2017–18 First Professional Football League (Bulgaria)

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Botev Plovdiv 2–6 CSKA Sofia
(30 July 2017)[3]
Longest winning run14 games by Ludogorets Razgrad[4]
Longest unbeaten run25 games by CSKA Sofia[4]
Longest winless run31 games by Vitosha Bistritsa[4]
Longest losing run6 games by Vereya and Vitosha Bistritsa[4]
Highest attendance29,000
CSKA Sofia 0–0 Ludogorets Razgrad
(5 May 2018)[5]
Lowest attendance~30
Septemvri Sofia 2–1 Cherno More
(8 December 2017)[6]
→
All statistics correct as of 25 May 2018.

The 2017–18 First Professional Football League was the 94th season of the top division of the

Belgian First Division A and Danish Superliga, was approved by the Bulgarian Football Union on 6 June 2016.[7] The fixture list was released on 22 June 2017.[8]

On 29 April 2018, four rounds before the end of the championship, Ludogorets Razgrad managed to secure the title for a seventh consecutive and overall time.

Teams

A total of 14 teams would be contesting the league. Etar were promoted as champions of the 2016–17 Second League, sealing their title on the final day of the season with a 2–2 away draw against Nesebar, coupled with Septemvri Sofia's 0–2 away defeat to Oborishte.[9] The promoted club replaced Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa, who suffered an immediate return to the second tier after elimination in the relegation play-offs by Montana.

Septemvri Sofia, runners-up of the 2016–17 Second League, won the play-off against Montana and return to the top flight after an 18-year absence, for the first time since the 1998–99 season. Montana return to the second tier after two seasons in the top flight.

First League
.

Stadia and locations

Note: From the 2016–17 season onwards, all participating clubs are required to have electric floodlights and adequate pitch conditions under the BFU and TV broadcaster's new licensing criteria.[10] The following stadiums below have either obtained a license under UEFA's category ranking or fulfill the licensing criteria.

Pirin
Vitosha
class=notpageimage|
Location of teams in 2017–18 First League
class=notpageimage|
Sofia 2017–18 First League football clubs
Team Location Stadium Capacity (seating)
Beroe Stara Zagora
Beroe
 12,128[11]
Botev
 Plovdiv
Botev 1912 Football Complex
 4,000
Cherno More Varna
Tichaa
 8,250
CSKA Sofia
Balgarska Armiya
 18,495[12]
Dunav Ruse Gradski, Ruse 12,400[13]
Etar Veliko Tarnovo
Ivaylob
 18,000
Levski Sofia
Vivacom Arena - Georgi Asparuhov
 25,000[14]
Lokomotiv Plovdiv
Lokomotiv
 13,000[15]
Ludogorets Razgrad
Ludogorets Arena
 9,000[16]
Pirin
 Blagoevgrad
Hristo Botev
 7,000
Septemvri Sofia Vasil Levski National Stadiumc 43,230
Slavia Sofia
Slavia
Vasil Levski National Stadiumd
 25,556
43,230
Vereya Stara Zagora Trace Arena 3,500[17]
Vitosha Bistritsa
Bistritsa Stadium
 2,500

a.

Ticha Stadium.[18]

b.
Ivaylo Stadium.[19]

c.^ Septemvri Sofia will play at the Vasil Levski National Stadium because their Dragalevtsi Stadium is not licensed for First League.[20]
d.^ Slavia Sofia obtained permission from the Bulgarian Football Union to use their own stadium and will play their matches at the Vasil Levski National Stadium only when floodlights are necessary.[21]

Personnel and sponsorship

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players and managers may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor Additional
Beroe Bulgaria Aleksandar Tomash Bulgaria Veselin Penev Uhlsport[22] — Refan
Botev Plovdiv
Nikolay Kirov
 Bulgaria Lachezar Baltanov Uhlsport[23] Efbet —
CSKA Sofia Bulgaria Hristo Yanev (caretaker) Bulgaria Bozhidar Chorbadzhiyski adidas
Mtel
 WinBet, Baristo
Cherno More Bulgaria Ilian Iliev Bulgaria Georgi Iliev Uhlsport Armeets —
Dunav Ruse Bulgaria Malin Orachev Bulgaria Diyan Dimov Joma — WinBet
Etar Bulgaria Krasimir Balakov Bulgaria Kiril Akalski Joma[24] — WinBet
Levski Sofia Italy Delio Rossi Bulgaria Bozhidar Mitrev Joma Vivacom Strabag, Efbet, Spetema
Lokomotiv Plovdiv Bosnia and Herzegovina Bruno Akrapović North Macedonia Vančo Trajanov Uhlsport[25] Efbet General Broker
Ludogorets Razgrad Bulgaria Dimitar Dimitrov Bulgaria Svetoslav Dyakov Umbro[26] bet365 Vivacom, Spetema
Pirin Blagoevgrad Bulgaria Milen Radukanov
Yulian Popev
 Erreà[27] Katarino Spa —
Septemvri Sofia Bulgaria Nikolay Mitov Bulgaria Valentin Galev Uhlsport[28] Efbet[28] —
Slavia Sofia Bulgaria Zlatomir Zagorčić Bulgaria Georgi Petkov Joma bet365 —
Vereya
Elias
Elias
 Erreà[29] Efbet Spetema
Vitosha Bistritsa Bulgaria Kostadin Angelov Bulgaria Chetin Sadula Jumper[30] Efbet[31]

Note: Individual clubs may wear jerseys with advertising. However, only one sponsorship is permitted per jersey for official tournaments organised by UEFA in addition to that of the kit manufacturer (exceptions are made for non-profit organisations). Clubs in the domestic league can have more than one sponsorship per jersey which can feature on the front of the shirt, incorporated with the main sponsor or in place of it; or on the back, either below the squad number or on the collar area. Shorts also have space available for advertisement.

Managerial changes

Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment
Beroe Bulgaria Ferario Spasov Mutual consent 19 May 2017[32] Pre-season Bulgaria Aleksandar Tomash 8 June 2017[33]
Septemvri Bulgaria Hristo Arangelov Demoted to assistant1 4 June 2017[34] Bulgaria Dimitar Vasev 8 June 2017[35]
Vereya Bulgaria Aleksandar Tomash Signed by Beroe 5 June 2017 Bulgaria Ilian Iliev 9 June 2017[36]
Levski Bulgaria Nikolay Mitov Mutual consent 4 August 2017[37] 6th Bulgaria Asen Bukarev (caretaker) 4 August 2017
Bulgaria Asen Bukarev End of caretaker tenure 8 August 2017 9th Italy Delio Rossi 8 August 2017[38]
Ludogorets Bulgaria Georgi Dermendzhiev Resigned 9 August 2017[39] 2nd Bulgaria Petko Petkov (caretaker) 10 August 2017
Bulgaria Petko Petkov End of caretaker tenure 14 August 2017 Bulgaria Dimitar Dimitrov 14 August 2017[40]
Septemvri Bulgaria Dimitar Vasev Sacked 23 August 2017 13th Bulgaria Nikolay Mitov 23 August 2017[41]
Cherno More Bulgaria Georgi Ivanov Resigned 21 September 2017 6th Bulgaria Emanuel Lukanov (caretaker) 21 September 2017[42]
Dunav Bulgaria Veselin Velikov Mutual consent 16 October 2017 12th Bulgaria Plamen Donev (caretaker) 16 October 2017[43]
Lokomotiv Plovdiv Bulgaria Voyn Voynov Mutual consent 30 October 2017[44] 8th Bosnia and Herzegovina Bruno Akrapović 30 October 2017[45]
Dunav Bulgaria Plamen Donev End of caretaker tenure 31 October 2017 13th Bulgaria Malin Orachev 31 October 2017[46]
Cherno More Bulgaria Emanuel Lukanov End of caretaker tenure 28 December 2017 7th Bulgaria Ilian Iliev 28 December 2017[47]
Vereya Bulgaria Ilian Iliev Signed by Cherno More 28 December 2017 6th Bulgaria Blagomir Mitrev 2 January 2018[48]
Etar Bulgaria Stanislav Genchev Demoted to assistant 4 January 2018 12th Bulgaria Krasimir Balakov 4 January 2018[49]
Vereya Bulgaria Blagomir Mitrev Mutual consent 1 April 2018[50] 6th
Elias
 2 April 2018[51]
CSKA Sofia Bulgaria Stamen Belchev Mutual consent 1 May 2018 2nd Bulgaria Hristo Yanev (caretaker) 1 May 2018[52]

1.^ No license for First League.

Regular season

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Ludogorets Razgrad 26 21 3 2 63 13 +50 66 Qualification for the Championship round
2 CSKA Sofia 26 19 6 1 59 14 +45 63
3 Levski Sofia 26 14 8 4 37 14 +23 50
4 Beroe 26 12 9 5 33 24 +9 45
5
Botev Plovdiv
 26 11 9 6 44 29 +15 42
6 Vereya 26 10 5 11 24 34 −10 35
7 Slavia Sofia 26 8 8 10 34 37 −3 32 Qualification for the Relegation round
8 Septemvri Sofia 26 9 4 13 25 42 −17 31[a]
9 Lokomotiv Plovdiv 26 8 7 11 22 37 −15 31[a]
10 Cherno More 26 7 6 13 24 32 −8 27
11
Pirin Blagoevgrad
 26 6 8 12 20 28 −8 26
12 Dunav Ruse 26 5 6 15 17 38 −21 21[b]
13 Etar 26 4 9 13 24 45 −21 21[b]
14 Vitosha Bistritsa 26 0 8 18 12 51 −39 8
Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Head-to-head away goals scored (only if two teams); 6) Goal difference; 7) Goals scored; 8) Fairplay ranking; 9) Draw.[53]
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Septemvri Sofia ahead of Lokomotiv Plovdiv on head-to-head record; Septemvri Sofia–Lokomotiv Plovdiv 3-1, Lokomotiv Plovdiv–Septemvri Sofia 1-0.
  2. ^ a b Dunav Ruse ahead of Etar on head-to-head record; Dunav Ruse–Etar 0–0, Etar–Dunav Ruse 0–2.

Results

Home \ Away BSZ
BOT
 CHM CSK DUN ETA LEV LPL LUD PIR SEP SLA VER VIT
Beroe — 1–1 2–0 0–3 1–1 2–1 0–0 1–2 0–1 1–1 5–1 2–0 0–0 0–0
Botev Plovdiv
 1−1 — 1–2 2–6 3–0 3–0 2–1 3–0 1–3 0–1 5–0 1–1 1–0 3–0
Cherno More 1–4 0–0 — 0–1 1–0 0–0 2–3 0–1 0–1 0–1 1–4 1–1 1–2 1–0
CSKA Sofia 6–0 1–1 0–0 — 3–0 2–1 1–0 4–1 0–1 0–0 2–0 1–0 3–0 6–1
Dunav Ruse 1–1 0–0 0–1 0–2 — 0–0 0–4 2–2 0–5 0–0 0–1 0–1 2–0 3–0
Etar 1–2 1–1 1–1 2–2 0–2 — 0–1 1–2 0–6 2–1 3–3 2–1 0–1 2–0
Levski Sofia 0–0 1–0 1–0 2–2 2–0 1–1 — 1–0 0–0 3–0 2–0 4–0 1–0 2–0
Lokomotiv Plovdiv 0–2 0–0 0–3 0–1 2–1 2–0 0–0 — 0–3 1–0 1–0 1–2 1–1 3–1
Ludogorets Razgrad 2–0 2–1 3–1 1–2 2–0 4–0 2–0 0–0 — 1–1 1–0 4–1 3–1 3–0
Pirin Blagoevgrad 0–1 1–2 1–1 1–2 1–0 3–2 0–3 5–0 0–2 — 0–1 0–0 1–2 1–0
Septemvri Sofia 0–1 1–1 2–1 0–1 0–2 1–1 1–4 3–1 1–4 1–0 — 0–2 2–0 1–0
Slavia Sofia 1–4 2–3 2–0 1–1 3–0 1–2 1−1 1–1 0–4 3–1 4–1 — 0–1 4–0
Vereya 0–1 2–4 0–4 0–5 2–1 2–0 2–0 1–0 2–1 0–0 0–1 1–1 — 1–1
Vitosha Bistritsa 0–1 2–4 1–2 0–2 1–2 1–1 0–0 1–1 2–4 0–0 0–0 1–1 0–3 —
Source: bulgarian-football.com
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
For upcoming matches, an "a" indicates there is an article about the rivalry between the two participants.

Positions by round

Team ╲ Round1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526
Botev Plovdiv
1271212121211101077444455665555555
Cherno More3111114466697677777788891010
CSKA Sofia511543311112222222222222222
Dunav Ruse12769111211111212131313131313131313131212121212
Etar111013138888889101212111112121212121313131313
Levski Sofia913697633343333333333333333
Lokomotiv Plovdiv232847677108688899999777799
Ludogorets Razgrad106322222221111111111111111
Pirin Blagoevgrad4587111010991111111111121211111111111111111111
Septemvri Sofia1441111131391213131312101091010101010101010888
Slavia Sofia6941010913131291089910888889991077
Vereya814935456534567666556666666
Vitosha Bistritsa1312141414141414141414141414141414141414141414141414
Source: bulgarian-football.com