The 2024–25 First Professional Football League, also known as efbet League for sponsorship reasons,[1] is the 101st season of the top division of the Bulgarian football league system, the 77th since a league format was adopted for the national competition of A Group as a top tier of the pyramid, and also the 9th season of the First Professional Football League, which decides the Bulgarian champion. The season will begin on 19 July 2024.
| Season | 2024–25 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 19 July 2024 – 31 May 2025 |
| Matches played | 22 |
| Goals scored | 56 (2.55 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Ahmed Ahmedov (4 goals) |
| Best goalkeeper | Plamen Andreev Plamen Iliev Arthur Motta (2 clean sheets) |
| Biggest home win | Ludogorets Razgrad 5–1 Arda (3 August 2024) Levski Sofia 4–0 Botev Vratsa (27 July 2024) |
| Biggest away win | Lokomotiv Sofia 1–6 Levski Sofia (20 July 2024) |
| Highest scoring | Lokomotiv Sofia 1–6 Levski Sofia (20 July 2024) |
| Longest winning run | 3 games Levski Sofia |
| Longest unbeaten run | 3 games Beroe Botev Plovdiv Levski Sofia Spartak Varna |
← 2023–24 2025–26 →
All statistics correct as of 17:37, 7 August 2024 (UTC). | |
Ludogorets Razgrad are the 13-time defending champions.
Teams
editAs in the last season, 16 teams will compete in the league this year. Two teams were promoted from the 2023–24 Second League, and another place is for the winner of the promotion/relegation playoff.
The first team to earn promotion from the Second League was Spartak Varna, who mathematically secured a top two finish after Marek lost to Sportist Svoge on 3 May.[2] Spartak return to the top level after 1-year absence.
The second team to earn promotion from the Second League was Septemvri Sofia, who mathematically secured a top two finish after winning against Chernomorets Balchik on the last matchday of the season.[3] Septemvri return to the top level also after 1-year absence.
Additionally, Botev Vratsa managed to defeat Marek with a score of 4–2 after penalties in the promotion/relegation playoff, thus remaining in the First League.[4]
Stadia and locations
edit| Arda | Beroe | Botev Plovdiv | Botev Vratsa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arena Arda | Beroe | Hristo Botev | Hristo Botev |
| Capacity: 11,114 | Capacity: 12,128 | Capacity: 18,777 | Capacity: 6,417 |
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|
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| Cherno More | CSKA 1948 | CSKA Sofia | Hebar |
| Ticha | Bistritsa | Vasil Levski National Stadium | Georgi Benkovski |
| Capacity: 6,250 | Capacity: 2,500 | Capacity: 22,995 | Capacity: 13,128 |
|
|
|
|
| Krumovgrad |
  Sofia Location of teams in 2024–25 First League Sofia 2024–25 First League football clubs |
Levski Sofia | |
| Nikola Shterev - Starika Sports Complex | Georgi Asparuhov | ||
| Capacity: 3,500 | Capacity: 18,000 | ||
|
| ||
| Lokomotiv Plovdiv | Lokomotiv Sofia | ||
| Lokomotiv | Lokomotiv | ||
| Capacity: 8,610 | Capacity: 22,000 | ||
|
| ||
| Ludogorets Razgrad | Septemvri Sofia | Slavia Sofia | Spartak Varna |
| Huvepharma Arena | Vasil Levski National Stadium | Aleksandar Shalamanov | Spartak |
| Capacity: 10,422 | Capacity: 22,995 | Capacity: 25,556 | Capacity: 10,000 |
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|
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Personnel and kits
editNote: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arda |  Aleksandar Tunchev
|
Anatoli Gospodinov
|
Uhlsport | efbet | IK Nataliya Ltd. |
| Beroe |  José Acciari
|
 Jordi Govea
|
Nike | 8888.bg | — |
| Botev Plovdiv |  Dušan Kerkez
|
Ivelin Popov
|
Macron[5] | WinBet | Bitcoin |
| Botev Vratsa | Todor Yanchev
|
 Brayan Perea
|
Erima | WinBet | Vratsa Municipality, Inex, Predsednik Ltd. |
| Cherno More | Ilian Iliev
|
Daniel Dimov
|
Macron | — | — |
| CSKA 1948 | Valentin Iliev
|
Daniel Naumov
|
Puma | efbet | Bachkovo |
| CSKA Sofia |  Tomislav Stipić
|
 Jonathan Lindseth
|
Macron[6] | WinBet | — |
| Hebar | Veselin Velikov
|
Petar Debarliev
|
Erima | efbet | — |
| Krumovgrad | Atanas Ribarski
|
Bozhidar Katsarov
|
Uhlsport | Compass Cargo Airlines | Bethub |
| Levski Sofia | Stanislav Genchev
|
 Wenderson Tsunami
|
Adidas[7] | PalmsBet | CT Interactive |
| Lokomotiv Plovdiv | Lyuboslav Penev
|
Dimitar Iliev
|
Joma[8] | WinBet | General Broker Club |
| Lokomotiv Sofia | Ivan Kolev
|
Valentin Nikolov
|
Joma | 8888.bg | VIA 2000 |
| Ludogorets Razgrad | Georgi Dermendzhiev
|
Anton Nedyalkov
|
Jako | efbet | Vivacom, Huvepharma, Navibulgar |
| Septemvri Sofia | Nikolay Mitov
|
Dimitar Sheytanov
|
Uhlsport | 8888.bg | — |
| Slavia Sofia | Zlatomir Zagorčić
|
Georgi Petkov
|
Zeus | bet365 | Asset Insurance, SportRespect |
| Spartak Varna | Aleksandar Tomash
|
Viktor Mitev
|
Nike | efbet | Intercom Group, Mussala Insurance Broker, 100 Tona |
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.
Regular season
editLeague table
edit
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Levski Sofia | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 1 | +11 | 9 | Qualification for the Championship group |
| 2 | Spartak Varna | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 2 | +5 | 7 | |
| 3 | Botev Plovdiv | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 3 | +3 | 7 | |
| 4 | Beroe | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | +2 | 7 | |
| 5 | Ludogorets Razgrad | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | +5 | 6 | Qualification for the Conference League group |
| 6 | Lokomotiv Sofia | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 7 | −4 | 4 | |
| 7 | Lokomotiv Plovdiv | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −1 | 4 | |
| 8 | Cherno More | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 4 | |
| 9 | Arda | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | −4 | 3 | Qualification for the Relegation group |
| 10 | CSKA Sofia | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | −2 | 3 | |
| 11 | Krumovgrad | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 3 | |
| 12 | CSKA 1948 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | |
| 13 | Slavia Sofia | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 1 | |
| 14 | Hebar | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | −4 | 1 | |
| 15 | Septemvri Sofia | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | −3 | 0 | |
| 16 | Botev Vratsa | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 9 | −7 | 0 |
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[9]
Results
editSeason statistics
editTop scorers
edit- As of 4 August 2024[10]
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ahmed Ahmedov
|
Spartak Varna | 4 |
| 2 |  Jawad El Jemili
|
Levski Sofia | 3 |
 Hassimi Fadiga
|
Levski Sofia | ||
| 4 |  Ante Aralica
|
Lokomotiv Sofia | 2 |
 Nabil Makni
|
Hebar | ||
| Mustapha Sangaré
|
Levski Sofia | ||
| Martin Sekulić
|
Botev Plovdiv | ||
| Son
|
Ludogorets Razgrad | ||
| Antonio Vutov
|
Spartak Varna | ||
| 9 | thirty-two players | 1 | |
Clean sheets
edit- As of 4 August 2024[10]
| Rank | Goalkeeper | Club | Clean sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Plamen Andreev
|
Levski Sofia | 2 |
| Plamen Iliev
|
Cherno More | ||
| Arthur Motta
|
Beroe | ||
| 4 |  Hans Christian Bernat
|
Botev Plovdiv | 1 |
| Yanko Georgiev
|
Krumovgrad | ||
| Anatoli Gospodinov
|
Arda | ||
| Aleksandar Lyubenov
|
Lokomotiv Sofia | ||
| Petar Marinov
|
CSKA 1948 | ||
 Sergio Padt
|
Ludogorets Razgrad | ||
| Kristian Tomov
|
Lokomotiv Plovdiv | ||
| Martin Velichkov
|
Spartak Varna |
References
edit- ^ "Обявиха официално новото име и лого на Първа лига" [Officially announced the new name and logo of First League.]. Sportal.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2020-02-14.
- ^ "Спартак Варна се завърна в Първа лига" (in Bulgarian). bntnews.bg. 3 May 2024.
- ^ "Септември София се завърна в Първа лига, Марек ще играе бараж" (in Bulgarian). bntnews.bg. 24 May 2024.
- ^ "Страхотна драма във Враца! Ботев пречупи борбен Марек и остава в efbet Лига" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 30 May 2024.
- ^ "Започват предварителните поръчки на екипа за новия сезон" (in Bulgarian). botevplovdiv.bg. 11 July 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
- ^ "Не просто екип, а кауза" (in Bulgarian). cska.bg. 8 July 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
- ^ "Левски представи новия екип, реплика е на шампионския от 90-те години на миналия век". 24 May 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
- ^ "ТИТУЛЯРНИЯТ ЕКИП НА ЛОКОМОТИВ ЗА СЕЗОН 2024/25" (in Bulgarian). lokomotivpd.com. 25 May 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
- ^ "Наредба за първенствата и турнирите по футбол в системата на БФС за сезон 2023/2024 година" (PDF) (in Bulgarian). Bulgarian Football Union. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
- ^ a b "Първа професионална лига 2024/25". bulgarian-football.com (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 13 July 2024.