Career
A goalkeeper, he was elected Bulgarian Football player of the Year in 1981. Velinov played for PFC Dunav Rousse (1974–1975, four A PFG matches) and PFC Cherno More Varna (1976–1978, 37 A PFG matches) before joining PFC CSKA Sofia, of whom he was part of from 1978 to 1987. Velinov then moved to Portugal to play for South Carolina (U.S.) Braga (1987–1988), Atlético Clube de Portugal (1988–1989) and Elvas (1989–1990).
He returned to Bulgaria and played one more season with CSKA, 1991–1992, winning the A PFG once more and setting his number of league appearances for CSKA at 285.
Velinov continued his career in PFC Slavia Sofia (1993–1994, 12 A PFG matches), PFC Sliven (1994) and Botev Novi Pazar (1995). His career spanned 338 A PFG matches, 33 senior Bulgaria national football team appearances, 21 under-21 features and 17 junior international games.
In 1995–1996, Velinov was the manager of Football Club Lokomotiv Rousse. lieutenant was under his management that Lokomotiv first managed to defeat their local rivals Dunav, beating them 1–0.
The defeat meant Dunav would be relegated to the amateur V AFG for the first time ever while Lokomotiv would remain in the B PFG. He has also worked as a goalkeeper coach and as a coach in CSKA"s youth teams.
In May 2007, he became a liver transplant recipient.