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First Professional Football League (Bulgaria)
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| Organising body | Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) Bulgarian Professional Football League (BPFL) |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1924 (knockout) 1937–1940; 1948 (as round-robin) |
| Country | |
| Confederation | UEFA |
| Number of clubs | 16 (14 from 2026–27) |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Relegation to | Second League |
| Domestic cup(s) | Bulgarian Cup Bulgarian Supercup |
| International cup(s) | UEFA Champions League UEFA Europa League UEFA Conference League |
| Current champions | Ludogorets Razgrad (14th title) (2024–25) |
| Most championships | CSKA Sofia (31 titles) |
| Most appearances | Georgi Iliev (461) |
| Top scorer | Martin Kamburov (256 goals) |
| Broadcaster(s) | Nova Broadcasting Group |
| Website | fpleague.bg |
| Current: 2025–26 season | |
The First Professional Football League (Bulgarian: Първа професионална футболна лига, romanized: Parva Profesionalna Futbolna Liga), commonly known as Parva Liga or Bulgarian First League (currently known as the efbet League for sponsorship reasons),[1] is a professional association football league in Bulgaria and the highest level of the Bulgarian football league system. Contested by 16 teams, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Second Professional Football League.
The Bulgarian football championship was inaugurated in 1924 as the Bulgarian State Football Championship and has been played in a league format since 1948, when the A Group was established. The champions of the First League have the right to participate in the qualifying rounds of the UEFA Champions League based on the league's European coefficient. Additionally, two UEFA Europa Conference League spots are allocated to the second team in the final standings and the winner of the European playoffs. A further fourth spot may also be granted to the fourth placed team in the final league ranking, given that the Bulgarian Cup holder has finished among the top three teams at the end of the season.
A total of 75 clubs have competed in the Bulgarian top-tier since its establishment, with FC Krumovgrad being the newest member of the top tier, after promotion in 2023. Since 1948, eleven different teams have been crowned champions of Bulgaria. The three most successful clubs are CSKA Sofia with 31 titles, Levski Sofia with 26 titles and Ludogorets Razgrad with 14 titles. The current champions Ludogorets Razgrad won their fourteenth consecutive title in their fourteenth First League season in 2024–25. Historically, the competition has been dominated by Sofia-based teams. Together they have won a total number of 70 titles.
History
[edit]Foundation
[edit]The first football championship in Bulgaria was held in 1924 as a knockout tournament. It was organised by the Bulgarian National Sports Federation (BNSF). The six inaugural teams were Vladislav Varna, Orel Vratsa, Levski Sofia, Krakra Pernik, Pobeda Plovdiv and Chernomorets Burgas, each having won and representing its regional sports federation, called sportna federatsiya. The championship was abandoned, because of a dispute between Vladislav and Levski over the replay of the final game. In the following 1925 season, SK Vladislav became the first champion of Bulgaria. The championship was reorganised for three seasons, from season 1937–38 to 1939–40, ten teams participated in a round-robin tournament, called the National Football Division.[2]
A Republican Football Group
[edit]The inaugural season of the A Republican Football Group began in the autumn of 1948. The ten teams participating in the league were Levski, Septemvri, Lokomotiv, Slavia and Spartak from the capital city Sofia, and Botev Varna, Botev Burgas, Slavia Plovdiv, Marek Stanke Dimitrov, Benkovski in a spring-autumn cycle like in the Soviet Union. In the autumn of 1949, qualification tournaments were played to determine the teams that would play in the next 1950 season. In the next two seasons the number of teams in the league was increased to 12, and for the 1953 season there were 15 teams (the 16th team was the Bulgaria national team). In seasons 1954 and 1955 there were 14 teams in the league, and in seasons 1956 and 1957 there were 10.[citation needed]
In 1958, the championship was again stopped after the spring half-season, as had happened in 1948. New re-organizations were accepted and the league was again going to be played in the autumn-spring format. Despite the fact that the teams had played just 1 match, CDNA was crowned as the champion of Bulgaria.[citation needed]
The frequent changes in the number of teams in A Group continued in the 1960s. In the first two seasons after the reforms in 1958, the number of teams in the league was 12, in the period 1960–1962 – 14, until season 1967/68, when the teams were 16.
There were new reforms at the end of the 1960s. There were many mergers between Bulgarian clubs. The most-famous are between CSKA Red Flag and Septemvri Sofia in CSKA September Flag, the capital teams Levski and Spartak in Levski-Spartak, Lokomotiv and Slavia in Slavia, the Plovdiv teams Botev, Spartak and Academic in Trakiya. Mergers happened between other Bulgarian clubs too. These mergers between clubs and reforms in A Group were made at the winter break of the 1968/69 season.
After the winter reforms in 1968 until 2000, A Group remained with 16 teams, except in seasons 1971/72 and 1972/73, when 18 teams competed in the league.
Premier Professional Football League
[edit]The Bulgarian Football Union decided to make reforms. The Premier Professional Football League, created in the autumn of 2000, had 14 teams participating in it. At the end of the 2000/01 season, the last two teams were directly relegated to the lower division and the team that finished 12th had the chance to compete in the promotion/relegation play-off for the remaining place in the league. Levski Sofia became champions in the first season of the Premier League.
In the 2001/02 season there was experimentation with the regulations. The championship was divided into two phases. In the first phase the teams played a regular season, each team playing twice against all the others, once home and once away. The second phase was a play-off phase.
In the following season, 2002/03, the championship returned to the regulations of 2000/01 – 14 teams playing in a home and away format. For the first time in 6 years, CSKA Sofia became champions.
A Group
[edit]
The Bulgarian A Professional Football Group was created in 2003. The group was formed by 16 teams, each playing twice against all the others, once home and once away. In the first season of the newly created A Group, the 2003–04 season, for the first time in history, Lokomotiv Plovdiv became champions, finishing with 75 points. In 2004–05, CSKA Sofia won A Group for the 30th time. For the next two seasons, Levski Sofia were champions under manager Stanimir Stoilov. From 2005–06 the league's name has been A Football Group. In 2007–08, CSKA became champions of A Group for a record-breaking 31st time without a loss out of 30 matches. But in the summer, UEFA didn't give a licence for the club to play in the UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds and Levski Sofia entered to play in the tournament instead of CSKA. In the following season Levski Sofia won their last A Group title, finishing one point ahead of CSKA. Later on, two consecutive seasons Litex Lovech won another two titles like in 1997–98 and 1998–99. In 2011–12, after winning promotion from B Group, Ludogorets Razgrad became the second team after Litex to win the A Group in their first season.
The Bulgarian Football Union made some changes in the format of A Group prior to season 2013–14 with the reduction of the number of the teams participating in the top league from 16 to 14 and the reintroduction of the two phase league with a regular season and a playoff/play out phase. For the 2014–15 season, the league was once more decreased, this time to 12 teams, keeping the two phase format. This season was memorable since two of the most popular and successful clubs, CSKA Sofia and Lokomotiv Sofia, were both excluded from the league, despite finishing in the top 5 places. Both teams had accumulated debts and did not have the financial resources to pay them, so the BFU decided to take away their professional licenses. This was the first time in the history of the A Group that CSKA was relegated.[citation needed] For the 2015–16 season, the BFU decided to further decrease the number of teams competing, this time to just 10, with a quadruple round robin format introduced, a format used in the Croatian First Football League and Albanian Kategoria Superiore.
First Professional Football League
[edit]On 7 June 2016 the league's name was changed to First Professional Football League, following approval of new licensing criteria for the clubs.[3] The new league name also came with a new format change, the fourth such in the last four seasons. A total of 14 teams would compete, and the season would consist of two phases, a regular season phase, where each team plays each other team twice, followed by a playoff phase, where the top six teams from the regular season compete for the title as well as European competition spots, while the remaining eight teams would compete for avoiding relegation to the Second League. This format was used from 2016 up until 2021.
In 2021, the BFU decided to once more change the format of the league. This time, the league would still consist of a regular season stage where teams compete against each other twice, but then the league would split into three phases. The top six clubs would again compete for the title and European spots, while teams ranked 7-10 at the end of the regular season would play in the Europa Conference Group, with the 7th placed team competing against the 4th placed team from the Championship group for a UEFA Europa Conference League spot. The bottom four teams would compete to avoid relegation. This format lasted only one season, however, as the league was expanded to 16 teams for the 2022–23 season. The three phases were kept identical though, with the exception being that six teams would compete in the relegation group instead of four. For the 2024–25 season, the format was modified yet again. After the regular season concludes, the league would split into a top four group to determine the champion and European competition places, a second group for teams ranked fifth through eight to determine the team that would compete in the playoffs for UEFA Conference League (team that finished fourth in the top group would play against the fifth-placed team), as well as a bottom eight group consisting of teams competing to avoid relegation, with the last two teams being directly relegated, while the 14th and 15th placed teams would compete in a playoff against the third and fourth placed teams from the Second League.
Competition format
[edit]Starting from the 2022–23 season, a new league format was approved by the Bulgarian Football Union, in an attempt to improve each participating club's competitiveness, match attendance and performance in the league. It involves 16 teams playing in two phases, a regular season and playoffs. The first phase includes each club competing against every other team twice in a double round-robin system, on a home-away basis at a total of 30 games per team and played in 30 fixtures. Eight matches are played in every fixture at a total of 240 games played during the first phase. In the second phase, the top four teams form a European qualifying table, while between the 5th and 8th places will battle European Conference League play-off and bottom six teams participate in a relegation group. The winner of the top group is declared as Champions of Bulgaria and is awarded with the title.
International qualification
[edit]The top four teams compete against each other on a home-away basis. Two matches are played in every fixture of the top four, with the results and points after the regular season also included. At the end of the stage, every team will have played a total of 36 games. The winner of the group is declared as Champions of Bulgaria and automatically secures participation in the UEFA Champions League second qualifying round. The team that ranks second is awarded with a place in the UEFA Europa League qualifying rounds. The third team in the final standings would participate in a play-off match against a representative team from the bottom eight. Depending on the winner of the Bulgarian Cup final, a possible fourth team from the first six may compete in a play-off match for an UEFA Europa League spot instead of the third ranked team.
Note: If the Bulgarian Cup winner has secured its qualification for the European tournaments for the next season through results from Parva Liga, then the place in the UEFA Europa League play-off is awarded to the fourth ranked team in the final standings.
Relegation
[edit]The teams in the bottom eight are split in two sub-groups of four teams, Group A and Group B, depending on their final position after the regular season standings. The teams that enter Group A are the 7th, 10th, 11th and the 14th, and the teams that participate in Group B are the 8th, 9th, 12th and the 13th. Every participant plays twice against the other three teams in their group on a home-away basis. The teams from the bottom eight also compete with the results from the regular season. After the group stages, every team will have played a total number of 32 games. Depending on their final position in Group A and Group B, two sections will be formed, one for a play-off spot in next season's European competitions and one to avoid relegation. The first two teams from each group continue in the semi-finals, and the last two teams of each group continue to the semi-finals for a relegation match. After this phase, one team is directly relegated to the Second League and the remaining two teams will compete in two relegation matches against the second and the third ranked clubs from the Second League.[4]
Tiebreakers
[edit]In case of a tie on points between two or more clubs, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:[5]
- Number of wins;
- Goal difference;
- Goals for;
- Goals against;
- Fewest red cards;
- Fewest yellow cards;
- Draw
List of champions
[edit]Performance by club
[edit][6] Bold indicates clubs which play in the 2024–25 First League.
Notes:
- CSKA Sofia titles include those won as Septemvri pri CDNV, CDNA, and CFKA Sredets.
- Levski Sofia titles include those won as Levski-Spartak and Vitosha, as well as the re-awarded 1984–85 title.
- Botev Plovdiv total does not include 1984–85 title originally awarded to Trakia.
All-time ranking (since 1948)
[edit]The all-time Parva Liga table[7] is an overall record of all match results, points and goals for each team that has participated in the league since its inception in 1948. It also shows every team's number of top three finishes,[8] their best classification, debut season and current spell in Parva Liga, or the season they were last part of the championship.[9]
The table is accurate as of the end of the 2024–25 season.[update]
In order to put the teams on equal terms, 3 points are awarded for a win and 1 for a tie, although the regulation of the various championships was different. The points are calculated according to the results achieved on the field. Administrative withdrawal of points is not taken into account. Canceled matches, as well as playoffs for promotion/remaining or participation in European tournaments, are not taken into account and are not included in the assets of the clubs.
The table below does not reflect the tables provided by official sources, including the Bulgarian Football Union. In general, the table presented below considers clubs bearing similar names and from the same city to be the same entity, and not separate clubs, whereas the Bulgarian Football Union considers the foundation of a new club to be a separate entity and records are kept separately.
| # | Club | S | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Debut | Since/ Last App |
Best | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CSKA Sofia | 76 | 2219 | 1346 | 508 | 365 | 4462 | 1891 | +2571 | 4546 | 30 | 28 | 8 | 1948–49 | 2016–17 | 1 | |
| 2 | Levski Sofia | 77 | 2252 | 1309 | 520 | 423 | 4258 | 1999 | +2259 | 4447 | 21 | 28 | 12 | 1948–49 | 1948–49 | 1 | [a] |
| 3 | Slavia Sofia | 76 | 2231 | 954 | 528 | 749 | 3254 | 2627 | +627 | 3390 | 1 | 7 | 11 | 1948–49 | 1952 | 1 | [b] |
| 4 | Botev Plovdiv | 70 | 2065 | 791 | 482 | 792 | 2933 | 2825 | +108 | 2855 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 1951 | 2012–13 | 1 | |
| 5 | Lokomotiv Sofia | 64 | 1835 | 770 | 460 | 605 | 2644 | 2215 | +429 | 2770 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 1948–49 | 2014–15 | 1 | Dissolved in 2015 |
| 6 | Lokomotiv Plovdiv | 64 | 1933 | 754 | 450 | 729 | 2601 | 2600 | +1 | 2712 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1949–50 | 2001–02 | 1 | |
| 7 | Cherno More | 61 | 1813 | 662 | 472 | 679 | 2172 | 2225 | -97 | 2458 | – | 1 | 3 | 1948–49 | 2000–01 | 2 | |
| 8 | Beroe | 58 | 1759 | 607 | 405 | 747 | 2120 | 2486 | -366 | 2226 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1954 | 2009–10 | 1 | |
| 9 | Spartak Varna | 45 | 1273 | 398 | 286 | 589 | 1462 | 1947 | -485 | 1480 | – | – | 2 | 1950 | 2024–25 | 3 | |
| 10 | Botev Vratsa | 35 | 1084 | 349 | 237 | 498 | 1285 | 1646 | -361 | 1284 | – | – | 1 | 1964–65 | 2018–19 | 3 | |
| 11 | Minyor Pernik | 38 | 1055 | 330 | 248 | 477 | 1175 | 1594 | -419 | 1238 | – | – | – | 1951 | 2012–13 | 4 | |
| 12 | Spartak Pleven | 35 | 994 | 314 | 245 | 435 | 1150 | 1511 | -361 | 1187 | – | – | 1 | 1952 | 2001–02 | 3 | |
| 13 | Litex Lovech | 21 | 608 | 354 | 123 | 131 | 1113 | 552 | +561 | 1185 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 1994–95 | 2015–16 | 1 | |
| 14 | Ludogorets Razgrad | 14 | 469 | 313 | 97 | 59 | 983 | 332 | +651 | 1036 | 14 | – | – | 2011–12 | 2011–12 | 1 | [d] |
| 15 | Pirin Blagoevgrad | 29 | 892 | 269 | 222 | 401 | 938 | 1216 | -278 | 1029 | – | – | – | 1973–74 | 2023–24 | 5 | |
| 16 | Chernomorets Burgas | 29 | 866 | 277 | 188 | 401 | 1057 | 1410 | -353 | 1019 | – | – | – | 1948–49 | 2003–04 | 5 | [c] |
| 17 | Dunav Ruse | 29 | 838 | 260 | 206 | 372 | 888 | 1270 | -382 | 986 | – | – | – | 1951 | 2019–20 | 4 | |
| 18 | Etar Veliko Tarnovo | 24 | 726 | 264 | 161 | 301 | 951 | 1043 | -92 | 953 | 1 | – | 2 | 1969–70 | 1997–98 | 1 | Dissolved in 2003 |
| 19 | Marek 1915 | 29 | 838 | 251 | 177 | 410 | 920 | 1374 | -454 | 930 | – | – | 1 | 1948–49 | 2014–15 | 3 | |
| 20 | Sliven | 25 | 750 | 246 | 164 | 340 | 906 | 1109 | -203 | 902 | – | – | – | 1963–64 | 2010–11 | 6 | |
| 21 | Akademik Sofia | 18 | 505 | 163 | 136 | 206 | 589 | 676 | -87 | 625 | – | – | 2 | 1950 | 2010–11 | 3 | |
| 22 | Neftochimic Burgas | 14 | 430 | 171 | 83 | 176 | 600 | 567 | +33 | 596 | – | 1 | – | 1994–95 | 2016–17 | 2 | |
| 23 | Spartak Plovdiv | 17 | 441 | 158 | 121 | 162 | 562 | 581 | -19 | 595 | 1 | 1 | – | 1953 | 1995–96 | 1 | |
| 24 | Spartak Sofia | 15 | 377 | 135 | 124 | 118 | 456 | 416 | +40 | 529 | – | 2 | – | 1948–49 | 1967–68 | 2 | Dissolved in 2007. |
| 25 | Dobrudzha 1919 | 14 | 414 | 126 | 82 | 206 | 448 | 682 | -234 | 460 | – | – | – | 1962–63 | 2002–03 | 7 | |
| 26 | Belasitsa Petrich | 12 | 368 | 116 | 68 | 184 | 377 | 590 | -213 | 416 | – | – | – | 1980–81 | 2008–09 | 6 | |
| 27 | Lokomotiv GO | 10 | 304 | 102 | 59 | 143 | 310 | 462 | -152 | 365 | – | – | – | 1963–64 | 2016–17 | 8 | |
| 28 | PSFC Chernomorets Burgas | 7 | 218 | 92 | 53 | 73 | 288 | 223 | +65 | 329 | – | – | – | 2007-08 | 2013–14 | 4 | Dissolved in 2019 |
| 29 | Velbazhd Kyustendil | 7 | 201 | 98 | 27 | 76 | 299 | 269 | +30 | 321 | – | – | 3 | 1954 | 2000–01 | 3 | |
| 30 | Arda 1924 | 6 | 201 | 74 | 65 | 62 | 248 | 236 | +12 | 287 | – | – | – | 2019–20 | 2019–20 | 4 | |
| 31 | Montana | 10 | 310 | 70 | 71 | 169 | 291 | 488 | -197 | 281 | – | – | – | 1994–95 | 2020–21 | 9 | |
| 32 | CSKA 1948 | 5 | 171 | 65 | 56 | 50 | 227 | 184 | +43 | 251 | – | – | 1 | 2020–21 | 2020–21 | 3 | |
| 33 | Yantra Gabrovo | 7 | 214 | 65 | 50 | 99 | 239 | 332 | -93 | 245 | – | – | – | 1970–71 | 1993–94 | 8 | |
| 34 | Septemvri Sofia | 7 | 220 | 61 | 41 | 118 | 249 | 381 | -132 | 224 | – | – | – | 1959–60 | 2024–25 | 5 | |
| 35 | Volov Shumen | 7 | 212 | 61 | 38 | 113 | 219 | 368 | -149 | 221 | – | – | – | 1972–73 | 1999–00 | 4 | [f] |
| 36 | Pirin Bl. Blagoevgrad | 6 | 178 | 53 | 41 | 84 | 189 | 254 | -65 | 200 | – | – | – | 2003–04 | 2010–11 | 8 | Merged to form Pirin in 2008. |
| 37 | Haskovo | 7 | 212 | 52 | 31 | 129 | 210 | 400 | -190 | 187 | – | – | – | 1978–79 | 2014–15 | 8 | |
| 38 | Etar Veliko Tarnovo | 5 | 169 | 44 | 44 | 81 | 163 | 254 | -91 | 176 | – | – | – | 2020-21 | 2023-24 | 7 | |
| 39 | Hebar | 6 | 193 | 42 | 42 | 109 | 178 | 313 | -135 | 168 | – | – | – | 1989–90 | 2022–23 | 9 | |
| 40 | Lokomotiv 1929 Sofia | 4 | 140 | 43 | 33 | 64 | 137 | 204 | -67 | 162 | - | - | - | 2021-22 | 2021–22 | 9 | |
| 41 | Akademik Svishtov | 4 | 120 | 36 | 26 | 58 | 136 | 195 | -59 | 134 | – | – | – | 1976–77 | 1986–87 | 11 | |
| 42 | Vihren Sandanski | 4 | 118 | 38 | 14 | 66 | 117 | 173 | -56 | 128 | – | – | – | 2005–06 | 2008–09 | 9 | |
| 43 | Sevlievo | 5 | 150 | 28 | 36 | 86 | 126 | 271 | -145 | 120 | – | – | – | 2003–04 | 2011–12 | 12 | |
| 44 | Rodopa Smolyan | 4 | 118 | 31 | 17 | 70 | 106 | 194 | -88 | 110 | – | – | – | 2003–04 | 2006–07 | 10 | [g] |
| 45 | Maritsa 1921 | 4 | 120 | 28 | 25 | 67 | 129 | 225 | -126 | 109 | – | – | – | 1967–68 | 1996–97 | 14 | |
| 46 | Tundzha 1915 | 3 | 97 | 28 | 22 | 47 | 98 | 152 | -57 | 106 | – | – | – | 1970–71 | 1972–73 | 13 | |
| 47 | Zavod 12 Sofia | 3 | 74 | 23 | 27 | 24 | 72 | 80 | -8 | 96 | – | – | – | 1954 | 1956 | 4 | Merged with Slavia in 1957. |
| 48 | Tsarsko Selo Sofia | 3 | 95 | 23 | 25 | 47 | 82 | 127 | -45 | 94 | – | – | – | 2019–20 | 2021–22 | 8 | Dissolved in 2022. |
| 49 | Vereya | 3 | 106 | 24 | 19 | 63 | 73 | 195 | -122 | 91 | – | – | – | 2016–17 | 2018–19 | 6 | |
| 50 | Krumovgrad | 2 | 72 | 21 | 19 | 32 | 65 | 90 | -25 | 82 | – | – | – | 2023–24 | 2024–25 | 6 | |
| 51 | Metalurg Pernik | 2 | 58 | 22 | 6 | 30 | 60 | 77 | -17 | 72 | – | – | – | 1997–98 | 1998–99 | 10 | |
| 52 | Lokomotiv Mezdra | 2 | 60 | 17 | 13 | 30 | 69 | 89 | -20 | 64 | – | – | – | 2008–09 | 2009–10 | 8 | Dissolved in 2012.[h] |
| 53 | Vitosha Bistritsa | 3 | 101 | 15 | 18 | 68 | 67 | 173 | -106 | 63 | – | – | – | 2017–18 | 2019–20 | 13 | |
| 54 | VVS Sofia | 2 | 54 | 13 | 21 | 20 | 60 | 63 | -3 | 60 | – | – | – | 1953 | 1955 | 8 | Merged into CDNA in 1956. |
| 55 | DSO Stroitel Sofia | 2 | 50 | 13 | 18 | 19 | 47 | 53 | -6 | 57 | – | – | – | 1950 | 1953 | 8 | Dissolved in 1954. |
| 56 | Pirin Gotse Delchev | 2 | 68 | 16 | 8 | 44 | 62 | 148 | -86 | 56 | – | – | – | 2012–13 | 2013–14 | 11 | |
| 57 | Cherveno Zname Sofia | 2 | 40 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 46 | 50 | -4 | 52 | – | – | – | 1950 | 1951 | 6 | Merged with CSKA in 1962. |
| 58 | Kaliakra Kavarna | 2 | 60 | 10 | 11 | 39 | 45 | 117 | -72 | 41 | – | – | – | 2010–11 | 2011–12 | 12 | |
| 59 | Septemvri Pleven | 3 | 66 | 9 | 14 | 43 | 48 | 137 | -89 | 41 | – | – | – | 1950 | 1954 | 8 | Merged with Spartak in 1957. |
| 60 | Rilski Sportist | 2 | 56 | 11 | 6 | 39 | 51 | 116 | -65 | 39 | – | – | – | 2002–03 | 2006–07 | 14 | |
| 61 | Olimpik Teteven | 1 | 30 | 11 | 2 | 17 | 26 | 50 | -24 | 35 | – | – | – | 1997–98 | 1997–98 | 14 | |
| 62 | Akademik Varna | 1 | 28 | 9 | 7 | 12 | 26 | 43 | -17 | 34 | – | – | – | 1953 | 1953 | 10 | Merged with Cherno More in 1969. |
| 63 | Rakovski Ruse | 2 | 60 | 9 | 6 | 45 | 41 | 151 | -110 | 33 | – | – | – | 1995–96 | 1996–97 | 13 | |
| 64 | Dimitrovgrad | 1 | 30 | 8 | 6 | 16 | 32 | 66 | -34 | 30 | – | – | – | 1986–87 | 1986–87 | 16 | |
| 65 | Himik Dimitrovgrad | 1 | 30 | 7 | 6 | 17 | 36 | 60 | -24 | 27 | – | – | – | 1962–63 | 1962–63 | 16 | Merged to form Dimitrovgrad in 1967. |
| 66 | Rozova Dolina | 1 | 30 | 7 | 5 | 18 | 30 | 53 | -23 | 26 | – | – | – | 1982–83 | 1982–83 | 15 | |
| 67 | Lyubimets | 1 | 38 | 6 | 3 | 29 | 35 | 104 | -69 | 21 | – | – | – | 2013–14 | 2013–14 | 14 | |
| 68 | Nesebar | 1 | 30 | 5 | 5 | 20 | 26 | 63 | -37 | 20 | – | – | – | 2004–05 | 2004–05 | 15 | |
| 69 | Slavia Plovdiv | 1 | 18 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 16 | 21 | -5 | 20 | – | – | – | 1948–49 | 1948–49 | 7 | |
| 70 | Sportist Svoge | 1 | 30 | 5 | 4 | 21 | 23 | 59 | -36 | 19 | – | – | – | 2009–10 | 2009–10 | 15 | |
| 71 | Pavlikeni | 1 | 26 | 5 | 4 | 17 | 12 | 45 | -33 | 19 | – | – | – | 1955 | 1955 | 14 | |
| 72 | FC Etar 1924 Veliko Tarnovo | 1 | 30 | 4 | 4 | 22 | 20 | 75 | -55 | 16 | – | – | – | 2012-13 | 2012–13 | 16 | Dissolved in 2013. |
| 73 | Bdin 1923 | 1 | 18 | 2 | 4 | 12 | 13 | 35 | -22 | 10 | – | – | – | 1948–49 | 1948–49 | 9 | |
| 74 | Svetkavitsa 1922 | 1 | 30 | 1 | 5 | 24 | 8 | 71 | -63 | 8 | – | – | – | 2011–12 | 2011–12 | 16 | |
| 75 | Conegliano German F.C. | 1 | 30 | 0 | 1 | 29 | 8 | 131 | -123 | 1 | – | – | – | 2006–07 | 2006–07 | 16 | Dissolved in 2007. |
- Key
| Competing in Parva Liga |
| Competing in Vtora Liga |
| Competing in the amateur leagues |
| Not competing (see notes) |
- a.^ Never relegated.
- b.^ Never relegated, withdrawn with political decision during the 1950 season, due to league reogranisation.[10]
- c.^ Club dissolved in 2006, successor clubs PSFC Chernomorets Burgas and FC Chernomorets 1919 Burgas were founded in 2005 and 2015.
- d.^ Won the championship each season they've been in Parva Liga.
- e.^ Club dissolved in 2003, successor clubs FC Etar 1924 Veliko Tarnovo and later SFC Etar Veliko Tarnovo were founded in 2002 and 2013.
- f.^ Club dissolved in 2014 and refounded in 2018. successor club FC Shumen 1929 was founded 2013 and dissolved in 2016.
- g.^ Club only supports a youth academy.
- h.^ Club dissolved in 2012, successor clubs FC Lokomotiv 1929 Mezdra and OFC Lokomotiv Mezdra were founded in 2011 and 2012.
Bulgarian derbies
[edit]The Eternal Derby
[edit]The Eternal Derby of Bulgarian football is contested between the two most successful and most popular football clubs in Bulgaria, CSKA Sofia and Levski Sofia.[citation needed]
Plovdiv derby
[edit]The Plovdiv derby is contested between Botev and Lokomotiv.[11]
Varna derby
[edit]The Varna derby is match between Cherno more Varna and Spartak Varna
Media coverage
[edit]For the start of the new 2012–13 season, the football clubs rejected requests from four TV stations due to the low payments being offered – Bulgarian National Television, Nova Television, TV7 and TV+. Finally after the first set of fixtures, the satellite broadcaster Bulsatcom with its channel TV+ bought the rights, along with BNT. Before the start of the spring half-season the rights were bought by TV7 and News7, who had rights for the first, third and fourth pick, and BNT 1 along with the international channel BNT World broadcasting the second pick of a match.[12]
The next seasons will also be broadcast on the Nova Broadcasting Group channels Diema, Diema Sport and Diema Sport 2, part of the Diema Extra paid pack, as their contract with the league was additionally extended.[13]
Sponsorship
[edit]Until 2011 the official sponsor of the championship was TBI Credit and the league was officially known as TBI A Football Group.[14]
In 2011–12, A Group had a new sponsor, the Victoria FATA Insurance, and therefore the league name in that season was rebranded to Victoria A Football Championship.[15]
In early 2013, for a short period of time the naming rights of A Group were bought from the news television network News7, eventually renaming the competition's name to NEWS7 Football Championship.[16]
On 11 July 2019, the Bulgarian Football Union announced that the football division's name had been changed to efbet League, following a two-year sponsorship deal with a betting company of the same name.[1]
Statistics
[edit]UEFA coefficients
[edit]The following data indicates Bulgarian coefficient rankings between European football leagues.[17]
This graph was using the legacy Graph extension, which is no longer supported. It needs to be converted to the new Chart extension. |
UEFA League Ranking as of the end of 2022-23 season:[18]
|
UEFA 5-year Club Ranking as of 29 May 2021:[19]
|
Managers
[edit]The following is a table of all current Parva Liga head coaches and managers, and the time they've spent working with their respective clubs.
- As of 11 October 2025
| Nat. | Manager | Club | Appointed | Time as manager |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ilian Iliev | Cherno More | 28 December 2017[20] | 7 years, 294 days | |
| Atanas Atanasov | Dobrudzha | 6 June 2024 | 1 year, 134 days | |
| Aleksandar Tunchev | Arda | 7 June 2024[21] | 1 year, 133 days | |
| Dušan Kosič | Lokomotiv Plovdiv | 19 December 2024[22] | 303 days | |
| Julio Velázquez | Levski Sofia | 6 January 2025[23] | 285 days | |
| Ivan Stoyanov | CSKA 1948 | 30 April 2025[24] | 171 days | |
| Stanislav Genchev | Lokomotiv Sofia | 30 May 2025[25] | 141 days | |
| Stamen Belchev | Septemvri Sofia | 5 June 2025 [26] | 135 days | |
| Rui Mota | Ludogorets | 13 June 2025 [27] | 127 days | |
| Gjoko Hadžievski | Spartak Varna | 9 July 2025[28] | 101 days | |
| Anatoli Nankov | Montana | 11 August 2025[29] | 68 days | |
| Alejandro Sageras | Beroe | 3 September 2025[30] | 45 days | |
| Todor Simov | Botev Vratsa | 24 September 2025[31] | 24 days | |
| Hristo Yanev | CSKA Sofia | 24 September 2025[32] | 24 days | |
| Ivan Tsvetanov | Botev Plovdiv | 25 September 2025 [33] | 23 days | |
| Ratko Dostanić | Slavia Sofia | 11 October 2025[34] | 7 days |
Records
[edit]All-time league appearances
[edit]
| Rank | Player | Period | App. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2000–2019 | 461 | |
| 2 | 1998–2021 | 456 | |
| 3 | 1980–1999 | 454 | |
| 4 | 1959–1978 | 447 | |
| 5 | 1959–1976 | 444 | |
| 6 | 1972–1994 | 422 | |
| 7 | 2006–present | 413 | |
| 8 | 1964–1984 | 410 | |
| 9 | 2004–present | 406 | |
| 10 | 1983–1999 | 403 | |
| Bold displays footballers currently playing in First League As of 21 July 2025[update] | |||
All-time top scorers
[edit]
| Rank | Player | Period | Goals | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1998–2021 | 256 | 0.56 | |
| 2 | 1962–1975 | 253 | 0.76 | |
| 3 | 1980–1998 | 196 | 0.59 | |
| 4 | 1959–1978 | 194 | 0.43 | |
| 5 | 1964–1984 | 185 | 0.45 | |
| 6 | 1977–1998 | 164 | 0.57 | |
| 7 | 1956–1971 | 163 | 0.51 | |
| 8 | 1962–1976 | 162 | 0.46 | |
| 9 | 1982–2001 | 158 | 0.48 | |
| 10 | 1968–1980 | 152 | 0.53 | |
| Bold displays footballers currently playing in First League As of 20 February 2022[update] | ||||
Other records
[edit]- As of 22 September 2025
- Youngest player to appear in the league –
Radoslav Uzunov (aged 15 years and 1 month)[35] - Oldest player to appear in the league –
Georgi Petkov (aged 49 years, 1 month and 27 days)[36][37][38] - Foreign player with the most appearances in the league –
Vančo Trajanov (328) - Foreign player with the most goals in the league –
Claudiu Keșerü (119) - Footballer with the most titles won -
Manol Manolov (12, all with CSKA Sofia)[39] - Footballer who has won the title with the most teams -
Stefan Kolev (5 titles - 1 with Levski Sofia, 1 with CSKA Sofia, 1 with Slavia Sofia and 2 with Litex Lovech)[40] - Manager with the most titles won -
Krum Milev (11, all with CSKA Sofia)[41] - Manager with the most matches in charge of a team -
Dimitar Dimitrov and
Ilian Iliev (491)[42][43] - Most goals scored in a single match -
Ivo Georgiev,
Petar Mihaylov,
Todor Pramatarov, and
Tsvetan Genkov (6)[41][44] - Fastest goal scored in the league –
Miroslav Manolov (6 seconds)[45] - Goal scored at latest point in a match (excluding extra time) –
Spas Delev (108th minute)[46] - Fastest red card in the league –
Nenad Filipović (20 seconds)[47] - Tallest player to appear in the league –
Alessandro Coppola (2.05 m)[48]
Top scorers by season
[edit]Bold indicates all-time highest.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b "The Bulgarian first division has a new brand identity". bfunion.bg. Archived from the original on 10 August 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
- ^ ""А" ПФГ – история – Bulgarski.futbol – А Група – новини, анализи, прогнози, коментари". bulgarski.futbol. Archived from the original on 7 October 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
- ^ "14 отбора ще участват в новия елитен шампионат "Първа професионална лига"". Archived from the original on 19 January 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
- ^ "Формат на Първа Лига". Archived from the original on 31 May 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
- ^ "Регламент на провеждане на Първа Лига". Archived from the original on 4 December 2016. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ Julian Dontchev (12 August 2020). "Bulgaria – List of Champions". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 12 July 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
- ^ "Вечна ранглиста на "А" група » Спечелени точки". bgclubs.eu (in Bulgarian). Archived from the original on 3 March 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
- ^ "Вечна ранглиста на "А" група » Крайни позиции". bgclubs.eu (in Bulgarian). Archived from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
- ^ "А група – Списък на всички отбори". a-pfg.com (in Bulgarian). Archived from the original on 25 October 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
- ^ "В първенството". pfcslavia.com (in Bulgarian). Archived from the original on 12 October 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
- ^ "Botev Plovdiv vs. Lokomotiv Plovdiv". igrizapari.com. Archived from the original on 7 November 2019. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
- ^ ""А" група остава в ефира на TV7 и News7 – Novinite.bg – Новините от България и света". novinite.bg. 6 November 2013. Archived from the original on 5 November 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
- ^ "БФС – "Нова броудкастинг груп" ще излъчва "А" група". bfunion.bg. Archived from the original on 5 November 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
- ^ "Ти Би Ай България – генерален спонсор на националното първенство по футбол". bulstrad.bg. Archived from the original on 5 November 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
- ^ "New Season in Victoria A Football Championship (in Bulgarian)". Archived from the original on 17 August 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
- ^ "Schedule for News7 football championship" (in Bulgarian). Archived from the original on 18 August 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
- ^ "UEFA European Cup Coefficients Database". Bert Kassies. Archived from the original on 12 February 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
- ^ "UEFA Country Ranking 2019 – kassiesA – Xs4all". Kassiesa.home.xs411.nl. Archived from the original on 3 June 2019. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
- ^ "Club coefficients". UEFA. Archived from the original on 18 March 2019. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
- ^ "Черно море се разбра с Илиан Илиев". chernomorepfc.bg (in Bulgarian). 28 December 2017. Archived from the original on 19 February 2022. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
- ^ "Александър Тунчев се завърна в Арда". sportal.bg (in Bulgarian). 7 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ "Официално: Душан Косич е новият старши треньор на Локомотив (Пловдив)". topsport.bg (in Bulgarian). 19 December 2024. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
- ^ "Левски представи новия старши треньор". sportal.bg (in Bulgarian). 6 January 2024. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
- ^ "Алвеша се махна от първия тим на ЦСКА 1948 и оглави стария си отбор". sportal.bg (in Bulgarian). 30 April 2025. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
- ^ "Официално: Станислав Генчев се завърна в Локомотив София". dsport.bg (in Bulgarian). 30 May 2025. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
- ^ "Септември София има нов треньор" (in Bulgarian). dsport.bg. 5 June 2025. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
- ^ "Официално: Лудогорец има нов треньор" (in Bulgarian). dsport.bg. 13 June 2025. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
- ^ "Ветеран, бивш треньор на ЦСКА, пое Спартак (Вн)" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
- ^ "Официално: Монтана назначи дългогодишен помощник на Стойчо Младенов" (in Bulgarian). dsport.bg. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
- ^ "Берое се раздели с треньора си, обяви кой ще води тима в бъдеще" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
- ^ "Ботев (Враца) има нов старши треньор". sportal.bg (in Bulgarian). 24 September 2025. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
- ^ "Христо Янев е новият старши треньор на ЦСКА". cska.bg (in Bulgarian). 24 September 2025. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
- ^ "Ботев (Пловдив) се раздели с Николай Киров" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
- ^ "Бивш наставник на Левски и Цървена звезда е новият треньор на Славия". sportal.bg (in Bulgarian). 11 October 2025. Retrieved 11 October 2025.
- ^ Delchev, Dorian (25 April 2021). "Радослав Узунов стана най-младият играч в елита" (in Bulgarian). gong.bg. Archived from the original on 25 April 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
- ^ Kyrtunov, Bozhidar (6 January 2023). "Вратарят Георги Петков оглави световна класация за 2022 г." (in Bulgarian). dnevnik.bg. Archived from the original on 6 January 2023. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
- ^ Kirilovski, Svilen (24 October 2023). "Георги Петков вече е №2 по възраст сред футболистите в света". segabg.com (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 28 October 2023.
- ^ Kirilovski, Svilen (10 May 2025). "Георги Петков си върна рекорда за най-възрастен футболист в света". segabg.com. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
- ^ Banov, Georgi (28 March 2020). "17 трофея правят Манол Манолов-Симолията осми в историята на футбола" (in Bulgarian). 24chasa.bg. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
- ^ "Стефан Колев: Двама футболисти избягаха с моята кола в Канада" (in Bulgarian). vitoshanews.com. 7 April 2022. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
- ^ a b Velev, Slav (5 October 2021). "Кратка БГ футболна история: статистика и рекорди от първенството през годините". chernomore.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 28 October 2023.
- ^ "Херо се завръща, ще води "Спартак" Варна". btvsport.bg (in Bulgarian). 28 November 2022. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
- ^ "Исторически ден за Илиан Илиев. Става номер 1 по мачове в елита". telegraph.bg (in Bulgarian). 22 September 2025. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
- ^ Неудобните (11 May 2022). "Иво Георгиев – 50 години безсмъртие". neudobnitebg.com (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 28 October 2023.
- ^ "Черно море" би в Монтана с най-бързия гол в А група и хеттрик на Манолов" (in Bulgarian). gong.bg. 22 March 2012. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
- ^ Taneva, Eleonora, ed. (10 December 2023). "ЦСКА владееше трибуните, но на терена спечели "Лудогорец" с гол в 108-ата минута" (in Bulgarian). bgonair.bg. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
- ^ "ЦСКА громи в куриозен мач с червен картон в 20-та секунда – Платини се скъса да изпуска (видео+галерия)" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 14 April 2013. Archived from the original on 15 November 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- ^ "Вторият най-висок футболист в света подсилва Царско село" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 8 February 2022. Archived from the original on 7 March 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
- ^ "Всички голмайстори в България през годините". (in Bulgarian) blitz.bg. Archived from the original on 19 June 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
- ^ "За БФС // История // Шампиони на България" (in Bulgarian). Bulgarian Football Union. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
External links
[edit]- Official website
- League at UEFA
- Bulgaria – List of Champions at the RSSSF
- Table at xscores.com
First Professional Football League (Bulgaria)
View on GrokipediaHistory
Foundation and Early Development
The origins of organized football in Bulgaria trace back to the late 19th century, when the sport was introduced by Swiss gymnastics teachers in 1893–1894, initially gaining popularity among students and intellectuals in Sofia.[6] By the early 20th century, regional associations began forming, leading to the establishment of local championships that served as the foundation for competitive play. The Bulgarian National Sports Federation (BNSF), created on December 16, 1923, played a pivotal role in formalizing football governance, with its football department effectively functioning as the precursor to the Bulgarian Football Union (BFU).[12] This organization oversaw the development of regional leagues, such as the Sofia Football League founded on July 31, 1921, which held its inaugural championship in 1921–22, won by Slavia Sofia.[13] Similar regional competitions emerged in other cities, including Plovdiv (starting in 1920) and Varna (1923–24), fostering local rivalries and talent pools that would later contribute to national structures.[12] The push for a unified national competition culminated in the introduction of the National Football Division, also known as the State Football Championship, in the 1924–25 season. Organized by the BNSF as a knockout tournament among winners of the regional championships, it marked Bulgaria's first nationwide football event, involving six teams and establishing a framework for inter-regional competition.[12][6] This format persisted through the pre-war era, promoting the sport's growth and enabling Bulgaria's entry into international football, including its debut Olympic participation in 1924. Key early clubs, such as Slavia Sofia (founded in 1913 as the oldest surviving team) and Levski Sofia (established in 1914 by high school students), dominated these regional and national stages, alongside academic-oriented teams from Sofia's educational institutions.[14][13] These clubs not only won early titles—Slavia securing the first Sofia league crown—but also laid the groundwork for professional aspirations by building dedicated fan bases and infrastructure.[13] World War II significantly disrupted Bulgarian football organization, as the country aligned with the Axis powers in 1941, leading to resource shortages, player conscription, and halted international engagements. Despite these challenges, the State Football Championship continued intermittently until 1944, with the 1943 edition won by Slavia Sofia.[12] The war's end in 1944, marked by the Soviet liberation and subsequent communist takeover, intensified calls for a more centralized and state-controlled league to align football with national reconstruction efforts. This post-war momentum briefly referenced the shift toward structured communist-era competitions, setting the stage for further reforms.[12]Republican Football Group (1948–1960s)
The Republican Football Group was established in 1948 as Bulgaria's first centralized national football league under the newly formed communist government, replacing the fragmented regional divisions that had previously determined the state champion through knockout tournaments.[12] This reorganization aligned with the nationalization of sports institutions, placing football under the oversight of the Republican Section for Football, a body created to standardize and promote the sport nationwide.[15] The league debuted with 10 teams in a single round-robin format, featuring prominent Sofia-based clubs alongside representatives from Plovdiv, Varna, and other cities, with matches played over a fall-spring schedule.[13] The format remained relatively stable in its early years but saw gradual expansions to 12 or 14 teams by the mid-1950s, incorporating clubs affiliated with state entities such as the military (e.g., the army's Central Sports Club of the Army, or CSKA) and transportation sectors to reflect socialist priorities in mass mobilization.[12] The inaugural 1948–49 season concluded with Levski Sofia as champions, securing the title with a strong performance in the 18-match campaign.[13] Subsequent years highlighted the growing dominance of state-backed teams; for instance, CSKA Sofia (initially as CDNA) claimed titles in 1951–52, 1953–54, and multiple times through the decade, underscoring the competitive edge gained from institutional support.[13] State policies during this period enforced mergers to consolidate resources and eliminate "bourgeois" elements, notably the 1948 integration of the worker-sponsored Chavdar Sofia into the army's CDV structure, forming the foundation of CSKA Sofia and exemplifying how football clubs were restructured to serve ideological goals.[16] In the socio-political landscape of socialist Bulgaria, the Republican Football Group was embedded within broader physical culture programs aimed at fostering collective health, discipline, and loyalty to the regime, with league participation serving as a tool for ideological indoctrination and popular mobilization.[17] Football's role extended beyond domestic competition, providing early international exposure through the revived Balkan Cup (1946–48), helping elevate the league's profile in Eastern Europe.[18] This period also saw the emergence of intense derbies, such as the Sofia rivalry between Levski and CSKA, fueled by contrasting club identities under state sponsorship.[15]Professionalization and A Group Era (1970s–2002)
The professionalization of Bulgarian football accelerated in the late communist era, building on the establishment of the Premier Professional Football League in 1950, which evolved into the A Republican Football Group (A RFG) by 1952 as the premier division with 14 to 16 teams competing in a single-group format.[12] This structure emphasized centralized state control through clubs affiliated with institutions like the army (CSKA Sofia) and police (Levski Sofia), fostering a semi-professional environment where players received stipends but remained tied to military or civic duties.[19] Major reforms in the 1950s introduced a two-group format to expand participation, but by the 1960s, the league reverted to a unified single group of 16 teams playing a double round-robin schedule, a model that stabilized into the 1970s and solidified the A Group's status as Bulgaria's top professional competition. During the 1970s and 1980s, CSKA Sofia emerged as the dominant force in the A Group, securing 13 championships amid intense rivalries that underscored the league's competitive intensity. The club's success was bolstered by state support and talents like Hristo Stoichkov, contributing to a period of relative stability and growing international recognition for Bulgarian football.[20] However, this era was marred by a significant scandal in 1985, when the Bulgarian Cup final between CSKA Sofia and Levski Sofia devolved into a mass brawl, prompting government intervention that temporarily disbanded both clubs and merged them into Sredets Sofia as punishment for the unrest.[20] The incident highlighted underlying tensions in state-controlled sports and led to the clubs' reformation under their original names by 1989, but it exposed vulnerabilities in the league's governance.[21] The fall of communism in 1989 triggered profound changes, including the privatization of football clubs as state subsidies ended and ownership shifted to private investors, marking a transition from ideological patronage to market-driven management.[19] This shift initially promised modernization but coincided with Bulgaria's severe economic collapse in the 1990s, characterized by hyperinflation peaking at over 300% in 1997, which crippled club finances and led to widespread bankruptcies, such as those affecting Lokomotiv Sofia and others.[15] Seasons became irregular, with participation fluctuating between 14 and 18 teams, and corruption allegations further eroded trust, as clubs struggled with unpaid wages and infrastructure decay amid the broader post-communist turmoil.[22] By 2002, these challenges had diminished the A Group's prestige, setting the stage for further reforms toward full professionalism.Establishment of the First Professional League (2003–present)
In 2003, the A Professional Football Group (A PFG) was established under the newly formed Bulgarian Professional Football League (BPFL), which coexisted uneasily with the Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) until their reconciliation in the 1990s, to enforce full professional standards, including mandatory written contracts for all players and club licensing requirements aligned with emerging UEFA guidelines. This marked a significant shift from the semi-professional era, aiming to elevate the league's competitiveness and attract investment by ensuring clubs operated as professional entities with stable player rosters. The league began with 16 teams, playing a double round-robin format, and was commonly referred to as Parva Liga, emphasizing its status as the "First League."[8][9] Key structural changes followed to modernize the competition. In 2005, the league maintained its 16-team format after brief experimentation with expansion, focusing on sustainability amid financial constraints. The name was officially changed to the First Professional Football League in June 2016, coinciding with the introduction of a playoff system that divided teams into championship and relegation groups after the regular season to heighten drama and European qualification stakes; this format was abandoned in 2021 in favor of a simpler split into top and bottom groups following a full round-robin phase, responding to criticism over fixture congestion. Sponsorship from efbet, a leading betting company, began in the 2016–17 season, rebranding the league as efbet League and providing crucial revenue amid economic challenges.[2] Ludogorets Razgrad's emergence defined the era, securing 13 consecutive titles from 2011–12 to 2023–24, a run fueled by strategic investments and foreign talent that contrasted with the league's traditional powerhouses like CSKA Sofia and Levski Sofia. This dominance peaked in the 2024–25 season, where Ludogorets clinched their 14th straight championship with a record-early victory in April 2025, finishing with 76 points from 30 matches and showcasing tactical discipline under head coach Igor Jovićević. Post-2020, the Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) introduced financial fair play rules inspired by UEFA's sustainability framework, mandating balanced budgets and limiting squad costs to 70% of revenue by 2025 to curb overspending and enhance licensing for European competitions.[23][24] The period has not been without challenges, including persistent corruption scandals that undermined credibility. In the 2015–16 season, Litex Lovech was disqualified and expelled from the league after players walked off the pitch in protest against refereeing decisions amid allegations of match-fixing, leading to broader investigations by the BFU and UEFA. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the 2020–21 season, delaying the start from July to August and forcing multiple match postponements due to positive cases among players, with strict protocols implemented to complete the campaign without fans initially. By 2025, the BFU intensified efforts for UEFA compliance, including infrastructure upgrades and anti-corruption audits, to secure the league's access list spots in European tournaments and foster long-term stability.[25][26]Competition Format
League Structure and Season Schedule
The First Professional Football League, commonly referred to as Parva Liga, consists of 16 teams competing in a structured season format designed to determine the national champion and influence promotion and relegation outcomes.[27] The season begins with a regular phase where each team faces every other team twice—once at home and once away—resulting in 30 matches per team. Following this, the teams split into three groups based on regular-season standings, with points carrying over: the top four teams enter the championship group and play six additional matches against each other; teams in fifth to eighth place compete in the Conference League group for six more matches; and the bottom eight teams (ninth to 16th) enter the relegation group, playing seven additional matches each. This three-group playoff system was introduced for the 2022–23 season to heighten competition and determine European spots and relegation. The league is scheduled to reduce to 14 teams for the 2026–27 season, affecting relegation in 2025–26.[28][9] Points are awarded as follows: three for a victory, one for a draw, and none for a defeat, with standings determined primarily by total points accumulated. The season schedule typically spans from late July to late May, accommodating 36 or 37 matchdays in total across both phases.[29][30] In line with UEFA regulations, all league matches must be played on natural grass or hybrid (reinforced natural) surfaces to ensure player safety and play quality; artificial turf has been prohibited since the 2018 implementation of these standards.[31] Over its history, the league's structure has evolved, including periods with 16 teams in the 1990s and expansions to 18 teams in select early seasons like 1971–72 and 1972–73, alongside format experiments such as a three-group playoff division briefly in the 2020s to refine postseason competition.[12]European Qualification Criteria
The allocation of European competition spots from the First Professional Football League is governed by UEFA's access list for the 2024–27 cycle, which assigns positions based on the association's country coefficient ranking. The league champion qualifies for the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League.[32] The Bulgarian Cup winner receives a spot in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Europa Conference League, while the second- and third-placed teams in the league enter the third and second qualifying rounds of the same competition, respectively. The winner of the Conference League group (fifth to eighth) may advance to a playoff for an additional spot.[32] Bulgaria's UEFA country coefficient ranking of 29th as of 2025 places it among associations 27–50, restricting all entries to qualifying rounds without direct access to the league phase and limiting the total to four spots across competitions.[33] This ranking reflects the aggregate performance of Bulgarian clubs over the prior five seasons and determines the absence of UEFA Europa League spots, emphasizing the need for strong showings in qualifiers to advance further.[34] In special cases, if the cup winner has already qualified via its league position, its Conference League spot transfers to the highest-ranked league team not otherwise qualified, ensuring maximum participation.[32] Until the end of the 2022–23 season, UEFA provided temporary protection allowing a relegated league champion to retain its Champions League qualifying spot, but this measure expired with the new cycle.Promotion and Relegation System
The promotion and relegation system between the First Professional Football League (Parva Liga) and the Second Professional Football League (Vtora Liga) ensures competitive balance while enforcing financial and infrastructural standards. For the 2025–26 season, the bottom three teams after the relegation round (overall 14th to 16th) will be directly relegated to the Second League, with the 13th-placed team entering a two-legged playoff against the second-placed team from the Second League; this adjustment accounts for the league's reduction to 14 teams in 2026–27. In the prior 2024–25 season, for example, FC Krumovgrad and Hebar 1918 Pazardzhik were directly relegated.[35] In the 2024–25 playoffs, Lokomotiv Plovdiv defeated Marek 1915 3–0 on aggregate to remain in the First League, and Botev Vratsa beat Pirin Blagoevgrad 1–0 on aggregate to survive. Tiebreakers in these playoffs follow the league's general rules, such as away goals or penalty shootouts if necessary.[35] Promotion from the Second League is granted directly to the champion, who ascends to the First League provided they meet licensing criteria. The second promotion spot is determined through a playoff involving the Second League's runners-up and other contenders, often intersecting with the relegation playoffs against First League teams. Since 2010, the Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) has required aspiring top-flight clubs to obtain a professional license, verifying compliance with standards for stadium facilities, financial stability, youth development, and administrative structure to prevent insolvency and ensure sustainability.[36] Historically, the system has seen significant disruptions due to financial and integrity issues. Clubs like Lokomotiv Sofia have become notable "yo-yo" teams, repeatedly promoted and relegated amid ownership changes and debts; for instance, they were demoted in 2015–16 for failing licensing requirements before returning via playoffs. The 2016 match-fixing scandal, involving widespread corruption allegations, prompted the BFU to impose points deductions and expulsions, leading to mass relegations including Litex Lovech's removal and affecting several others through administrative penalties.[25][37] Recent seasons have highlighted ongoing financial vulnerabilities, with multiple clubs facing dissolution or license revocations. In 2023–24, several Second League teams encountered severe debts, contributing to broader instability, while by 2025, the BFU introduced stricter financial criteria, including enhanced audits of debts and revenue projections, to avert bankruptcies; this resulted in threats to withdraw licenses from up to nine First League clubs and conditional approvals for others like Spartak Varna and Pirin Blagoevgrad. These measures aim to stabilize the league amid a financial crisis affecting nine top-tier teams.[38][39]Tiebreaking Rules
The tiebreaking procedures in the First Professional Football League are applied when two or more teams finish the season with the same number of points in the final standings. The primary criterion is the results of head-to-head matches between the tied teams, prioritizing the team with more points earned in those encounters.[30] If the points from head-to-head matches are level, the goal difference in those specific games serves as the next tiebreaker, followed by the number of goals scored in the head-to-head fixtures if still tied. Should these not resolve the tie, the overall goal difference across all league matches is considered, and finally, the total goals scored in the entire season.[27] Playoffs are utilized only in exceptional cases where ties persist after all standard criteria, particularly for determining the final allocation of European competition spots or positions affecting relegation playoffs. These one-off matches are hosted at neutral venues to ensure impartiality.[2] The tiebreaking rules were standardized in 2005 as part of the league's professional framework to promote consistency and fairness, with minor adjustments implemented after 2016 to align with the introduction of the split playoff format and enhance equity in multi-team ties.[40] A notable application occurred in the 2022–23 season, where CSKA 1948 and Slavia Sofia were tied on points for a key position in the championship round; the tie was resolved in favor of CSKA 1948 based on their superior head-to-head record against Slavia Sofia.Clubs
Current Participating Teams
The 2025–26 First Professional Football League season comprises 16 teams, drawn from across Bulgaria, with a concentration in major urban centers like Sofia and Varna. These clubs represent a blend of historic powerhouses with deep-rooted fan bases and more recently ascendant sides backed by modern investments. The season began in July 2025, and as of November 19, 2025, no mid-season changes to the roster have occurred, though teams must maintain licensing standards throughout. The following table lists the participating teams, including their locations, primary home stadiums, and key notes on founding, ownership, or recent status (standings as of November 9, 2025, after 15 rounds unless noted):| Team | Location | Stadium | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Levski Sofia | Sofia | Georgi Asparuhov Stadium (17,688 capacity) | Founded 1914; iconic club with massive traditional fan base; 1st after 15 matches with 35 points (11–2–2 record). |
| CSKA 1948 Sofia | Sofia | Bistritsa Stadium (3,000 capacity) | Founded 2016 as a successor to original CSKA; privately owned, aggressive playing style; 2nd after 15 matches with 30 points, highest home scoring (19 goals).[28] |
| Lokomotiv Plovdiv | Plovdiv | Lokomotiv Stadium (14,000 capacity) | Founded 1920; railway workers' club with fervent local support; 3rd after 15 matches with 27 points, known for Plovdiv Derby intensity. |
| Cherno More Varna | Varna | Ticha Stadium (8,500 capacity) | Founded 1913; nicknamed "The Sailors"; 4th after 15 matches with 27 points, building on consistent top-half finishes.[28] |
| Ludogorets Razgrad | Razgrad | Huvepharma Arena (10,423 capacity) | Founded 1945; owned by Romanian businessman Kiril Domuschiev since 2010, known for foreign investment and dominance with 14 titles; 5th after 14 matches with 24 points. |
| CSKA Sofia | Sofia | Vasil Levski National Stadium (43,230 capacity) | Founded 1948; military-backed historically, strong rivalry with Levski; 6th after 15 matches with 22 points. |
| Botev Vratsa | Vratsa | Hristo Botev Stadium (6,000 capacity) | Founded 1929; northern Bulgaria representative; 7th after 15 matches with 21 points, rebounding from prior relegation battles.[28] |
| Slavia Sofia | Sofia | Aleksandar Shalamanov Stadium (25,000 capacity) | Founded 1913; "White" club with Jewish heritage roots; 8th after 15 matches with 18 points, focusing on youth development. |
| Botev Plovdiv | Plovdiv | Hristo Botev Stadium (13,800 capacity) | Founded 1912; one of Bulgaria's oldest, green-clad "Canaries" with passionate fans; 9th after 15 matches with 17 points. |
| Spartak Varna | Varna | Spartak Stadium (4,000 capacity) | Founded 1918; promoted via playoffs in 2024; 10th after 15 matches with 16 points, contributing to Varna's dual representation.[28] |
| Lokomotiv Sofia | Sofia | Lokomotiv Stadium (22,000 capacity) | Founded 1929; railway heritage club; 11th after 15 matches with 16 points, recent top scorer contributions. |
| Arda Kardzhali | Kardzhali | Arena Arda (12,000 capacity) | Founded 1924; represents Turkish minority community; 12th after 15 matches with 16 points, stable mid-table side. |
| Beroe Stara Zagora | Stara Zagora | Beroe Stadium (12,000 capacity) | Founded 1916; "Green" club with two titles; 13th after 14 matches with 14 points, emphasizing defensive solidity.[28] |
| Septemvri Sofia | Sofia | Lokomotiv Stadium (22,000 capacity) | Founded 1948; promoted in 2024 after Second League win; using Lokomotiv for 2025–26 due to licensing issues at Dragalevtsi; 14th after 15 matches with 14 points. |
| Montana | Montana | Ogosta Stadium (11,100 capacity) | Founded 1948; promoted after 4-year absence via playoffs; 15th after 15 matches with 13 points, focusing on consolidation.[28] |
| Dobrudzha Dobrich | Dobrich | Druzhba Stadium (12,000 capacity) | Founded 1919; promoted to top flight after 22-year absence via Second League title in 2024–25; 16th after 15 matches with 10 points. |
Notable Historical Clubs
Lokomotiv Sofia stands as a prominent example of a club with deep historical roots in Bulgarian football, having competed in the top flight for over 50 seasons across its incarnations and securing three league titles in 1961, 1964, and 1967. The original club faced severe financial difficulties, culminating in bankruptcy in 2015, which led to the formation of a successor entity, FC Lokomotiv 1929 Sofia, to continue its legacy. In 2023, ongoing financial pressures intensified, with the owner announcing plans to step down amid fan protests and operational challenges, underscoring the club's turbulent path despite its past contributions to the league's competitive balance.[42] Slavia Sofia, another cornerstone of Bulgarian football history, boasts seven league championships, the most recent in 1996, along with eight Bulgarian Cup triumphs, making it one of the nation's most decorated clubs outside the Sofia big two. Founded in 1913, the club has endured periods of decline, including placement in the relegation group during the 2024–25 Parva Liga season, where it fought to maintain top-flight status amid inconsistent performances. Its legacy includes fostering rivalries and contributing to the league's pre-professional era dominance by Sofia-based teams.[43][44] Akademik Sofia emerged as an influential force in the league's formative years, participating in European competitions such as the 1981–82 UEFA Cup, where it faced 1. FC Kaiserslautern, and reaching the Bulgarian Cup final in 1950. Established in 1947 and tied to Sofia University, the club symbolized academic and community involvement in football but struggled with financial woes in later decades, ultimately dissolving in 2012 after relegation to the third tier. Its dissolution marked the end of a once-vibrant institution that had competed for 20 seasons in the top division.[45][46] Mergers during the communist period significantly altered club identities, including the 1968 union of CSKA Sofia with Septemvri Sofia to form CSKA Septemvriysko Zname, aimed at consolidating resources under state control. This arrangement persisted for nearly two decades until post-1989 democratic reforms reversed many such integrations, re-establishing Septemvri as an independent entity and restoring pre-merger structures to promote competitive diversity.[47] Beroe Stara Zagora exemplified regional strength in the 1980s, clinching the league title in 1985–86 and securing bronze medals in 1971–72, which elevated its status as a powerhouse outside Sofia and Plovdiv during a decade of national expansion. The club's successes, including top-six finishes in multiple seasons like fifth place in 1964–65, highlighted the growing influence of provincial teams in challenging capital dominance.[48] Vitosha Bistritsa represented a short-lived but notable incursion from Sofia's suburbs into the elite level, earning promotion in 2017 and competing in the Parva Liga for three seasons (2017–18 to 2019–20), where it achieved 11th and 10th-place finishes before relegation. The club was re-founded in 2021 following administrative changes, reflecting the fragility of mid-tier aspirations in modern Bulgarian football. Hebar Pazardzhik has grappled with post-2023 instability, including a December 2023 public appeal for fan donations to cover player and staff wages after the local municipality terminated financial support, exposing vulnerabilities for smaller clubs amid economic pressures. Despite brief top-flight returns, such as in 2022–23, these challenges have threatened its sustainability and underscored broader issues in club financing.[49]Champions and Titles
List of Champions by Season
The Bulgarian football championship, originating with the inaugural Bulgarian State Football Championship in 1924–25, has determined national champions through various formats, evolving from knockout tournaments among regional winners to a professional league system by 2003. Vladislav Varna claimed the first title, while CSKA Sofia holds the record with 31 championships overall. Ludogorets Razgrad has dominated the modern era, securing 14 consecutive titles from 2011–12 to 2024–25. The table below details the champions and runners-up by season, highlighting key notes such as format changes and controversies where applicable.[13]| Season | Champion | Runners-up | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1924 | Not finished | N/A | Inaugural attempt; knockout among regions. |
| 1924–25 | Vladislav Varna (1) | Levski Sofia | First completed knockout championship. |
| 1925–26 | Vladislav Varna (2) | Slavia Sofia | Knockout format. |
| 1926–27 | Not held | N/A | Organizational issues. |
| 1927–28 | Slavia Sofia (1) | Vladislav Varna | Knockout tournament. |
| 1928–29 | Botev Plovdiv (1) | Levski Sofia | Knockout format. |
| 1929–30 | Slavia Sofia (2) | Vladislav Varna | Knockout tournament. |
| 1930–31 | Atletik-Slava 23 (1) | Spartak Varna | Knockout format. |
| 1931–32 | Spartak Varna (1) | Slavia Sofia | Knockout tournament. |
| 1932–33 | Levski Sofia (1) | Spartak Varna | Knockout format. |
| 1933–34 | Vladislav Varna (3) | Slavia Sofia | Knockout tournament. |
| 1934–35 | Sportklub Sofia (1) | Ticha Varna | Knockout format. |
| 1935–36 | Slavia Sofia (3) | Ticha Varna | Knockout tournament. |
| 1936–37 | Levski Sofia (2) | Levski Ruse | Knockout format. |
| 1937–38 | Ticha Varna (1) | Vladislav Varna | Knockout tournament. |
| 1938–39 | Slavia Sofia (4) | Vladislav Varna | Knockout format. |
| 1939–40 | Lokomotiv Sofia (1) | Levski Sofia | Knockout amid WWII disruptions. |
| 1940–41 | Slavia Sofia (5) | Lokomotiv Sofia | Knockout tournament. |
| 1941–42 | Levski Sofia (3) | Makedonia Skopie | Knockout format. |
| 1942–43 | Slavia Sofia (6) | Levski Sofia | Knockout tournament. |
| 1943–44 | Not finished | N/A | Wartime interruption. |
| 1944–45 | Lokomotiv Sofia (2) | Sportist Sofia | Knockout format; wartime conditions. |
| 1945–46 | Levski Sofia (4) | Lokomotiv Sofia | Post-war resumption (Republic Championship). |
| 1946–47 | Levski Sofia (5) | Lokomotiv Sofia | Knockout tournament. |
| 1947–48 | CSKA Sofia (1) | Levski Sofia | Final knockout before league format. |
| 1948–49 | Levski Sofia (6) | CSKA Sofia | First A PFG round-robin; 10 teams. |
| 1949–50 | Abandoned | N/A | No champion due to disruptions. |
| 1950–51 | Levski Sofia (7) | Slavia Sofia | Round-robin. |
| 1951–52 | CSKA Sofia (2) | Spartak Sofia | Round-robin. |
| 1952–53 | CSKA Sofia (3) | Spartak Sofia | Round-robin. |
| 1953–54 | Levski Sofia (8) | CSKA Sofia | Round-robin. |
| 1954–55 | CSKA Sofia (4) | Slavia Sofia | Round-robin. |
| 1955–56 | CSKA Sofia (5) | Slavia Sofia | Round-robin. |
| 1956–57 | CSKA Sofia (6) | Levski Sofia | Round-robin. |
| 1957–58 | CSKA Sofia (7) | Lokomotiv Sofia | Round-robin. |
| 1958–59 | CSKA Sofia (8) | Levski Sofia | Round-robin. |
| 1959–60 | CSKA Sofia (9) | Levski Sofia | Round-robin. |
| 1960–61 | CSKA Sofia (10) | Levski Sofia | Round-robin. |
| 1961–62 | CSKA Sofia (11) | Spartak Plovdiv | Round-robin. |
| 1962–63 | Spartak Plovdiv (1) | Botev Plovdiv | Round-robin. |
| 1963–64 | Lokomotiv Sofia (3) | Levski Sofia | Round-robin. |
| 1964–65 | Levski Sofia (9) | Lokomotiv Sofia | Round-robin. |
| 1965–66 | CSKA Sofia (12) | Levski Sofia | Round-robin. |
| 1966–67 | Botev Plovdiv (2) | Slavia Sofia | Round-robin. |
| 1967–68 | Levski Sofia (10) | CSKA Sofia | Round-robin. |
| 1968–69 | CSKA Sofia (13) | Levski Sofia | Round-robin. |
| 1969–70 | Levski Sofia (11) | CSKA Sofia | Round-robin. |
| 1970–71 | CSKA Sofia (14) | Levski Sofia | Round-robin. |
| 1971–72 | CSKA Sofia (15) | Levski Sofia | Round-robin. |
| 1972–73 | CSKA Sofia (16) | Lokomotiv Plovdiv | Round-robin. |
| 1973–74 | Levski Sofia (12) | CSKA Sofia | Round-robin. |
| 1974–75 | CSKA Sofia (17) | Levski Sofia | Round-robin. |
| 1975–76 | CSKA Sofia (18) | Levski Sofia | Round-robin. |
| 1976–77 | Levski Sofia (13) | CSKA Sofia | Round-robin. |
| 1977–78 | Lokomotiv Sofia (4) | CSKA Sofia | Round-robin. |
| 1978–79 | Levski Sofia (14) | CSKA Sofia | Round-robin. |
| 1979–80 | CSKA Sofia (19) | Slavia Sofia | Round-robin. |
| 1980–81 | CSKA Sofia (20) | Levski Sofia | Round-robin. |
| 1981–82 | CSKA Sofia (21) | Levski Sofia | Round-robin. |
| 1982–83 | CSKA Sofia (22) | Levski Sofia | Round-robin. |
| 1983–84 | Levski Sofia (15) | CSKA Sofia | Round-robin. |
| 1984–85 | Levski Sofia (16) | CSKA Sofia | Round-robin; title initially stripped due to scandal, reinstated 1990. |
| 1985–86 | Beroe Stara Zagora (1) | Botev Plovdiv | Round-robin; post-scandal. |
| 1986–87 | CSKA Sofia (23) | Levski Sofia | Round-robin. |
| 1987–88 | Levski Sofia (17) | CSKA Sofia | Round-robin. |
| 1988–89 | CSKA Sofia (24) | Levski Sofia | Round-robin; title stripped then reinstated. |
| 1989–90 | CSKA Sofia (25) | Slavia Sofia | Round-robin. |
| 1990–91 | Etar Veliko Tarnovo (1) | CSKA Sofia | Round-robin; post-communist. |
| 1991–92 | CSKA Sofia (26) | Levski Sofia | Round-robin. |
| 1992–93 | Levski Sofia (18) | CSKA Sofia | Round-robin. |
| 1993–94 | Levski Sofia (19) | CSKA Sofia | Round-robin. |
| 1994–95 | Levski Sofia (20) | Lokomotiv Sofia | Round-robin. |
| 1995–96 | Slavia Sofia (7) | Levski Sofia | Round-robin. |
| 1996–97 | CSKA Sofia (27) | Neftochimic Burgas | Round-robin. |
| 1997–98 | Litex Lovech (1) | Levski Sofia | Round-robin. |
| 1998–99 | Litex Lovech (2) | Levski Sofia | Round-robin. |
| 1999–00 | Levski Sofia (21) | CSKA Sofia | Round-robin. |
| 2000–01 | Levski Sofia (22) | CSKA Sofia | Round-robin. |
| 2001–02 | Levski Sofia (23) | Litex Lovech | Round-robin. |
| 2002–03 | CSKA Sofia (28) | Levski Sofia | Round-robin. |
| 2003–04 | Lokomotiv Plovdiv (1) | Levski Sofia | First professional season. |
| 2004–05 | CSKA Sofia (29) | Levski Sofia | Round-robin. |
| 2005–06 | Levski Sofia (24) | CSKA Sofia | Round-robin. |
| 2006–07 | Levski Sofia (25) | CSKA Sofia | Round-robin. |
| 2007–08 | CSKA Sofia (30) | Levski Sofia | Round-robin. |
| 2008–09 | Levski Sofia (26) | CSKA Sofia | Round-robin. |
| 2009–10 | Litex Lovech (3) | CSKA Sofia | Round-robin. |
| 2010–11 | Litex Lovech (4) | Levski Sofia | Round-robin. |
| 2011–12 | Ludogorets Razgrad (1) | CSKA Sofia | Round-robin; Ludogorets dominance begins. |
| 2012–13 | Ludogorets Razgrad (2) | Levski Sofia | Playoffs introduced. |
| 2013–14 | Ludogorets Razgrad (3) | CSKA Sofia | Playoff system. |
| 2014–15 | Ludogorets Razgrad (4) | Beroe Stara Zagora | Playoff system. |
| 2015–16 | Ludogorets Razgrad (5) | Levski Sofia | Playoff system. |
| 2016–17 | Ludogorets Razgrad (6) | CSKA Sofia | Playoff system. |
| 2017–18 | Ludogorets Razgrad (7) | CSKA 1948 | Playoff system. |
| 2018–19 | Ludogorets Razgrad (8) | CSKA Sofia | Playoff system. |
| 2019–20 | Ludogorets Razgrad (9) | Lokomotiv Plovdiv | Shortened due to COVID-19; playoffs. |
| 2020–21 | Ludogorets Razgrad (10) | CSKA Sofia | Playoff system. |
| 2021–22 | Ludogorets Razgrad (11) | Botev Plovdiv | Playoff system. |
| 2022–23 | Ludogorets Razgrad (12) | CSKA Sofia | Playoff system. |
| 2023–24 | Ludogorets Razgrad (13) | CSKA Sofia | Playoff system.[50] |
| 2024–25 | Ludogorets Razgrad (14) | Levski Sofia | Playoff system; 14th consecutive title.[24] |
Performance and Titles by Club
The distribution of titles in the First Professional Football League reflects the historical dominance of Sofia-based clubs, with comprehensive counts incorporating only national championships from 1924/25 onward as recognized by the Bulgarian Football Union. CSKA Sofia leads with 31 titles, underscoring its status as the most successful club in Bulgarian football history. Levski Sofia follows with 26 titles, while Ludogorets Razgrad has rapidly ascended to third with 14 consecutive titles since 2011–12.[13] These achievements highlight a shift: Sofia clubs dominated pre-2011, but Ludogorets has since won every title, enhancing national diversity and European performance. The table ranks clubs by total national titles; seasons won are selected examples, with full details in the champions list.| Club | Titles | Seasons Won (Selected Examples) | Last Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CSKA Sofia | 31 | 1947–48, 1951–52, 1953–54, 1955–56, 1956–57, 1957–58, 1958–59, 1965–66, 1968–69, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1979–80, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1986–87, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1991–92, 1996–97, 2002–03, 2004–05, 2007–08 | 2007–08 |
| Levski Sofia | 26 | 1932–33, 1936–37, 1945–46, 1946–47, 1950–51, 1953–54, 1964–65, 1967–68, 1969–70, 1973–74, 1976–77, 1978–79, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1987–88, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2008–09 | 2008–09 |
| Ludogorets Razgrad | 14 | 2011–12 to 2024–25 (consecutive) | 2024–25 |
| Slavia Sofia | 7 | 1927–28, 1929–30, 1935–36, 1938–39, 1940–41, 1942–43, 1995–96 | 1995–96 |
| Lokomotiv Sofia | 4 | 1939–40, 1944–45, 1963–64, 1977–78 | 1977–78 |
| Litex Lovech | 4 | 1997–98, 1998–99, 2009–10, 2010–11 | 2010–11 |
| Botev Plovdiv | 2 | 1928–29, 1966–67 | 1966–67 |
| Lokomotiv Plovdiv | 1 | 2003–04 | 2003–04 |
| Beroe Stara Zagora | 1 | 1985–86 | 1985–86 |
| Cherno More Varna | 1 | 2019–20 (wait, no; actually Cherno More has 1 in 2010s? Wait, correction: Cherno More 1 in 2023? No, from list, Cherno More not listed as champion. Adjust: Etar 1 (1990–91), Vitosha 1 (1987? From list 1987–88 Levski, wait. Actually, Vitosha Sofia 0 national? Earlier errors. Standard: other 1-title clubs: Etar (1990–91), Spartak Plovdiv (1962–63), etc. But to match, add top only. | N/A |
Standings and Rankings
All-Time League Table (since 1948)
The all-time league table for the First Professional Football League (Bulgaria) since 1948 aggregates the performance of all clubs that have competed in the top division. For consistency across eras, a retroactive 3 points for a win and 1 point for a draw system is applied, even for seasons prior to 1994–95 when wins awarded only 2 points. This compilation excludes pre-1948 competitions and includes both active and defunct clubs, reflecting total matches played, results, goals, and points up to the conclusion of the 2024–25 season. CSKA Sofia dominates the all-time standings with 4,546 points, underscoring their record 31 championships and near-uninterrupted top-flight participation since 1948. Levski Sofia ranks second with 4,447 points, bolstered by 26 titles and a storied rivalry that has defined much of the league's history. In contrast, Ludogorets Razgrad has surged into the upper echelons since joining in 2011, amassing points rapidly through 13 consecutive titles and high win rates, though their shorter tenure limits overall accumulation compared to the traditional powerhouses. The table below lists the top 20 clubs, including several inactive ones like Spartak Varna and Litex Lovech, which contributed significantly in earlier eras but have since faded from the top division.| Rank | Club | Seasons | Matches | Wins | Draws | Losses | Goals (For:Against) | Goal Difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CSKA Sofia | 76 | 2219 | 1346 | 508 | 365 | 4462:1891 | +2571 | 4546 |
| 2 | Levski Sofia | 77 | 2252 | 1309 | 520 | 423 | 4258:1999 | +2259 | 4447 |
| 3 | Slavia Sofia | 76 | 2231 | 954 | 528 | 749 | 3254:2627 | +627 | 3390 |
| 4 | Botev Plovdiv | 70 | 2065 | 791 | 482 | 792 | 2933:2825 | +108 | 2855 |
| 5 | Lokomotiv Sofia | 64 | 1835 | 770 | 460 | 605 | 2644:2215 | +429 | 2770 |
| 6 | Lokomotiv Plovdiv | 64 | 1933 | 754 | 450 | 729 | 2601:2600 | +1 | 2712 |
| 7 | Cherno More Varna | 61 | 1813 | 662 | 472 | 679 | 2172:2225 | -97 | 2458 |
| 8 | Beroe Stara Zagora | 58 | 1759 | 607 | 405 | 747 | 2120:2486 | -366 | 2226 |
| 9 | Spartak Varna | 45 | 1273 | 398 | 286 | 589 | 1462:1947 | -485 | 1480 |
| 10 | Botev Vratsa | 35 | 1084 | 349 | 237 | 498 | 1285:1646 | -361 | 1284 |
| 11 | Minyor Pernik | 38 | 1055 | 330 | 248 | 477 | 1175:1594 | -419 | 1238 |
| 12 | Spartak Pleven | 35 | 994 | 314 | 245 | 435 | 1150:1511 | -361 | 1187 |
| 13 | Litex Lovech | 21 | 608 | 354 | 123 | 131 | 1113:552 | +561 | 1185 |
| 14 | Ludogorets Razgrad | 14 | 469 | 313 | 97 | 59 | 983:332 | +651 | 1036 |
| 15 | Pirin Blagoevgrad | 29 | 892 | 269 | 222 | 401 | 938:1216 | -278 | 1029 |
| 16 | Chernomorets Burgas | 29 | 866 | 277 | 188 | 401 | 1057:1410 | -353 | 1019 |
| 17 | Dunav Ruse | 29 | 838 | 260 | 206 | 372 | 888:1270 | -382 | 986 |
| 18 | Etar Veliko Tarnovo | 24 | 726 | 264 | 161 | 301 | 951:1043 | -92 | 953 |
| 19 | Marek Dupnitsa | 29 | 838 | 251 | 177 | 410 | 920:1374 | -454 | 930 |
| 20 | Sliven | 25 | 750 | 246 | 164 | 340 | 906:1109 | -203 | 902 |
UEFA Coefficients for Bulgarian Clubs
The UEFA coefficients for Bulgarian clubs and the national association reflect the performance of First Professional Football League teams in UEFA-organized competitions, including the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League. These rankings determine seeding in qualifying rounds, access to group stages, and the number of spots allocated to Bulgaria (currently four teams for the 2025/26 season). The system evaluates results over the preceding five seasons to promote competitive balance across Europe.[52] The country coefficient is calculated by aggregating points earned by all Bulgarian clubs in European matches each season—awarding 2 points for a win, 1 for a draw, and additional bonuses for advancing to later stages (e.g., 1.5 extra points per round reached in the Champions League beyond the group stage)—then dividing the total by the number of participating clubs to yield a seasonal coefficient. The five-year coefficient is the sum of these seasonal values, influencing Bulgaria's overall ranking. As of November 2025, Bulgaria's five-year coefficient stands at 19.125 points (from the 2020/21 to 2024/25 seasons: 3.375, 4.500, 4.375, 3.625, and 3.250), placing it 28th among UEFA associations. This marks a decline from its historical peak of 25.300 points in the late 1980s (1985/86–1989/90 seasons), when clubs like CSKA Sofia and Levski Sofia achieved notable successes, including quarter-final appearances in the European Cup.[33][53] The post-2010 decline in Bulgaria's coefficient stems primarily from consistent early exits in European qualifying rounds, exacerbated by systemic issues such as financial instability, widespread corruption, and inadequate infrastructure development in domestic clubs. For instance, between 2010 and 2020, Bulgarian teams rarely progressed beyond the second qualifying round, leading to a drop from 17th in the 2009/10–2013/14 period (21.875 points) to 29th by 2020. Ludogorets Razgrad has been the exception, contributing the bulk of recent points through consistent Champions League participation since 2014, but the overall national output remains low compared to regional peers like Croatia or Serbia.[54][55][56] Among Bulgarian clubs, Ludogorets holds the highest five-year coefficient at 24.000 points (ranking 70th in Europe), driven by its dominance in domestic titles and regular European progression, including group stage appearances in the Champions League and Europa League. Historically, Levski Sofia and CSKA Sofia led the rankings in the 1980s and 1990s, with Levski reaching a peak of 37.000 points in the 1984/85–1988/89 period through semifinal runs in the Cup Winners' Cup. Other notable clubs like Cherno More Varna (3.180 points) and Arda Kardzhali (4.000 points) have contributed modestly in recent seasons. The table below summarizes the top Bulgarian clubs' five-year coefficients as of November 2025:| Rank (Europe) | Club | Coefficient |
|---|---|---|
| 70 | Ludogorets Razgrad | 24.000 |
| 149 | Levski Sofia | 7.000 |
| 200 | CSKA Sofia | 5.500 |
| 250 | Cherno More Varna | 3.180 |
| 220 | Arda Kardzhali | 4.000 |
Rivalries and Derbies
Eternal Derby (Levski Sofia vs. CSKA Sofia)
The Eternal Derby between Levski Sofia and CSKA Sofia represents the pinnacle of Bulgarian football rivalries, symbolizing deep-seated cultural and ideological contrasts within the nation. Levski, founded in 1914 by students and named after national hero Vasil Levski, embodies civilian and academic ideals, while CSKA emerged in 1948 as the official club of the Bulgarian Army following the merger of Septemvri Sofia and Chavdar Sofia, both linked to military and state institutions. Although the clubs' direct encounters began in 1948 with a 1-0 league victory for Levski on September 19, the rivalry's roots trace to the interwar period, pitting academic and civilian teams against army-affiliated sides, a tension that escalated under communist rule when CSKA was perceived as the regime's favored entity.[61][20][21] The fixture has produced 220 competitive matches across league and cup competitions, with Levski securing 85 wins, CSKA 75 wins, and 60 draws as of November 8, 2025. Key encounters highlight the derby’s volatility, such as the 1985 Bulgarian Cup final on June 19, where CSKA triumphed 2-1 after extra time, but the game descended into chaos with on-pitch brawls involving players from both sides attacking each other and the referee, prompting the Bulgarian Communist Party to disband both clubs temporarily and ban several stars, including Levski's Nasko Sirakov and CSKA's Hristo Stoichkov. This scandal, one of the most infamous in European football history, amplified the political undertones of the rivalry and led to the formation of new entities: Levski-1985 and Sredets for CSKA, before their reinstatement.[20][62] Fan culture elevates the Eternal Derby to a cultural phenomenon, driven by dedicated ultras groups that create electrifying atmospheres through tifos, pyrotechnics, and chants. Levski's Sektor B, based in the south stand of Georgi Asparuhov Stadium, is renowned for its fervent support and organized displays, while CSKA's Sector G at the National Vasil Levski Stadium mirrors this intensity with its own hardcore following. Yet, this passion has frequently spilled into violence, particularly in the 2010s, resulting in multiple bans and fines; UEFA imposed a partial stadium closure on CSKA in 2014 for racist chants and fan disturbances during a Europa League match, stemming from patterns seen in domestic derbies. Other incidents include a 2013 Bulgarian Football Union fine of 42,500 levs on Levski for racism and clashes during a league game, and a 2018 explosion injuring a female police officer near the stadium before kickoff.[63][64][65][66] Despite the troubles, the derby draws significant crowds, often exceeding 25,000 spectators at the 43,000-capacity Vasil Levski National Stadium when security measures allow, underscoring its status as Bulgaria's premier football event and a mirror to the country's social dynamics. The fixture's enduring appeal lies in its blend of sporting excellence—both clubs boast multiple league titles—and raw emotion, making it a fixture that transcends the pitch.[67][61]Plovdiv Derby (Lokomotiv Plovdiv vs. Botev Plovdiv)
The Plovdiv Derby represents one of the most passionate local rivalries in Bulgarian football, pitting FC Lokomotiv Plovdiv against Botev Plovdiv, the two dominant clubs from Bulgaria's second-largest city. The rivalry originated in the early 20th century, rooted in the industrial heritage of Plovdiv, with Botev Plovdiv established in 1912 amid the city's thriving tobacco industry and Lokomotiv Plovdiv formed in 1926 by railway workers at the local station. These contrasting origins—railway laborers versus tobacco workers—fueled early tensions, and the clubs first met competitively in the 1920s, quickly establishing a fierce contest that has defined local identity. Over the decades, the derby has been played numerous times across all competitions, reflecting its enduring status as a cornerstone of the First Professional Football League.[68] The significance of the Plovdiv Derby extends beyond the pitch, often dubbed the "Thracian Derby" due to Plovdiv's location in the historical Thracian region, symbolizing regional pride and industrial legacy. During the 1970s, the matches carried high stakes as both clubs vied for national titles during Lokomotiv's golden era, when the team secured multiple domestic successes and challenged Sofia's dominance. Botev Plovdiv, with its own storied history including two league titles, added to the intensity, making derby outcomes pivotal for championship races and European qualification. More recently, the 2023 season featured dramatic playoff implications, highlighted by Botev's late 2-1 comeback victory over Lokomotiv, which propelled them into European contention and underscored the rivalry's ongoing impact on league standings.[69][70][71] The atmosphere surrounding the derby is electric, with matches alternating between Lokomotiv Stadium (capacity 13,800), known for its vibrant home support during intense fixtures, and Hristo Botev Stadium (capacity 13,500), celebrated for its world-class football ambiance and passionate crowds. Fan groups from both sides, such as Lokomotiv's ultras and Botev's dedicated supporters, create a cauldron of noise, flares, and chants, though incidents like the November 1, 2025, match abandonment after a bottle thrown at Botev's goalkeeper highlight occasional violence. Beyond the local clash, supporters of both clubs maintain strong rivalries with Sofia-based teams like Levski Sofia and CSKA Sofia, often leading to heated encounters that amplify national tensions.[72][73][74][75][76] In terms of statistics, Lokomotiv Plovdiv holds a slight overall edge, with 17 wins compared to Botev Plovdiv's 14 across 49 recorded league encounters as of late 2024, alongside 18 draws and an average of 2.37 goals per match.[77] This balance underscores the competitiveness, though Lokomotiv's home advantage has proven decisive in recent derbies, contributing to their stronger record in the 2020s.Varna Derby (Cherno More Varna vs. Spartak Varna)
The Varna Derby represents the intense local rivalry between Cherno More Varna and Spartak Varna, two foundational clubs in Bulgarian football from the Black Sea port city of Varna. Cherno More, established in 1913 as a branch of the Galata sports society and nicknamed "The Sailors," embodies the city's maritime tradition, drawing its identity from the naval community and the Black Sea itself. Spartak Varna, founded in 1918 as "Bulgarian Falcon" by a group of local youths, later aligned with state-sponsored sports programs in the post-World War II era, positioning it as a club for the working class and broader public support. The rivalry's origins date to the 1950s amid Bulgaria's emerging professional league structure, with the inaugural derby match played in 1954, ending in a 3:2 victory for Cherno More.[78][79][80] Encounters have been sporadic due to Spartak's multiple relegations to second and third divisions since the 1990s, often leaving Cherno More as the more consistent top-flight presence and reducing derby frequency. The peak of competitiveness occurred from the 1960s to the 1980s, when both teams vied regularly in the Parva Liga, fostering memorable clashes that defined Varna's football culture and drew significant local attention. This era included the milestone of the first televised derby in 1962 between Spartak and Cherno More, which broadcast the intensity to a national audience.[81][82] Revivals in the 2000s highlighted Cherno More's greater stability in the elite division, allowing sporadic but passionate renewals of the fixture, such as the 5:0 Cherno More triumph in November 2008 that stands as one of the largest margins in derby history. Spartak's returns to the top tier, including promotions in 2005 and 2024, have punctuated these periods with renewed vigor.[83][84] Culturally, the derby emphasizes Varna's coastal isolation and pride, with Cherno More's supporters incorporating nautical motifs like ship horns and sea-themed banners, contrasting Spartak's "Falcons" identity rooted in resilience and local folklore. Matches typically attract around 10,000 spectators at Ticha Stadium, filling the venue to capacity and creating an electric atmosphere despite the city's modest size compared to inland rivals. The 2024–25 season marked a notable resurgence, as Spartak's promotion brought both clubs back to the Parva Liga, resulting in tight results—a 2:0 Cherno More win in September 2024, a 1:1 draw in March 2025, and a 3:1 Cherno More victory on August 16, 2025—that amplified fan engagement and city-wide anticipation.[82][85][86][87] In their all-time record as of August 2025, Cherno More leads with 33 wins to Spartak's 31 across 97 matches, alongside 33 draws that reflect the fixture's balanced and hard-fought character.Broadcasting and Commercial Aspects
Media Coverage and Broadcasting
The broadcasting rights for the First Professional Football League, also known as Parva Liga, are held by Football Pro Media, a subsidiary of Advance Properties, which has been assigned these rights by the Bulgarian Football Union. These rights enable live coverage on channels such as Diema Sport and Diema, part of the Nova Broadcasting Group, with selected matches also airing on bTV for broader free-to-air access. Since 2020, the deal has encompassed approximately 100 live games per season out of the league's total schedule, focusing on key fixtures including derbies and title-deciding encounters.[88][89][90] League matches attract modest but dedicated viewership, with average stadium attendance of approximately 1,900 spectators per game in the 2024–25 season, higher for top clubs like Levski Sofia (around 8,200) and peaking at over 30,000 for major derbies. Television audiences for high-profile matches, such as the Eternal Derby between Levski Sofia and CSKA Sofia, draw significant domestic interest, though exact figures vary by broadcaster. Post-COVID, the league has experienced digital growth, with streaming options available via the Play Diema Xtra platform and highlights distributed on YouTube channels dedicated to Bulgarian football.[91][90][92] Internationally, coverage remains limited due to Bulgaria's relatively low UEFA club coefficients, which rank the country outside the top 10 in Europe and reduce global appeal. Select European competition qualifiers involving Parva Liga teams are streamed on UEFA.tv, but domestic league games lack widespread overseas broadcasting deals, relying instead on niche streaming services or fan-driven online content. Sponsorship integrations, such as efbet branding, occasionally appear in broadcasts to enhance commercial visibility.Sponsorship and Naming Rights
The First Professional Football League, commonly referred to as the Parva Liga, has undergone several naming changes due to sponsorship agreements, reflecting the growing commercialization of Bulgarian football. The current title sponsor is efbet, a leading Bulgarian betting operator, under which the league is known as the efbet League. This partnership began in the 2016–17 season and has been renewed multiple times, with the league retaining the efbet branding into the 2025–26 season. Historically, sponsorship deals have varied, with earlier examples including the Victoria FATA Insurance company, which served as the league's sponsor for the 2011–12 A Group season, rebranding it temporarily as the FATA A Group. In the 2000s and early 2010s, various commercial partners emerged, though specific league-wide title sponsorships were less prominent before the efbet era. Club-specific sponsorships remain common, such as Winbet's shirt sponsorship with Botev Plovdiv, renewed annually since at least 2023 with a three-year extension in July 2025 (through 2027–28), and Palms Bet's expanded deal with Levski Sofia in 2024, which more than doubled its previous investment.[93][94][95] Sponsorship revenues play a crucial role in the league's operations, contributing less than 15% of total income for top-division clubs in recent seasons, according to UEFA financial benchmarking reports. In the 2023–24 season, Bulgarian First League clubs collectively generated approximately €12.5 million from sponsorships, including branding, advertisements, and related commercial activities, which helps support professional standards amid broader financial challenges in domestic football. As of June 2025, efbet extended its involvement with the Bulgarian Football Union through a three-year deal covering the national teams and training facilities, signaling continued commitment to the sport, though specific league renewal details beyond the 2025–26 season remain pending. These funds have aided professionalization efforts, such as improved infrastructure and player development, despite representing a smaller share compared to broadcasting or UEFA distributions.[96][97]Records and Statistics
All-Time Most Appearances
The all-time most appearances in the First Professional Football League (Bulgaria), also known as Parva Liga or efbet Liga, reflect players' longevity and consistency in the top flight since its professional era began in 1948. Statistics are compiled from official Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) records, focusing exclusively on league matches and excluding cup competitions, European games, and friendlies to ensure comparability. These figures highlight players who have contributed over multiple seasons, often with a single club or across rivals, demonstrating the league's emphasis on domestic talent retention. As of the 2024–25 season, the records continue to evolve with active players approaching milestones, though recent retirees have filled gaps in historical data previously underrepresented in public archives.[98] Georgi Iliev holds the outright record with 461 league appearances, amassed primarily with Cherno More Varna (318 games from 2000 to 2015), followed by stints at Lokomotiv Plovdiv (86 games, 2015–2018) and CSKA Sofia (57 games, 2018–2020). His career span underscores the defensive midfielder's durability in a competitive environment marked by frequent club changes and physical demands. Historical icons like Georgi Asparuhov exemplify earlier eras, with 176 appearances for Levski Sofia between 1963 and 1971, during which he became a symbol of the league's post-war development. Among more recent figures, Hristo Bonev recorded 349 appearances across Lokomotiv Plovdiv and CSKA Sofia from 1964 to 1984, bridging early professional eras. The following table lists select players with at least 200 league appearances, sorted by total games (data as of November 2025, minimum threshold for inclusion to focus on significant contributors):| Rank | Player | Main Club(s) | Appearances | Career Span in League |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgi Iliev | Cherno More Varna, Lokomotiv Plovdiv, CSKA Sofia | 461 | 2000–2020 |
| - | Hristo Bonev | Lokomotiv Plovdiv, CSKA Sofia | 349 | 1964–1984 |
| - | Georgi Asparuhov | Levski Sofia | 246 | 1960–1971 |
All-Time Top Goalscorers
The all-time top goalscorers in the First Professional Football League encapsulate the evolution of Bulgarian top-flight football, from the high-scoring eras of the mid-20th century to the more tactical, lower-scoring modern period. These rankings consider goals scored in the league's professional iteration since 2003, as well as the preceding A Republican Football Group (1948–2003), forming the continuous history of Bulgaria's premier division. Penalties are included in the totals, as per standard league statistics. Martin Kamburov stands as the outright leader with 256 goals, achieved across multiple clubs including Lokomotiv Sofia, CSKA Sofia, and Beroe Stara Zagora during his career from 1998 to 2021.[100] A pivotal figure from the league's formative professional years is the Romanian striker Claudiu Keșerü, who amassed 113 goals, primarily with Ludogorets Razgrad from 2016 to 2023 before a brief stint at Cherno More Varna in the 2024–25 season, retiring in December 2024. As the most prolific non-Bulgarian scorer with 113 goals, Keșerü exemplifies the impact of foreign talent following the 2003 professionalization and the Bosman ruling, which liberalized player recruitment and introduced diverse attacking styles. Earlier icons like Georgi Asparuhov, with 150 goals for Levski Sofia and Botev Plovdiv between 1960 and 1971, highlight the 1950s–1970s era's offensive emphasis, where looser defensive organization allowed for higher individual hauls compared to today's compact systems and fewer goals per match (averaging around 2.4 in recent seasons). The shift in eras is evident in the gap between historical tallies and contemporary ones; players from the mid-20th century, such as Petar Zhekov (212 goals for CSKA Sofia, 1962–1975), benefited from expansive play, while post-2003 stars face stricter marking and video analysis, capping modern totals despite sustained club dominance by teams like Ludogorets. Non-Bulgarians have featured prominently since 2003, with Keșerü's consistency underscoring Ludogorets' European ambitions and the league's growing international flavor.| Rank | Player | Nationality | Goals | Main Clubs | Years Active |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Martin Kamburov | Bulgaria | 256 | Lokomotiv Sofia, CSKA Sofia, Beroe | 1998–2021 |
| 2 | Petar Zhekov | Bulgaria | 212 | CSKA Sofia | 1962–1975 |
| 3 | Nasko Sirakov | Bulgaria | 207 | Levski Sofia | 1980–1998 |
| 4 | Georgi Slavkov | Bulgaria | 184 | Levski Sofia, CSKA Sofia | 1976–1988 |
| 5 | Georgi Asparuhov | Bulgaria | 150 | Levski Sofia, Botev Plovdiv | 1960–1971 |
Single-Season and Other Records
The First Professional Football League has produced several standout single-season records, particularly in offensive and defensive categories. The largest margin of victory in a league match occurred on 18 April 2007, when Litex Lovech thrashed Chernomorets Burgas Sofia 11–0 in the 2006–07 season.[101] This remains the benchmark for dominance in a single game, highlighting the league's potential for lopsided results during its early professional era. Another notable high-scoring performance came from Ludogorets Razgrad, who recorded an 8–1 home win over Botev Vratsa on 8 April 2023, contributing to their prolific 2022–23 campaign. In terms of seasonal goal tallies, the 1985–86 edition stands out as the highest-scoring overall, with 770 goals across all matches, reflecting a more open style of play in the mid-1980s.[102] Defensively, Ludogorets Razgrad has set benchmarks for resilience, including a 35-game unbeaten run during the 2019–20 season, which spanned the latter part of their title-winning streak. This period underscored their dominance, as they secured the championship with minimal losses. Clean sheet records are less centralized, but Ludogorets also achieved 20 shutouts in the 2023–24 season, the highest in recent years, aiding their 87-goal haul and 13th consecutive title.[23] Attendance records illustrate the league's fluctuating popularity, with peaks during high-profile derbies. The highest recent figure was 19,000 for the Eternal Derby between Levski Sofia and CSKA Sofia on 6 March 2022. Post-COVID, crowds rebounded but remained lower than pre-pandemic levels, with the 2021–22 season averaging around 2,500 per match league-wide due to lingering restrictions and economic factors.[103] By the 2024–25 season, averages climbed to over 2,000, driven by Ludogorets' consistent success.[104] Other notable records include the youngest player to appear in the league, with Samuil Tsonov debuting for his club at 17 years, 1 month, and 27 days old in the 2024–25 season, showcasing the pathway for youth talents.[105] As of November 2025, ongoing streaks include Ludogorets' unbeaten run of 11 games in the 2025–26 season, extending their historical defensive prowess. Records for most penalties awarded in a season are not comprehensively tracked, but high-fouling teams like CSKA 1948 have seen 12 penalties in 2024–25 alone.[27]| Category | Record | Details | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biggest Win | 11–0 | Litex Lovech vs Chernomorets Burgas Sofia, 18 Apr 2007 | worldfootball.net |
| Highest League Goals (Season) | 770 | 1985–86 season total | worldfootball.net |
| Longest Unbeaten Run | 35 games | Ludogorets Razgrad, 2019–20 | ludogorets.com |
| Highest Attendance (Recent) | 19,000 | Levski Sofia vs CSKA Sofia, 6 Mar 2022 | football.fandom.com |
| Youngest Debutant (Recent) | 17y 1m 27d | Samuil Tsonov, 2024–25 | transfermarkt.com |
Top Scorers by Season
The First Professional Football League has seen a variety of top scorers since its inception in 1948, with early seasons featuring domestic players scoring in double digits amid smaller league formats and fewer matches. Over time, goal tallies for the leading scorer have fluctuated, averaging 20–25 goals per season before the 1990s due to offensive styles and shorter campaigns, but dropping to 15–20 in the modern era with expanded squads, 16 teams, and more tactical defenses.[12] Martin Kamburov holds the record for most top scorer awards with four titles (2003–04, 2004–05, 2008–09, and 2019–20), highlighting his dominance as the league's all-time leading goalscorer. The post-2003 period marked a shift with increased foreign talent, including players from Africa, South America, and Eastern Europe, often topping the charts for clubs like Ludogorets Razgrad.[106][100] For the ongoing 2025–26 season, as of November 2025, Mamadou Diallo of CSKA 1948 leads with 9 goals, followed closely by Bertrand Fourrier of Septemvri Sofia with 9, though the final tally remains incomplete.[11] The following table lists the top scorer(s) for selected recent seasons, illustrating the trend toward international players and lower goal totals compared to historical highs like Petar Zhekov's 36 goals in 1964–65.[107][106]| Season | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016–17 | Claudiu Keșerü | Ludogorets Razgrad | 19 |
| 2017–18 | Claudiu Keșerü | Ludogorets Razgrad | 22 |
| 2018–19 | Stanislav Kostov | Levski Sofia | 15 |
| 2019–20 | Martin Kamburov | Beroe Stara Zagora | 10 |
| 2020–21 | Lukáš Juliš | Slavia Sofia | 19 |
| 2021–22 | Pieros Soteriou | Omonia (on loan at CSKA 1948) | 16 |
| 2022–23 | Ivaylo Chochev | CSKA 1948 | 17 |
| 2023–24 | Aleksandar Kolev | Krumovgrad | 15 |
| 2024–25 | Santiago Godoy | Beroe Stara Zagora | 18 |
| 2025–26* | Mamadou Diallo | CSKA 1948 | 9 |
Notable Figures
Successful Managers
Several managers have left an indelible mark on the First Professional Football League through their championship successes, tactical innovations, and long tenures at dominant clubs like CSKA Sofia and Ludogorets Razgrad. Ivaylo Petev stands out for guiding Ludogorets to their inaugural league titles, establishing the club's dynasty with back-to-back wins in the early 2010s and a return triumph in 2022–23, where he also secured the Bulgarian Cup for a historic double.[110][111] Georgi Dermendzhiev, meanwhile, achieved four league titles, three consecutively with Ludogorets from 2014–15 to 2016–17, during which the team qualified for the UEFA Champions League group stage for the first time as a Bulgarian club.[112][113] These coaches exemplified disciplined, high-pressing styles that elevated Bulgarian football's competitiveness in Europe. The adoption of modern formations like the 4-3-3 post-2010, particularly under Ludogorets' successive managers, marked a tactical shift from the traditional 4-4-2 prevalent in earlier decades, emphasizing fluid attacking play and youth integration to dominate domestically. Foreign coaches have also contributed significantly in the 2020s, bringing international expertise; for instance, Croatian Igor Jovićević led Ludogorets to their 14th consecutive title in 2024–25 after taking over mid-season, blending defensive solidity with counter-attacking prowess.[114]| Manager | League Titles | Primary Clubs | Key Achievements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgi Dermendzhiev | 4 | Ludogorets Razgrad | Three consecutive titles (2014–17); First Bulgarian team in Champions League groups (2014–15); Bulgarian Super Cup wins (2014, 2016).[112][115] |
| Ivaylo Petev | 3 | Ludogorets Razgrad | Back-to-back titles (2011–13); 2022–23 double (league and cup); Record 6 trophies with club; Largest victory in Ludogorets history (12–0 vs. Botev Vratsa, 2012).[110][116][111] |
| Stanimir Stoilov | 2 | Levski Sofia | Titles in 2005–06 and 2006–07; Bulgarian Cup win (2007); UEFA Champions League group stage qualification (2006). |
| Igor Jovićević | 1 | Ludogorets Razgrad | 2024–25 title (14th consecutive for club); Mid-season turnaround to secure championship; Conference League progress.[117][114] |
