2021–22 Second Professional Football League (Bulgaria)
66th season of the Second Professional Football League (Bulgaria)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 2021–22 Second League was the 66th season of the Second League, the second tier of the Bulgarian football league system, and the 6th season under this name and current league structure.
Marek Dupnitsa
Neftochimic (disqualified)
Levski Lom (withdrawn)
| Season | 2021–22 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 24 July 2021 – 21 May 2022[1] |
| Promoted | Septemvri Sofia Hebar Pazardzhik Spartak Varna |
| Relegated | Septemvri Simitli Marek Dupnitsa Neftochimic (disqualified) Levski Lom (withdrawn) |
| Matches | 342 |
| Goals | 871 (2.55 per match) |
| Top goalscorer |  Mariyan Tonev (19 goals) |
| Biggest home win | Septemvri Sofia 7−0 Septemvri Simitli |
| Biggest away win | Sozopol 0−5 Septemvri Sofia |
| Highest scoring | Maritsa 3−5 Spartak Varna Sportist Svoge 4–4 CSKA 1948 Sofia II |
← 2020–21 2022–23 →
All statistics correct as of 3 June 2022. | |
For this season, the league was expanded from 17 to 20 teams, with four teams promoted from the Third League, as well as two reserve teams being added to the league. This makes this season the largest in terms of number of teams competing since the 2011–12 season, when 20 teams competed in two separate divisions.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, stadiums were initially limited to 50% capacity, with the spectators also being subject to compliance with social distancing and the wearing of face masks.[2] Since 7 September 2021, only 30% of the stadium could be occupied.[3] In mid September 2021, the Football Union postponed the next three Levski Lom matches (two for the league and one for the Cup) after 12 of the team's players tested positive for the coronavirus.[4] From 14 October 2021, no fans were allowed at the stadiums of the teams based in Sofia Province and Sofia City Province.[5] From 21 October, a prerequisite to fan attendance was the possession of a green certificate, entailing proof of vaccination, recovery from an infection or a negative COVID-19 test.[6] From 24 February 2022, the green pass was no longer required for spectators, though it remained in place for the staff and event organizers.[7] From 21 March 2022, the vaccine pass was abolished for all public activities, including football matches.[8]
On 4 November 2021 the professional football license of Neftochimic was revoked by the Licensing commission of the Bulgarian Football Union as a result of the club not following financial fair play rules and outstanding payments towards personnel and state institutions. In the following days the team was to be removed from the group and its matches annulled.[9] On 19 November the BFU confirmed its decision and removed Neftochimic from the group, annulling all their fixtures played until that point.[10]
On 16 March 2022 Levski Lom decided to discontinue its participation in the league, citing the club's position in the league standings and financial issues.[11] On March 17, as a result of the team`s withdrawal, the sports-technical commission of BFU removed Levski Lom from the group. Team`s results up to that date still count toward the league standings with opponents awarded 3:0 wins for the remainder of the season.[12]
Teams
The following teams have changed division since the 2020–21 season.
To Second LeagueIntroduced reserve team Promoted from Third League Relegated from First League
|
From Second LeagueRelegated to Third League Promoted to First League
|
Stadia and locations
| Team | City | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Botev II | Plovdiv | Futbolen kompleks Botev 1912 | 3,500 |
| CSKA 1948 II | Sofia | Bistritsa | 2,500 |
| Dobrudzha | Dobrich | Druzhba | 12,500 |
| Etar | Veliko Tarnovo | Ivaylo | 18,000 |
| Hebar | Pazardzhik | Georgi Benkovski | 13,128 |
| Levski | Lom | Dunavski Yunak | 2,500 |
| Litex | Lovech | Gradski | 8,100 |
| Ludogorets II | Razgrad | Eagles' Nest | 2,000 |
| Marek | Dupnitsa | Bonchuk | 16,000 |
| Maritsa | Plovdiv | Maritsa | 5,000 |
| Minyor | Pernik | Minyor | 8,000 |
| Montana | Montana | Ogosta | 6,000 |
| Neftochimic | Burgas | efbet Arena | 18,037 |
| Septemvri | Simitli | Struma | 8,000 |
| Septemvri | Sofia | DIT | 2,000 |
| Sozopol | Sozopol | Arena Sozopol | 3,500 |
| Spartak | Varna | Spartak | 6,000 |
| Sportist | Svoge | Chavdar Tsvetkov | 3,500 |
| Strumska Slava | Radomir | Gradski | 3,500 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Botev Plovdiv II | Stefan Stoyanov |
Dimitar Balinov |
Uhlsport | WinBet | — |
| CSKA 1948 II | Vladimir Dimitrov |
Georgi Mariyanov |
Adidas | efbet | Bachkovo |
| Dobrudzha | Atanas Atanasov |
Dimitar Iliev |
Uhlsport | Corteva Agriscience | — |
| Etar | Veselin Velikov |
Zdravko Iliev |
Joma[15] | WinBet | — |
| Hebar | Nikolay Mitov |
Tsvetelin Tonev |
Jako | Efbet | Pazardzhik Municipality |
| Levski Lom | Anatoli Tonov |
Nikolay Hristov |
Joma | — | — |
| Litex | Zhivko Zhelev |
Plamen Nikolov |
Givova | WINBET | — |
| Ludogorets II | Todor Zhivondov |
Tsvetoslav Petrov |
Nike | Efbet | Vivacom, Spetema |
| Marek | Vasil Pavlov |
Aleksandar Bliznakov |
Joma | Dupnitsa Municipality | — |
| Maritsa | Nikolay Dimitrov |
Valeri Domovchiyski |
Tenev | — | — |
| Minyor | Hristo Yanev |
Andreas Vasev |
Jumper | Efbet | — |
| Montana | Antoni Zdravkov |
Ivan Mihov |
Joma | efbet | — |
| Neftochimic | Vladimir Ivanov |
Marin Orlinov |
KRASIKO | Masterhaus | Burgas Municipality |
| Septemvri Simitli | Spas Stoimenov |
Anatoli Luleyski |
Joma | Simitli Municipality | — |
| Septemvri Sofia |  Slavko Matić |
Asen Chandarov |
Uhlsport | WINBET | — |
| Sоzopol | Margarit Dimov |
Petar Kyumurdzhiev |
Erreà | — | Efbet |
| Spartak | Vasil Petrov |
Yancho Andreev |
Jako | Efbet | — |
| Sportist | Borislav Kyosev |
Borislav Stoychev |
Zeus | Petar Electric | — |
| Strumska Slava | Yuriy Vasev |
Borislav Nikolov |
Givova | Efbet | — |
| Yantra | Sasho Angelov |
Hristiyan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CSKA 1948 II | N/A (inaugural season) | pre-season | Miroslav Mindev |
29 May 2021[16] | ||
| Levski Lom | Ferario Spasov |
Sacked | 31 May 2021 | pre-season | Emil Velev |
31 May 2021[17] |
| Botev II | N/A (inaugural season) | pre-season | Stefan Stoyanov |
7 June 2021[18] | ||
| CSKA 1948 II | Miroslav Mindev |
Promoted to CSKA 1948 | 27 July 2021 | 10th | Atanas Apostolov |
27 July 2021[19] |
| Levski Lom | Emil Velev |
Resigned | 11 August 2021 | 19th | Ivaylo Vasilev |
12 August 2021[20] |
| Yantra Gabrovo | Kostadin Angelov |
Resigned | 15 August 2021 | 19th | Sasho Angelov |
1 September 2021[21] |
| Dobrudzha | Stefan Slavov |
Mutual consent | 14 September 2021 | 16th | Atanas Atanasov |
14 September 2021[22] |
| CSKA 1948 II | Atanas Apostolov |
Mutual consent | 14 September 2021 | 15th | Andrey Andreev |
28 September 2021[23] |
| Neftochimic | Lyudmil Kirov |
Resigned | 22 October 2021 | 20th | Kaloyan Genov |
24 October 2021[24] |
| Neftochimic | Kaloyan Genov |
Resigned | 27 October 2021 | 20th | Vladimir Ivanov |
30 October 2021[25] |
| Levski Lom | Ivaylo Vasilev |
Sacked | 1 November 2021 | 19th | Anatoli Tonov |
1 November 2021[26] |
| CSKA 1948 II | Andrey Andreev |
Mutual consent | 3 December 2021 | 14th | Vladimir Dimitrov |
19 December 2021[27][28] |
| Strumska Slava | Vladimir Dimitrov |
Mutual consent | 17 December 2021 | 8th | Yuriy Vasev |
17 December 2021[29] |
| Montana | Svetlan Kondev |
Mutual consent | 21 December 2021 | 9th | Antoni Zdravkov |
21 December 2021[30] |
| Septemvri Sofia | Hristo Arangelov |
Mutual consent | 7 January 2022 | 6th | Slavko Matić |
9 January 2022[31][32] |
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Septemvri Sofia (P) | 36 | 21 | 7 | 8 | 77 | 35 | +42 | 70 | Promotion to the First League |
| 2 | Hebar Pazardzhik (P) | 36 | 22 | 4 | 10 | 54 | 33 | +21 | 70 | |
| 3 | Spartak Varna (P) | 36 | 21 | 7 | 8 | 64 | 39 | +25 | 70 | |
| 4 | Etar Veliko Tarnovo (A) | 36 | 21 | 5 | 10 | 69 | 42 | +27 | 68 | Qualification for the promotion play-off |
| 5 | Minyor Pernik | 36 | 18 | 9 | 9 | 50 | 35 | +15 | 63 | |
| 6 | Ludogorets Razgrad II | 36 | 18 | 7 | 11 | 70 | 48 | +22 | 61 | Ineligible for promotion |
| 7 | Montana | 36 | 15 | 13 | 8 | 39 | 31 | +8 | 58 | |
| 8 | Strumska Slava Radomir | 36 | 15 | 9 | 12 | 40 | 37 | +3 | 54 | |
| 9 | Maritsa Plovdiv | 36 | 14 | 8 | 14 | 51 | 48 | +3 | 50 | |
| 10 | Sportist Svoge | 36 | 13 | 9 | 14 | 38 | 46 | −8 | 48 | |
| 11 | Dobrudzha Dobrich | 36 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 39 | 45 | −6 | 45 | |
| 12 | CSKA 1948 II | 36 | 12 | 9 | 15 | 53 | 50 | +3 | 45 | Ineligible for promotion |
| 13 | Litex Lovech | 36 | 12 | 9 | 15 | 41 | 42 | −1 | 45 | |
| 14 | Yantra Gabrovo | 36 | 10 | 10 | 16 | 30 | 46 | −16 | 40 | |
| 15 | Sozopol | 36 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 40 | 56 | −16 | 39 | |
| 16 | Botev Plovdiv II | 36 | 8 | 14 | 14 | 34 | 47 | −13 | 38 | Ineligible for promotion |
| 17 | Marek Dupnitsa (R) | 36 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 29 | 46 | −17 | 36 | Relegation to the Third League |
| 18 | Septemvri Simitli (R) | 36 | 8 | 9 | 19 | 41 | 68 | −27 | 33 | |
| 19 | Levski Lom (R, D) | 36 | 1 | 5 | 30 | 12 | 77 | −65 | 8 | Disqualified |
| 20 | Neftochimic Burgas (R, D) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 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.[33]
(A) Advance to a further round; (D) Disqualified; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated