Career
Early career
Popov began his career with Spartak Plovdiv and made his first team debut in 2001. Then he played two and a half years in the second division with Belite Orli and Haskovo, before joined Botev Plovdiv in December 2007. Botev Plovdiv
Popov signed with Botev Plovdiv as a free agent on 27 December 2007 on a two-and-a-half-year deal.
He was signed to replace Nikolay Domakinov at Botev and added an extra dimension with his heading ability from set-pieces.
He made his official debut in the A PFG with Botev Plovdiv in a match against Spartak Varna on March 1, 2008, playing full 90 minutes. On 14 March 2009, Popov played as a goalkeeper for the final minutes in the league game against Levski Sofia after regular goalkeeper Lilcho Arsov was sent off in the 86th minute.
He made one good save during the minutes to the end of the game, but Botev lost 0–1. CSKA Sofia
On 24 July 2009, Popov joined CSKA Sofia on a three-year contract.
On 13 August 2011, in the second league game of 2011-2012 season, against Chernomorets Burgas, Popov ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament and received surgery a week later.
His recovery was said to take up to six months. This season he played only 6 matches. He was substituted only once during the entire league season.
On 26 July 2012, he scored his first-ever European goal in a 1–1 home draw against Slovenian side North Dakota Mura 05 in the Second qualifying round of 2012-2013 Europa League.
On 17 July 2013, Popov signed a new two-year contract with CSKA. After serving mainly as a centre back for the majority of his career, during 2013-2014 season he started to be employed as the regular right back by CSKA head coach, Stoycho Mladenov. Universitatea Craiova
On 6 June 2015, Popov signed a two-year contract with Universitatea Craiova.
In August 2011, Popov was named in the Bulgarian squad for the first time for a friendly against Belarus. He made his debut in the game on 11 August, coming on for the last 7 minutes in place of Chavdar Yankov as Bulgaria loss 1–0 at Dinamo Stadium in Minsk.
Three years later, on 9 September 2014, in Bulgaria"s first match of Union of European Football Associations Euro 2016 qualification, Popov made his competitive debut in a 2–1 victory away to Azerbaijan at Bakcell Arena, Baku, playing full 90 minutes in the centre of defence.