимов; born 7 September 1993) is a Bulgarian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for CSKA Sofia.
Evtimov signed with Chavdar Etropole from Volov Shumen in 2009. He made his first-team debut in a 5–1 victory over Kom on 18 September 2010.[5] He made a total of five appearances in the B Group in the 2010–11 season.[3]
A loan to Wrexham fell through in July 2014 after manager Kevin Wilkin was unable to accept an instant recall option demanded by Forest due to regulations by the FAW.[13] Evtimov instead joined Nottinghamshire League Two club Mansfield Town on 19 August, on loan until 3 January, after impressing manager Paul Cox during pre-season.[14][15] He was named on the Football League team of the week for his performance in a 1–0 win at AFC Wimbledon on 20 December.[16] He played a total of 11 games for the "Stags", and new manager Adam Murray stated that "we attempted to extend his loan but unfortunately for us, Forest see him as part of their long-term plans".[17] Evtimov extended his contract with Forest by a further four years in July 2015, tying him to the club until 2019.[18] Following an injury to de Vries, he made his second appearance for Forest at Sheffield Wednesday on 31 October 2015, and manager Dougie Freedman said that he "cost us the game" after he allowed a strike from Fernando Forestieri to creep underneath him for the only goal of the game.[19]
On 31 August 2016, he signed on loan with Portuguese club Olhanense for the 2016–17 season, who were bottom of the LigaPro.[20] His loan spell at the Estádio José Arcanjo proved a difficult one as he conceded within three minutes of his debut, in a 3–2 defeat at União da Madeira on 10 September.[21] Manager Cristiano Bacci lost his job the following month, and though Evtimov established himself in the first-team under new boss Bruno Baltazar, he was recalled from his loan spell earlier than planned on 13 January, having made ten appearances for the "Lions".[22][23][24] Evtimov started the 2017–18 season as Mark Warburton's third-choice goalkeeper behind Jordan Smith and Stephen Henderson, and was advised by former "Reds" goalkeeper Barry Roche to go out on loan to find first-team football.[25] On 8 August 2017, Evtimov started Forest's first round EFL Cup tie against Shrewsbury Town, conceding a penalty in a 2–1 win. This was Evtimov's first game for Forest since October 2015 and his home debut at the City Ground six years after first joining the club.[26]
On 28 October 2017, Evtimov joined League Two club Port Vale on an emergency loan following an injury to loanee goalkeeper Kelle Roos, and made his "Valiants" debut later that day against Swindon Town at Vale Park.[27][28] At fault for at least one of the goals in a 3–0 defeat, The Sentinel's Michael Baggaley wrote that "Evtimov looked as though he had only just been introduced to his defence, but that’s not a criticism because actually he had".[29] Manager Neil Aspin reserved his criticism for the club's medical staff as they only ruled Roos as unfit to play the previous day.[30] On 31 August 2018, Evtimov's contract with Nottingham Forest was terminated by mutual consent after he found himself behind Costel Pantilimon, Luke Steele and Jordan Smith in the first-team pecking order.[31]
Burton Albion
On 14 September 2018, Evtimov signed a one-month contract with EFL League One club Burton Albion after manager Nigel Clough looked for a goalkeeper with experience in the English Football League to stand in for the injured Stephen Bywater and Bradley Collins.[32] He made his debut the following day in a 2–1 win over Sunderland at the Pirelli Stadium.[33] After the game he said that he was happy with the win and passed on his best wishes to opposition striker Charlie Wyke, who he injured during an accidental collision.[34] On 16 October, Evtimov signed a new one-month contract.[35] Despite Collins being restored to the starting line-up, Evtimov went on to sign a second contract extension with the "Brewers" to keep him at the club until January.[36]
Accrington Stanley
On 19 January 2019, Evtimov signed an 18-month contract with EFL League One club Accrington Stanley.[37] He was signed by manager John Coleman after loanee goalkeeper Connor Ripley was recalled by Middlesbrough.[38] He made his debut the same day, replacing Luke Armstrong in the 83rd minute of the club's 1–0 defeat at Charlton Athletic after Jonny Maxted was sent off; after the match he said he was "gutted" to concede the only goal of the game from the penalty spot in the third minute of stoppage-time.[39][40] On 5 March, he was sent off after he tossed a bottle thrown by a Blackpool fan back into the crowd.[41] He was sent off for the second time in his Stanley career on 20 April after giving away two penalties in a 3–0 defeat to Luton Town at the Crown Ground.[42] He was one of five players released by the club at the end of the 2019–20 season.[43]
^Robson, Dany (20 January 2019). "Dimi surprise at debut". Accrington Stanley. Archived from the original on 22 January 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
