2023–24 First Professional Football League (Bulgaria)

100th season of top-tier football league in Bulgaria From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 2023–24 First Professional Football League, also known as efbet League for sponsorship reasons,[1] is the 100th season of the top division of the Bulgarian football league system, the 76th since a league format was adopted for the national competition of A Group as a top tier of the pyramid, and also the 8th season of the First Professional Football League, which decides the Bulgarian champion. The season began on 14 July 2023.

Season2023–24
Dates14 July 2023 – 31 May 2024
ChampionsLudogorets Razgrad (13th title)
RelegatedEtar
Pirin Blagoevgrad
Quick facts Season, Dates ...
First Professional Football League
Season2023–24
Dates14 July 2023 – 31 May 2024
ChampionsLudogorets Razgrad (13th title)
RelegatedEtar
Pirin Blagoevgrad
Champions LeagueLudogorets Razgrad
Europa LeagueBotev Plovdiv
Conference LeagueCherno More
CSKA 1948
Matches283
Goals678 (2.4 per match)
Top goalscorerAleksandar Kolev
(15 goals)
Best goalkeeperPlamen Andreev
(17 clean sheets)
Biggest home winLevski Sofia 6–0 Lokomotiv Sofia
(30 July 2023)
Botev Plovdiv 6–0 Lokomotiv Sofia
(26 October 2023)
Ludogorets 6–0 Lokomotiv Sofia
(16 March 2024)
Biggest away winBotev Vratsa 0–5 Ludogorets
(5 August 2023)
Highest scoringBotev Vratsa 3–5 Botev Plovdiv
(21 October 2023)
Longest winning run14 games
Ludogorets Razgrad
Longest unbeaten run15 games
CSKA Sofia
Longest winless run12 games
Etar
Longest losing run7 games
Slavia Sofia
All statistics correct as of 19:57, 31 May 2024 (UTC).
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Ludogorets Razgrad were the 12-time defending champions and successfully managed to defend the title, winning it for the thirteenth consecutive time.

Teams

As in the last season, 16 teams will compete in the league this year. Two teams were promoted from the 2022–23 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 Etar, who mathematically secured a top three finish after Sportist Svoge lost to Yantra on May 25.[2] Etar return to the top level after a 2-year absence.

The second team to earn promotion from the Second League was Krumovgrad, who mathematically secured a top three finish after winning against Botev Plovdiv II on May 27. This is going to be Krumovgrad's maiden participation in the Bulgarian top flight.[3]

Additionally, Beroe managed to defeat Sportist Svoge with a score of 1–0 in the promotion/relegation playoff, thus maintaining its place in the First League.[4]

Stadia and locations

More information Arda, Beroe ...
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
Cherno More CSKA 1948 CSKA Sofia Etar
Ticha Bistritsa Vasil Levski National Stadium Ivaylo
Capacity: 6,250 Capacity: 2,500 Capacity: 43,000 Capacity: 18,000
Hebar
Location of teams in 2023–24 First League
Sofia 2023–24 First League football clubs
 Krumovgrad
Georgi Benkovski Krumovgrad
Capacity: 13,128 Capacity: 1,500
Levski Sofia Lokomotiv Plovdiv
Vivacom Arena - Georgi Asparuhov Lokomotiv
Capacity: 25,000 Capacity: 8,610
Lokomotiv Sofia Ludogorets Razgrad Pirin Blagoevgrad Slavia Sofia
Lokomotiv Huvepharma Arena Hristo Botev Aleksandar Shalamanov
Capacity: 22,000 Capacity: 10,422 Capacity: 7,500 Capacity: 25,556
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Personnel and kits

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

More information Team, Manager ...
Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor Additional
Arda Bulgaria Nikolay Kirov Bulgaria Ivan Kokonov Uhlsport efbet IK Nataliya Ltd.
Beroe Argentina José Acciari Bulgaria Bozhidar Penchev Dryworld[5] efbet —
Botev Plovdiv Bosnia and Herzegovina Dušan Kerkez Bulgaria Lachezar Baltanov Macron[6] WinBet —
Botev Vratsa Bulgaria Hristo Yanev Bulgaria Krasimir Kostov Nike WinBet Vratsa Municipality, SportRespect, Inex, Predsednik Ltd.
Cherno More Bulgaria Ilian Iliev Bulgaria Daniel Dimov Uhlsport[7] Armeets Planex Ltd.
CSKA 1948 Bulgaria Valentin Iliev Bulgaria Daniel Naumov Puma[8] efbet Bachkovo
CSKA Sofia Bulgaria Stamen Belchev Netherlands Jurgen Mattheij Macron[9] WinBet Haval
Etar Bulgaria Svetoslav Petrov Bulgaria Krum Stoyanov Nike[10] WinBet —
Hebar Bulgaria Lyuboslav Penev Bulgaria Petar Debarliev Jako efbet Pazardzhik Municipality
Krumovgrad Bulgaria Atanas Ribarski Bulgaria Bozhidar Katsarov Uhlsport[11] Compass Cargo Airlines PIMK
Levski Sofia Bulgaria Stanislav Genchev Bulgaria Nikolay Mihaylov Adidas[12] PalmsBet —
Lokomotiv Plovdiv Vacant Bulgaria Dimitar Iliev Joma[13] WinBet Money+, Fuel Card Distribution
Lokomotiv Sofia Bulgaria Krasimir Balakov Bulgaria Krasimir Miloshev Joma Betano Casa Boyana, Malizia, Intesa, VIA 2000, Club 33
Ludogorets Razgrad Bulgaria Georgi Dermendzhiev Bulgaria Anton Nedyalkov Nike efbet Vivacom, Huvepharma
Pirin Blagoevgrad Ukraine Oleksandr Babych Bulgaria Aleksandar Dyulgerov Uhlsport 8888.bg —
Slavia Sofia Bulgaria Zlatomir Zagorčić Bulgaria Georgi Petkov Zeus bet365 Asset Insurance, SportRespect
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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

More information Team, Outgoing manager ...
Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment
Levski Sofia Bulgaria Elin Topuzakov End of interim period 12 June 2023 Pre-season Bulgaria Nikolay Kostov 13 June 2023[14]
Beroe Bulgaria Veselin Penev 14 June 2023 Argentina Gustavo Aragolaza 15 June 2023[15]
Pirin Blagoevgrad Bulgaria Hristo Yanev End of contract 17 June 2023[16] Bulgaria Radoslav Mitrevski 17 June 2023[16]
Slavia Sofia Bulgaria Angel Slavkov End of interim period 22 June 2023 Spain José Mari Bakero 23 June 2023[17]
CSKA Sofia Serbia Saša Ilić Sacked 29 July 2023[18] 5th England Nestor El Maestro 29 July 2023[19]
CSKA 1948 Bulgaria Atanas Ribarski Resigned 15 August 2023[20] 7th Bulgaria Nikolay Panayotov 15 August 2023[21]
Botev Plovdiv Bulgaria Stanislav Genchev Mutual agreement 22 August 2023[22] 14th Portugal Rafael Ferreira (interim) 22 August 2023[23]
Pirin Blagoevgrad Bulgaria Radoslav Mitrevski Sacked 27 August 2023[24] 15th Bulgaria Ivo Trenchev 31 August 2023[25]
Botev Plovdiv Portugal Rafael Ferreira End of interim period 4 September 2023 11th Bosnia and Herzegovina Dušan Kerkez 4 September 2023[26]
Lokomotiv Sofia Bulgaria Stoycho Stoev Resigned 4 September 2023[27] 12th Serbia Danilo Dončić 4 September 2023[28]
Botev Vratsa Brazil Daniel Morales 18 September 2023[29] 13th Bulgaria Hristo Yanev 19 September 2023[30]
Beroe Argentina Gustavo Aragolaza Sacked 18 September 2023[31] 6th Argentina José Acciari 20 September 2023[32]
Slavia Sofia Spain José Mari Bakero 19 September 2023[33] 14th Bulgaria Ivan Kolev 20 September 2023[34]
Etar Bulgaria Emanuel Lukanov 30 September 2023[35] 16th Bulgaria Marin Stefanov (interim) 30 September 2023[36]
Bulgaria Marin Stefanov End of interim period 2 October 2023 16th Bulgaria Svetoslav Petrov 2 October 2023[37]
Slavia Sofia Bulgaria Ivan Kolev Mutual agreement 23 October 2023 15th Bulgaria Zlatomir Zagorčić 23 October 2023[38]
Ludogorets Razgrad Bulgaria Ivaylo Petev Sacked 23 October 2023[39] 5th Bulgaria Georgi Dermendzhiev 24 October 2023[40]
Krumovgrad Sweden Nemanja Miljanović 28 October 2023 10th Bulgaria Stanislav Genchev 24 October 2023[41]
Pirin Blagoevgrad Bulgaria Ivo Trenchev 4 February 2024[42] 14th Ukraine Oleksandr Babych 5 February 2024[43]
Arda Bulgaria Aleksandar Tunchev Mutual agreement 25 February 2024[44] 8th Bulgaria Nikolay Kirov 26 February 2024[45]
CSKA 1948 Bulgaria Nikolay Panayotov Sacked 5 April 2024[46] 7th Bulgaria Valentin Iliev 5 April 2024[47]
CSKA Sofia England Nestor El Maestro 14 April 2024[48] 3rd Bulgaria Stamen Belchev 14 April 2024[49]
Lokomotiv Sofia Serbia Danilo Dončić 22 April 2024[50] 14th Bulgaria Krasimir Balakov 22 April 2024
Lokomotiv Plovdiv Bulgaria Aleksandar Tomash Mutual agreement 27 May 2024[51] 5th
Krumovgrad Bulgaria Stanislav Genchev 28 May 2024 6th Bulgaria Atanas Ribarski 28 May 2024[52]
Levski Sofia Bulgaria Nikolay Kostov End of contract 28 May 2024 4th Bulgaria Stanislav Genchev 28 May 2024[53]
Arda Bulgaria Nikolay Kirov Mutual agreement 31 May 2024[54] 8th
CSKA Sofia Bulgaria Stamen Belchev Resigned 31 May 2024[55] 3rd
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Regular season

League table

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Ludogorets Razgrad 30 24 3 3 78 15 +63 75 Qualification for the Championship group
2 CSKA Sofia 30 19 6 5 50 19 +31 63
3 Cherno More 30 18 8 4 47 25 +22 62
4 Lokomotiv Plovdiv 30 16 7 7 50 34 +16 55
5 Levski Sofia 30 16 6 8 45 26 +19 54
6 Krumovgrad 30 12 8 10 35 35 0 44[a]
7 Botev Plovdiv 30 12 8 10 47 33 +14 44[a] Qualification for the Conference League group
8 CSKA 1948 30 11 10 9 30 26 +4 43
9 Arda 30 11 6 13 32 32 0 39
10 Slavia Sofia 30 9 6 15 28 45 −17 33[b]
11 Beroe 30 9 6 15 24 42 −18 33[b] Qualification for the Relegation group
12 Pirin Blagoevgrad 30 7 9 14 23 41 −18 30[c]
13 Hebar 30 8 6 16 32 44 −12 30[c]
14 Lokomotiv Sofia 30 8 4 18 22 56 −34 28
15 Botev Vratsa 30 6 4 20 22 53 −31 22
16 Etar 30 3 5 22 17 56 −39 14
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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[56]
Notes:
  1. [a]
    Head-to-head points: Krumovgrad 6, Botev Plovdiv 0.
  2. [b]
    Head-to-head points: Slavia Sofia 3, Beroe 3. Head-to-head goal difference: Slavia Sofia 0, Beroe 0. Overall goal difference: Slavia Sofia -17, Beroe -18.
  3. [c]
    Head-to-head points: Pirin Blagoevgrad 4, Hebar 1.

Results

More information Home \ Away, ARD ...
Home \ Away ARD BER BPD BVR CHM CSK CSS ETA HEB KRU LEV LPD LSO LUD PIR SLA
Arda — 1–0 0–2 4–0 3–3 0–3 2–3 3–0 3–1 1–1 0–0 1–2 1–0 0–0 0–0 2–1
Beroe 1–0 — 0–3 2–2 2–0 0–0 0–3 0–0 2–1 2–0 2–1 2–2 0–1 0–2 0–0 3–0
Botev Plovdiv 0–2 4–1 — 2–0 0–0 0–0 1–2 2–0 1–0 1–2 1–3 0–0 6–0 0–2 3–1 3–1
Botev Vratsa 1–2 1–0 3–5 — 0–1 1–2 0–2 2–0 3–2 0–0 0–1 2–0 0–2 0–5 1–2 2–0
Cherno More 1–0 2–0 1–0 2–1 — 2–1 1–0 2–1 1–0 3–2 3–1 2–2 3–0 1–0 2–1 3–0
CSKA 1948 1–0 0–1 1–0 0–0 1–1 — 1–2 1–0 1–1 0–3 1–0 1–1 2–1 0–1 3–0 1–1
CSKA Sofia 0–0 3–0 4–0 3–0 1–1 2–0 — 2–0 3–0 1–0 1–1 1–2 2–0 0–1 1–2 1–1
Etar 2–1 2–2 1–2 2–1 1–2 1–1 0–1 — 2–5 0–0 0–3 0–1 1–2 0–4 0–2 0–1
Hebar 1–0 1–0 1–0 1–1 1–1 1–3 0–0 3–0 — 0–0 0–1 3–4 0–1 0–3 1–2 1–0
Krumovgrad 1–3 1–0 2–1 1–0 1–3 1–0 1–4 0–0 3–2 — 2–2 3–1 2–0 3–1 2–2 2–0
Levski Sofia 4–0 1–0 1–1 1–0 1–0 1–2 0–2 1–0 1–0 0–0 — 3–0 6–0 0–1 2–0 2–0
Lokomotiv Plovdiv 1–0 1–2 1–1 4–0 1–0 1–1 0–2 3–0 1–2 4–0 2–1 — 2–1 1–2 3–0 2–0
Lokomotiv Sofia 0–1 1–0 0–4 1–0 0–0 0–0 0–1 1–3 0–1 0–2 2–2 2–4 — 1–3 2–0 1–2
Ludogorets Razgrad 2–0 5–0 2–2 5–0 3–1 2–0 3–0 5–0 3–1 1–0 5–1 1–1 6–0 — 4–0 2–3
Pirin Blagoevgrad 0–2 1–2 0–0 0–1 0–0 2–1 1–2 2–1 1–1 1–0 1–2 0–1 1–1 0–2 — 1–1
Slavia Sofia 1–0 3–0 2–2 1–0 1–5 0–2 1–1 1–0 3–1 2–0 0–2 1–2 1–2 0–2 0–0 —
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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.

Championship round

Points and goals will carry over in full from regular season.

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification LUD CHM CSS LEV LPD KRU
1 Ludogorets Razgrad (C) 35 26 4 5 87 24 +63 82 Qualification for the Champions League first qualifying round — — 3–1 — 3–0 3–3
2 Cherno More 35 22 9 4 56 26 +30 75 Qualification for the Conference League second qualifying round 4–0 — — — 1–0 3–1
3 CSKA Sofia 35 20 7 8 56 27 +29 67 Qualification for the Conference League play-off — 0–1 — 3–1 — 2–2
4 Levski Sofia 35 19 7 9 50 30 +20 64 1–0 0–0 — — — —
5 Lokomotiv Plovdiv 35 17 7 11 53 44 +9 58 — — 1–0 1–2 — —
6 Krumovgrad 35 13 10 12 45 45 0 49 — — — 0–1 4–1 —
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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.[56]
(C) Champions

Conference League round

Points and goals will carry over in full from regular season.

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification CSK ARD BPD SLA
1 CSKA 1948 (O) 36 13 13 10 35 30 +5 52 Qualification for the Conference League play-off — 1–1 2–1 0–2
2 Arda 36 14 9 13 39 35 +4 51 0–0 — 2–1 3–1
3 Botev Plovdiv 36 12 9 15 50 42 +8 45 Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round[a] 0–0 0–1 — 0–1
4 Slavia Sofia 36 12 7 17 35 51 −16 43 0–2 0–0 3–1 —
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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.[56]
(O) Play-off winners
Notes:
  1. [a]
    Botev Plovdiv qualified for the Europa League first qualifying round as 2023–24 Bulgarian Cup winners.

Relegation round

Points and goals will carry over in full from regular season.

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation BER LSO HEB BVR PIR ETA
1 Beroe 35 12 6 17 30 46 −16 42 — 0–3 — — 2–0 3–0
2 Lokomotiv Sofia 35 11 6 18 30 58 −28 39 — — — 1–1 1–0 —
3 Hebar 35 9 7 19 35 49 −14 34 0–1 0–2 — — — 3–1
4 Botev Vratsa (O) 35 9 6 20 28 56 −28 33 Qualification for the relegation play-off 1–0 — 1–0 — — —
5 Pirin Blagoevgrad (R) 35 7 11 17 26 48 −22 32 Relegation to the Second League — — 0–0 1–2 — 2–2
6 Etar (R) 35 3 8 24 22 66 −44 17 — 1–1 — 1–1 — —
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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.[56]
(O) Play-off winners; (R) Relegated

Conference League play-off

More information CSKA Sofia, 0–2 ...
CSKA Sofia0–2CSKA 1948
Report
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Attendance: 5,800
Referee: Dragomir Draganov (Varna)

Promotion/relegation play-off

More information Botev Vratsa, 1–1 (a.e.t.) ...
Botev Vratsa1–1 (a.e.t.)Marek
 Report
  • Bliznakov 83'
Penalties
 4–2
  • football with red X Bliznakov
  • football with check mark Ganchev
  • football with red X Stoynev
  • football with check mark Kaymakanski
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Attendance: 5,000

Season statistics

Top scorers

As of 26 May 2024[57]
More information Rank, Player ...
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Bulgaria Aleksandar Kolev Krumovgrad 15
2 Brazil Rwan Cruz Ludogorets 14
3 Switzerland Kwadwo Duah Ludogorets 13
4 Bulgaria Atanas Iliev Cherno More 12
Bulgaria Georgi Nikolov Hebar / Botev Plovdiv
6 Poland Jakub Piotrowski Ludogorets 11
7 Bulgaria Toni Tasev Slavia Sofia 10
Ghana Bernard Tekpetey Ludogorets
9 Norway Jonathan Lindseth CSKA Sofia 9
Brazil Ricardinho Levski Sofia
11 France Antoine Baroan Botev Plovdiv 8
Spain Jawad El Jemili Levski Sofia
Brazil Pedrinho CSKA 1948
Cameroon Vinni Triboulet Beroe
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Clean sheets

As of 26 May 2024[57]
More information Rank, Goalkeeper ...
Rank Goalkeeper Club Clean
sheets
1 Bulgaria Plamen Andreev Levski Sofia 17
2 Bulgaria Ivan Dyulgerov Cherno More 16
3 Brazil Gustavo Busatto CSKA Sofia 15
4 Bulgaria Anatoli Gospodinov Arda 13
5 Netherlands Sergio Padt Ludogorets 12
6 Bulgaria Yanko Georgiev Krumovgrad 10
Bosnia and Herzegovina Hidajet Hankić Botev Plovdiv
Bulgaria Aleksandar Lyubenov Lokomotiv Sofia
9 Argentina Rodrìgo Accinelli Beroe 8
Croatia Dinko Horkaš Lokomotiv Plovdiv
Ukraine Maksym Kovalyov Pirin Blagoevgrad
Croatia Simon Sluga Ludogorets
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Hat-tricks

As of 28 April 2024
More information Player, For ...
PlayerForAgainstResultDate
Bulgaria Georgi NikolovHebarLokomotiv Plovdiv3–4 (H)[58]25 August 2023
France Antoine BaroanBotev PlovdivBeroe4–1 (H)[59]30 September 2023
Bulgaria Atanas IlievCherno MoreLokomotiv Sofia3–0 (H)[60]4 April 2024
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Attendances

More information #, Club ...
#ClubAverage
1Levski8,571
2CSKA Sofia6,206
3PFC Botev4,837
4Lokomotiv Plovdiv3,451
5Cherno More2,519
6Etar2,187
7Hebar2,138
8Ludogorets1,847
9Pirin1,414
10Arda1,183
11Beroe1,093
12Botev Vratsa831
13Krumovgrad636
14Lokomotiv Sofia529
15Slavia Sofia402
16CSKA 1948237
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Source:[61]

References

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