Robert Ivanov

Robert Ivanov (Роберт Иванов, born 19 September 1994) is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for 2. Bundesliga club Eintracht Braunschweig and the Finland national team.

Club career
Ivanov has played for FC Myllypuro, FC Viikingit and FC Honka in Kolmonen, Kakkonen, Ykkönen and Veikkausliiga; then all four highest-tiers in Finnish football league system.

He was part of the Veikkausliiga Team of the Month for July 2018, and September 2018.

On 1 September 2020, he signed an initial two-year contract with Polish club Warta Poznań for an undisclosed fee.

On 16 June 2023, it was announced that Ivanov had signed a two-year deal with 2. Bundesliga club Eintracht Braunschweig on a free transfer. Ivanov scored his first goal for the club on 8 October 2023, in a 1–3 home defeat against Paderborn.

International career
Having never played for any of the Finland international youth teams, Ivanov made his debut for the Finland senior national team on 8 January 2019 at the age of 24, in a friendly against Sweden, coming on an 85th-minute substitute for Albin Granlund.

Ivanov was called up for the UEFA Euro 2020 pre-tournament friendly match against Sweden on 29 May 2021. He was part of the Finland squad in the delayed UEFA Euro 2020 in June 2021.

Personal life
Ivanov was born in Kurkimäki, Helsinki, and raised in East Helsinki to an Ingrian Finnish mother and a Russian father. His mother Nelli Pakki, a former Estonian international handball player, had moved to Finland from Estonia earlier in 1990. Besides professional football, Ivanov has played futsal in MaKu.