In the current conditions, the transition of Russian football players to the European championships is extremely difficult. Despite the substantive interest from foreign clubs, it is now almost impossible for even top players to change their club registration.

It is all the more surprising that at the very height of the season, a professional European team allowed itself to sign a football blogger who played for an amateur team in media football.

Successful blogging career instead of professional football

Mikhail Prokopiev, better known as Misha Prokop, received his football education at the St. Petersburg Zenit school. He was also at the disposal of the Strogino team, with which, however, he never signed a contract. As a result, professional football did not grow together, and for two years the player focused on blogging.

Recently, he has been engaged in maintaining social networks, where he has more than a million subscribers. He also played for various blogging teams in media football. Summer and autumn of this year have changed a lot in the player’s life. Together with Amkal, Prokop got the right to prove himself in the national cup. Bloggers took full advantage of this chance, knocking out two professional clubs from the tournament and taking off only in the third round.

Prokop, on the other hand, looked chic in these meetings for a player who does not play football professionally. Literally in every meeting, the midfielder recorded one assist in his asset. The successful performance of amateurs in the Russian Cup made a lot of noise and attracted the attention of a wide audience. Experts and team scouts also appreciated Prokop’s play.

Mikhail Prokopiev / Photo: © FC Amkal

“It’s a dream to play in Europe”

On September 26, it became known that Mikhail was on trial in the Bulgarian team Botev. Prokop himself did not arrange an intrigue, confirming the information that appeared in the press on his social networks.

– Today it became known that I am in Bulgaria for viewing. Thank you all for your interest and support. Naturally, when I read about Sheriff, Ferencvaros and even Villarreal, I was shocked. It’s a dream to play in Europe, to be in this football atmosphere. No matter what anyone says about football in Russia, this is a completely different attitude in everything. I didn’t have time to move my family to Moscow, I think it’s smarter to do it in Europe, – commented departure to Bulgaria football player.

Recently, the player was in the camp of the Bulgarian team, hoping to get a professional contract. A month after the information about the review appeared, the Bulgarian club announced on the official website that Mikhail had successfully passed the probationary period and entered into an agreement.

Photo: © Personal archive of Mikhail Prokopiev

– First professional contract at the age of 20. I didn’t think about returning for the last two years, but it turned out that way. Inviting media teams to the Russian Cup, I got in shape at that very moment, not knowing that we would play there, well, and then it’s history. I love everyone,” the player wrote on social networks after the information about the contract appeared.

Botev is a typical middle class in Bulgarian football, without a huge collection of trophies. Now the team takes the tenth place in the championship of Bulgaria. The specific reasons for the interest in Prokop on the part of the team from Plovdiv are not known for certain. But we can assume that the leadership of the club played a big role in inviting Mikhail. Botev is 99% owned by Russian businessman Anton Zingarevich, who acquired the team in 2021.