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2024–25 First Professional Football League (Bulgaria)

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First Professional Football League
Season2024–25
Dates19 July 2024 – 31 May 2025
Matches played153
Goals scored366 (2.39 per match)
Top goalscorerAhmed Ahmedov (16 goals)
Best goalkeeperHans Christian Bernat
(11 clean sheets)
Biggest home winLudogorets Razgrad 5–1 Arda
(3 August 2024)
Levski Sofia 4–0 Botev Vratsa
(27 July 2024)
Beroe 5–1 Botev Vratsa
(4 December 2024)
Biggest away winLokomotiv Sofia 1–6 Levski Sofia
(20 July 2024)
Highest scoringLokomotiv Sofia 1–6 Levski Sofia
(20 July 2024)
Longest winning run9 games
Ludogorets Razgrad
Longest unbeaten run16 games
Ludogorets Razgrad
Longest winless run12 games
Lokomotiv Sofia
Longest losing run6 games
Septemvri Sofia
All statistics correct as of 17:27, 7 February 2025 (UTC).

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 began on 19 July 2024.

Ludogorets Razgrad are the 13-time defending champions.

Teams

[edit]

As 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 a 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]

Stadiums and locations

[edit]
Arda Beroe Botev Plovdiv Botev Vratsa
Arena Arda Beroe Hristo Botev Hristo Botev
Capacity: 12,000 Capacity: 12,000 Capacity: 18,777 Capacity: 25,000
Cherno More CSKA 1948 CSKA Sofia Hebar
Ticha Bistritsa Vasil Levski National Stadium Georgi Benkovski
Capacity: 12,000 Capacity: 4,000 Capacity: 45,000 Capacity: 13,000
Krumovgrad
class=notpageimage|
Location of teams in 2024–25 First League
class=notpageimage|
Sofia 2024–25 First League football clubs
 Levski Sofia
Nikola Shterev - Starika Sports Complex Georgi Asparuhov
Capacity: 3,000 Capacity: 18,000
Lokomotiv Plovdiv Lokomotiv Sofia
Lokomotiv Lokomotiv
Capacity: 10,000 Capacity: 22,000
Ludogorets Razgrad Septemvri Sofia Slavia Sofia Spartak Varna
Huvepharma Arena Lokomotiv Aleksandar Shalamanov Spartak
Capacity: 10,500 Capacity: 22,000 Capacity: 25,000 Capacity: 10,000

Personnel and kits

[edit]

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
Arda Bulgaria Aleksandar Tunchev Bulgaria Anatoli Gospodinov Uhlsport efbet IK Nataliya Ltd.
Beroe Spain Josu Uribe Argentina Juan Pablo Salomoni Nike 8888.bg —
Botev Plovdiv Bosnia and Herzegovina Dušan Kerkez Bulgaria Ivelin Popov Macron[5] WinBet Bitcoin
Botev Vratsa Bulgaria Hristo Yanev Colombia Brayan Perea Erima WinBet Vratsa Municipality, Inex, Predsednik Ltd.
Cherno More Bulgaria Ilian Iliev Bulgaria Daniel Dimov Macron Armeets —
CSKA 1948 Bulgaria Ivan Ivanov Bulgaria Radoslav Kirilov Puma efbet Bachkovo
CSKA Sofia Bulgaria Aleksandar Tomash Bulgaria Ivan Turitsov Macron[6] WinBet —
Hebar Bosnia and Herzegovina Bruno Akrapović Bulgaria Petar Debarliev Erima efbet —
Krumovgrad Bulgaria Atanas Ribarski Bulgaria Bozhidar Katsarov Uhlsport Compass Cargo Airlines Bethub
Levski Sofia Spain Julio Velázquez Brazil Wenderson Tsunami Adidas[7] PalmsBet CT Interactive, Lacrima
Lokomotiv Plovdiv Slovenia Dušan Kosič Bulgaria Dimitar Iliev Joma[8] WinBet General Broker Club
Lokomotiv Sofia Bulgaria Anton Velkov Bulgaria Valentin Nikolov Joma 8888.bg VIA 2000
Ludogorets Razgrad Croatia Igor Jovićević Bulgaria Anton Nedyalkov Jako efbet Vivacom, Huvepharma, Navibulgar
Septemvri Sofia Bulgaria Nikolay Mitov Bulgaria Dimitar Sheytanov Uhlsport 8888.bg
Slavia Sofia Serbia Zlatomir Zagorčić Bulgaria Georgi Petkov Zeus bet365 Asset Insurance, SportRespect
Spartak Varna Bulgaria Nikolay Kirov Bulgaria 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.

Managerial changes

[edit]
Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment
Ludogorets Razgrad Bulgaria Georgi Dermendzhiev Resigned 15 August 2024[9] 8th Bulgaria Zahari Sirakov (interim) 15 August 2024
Spartak Varna Bulgaria Aleksandar Tomash Mutual agreement 28 August 2024[10] 3rd Bulgaria Ivan Tsvetanov (interim) 28 August 2024
CSKA Sofia Croatia Tomislav Stipić Sacked 28 August 2024[11] 13th Bulgaria Aleksandar Tomash 28 August 2024[12]
Botev Vratsa Bulgaria Todor Yanchev 1 September 2024[13] 13th Bulgaria Hristo Yanev 6 September 2024[14]
Spartak Varna Bulgaria Ivan Tsvetanov End of interim spell 5 September 2024 3rd Greece Kyriakos Georgiou 5 September 2024[15]
Ludogorets Bulgaria Zahari Sirakov 26 September 2024 1st Croatia Igor Jovićević 26 September 2024[16]
Spartak Varna Greece Kyriakos Georgiou Resigned 28 September 2024[17] 5th Bulgaria Ivan Tsvetanov (interim) 12 October 2024
Lokomotiv Sofia Bulgaria Ivan Kolev Mutual agreement 30 September 2024[18] 12th Bulgaria Anton Velkov 30 September 2024[19]
Beroe Argentina José Acciari 30 September 2024[20] 8th Spain Josu Uribe 3 October 2024[21]
Hebar Bulgaria Veselin Velikov 1 October 2024[22] 16th Bulgaria Yordan Minev (interim) 12 October 2024
Lokomotiv Plovdiv Bulgaria Lyuboslav Penev 11 October 2024[23] 10th Bulgaria Hristo Zlatinski (interim) 11 October 2024
Hebar Bulgaria Yordan Minev End of interim spell 16 October 2024[24] 16th Bosnia and Herzegovina Bruno Akrapović 16 October 2024
Spartak Varna Bulgaria Ivan Tsvetanov 20 October 2024[25] 5th Bulgaria Nikolay Kirov 20 October 2024
CSKA 1948 Bulgaria Valentin Iliev Sacked 30 October 2024[26] 9th Bulgaria Ivan Ivanov 30 October 2024
Lokomotiv Plovdiv Bulgaria Hristo Zlatinski End of interim spell 7 December 2024[27] 14th Bulgaria Vasil Garkov (interim) 7 December 2024
Levski Sofia Bulgaria Stanislav Genchev Mutual agreement 16 December 2024[28] 4th Spain Julio Velázquez 6 January 2025[29]
Lokomotiv Plovdiv Bulgaria Vasil Garkov (interim) End of interim spell 19 December 2024[30] 14th Slovenia Dušan Kosič 19 December 2024

Regular season

[edit]

League table

[edit]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Ludogorets Razgrad 19 17 2 0 43 6 +37 53 Qualification for the Championship group
2 Botev Plovdiv 19 13 1 5 22 14 +8 40[a]
3 Cherno More 19 12 4 3 30 11 +19 40[a]
4 Levski Sofia 19 13 1 5 35 14 +21 40[a]
5 Arda 20 10 5 5 27 24 +3 35 Qualification for the Conference League group
6 Spartak Varna 20 9 5 6 27 25 +2 32
7 Beroe 19 9 3 7 23 16 +7 30
8 CSKA Sofia 19 7 5 7 25 21 +4 26
9 Slavia Sofia 19 7 2 10 22 25 −3 23 Qualification for the Relegation group
10 CSKA 1948 19 4 9 6 22 26 −4 21
11 Krumovgrad 19 5 5 9 12 19 −7 20
12 Septemvri Sofia 19 6 1 12 17 29 −12 19
13 Lokomotiv Sofia 19 3 5 11 12 33 −21 14[b]
14 Lokomotiv Plovdiv 19 3 5 11 20 31 −11 14[b]
15 Botev Vratsa 19 3 3 13 15 40 −25 12
16 Hebar 19 1 6 12 14 32 −18 9
Updated to match(es) played on 7 February 2025. Source: soccerway, Bulgarian Football
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[31]
Notes:
  1. ^ a b c Head-to-head points: Botev Plovdiv 6; Cherno More 3; Levski Sofia 0.
  2. ^ a b Head-to-head away goals: Lokomotiv Sofia 1; Lokomotiv Plovdiv 0.

Results

[edit]
Home \ Away ARD BER BPD BVR CHM CSK CSS HEB KRU LEV LPD LSO LUD SEP SLA SPV
Arda — 1–1 1–0 2–0 3 Mar 2–1 2–1 1–0 16 Mar 4–2 0–4 2–1 22 Feb 2–2
Beroe — 0–1 5–1 0–1 8 Mar 21 Feb 10 Feb 0–2 0–0 0–1 2–0 1–0 3–0
Botev Plovdiv 9 Mar — 3–1 1–0 16 Mar 22 Feb 9 Feb 1–0 1–0 2–2 2–0 2–4 1–0 0–1
Botev Vratsa 1–2 1–3 — 2–3 0–3 7 Mar 0–2 0–0 14 Feb 0–2 2–0 3–2 1–1
Cherno More 1–1 2–1 — 0–0 0–0 1–0 3–0 2–1 8 Feb 4–0 22 Feb 2–0 8 Mar
CSKA 1948 1–2 1–1 0–1 21 Feb 0–4 — 1–3 2–4 8 Mar 9 Feb 2–0 2–0 2–2
CSKA Sofia 16 Feb 1–0 0–1 2–0 15 Mar 2–2 — 3–1 2–2 2 Mar 2–2 0–1 0–1 3–1
Hebar 0–2 3–1 0–1 1–1 2 Mar 1–1 0–1 — 0–0 15 Feb 15 Mar 1–2 1–1 0–2
Krumovgrad 0–0 0–1 0–1 3–0 15 Feb 1–1 — 0–2 14 Mar 1 Mar 0–3 2–0 1–0 0–1
Levski Sofia 2–1 0–2 4–0 1–0 1–0 3–0 — 2–1 2–0 9 Feb 2–3 9 Mar 21 Feb
Lokomotiv Plovdiv 1–0 1–2 0–1 1 Mar 1–2 0–2 2–2 3–3 0–2 0–2 — 1–1 16 Feb
Lokomotiv Sofia 0–2 2–1 0–1 2–1 0–0 0–3 0–0 0–0 1–6 23 Feb — 9 Mar 1–2 a
Ludogorets Razgrad 5–1 16 Feb 3–0 15 Mar 0–0 3–0 1–0 3–0 1–0 1–0 2–0 — 3 Mar 2–0
Septemvri Sofia 0–1 1–0 8 Feb 1–1 1–1 10 Mar 24 Feb 2–3 0–1 0–2 — 3–2 0–1
Slavia Sofia 1–1 14 Mar 3 Mar 1–0 17 Feb 8 Feb 3–2 0–1 0–1 2–1 3–2 0–1 — 3–1
Spartak Varna 1–0 1 Mar 15 Feb 0–2 1–1 3–0 4–0 0–0 1–0 3–2 1–3 16 Mar 1–3 —
Updated to match(es) played on 7 February 2025. Source: Bulgarian Football
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.

Season statistics

[edit]

Top scorers

[edit]
As of 7 February 2025[32]
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Bulgaria Ahmed Ahmedov Spartak Varna 16
2 Central African Republic Goduine Koyalipou CSKA Sofia 14
3 Argentina Santiago Godoy Beroe 12
4 Brazil Rwan Cruz Ludogorets Razgrad 10
5 Bulgaria Aleksandar Kolev Levski Sofia 7
6 Bulgaria Stanislav Ivanov Arda 6
Croatia Ante Aralica Lokomotiv Sofia
Tunisia Nabil Makni Hebar
Bulgaria Ivan Minchev Slavia
Romania Claudiu Keșerü Cherno More
Bulgaria Dimitar Iliev Lokomotiv Plovdiv
Bulgaria Tonislav Yordanov Arda
13 France Julien Lamy Lokomotiv Plovdiv 5
France Mustapha Sangaré Levski Sofia
Bulgaria Borislav Rupanov Septemvri Sofia
Brazil Erick Marcus Ludogorets Razgrad
Bulgaria Kristian Dimitrov Levski Sofia
Ukraine Yevheniy Serdyuk CSKA 1948
Brazil Dudu Cherno More
Bulgaria Vladimir Nikolov Slavia
Bulgaria Antonio Vutov Spartak Varna

Clean sheets

[edit]
As of 9 December 2024[32]
Rank Goalkeeper Club Clean
sheets
1 Denmark Hans Christian Bernat Botev Plovdiv 11
2 Bulgaria Plamen Iliev Cherno More 10
3 Bulgaria Martin Velichkov Spartak Varna 8
Bulgaria Yanko Georgiev Krumovgrad
Netherlands Sergio Padt Ludogorets Razgrad
6 Brazil Arthur Motta Beroe 7
7 Germany Hendrik Bonmann Ludogorets Razgrad 6
Croatia Matej Marković Levski Sofia
Bulgaria Anatoli Gospodinov Arda
10 Bulgaria Aleksandar Lyubenov Lokomotiv Sofia 5
Bulgaria Petar Marinov CSKA 1948
12 Bulgaria Plamen Andreev Levski Sofia 4
13 Colombia Federico Barrios Botev Vratsa 3
Brazil Gustavo Busatto CSKA Sofia

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "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.
  2. ^ "Спартак Варна се завърна в Първа лига" (in Bulgarian). bntnews.bg. 3 May 2024.
  3. ^ "Септември София се завърна в Първа лига, Марек ще играе бараж" (in Bulgarian). bntnews.bg. 24 May 2024.
  4. ^ "Страхотна драма във Враца! Ботев пречупи борбен Марек и остава в efbet Лига" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 30 May 2024.
  5. ^ "Започват предварителните поръчки на екипа за новия сезон" (in Bulgarian). botevplovdiv.bg. 11 July 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  6. ^ "Не просто екип, а кауза" (in Bulgarian). cska.bg. 8 July 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  7. ^ "Левски представи новия екип, реплика е на шампионския от 90-те години на миналия век". 24 May 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  8. ^ "ТИТУЛЯРНИЯТ ЕКИП НА ЛОКОМОТИВ ЗА СЕЗОН 2024/25" (in Bulgarian). lokomotivpd.com. 25 May 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  9. ^ "Лудогорец прие оставката на Георги Дерменджиев - ето кой ще води тима срещу Левски" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 15 August 2024. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
  10. ^ "Босът на Спартак (Варна): Сагата с Томаш приключи" (in Bulgarian). topsport.bg. 28 August 2024. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  11. ^ "ЦСКА ще се раздели официално днес със Стипич" (in Bulgarian). topsport.bg. 28 August 2024. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  12. ^ "Александър Томаш се завърна в ЦСКА" (in Bulgarian). cska.bg. 28 August 2024. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  13. ^ "Ботев (Враца) освободи Тодор Янчев" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 1 September 2024. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  14. ^ "Христо Янев отново пое Ботев Враца" (in Bulgarian). dsport.bg. 6 September 2024. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  15. ^ "Кирякос Георгиу е новият старши треньор на Спартак (Варна)" (in Bulgarian). topsport.bg. 4 September 2024. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  16. ^ "Лудогорец официално има нов треньор" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 26 September 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  17. ^ "Трите Хикса ще води Спартак (Вн) в "Надежда"" (in Bulgarian). topsport.bg. 28 September 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  18. ^ "Официално: Иван Колев вече не е треньор на Локомотив (София)" (in Bulgarian). topsport.bg. 30 September 2024. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  19. ^ "Официално: Антон Велков застава начело на Локомотив (София)" (in Bulgarian). topsport.bg. 30 September 2024. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  20. ^ "Падна още една треньорска глава на отбор от елита! Берое се раздели с Ачиари" (in Bulgarian). topsport.bg. 30 September 2024. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  21. ^ "Официално: Берое има нов треньор" (in Bulgarian). topsport.bg. 3 October 2024. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  22. ^ "Падна още една треньорска глава в efbet Лига" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 1 October 2024. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  23. ^ "Локомотив Пловдив обяви, че се разделя с Любо Пенев, ясно е кой ще води отбора" (in Bulgarian). dsport.bg. 11 October 2024. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  24. ^ "Официално: Акрапович се завърна в българския футбол" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 16 October 2024. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  25. ^ "Спартак (Варна) има нов старши треньор" (in Bulgarian). topsport.bg. 20 October 2024. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  26. ^ "Официално: Иван Иванов пое ЦСКА 1948" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 30 October 2024. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  27. ^ "Треньорският щаб на "Локомотив" (Пд) подаде оставка" (in Bulgarian). bgonair.bg. 7 December 2024. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  28. ^ "Шок! Левски и Генчев се разделиха" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 16 December 2024. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
  29. ^ "Левски представи новия старши треньор" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 6 January 2025. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
  30. ^ "Официално: Душан Косич е новият старши треньор на Локомотив (Пловдив)" (in Bulgarian). topsport.bg. 19 December 2024. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
  31. ^ "Наредба за първенствата и турнирите по футбол в системата на БФС за сезон 2024/2025 година" (PDF) (in Bulgarian). Bulgarian Football Union. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
  32. ^ a b "Първа професионална лига 2024/25". bulgarian-football.com (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 13 July 2024.
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