Leeds United· Premier LeagueIlia Gruev was named Bulgarian Footballer of the Year in 2023 and won the English second-tier championship with Leeds United in the 2023-2024 season.
Ilia Gruev is a Bulgarian defensive midfielder born in Sofia, currently playing for Leeds United in the Premier League. He has established himself as a key figure in midfield, known for his composure and tactical discipline. Gruev has also represented Bulgaria at the international level, earning recognition as the country's Footballer of the Year.
Gruev is a defensive midfielder who excels at breaking up opposition play and providing cover for the backline. He is strong in tackles and interceptions, with good positional awareness and passing range to initiate attacks. His physicality and work rate make him a reliable shield for the defense, though he occasionally lacks pace in transition.
| Season | Comp | Apps | G | A | YC | RC | Min |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25/26 | Premier League | 23 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1324 |
| 25/26 | FA Cup | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 124 |
| 25/26 | EFL Cup | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 71 |
| 24/25 | UEFA Nations League C | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 180 |
| 24/25 | Championship | 23 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1703 |
| 24/25 | International Friendlies | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 176 |
| 24/25 | FA Cup | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 24/25 | EFL Cup | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 |
| 23/24 | Championship Play-Offs | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 263 |
| 23/24 | Bundesliga | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 23/24 | Championship | 29 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 1775 |
| 23/24 | International Friendlies | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 311 |
| 23/24 | FA Cup | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 300 |
| 23/24 | DFB-Pokal | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 22/23 | UEFA Nations League C | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 161 |
| 22/23 | Bundesliga | 31 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1586 |
| 22/23 | International Friendlies | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 135 |
| 22/23 | European Qualifiers | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 715 |
| 22/23 | DFB-Pokal | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 120 |
| 21/22 | UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualifying | 8 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 680 |
| 21/22 | 2. Bundesliga | 26 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1189 |
| 21/22 | DFB-Pokal | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | World Cup Qualifiers (Europe) | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 404 |
| 2025 | UEFA Nations League Play-off | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 179 |
| 20/21 | Regionalliga Nord | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 335 |
| 20/21 | Bundesliga | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 20/21 | International Friendlies | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 213 |
| 20/21 | DFB-Pokal | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 19/20 | Regionalliga Nord | 15 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 1205 |
| 19/20 | Bundesliga Playoffs | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 19/20 | Bundesliga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 19/20 | DFB-Pokal | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 18/19 | Regionalliga Nord | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 18/19 | International Friendlies | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 65 |
| 18/19 | DFB-Pokal der Junioren | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 180 |
| 18/19 | A-Junioren Bundesliga North/Northeast (- 23/24) | 24 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2150 |
| 17/18 | UEFA EURO U19 Championship Qualifiers | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 65 |
| 17/18 | International Friendlies | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 180 |
| 17/18 | DFB-Pokal der Junioren | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 270 |
| 17/18 | A-Junioren Bundesliga North/Northeast (- 23/24) | 26 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 2340 |
| 16/17 | UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualification | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 240 |
| 16/17 | International Friendlies | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 405 |
| 16/17 | B-Junioren Bundesliga Nord/Nordost (- 23/24) | 25 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1898 |
| 16/17 | German Under-17 Championship | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 240 |
| 16/17 | A-Junioren Bundesliga North/Northeast (- 23/24) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |