2020–21 Second Professional Football League (Bulgaria)
66th season of the Second Professional Football League (Bulgaria)
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The 2020–21 Second League was the 65th season of the Second League, the second tier of the Bulgarian football league system, and the 5th season under this name and current league structure. It was delayed by two weeks due to the COVID-19 situation in Bulgaria,[1][2] which saw footballers from a number of the participating teams testing positive for COVID-19 in July 2020,[3] with Minyor Pernik especially affected.[4] The season began in August 2020.[5]
Lokomotiv Sofia
Kariana (excluded)
Lokomotiv GO
| Season | 2020–21 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Pirin Blagoevgrad |
| Promoted | Pirin Blagoevgrad Lokomotiv Sofia |
| Relegated | Vitosha Bistritsa (excluded) Kariana (excluded) Lokomotiv GO |
| Top goalscorer |  Svetoslav Dikov (23 goals) |
| Biggest home win | Lokomotiv Sofia 6–0 Neftochimic |
| Biggest away win | Neftochimic 0–6 Septemvri Sofia |
| Highest scoring | Hebar Pazardzhik 5–2 Septemvri Sofia Septemvri Sofia 2–5 Lokomotiv Sofia |
← 2019–20 2021–22 → | |
The first game of the season was played on 7 August 2020, between Hebar and Pirin Blagoevgrad, ending in a draw.
On 28 September 2020, Vitosha Bistritsa was excluded from the league, after the club announced on the same day that they will withdraw from the competition due to financial problems. The club also announced that they will fold their senior team, only remaining active at youth level.[6] Following Vitosha's expulsion from the league, the BFU announced that it would annul all of Vitosha's results from the start of the league until 28 September.
The season started with spectators being allowed (albeit at a reduced stadium capacity), but on 27 October 2020, following a worsening of the epidemiological situation in Bulgaria, Minister of Health Kostadin Angelov issued a decree valid from 29 October until 12 November, stipulating that all matches are to be held behind closed doors.[7] On 12 November 2020, the ban regarding the presence of spectators was extended at least until 30 November.[8] Fans were once again allowed from 24 April 2021 onwards, at 30% stadium capacity, with a maximum of 1000 people per stand.[9]
On 7 December 2020, the match between Ludogorets II and Neftochimic was abandoned early in the first half with the score 2:0 in favour of the hosts after a Neftochimic player sustained an injury, reducing his side to 6 men. The guests had started the match with 7 players due to a wage-related boycott from the senior footballers and a ban on players under the age of 18 participating in sports events because of the coronavirus.[10] Ludogorets II were eventually awarded a 5:0 win.[11]
After the first half of the season ended in December, Kariana Erden announced that the team would withdraw from the league, for personal reasons related to its owners. Kariana's results would not be annulled, though, as per the BFU rules, teams that withdraw from the league during, or after the winter break will not have their results annulled.[12]
On 23 April 2021, Pirin Blagoevgrad were promoted to the First League after a 2–0 away win against Litex Lovech.[13]
Teams
The following teams have changed division since the 2019–20 season.
To Second LeaguePromoted from Third League Relegated from First League |
From Second LeagueRelegated to Third League Promoted to First League
|
Note: Dunav Ruse, who were relegated from the First League, failed to obtain a professional license from the Bulgarian Football Union with the team instead entering the Northeast group of the Third Football League. As a result, the Second League will consist of only 17 teams with no replacement team for Dunav's vacated spot.[14]
Stadia and locations
| Team | City | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dobrudzha | Dobrich | Druzhba | 12,500 |
| Hebar | Pazardzhik | Georgi Benkovski | 13,128 |
| Kariana | Erden | Sport Complex Kariana | 1,000 |
| Litex | Lovech | Gradski, Lovech | 8,100 |
| Lokomotiv | Gorna Oryahovitsa | Lokomotiv, Gorna Oryahovitsa | 10,500 |
| Lokomotiv | Sofia | Lokomotiv, Sofia | 22,000 |
| Ludogorets II | Razgrad | Eagles' Nest | 2,000 |
| Minyor | Pernik | Minyor | 8,000 |
| Neftochimic | Burgas | efbet Arena | 18,037 |
| Pirin | Blagoevgrad | Hristo Botev | 7,500 |
| Septemvri | Simitli | Struma | 8,000 |
| Septemvri | Sofia | DIT | 2,000 |
| Sozopol | Sozopol | Arena Sozopol | 3,500 |
| Sportist | Svoge | Chavdar Tsvetkov | 3,500 |
| Strumska Slava | Radomir | Gradski, Radomir | 3,500 |
| Vitosha | Bistritsa | Bistritsa | 2,000 |
| Yantra | Gabrovo | Hristo Botev | 14,000 |
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 | Kit sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dobrudzha | Svetoslav Petrov |
Dimitar Iliev |
Uhlsport | Corteva Agriscience | — |
| Hebar | Nikolay Mitov |
Vasil Gerov |
Jako | Efbet | Pazardzhik Municipality |
| Kariana | Veselin Velikov |
Evgeni Ignatov |
Joma | — | — |
| Litex | Zhivko Zhelev |
Plamen Nikolov |
Givova | WINBET | — |
| Lokomotiv Sofia | Ivan Kolev |
Mario Petkov |
Joma | Casa Boyana | Efbet, Malizia, Intesa, VIA 2000, Club 33 |
| Lokomotiv GO | Milcho Sarmov |
Petar Chalakov |
KRASIKO | Efbet | Zaharni Zavodi, Prity, Enel, Go Grill |
| Ludogorets II | Todor Zhivondov |
Tsvetoslav Petrov |
Nike | Efbet | Vivacom, Spetema |
| Minyor | Hristo Yanev |
Tomislav Pavlov |
Jumper | Efbet | — |
| Neftochimic | Nikolay Krastev |
Tsvetan Filipov |
KRASIKO | Masterhaus | Burgas Municipality |
| Pirin Blagoevgrad |  Warren Feeney |
Vladislav Zlatinov |
Umbro | Emirates Wealth | — |
| Septemvri Simitli | Todor Kiselichkov |
Anatoli Luleyski |
Joma | Simitli Municipality | — |
| Septemvri Sofia | Hristo Arangelov |
Georgi Sarmov |
Uhlsport | WINBET | — |
| Sоzopol | Margarit Dimov |
Petar Kyumurdzhiev |
Erreà | — | Efbet |
| Sportist | Ivaylo Vasilev |
Borislav Stoychev |
Zeus | Petar Electric | — |
| Strumska Slava | Vladimir Dimitrov |
Borislav Nikolov |
Givova | Efbet | — |
| Vitosha Bistritsa | Asen Bukarev |
Chetin Sadula |
Jumper | Efbet | — |
| Yantra | Kostadin Angelov |
Plamen Kozhuharov |
Jumper | Efbet | — |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sportist | Georgi Stankov |
Sacked | 15 August 2020[15] | 17th | Ivaylo Vasilev |
1 September 2020 |
| Septemvri Simitli | Ivo Trenchev |
Sacked | 21 September 2020[16] | 9th | Todor Kiselichkov |
21 September 2020[17] |
| Minyor | Yuriy Vasev |
Sacked | 1 October 2020[18] | 9th | Hristo Yanev |
1 October 2020 |
| Neftochimik | Viktorio Pavlov |
Sacked | 2 October 2020[19] | 16th | Nikolay Krastev |
3 October 2020 |
| Yantra | Stoyan Atsarov |
Sacked | 7 October 2020[20] | 13th | Kostadin Angelov |
7 October 2020 |
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pirin Blagoevgrad (C, P) | 30 | 20 | 5 | 5 | 66 | 26 | +40 | 65 | Promotion to the First League |
| 2 | Lokomotiv Sofia (P) | 30 | 19 | 5 | 6 | 65 | 30 | +35 | 62 | |
| 3 | Septemvri Sofia (Q) | 30 | 17 | 5 | 8 | 54 | 29 | +25 | 56 | Qualification for the promotion play-off |
| 4 | Ludogorets II | 30 | 14 | 8 | 8 | 56 | 38 | +18 | 50 | Ineligible for promotion |
| 5 | Sportist Svoge | 30 | 14 | 7 | 9 | 43 | 36 | +7 | 49 | |
| 6 | Hebar | 30 | 13 | 9 | 8 | 50 | 36 | +14 | 48 | |
| 7 | Litex | 30 | 9 | 12 | 9 | 36 | 31 | +5 | 39 | |
| 8 | Sozopol | 30 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 35 | 40 | −5 | 39 | |
| 9 | Minyor Pernik | 30 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 30 | 37 | −7 | 39 | |
| 10 | Strumska Slava | 30 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 31 | 37 | −6 | 34 | |
| 11 | Yantra Gabrovo | 30 | 10 | 4 | 16 | 30 | 47 | −17 | 34 | |
| 12 | Septemvri Simitli | 30 | 9 | 6 | 15 | 34 | 42 | −8 | 33 | |
| 13 | Dobrudzha | 30 | 7 | 9 | 14 | 28 | 46 | −18 | 30 | |
| 14 | Neftochimic | 30 | 7 | 6 | 17 | 27 | 61 | −34 | 27 | |
| 15 | Lokomotiv GO (R) | 30 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 24 | 43 | −19 | 25 | Relegation to the Third League |
| 16 | Kariana (R, D) | 30 | 9 | 4 | 17 | 29 | 59 | −30 | 31 | Club dissolved[a] |
| 17 | Vitosha Bistritsa (R, D) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Club dissolved[b] |
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.[21]
(C) Champions; (D) Disqualified; (P) Promoted; (Q) Qualified for the phase indicated; (R) Relegated
Notes:
- Vitosha Bistritsa were excluded from the league on 28 September 2020, due to the team voluntarily retiring their senior team in light of financial problems. All remaining fixtures involving Vitosha were cancelled.