Juan Diego Molina Martínez (born 5 November 1993), commonly known as Stoichkov, is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Malaysia Super League club Johor Darul Ta'zim. Mainly an attacking midfielder, he can also play as a winger or a forward.
He made over 170 Segunda División appearances and scored over 60 goals for Mallorca, Alcorcón, Sabadell and Eibar, having played at lower levels until nearly aged 25.
Career Early career Born in San Roque, Cádiz, Andalusia, Stoichkov received his nickname after FC Barcelona's 1990s forward Hristo Stoichkov. His father, who met the Bulgarian international while working at a bar in Barcelona, wanted to legally name his son Stoichkov; this decision was vetoed by his mother.
Stoichkov finished his formation with RCD Espanyol, also in the Catalan capital. On 20 July 2012, he joined Segunda División B side CP Cacereño, but spent the vast majority of his spell with the reserves.
On 5 September 2013, Stoichkov signed for Tercera División side CD San Roque, club he already represented as a youth. Ahead of the 2014–15 campaign, he moved abroad for the first time in his career and joined Gibraltarian side Europa FC, playing in the UEFA Europa League qualifying stages before rejoining San Roque in December 2014.
On 28 January 2016, Stoichkov moved to Real Balompédica Linense in the third level. He immediately became a starter for the side, and scored ten goals for them in the 2017–18 campaign.
Mallorca On 6 July 2018, Stoichkov signed a four-year contract with RCD Mallorca, newly promoted to Segunda División. He made his professional debut on 7 September, coming on as a second-half substitute for Carlos Castro in a 1–0 home win against Cádiz CF.
Stoichkov scored his first professional goal on 27 October 2018, netting the equaliser in a 2–2 home draw against UD Las Palmas. He contributed with three league goals during the campaign as his side achieved promotion to La Liga.
On 20 July 2019, Stoichkov joined AD Alcorcón in the second division on a one-year loan deal. In his year with the team from the Community of Madrid, he finished joint fourth in the league's top scorers with 16 goals.
On 5 October 2020, Stoichkov joined CE Sabadell FC on loan for the 2020–21 campaign. He scored 11 goals, including both of a 2–2 home draw with neighbours Girona FC, but the Catalans were relegated.
Eibar On 21 July 2021, Stoichkov moved to fellow second division side SD Eibar on a three-year deal. He opened his account with two goals in a 3–2 win at Basque neighbours Real Sociedad B on 11 September, adding a further brace to win at home to Sporting de Gijón by the same score eight days later. He was October's Segunda División Player of the Month for three goals in five games.
Stoichkov was sent off for the first time in his career on 6 March 2022, at the end of a 4–1 loss at FC Cartagena in which he opened the scoring. His suspension was overturned on appeal when the Royal Spanish Football Federation ruled that he did not deny his opponent a clear goalscoring chance. He finished the campaign with 21 goals, behind joint top scorers Borja Bastón and Cristhian Stuani, while his team made the play-offs in third.
On 19 December 2023, Stoichkov renewed with the Armeros until 2026.
Alavés On 17 July 2024, Stoichkov was announced at top tier side Deportivo Alavés on a three-year deal, after the club paid his € 1 million release clause. He made his debut in the category at the age of 31 on 16 August, playing the last 22 minutes in a 2–1 away loss to RC Celta de Vigo.
Granada On 25 January 2025, Stoichkov returned to the second division after signing a two-and-a-half-year contract with Granada CF. On 29 August, Deportivo de La Coruña announced that they had signed Stoichkov on a season-long loan deal, with Mohamed Bouldini moving in the opposite direction also on loan.
On 31 July 2026, Stoichkov terminated his link with the Nazaríes.
Johor Darul Ta'zim On 1 August 2026, Stoichkov was announced as the latest signing for the Malaysia Super League club Johor Darul Ta'zim, marking his first career move outside of Europe.
Career statistics
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsCacereño2012–13Segunda División B30———30San Roque2013–14Tercera División288———2882014–15Tercera División2611———2611Total54190000005419Europa2014–15Gibraltar Premier Division52—20—72San Roque2015–16Tercera División2416———2416Linense2015–16Segunda División B155———1552016–17Segunda División B309———3092017–18Segunda División B3610———3610Total81240000008124Mallorca2018–19Segunda División16330—102032020–21Segunda División3000—0030Total193300010233Alcorcón (loan)2019–20Segunda División401600——4016Sabadell (loan)2020–21Segunda División371111——3812Eibar2021–22Segunda División392110—1041212022–23Segunda División401210—2143132023–24Segunda División391210—204212Total1184530005112646Alavés2024–25La Liga16010——170Granada2024–25Segunda División141———1412025–26Segunda División2000——20Total161000000161Deportivo La Coruña (loan)2025–26Segunda División34500——345Johor Darul Ta'zim2026–27Malaysia Super League0000000000Career total447142812061463144
Honours Individual Zarra Trophy: 2019–20 Segunda División Player of the Month: October 2021, January 2023
References
External links