Slovak First Football League

The Slovak First Football League (Slovak: 1. slovenská futbalová liga), officially known as Niké liga for sponsorship reasons, is a professional association football league in Slovakia and the highest level of the Slovak football league system. It was formed in 1993 following the dissolution of Czechoslovakia. The record for most titles is fifteen, held by Slovan Bratislava, who are the current title holders.

The current independent top football division in Slovakia was formed in 1993 as a result of the dissolution of Czechoslovakia. The predecessors of the current top football division in Slovakia were Zväzové Majstrovstvá Slovenska (1925–1933) and Slovenská liga (1938–1944).

Slovakia was part of Czechoslovakia (1918–1939 and 1945–1993) and the best Slovak clubs played in the joint Czechoslovak First League. Three Slovak clubs managed to win it.

Zväzové Majstrovstvá Slovenska (1925–1933)

Slovenská liga (1938–1944)

Slovak winners of the Czechoslovak 1. League (1945–1993)

Over the years, the number of teams competing in the top division has varied. The current number of 12 teams has been in effect since the 2006–07 season. However, there were also changes in the playing format afterwards. In the current format, which has been in effect since the 2017–18 season, teams play home-and-away against every other team in the regular stage, for a total of 22 matches each. The table is then divided into two halves of 6 teams each – the top 6 play in the championship group and the bottom 6 play in the relegation group. Within these groups, teams play home-and-away each other again, for a total of 10 matches each.

Source for list of championship winners: