2024–25 First Professional Football League (Bulgaria)

101st season of top-tier football league in Bulgaria From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 2024–25 First Professional Football League, also known as efbet League for sponsorship reasons,[1] was 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 and finished on 31 May 2025.

Season2024–25
Dates19 July 2024 – 31 May 2025
ChampionsLudogorets Razgrad (14th title)
RelegatedHebar
Krumovgrad
Quick facts Season, Dates ...
First Professional Football League
Season2024–25
Dates19 July 2024 – 31 May 2025
ChampionsLudogorets Razgrad (14th title)
RelegatedHebar
Krumovgrad
Champions LeagueLudogorets Razgrad
Europa LeagueLevski Sofia
Conference LeagueArda
Cherno More
Matches295
Goals721 (2.44 per match)
Top goalscorerSantiago Godoy
(18 goals)
Best goalkeeperPlamen Iliev
(14 clean sheets)
Biggest home winSeptemvri Sofia 6–1 Hebar
(10 March 2025)
Arda 5–0 Lokomotiv Sofia
(13 April 2025)
CSKA Sofia 5–0 Spartak Varna
(13 May 2025)
Biggest away winBeroe 0–6 Botev Plovdiv
(14 May 2025)
Highest scoringLokomotiv Sofia 1–6 Levski Sofia
(20 July 2024)
Septemvri Sofia 6–1 Hebar
(10 March 2025)
Longest winning run9 games
Ludogorets Razgrad
Longest unbeaten run19 games
Ludogorets Razgrad
Longest winless run17 games
Hebar
Longest losing run6 games
Septemvri Sofia
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Ludogorets Razgrad were the 13-time defending champions and successfully defended the title, winning it for a record-extending fourteenth consecutive time.[2]

Teams

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.[3] 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.[4] 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.[5]

Stadia and locations

More information Arda, Beroe ...
Arda Beroe Botev Plovdiv Botev Vratsa
Arena Arda Stadion Beroe Stadion Hristo Botev Stadion Hristo Botev
Capacity: 12,000 Capacity: 12,000 Capacity: 18,777 Capacity: 25,000
Cherno More CSKA 1948 CSKA Sofia Hebar
Stadion Ticha Stadion Bistritsa Vasil Levski National Stadium Stadion Georgi Benkovski
Capacity: 12,000 Capacity: 4,000 Capacity: 45,000 Capacity: 13,000
Krumovgrad
Location of teams in 2024–25 First League
Sofia 2024–25 First League football clubs
 Levski Sofia
Nikola Shterev - Starika Sports Complex Stadion Georgi Asparuhov
Capacity: 3,000 Capacity: 18,000
Lokomotiv Plovdiv Lokomotiv Sofia
Stadion Lokomotiv Stadion Lokomotiv
Capacity: 10,000 Capacity: 22,000
Ludogorets Razgrad Septemvri Sofia Slavia Sofia Spartak Varna
Huvepharma Arena Stadion Lokomotiv Stadion Aleksandar Shalamanov Stadion Spartak
Capacity: 10,500 Capacity: 22,000 Capacity: 25,000 Capacity: 10,000
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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 Aleksandar Tunchev Bulgaria Anatoli Gospodinov Uhlsport efbet IK Nataliya Ltd.
Beroe Bulgaria Plamen Lipenski (interim) Argentina Franco Ramos Mingo Nike 8888.bg —
Botev Plovdiv Bosnia and Herzegovina Dušan Kerkez Bulgaria Ivelin Popov Macron[6] WinBet Bitcoin
Botev Vratsa Bulgaria Hristo Yanev Bulgaria Daniel Genov Erima WinBet Vratsa Municipality, Inex, Predsednik Ltd.
Cherno More Bulgaria Ilian Iliev Bulgaria Daniel Dimov Macron Armeets —
CSKA 1948 Bulgaria Ivan Stoyanov Bulgaria Radoslav Kirilov Puma efbet Bachkovo
CSKA Sofia Bulgaria Aleksandar Tomash Scotland Liam Cooper Macron[7] WinBet A1
Hebar Bulgaria Velislav Vutsov Slovakia Róbert Mazáň Erima efbet —
Krumovgrad Bulgaria Rosen Kirilov Bulgaria Yanko Georgiev Uhlsport Compass Cargo Airlines Bethub
Levski Sofia Spain Julio Velázquez Brazil Wenderson Tsunami Adidas[8] PalmsBet CT Interactive, Lacrima
Lokomotiv Plovdiv Slovenia Dušan Kosič Bulgaria Dimitar Iliev Joma[9] WinBet General Broker Club
Lokomotiv Sofia Serbia Ratko Dostanić Bulgaria Aleksandar Lyubenov Joma 8888.bg VIA 2000
Ludogorets Razgrad Croatia Igor Jovićević Bulgaria Anton Nedyalkov Jako efbet Vivacom, Huvepharma, Navibulgar
Septemvri Sofia Bulgaria Nikolay Mitov Bulgaria Asen Chandarov Uhlsport 8888.bg —
Slavia Sofia Bulgaria 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
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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
Ludogorets Razgrad Bulgaria Georgi Dermendzhiev Resigned 15 August 2024[10] 8th Bulgaria Zahari Sirakov (interim) 15 August 2024
Spartak Varna Bulgaria Aleksandar Tomash Mutual agreement 28 August 2024[11] 3rd Bulgaria Ivan Tsvetanov (interim) 28 August 2024
CSKA Sofia Croatia Tomislav Stipić Sacked 28 August 2024[12] 13th Bulgaria Aleksandar Tomash 28 August 2024[13]
Botev Vratsa Bulgaria Todor Yanchev 1 September 2024[14] 13th Bulgaria Hristo Yanev 6 September 2024[15]
Spartak Varna Bulgaria Ivan Tsvetanov End of interim spell 5 September 2024 3rd Greece Kyriakos Georgiou 5 September 2024[16]
Ludogorets Razgrad Bulgaria Zahari Sirakov 26 September 2024 1st Croatia Igor Jovićević 26 September 2024[17]
Spartak Varna Greece Kyriakos Georgiou Resigned 28 September 2024[18] 5th Bulgaria Ivan Tsvetanov (interim) 12 October 2024
Lokomotiv Sofia Bulgaria Ivan Kolev Mutual agreement 30 September 2024[19] 12th Bulgaria Anton Velkov 30 September 2024[20]
Beroe Argentina José Acciari 30 September 2024[21] 8th Spain Josu Uribe 3 October 2024[22]
Hebar Bulgaria Veselin Velikov 1 October 2024[23] 16th Bulgaria Yordan Minev (interim) 12 October 2024
Lokomotiv Plovdiv Bulgaria Lyuboslav Penev 11 October 2024[24] 10th Bulgaria Hristo Zlatinski (interim) 11 October 2024
Hebar Bulgaria Yordan Minev End of interim spell 16 October 2024[25] 16th Bosnia and Herzegovina Bruno Akrapović 16 October 2024
Spartak Varna Bulgaria Ivan Tsvetanov 20 October 2024[26] 5th Bulgaria Nikolay Kirov 20 October 2024
CSKA 1948 Bulgaria Valentin Iliev Sacked 30 October 2024[27] 9th Bulgaria Ivan Ivanov 30 October 2024
Lokomotiv Plovdiv Bulgaria Hristo Zlatinski End of interim spell 7 December 2024[28] 14th Bulgaria Vasil Garkov (interim) 7 December 2024
Levski Sofia Bulgaria Stanislav Genchev Mutual agreement 16 December 2024[29] 4th Spain Julio Velázquez 6 January 2025[30]
Lokomotiv Plovdiv Bulgaria Vasil Garkov (interim) End of interim spell 19 December 2024[31] 14th Slovenia Dušan Kosič 19 December 2024
CSKA 1948 Bulgaria Ivan Ivanov Sacked 18 February 2025[32] 12th Bulgaria Borislav Kyosev 20 February 2025
Krumovgrad Bulgaria Atanas Ribarski 4 March 2025[33] 14th Bulgaria Miroslav Kosev 4 March 2025
Hebar Bosnia and Herzegovina Bruno Akrapović Mutual agreement 11 March 2025[34] 16th Bulgaria Yordan Cholov (interim) 11 March 2025
Bulgaria Yordan Cholov End of interim spell 17 March 2025[35] 16th Bulgaria Velislav Vutsov 17 March 2025
Lokomotiv Sofia Bulgaria Anton Velkov Resigned 17 March 2025[36] 14th Serbia Ratko Dostanić[37] 21 March 2025
CSKA 1948 Bulgaria Borislav Kyosev Sacked 4 April 2025[38] 10th Bulgaria Aleksandar Aleksandrov 4 April 2025
Krumovgrad Bulgaria Miroslav Kosev 5 April 2025[39] 14th Bulgaria Rosen Kirilov 5 April 2025
CSKA 1948 Bulgaria Aleksandar Aleksandrov Mutual agreement 30 April 2025[40] 10th Bulgaria Ivan Stoyanov 30 April 2025
Beroe Spain Josu Uribe Sacked 16 May 2025[41] 8th Bulgaria Plamen Lipenski (interim) 16 May 2025
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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 4 2 62 14 +48 76 Qualification for the Championship group
2 Levski Sofia 30 19 5 6 55 25 +30 62
3 Arda 30 15 8 7 49 33 +16 53[a]
4 Cherno More 30 14 11 5 41 25 +16 53[a]
5 Botev Plovdiv 30 14 7 9 32 31 +1 49 Qualification for the Conference League group
6 Spartak Varna 30 14 6 10 39 38 +1 48
7 CSKA Sofia 30 13 8 9 40 27 +13 47
8 Beroe 30 12 6 12 34 29 +5 42[b]
9 Slavia Sofia 30 12 6 12 43 42 +1 42[b] Qualification for the Relegation group
10 CSKA 1948 30 8 10 12 38 44 −6 34
11 Septemvri Sofia 30 10 3 17 32 47 −15 33
12 Lokomotiv Sofia 30 8 6 16 29 49 −20 30[c]
13 Krumovgrad 30 7 9 14 16 31 −15 30[c]
14 Lokomotiv Plovdiv 30 7 7 16 27 40 −13 28
15 Botev Vratsa 30 5 6 19 24 57 −33 21
16 Hebar 30 3 8 19 23 52 −29 17
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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[42]
Notes:
  1. [a]
    Head-to-head points: Arda 4; Cherno More 1.
  2. [b]
    Head-to-head away goals: Beroe 1; Slavia Sofia 0.
  3. [c]
    Head-to-head points: Lokomotiv Sofia 4; Krumovgrad 1.

Results

More information Home \ Away, ARD ...
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 4–0 1–0 2–1 2–1 1–0 1–1 4–2 5–0 0–4 2–1 1–1 2–2
Beroe 1–4 — 0–1 5–1 0–1 2–0 0–2 2–1 0–0 0–1 0–2 0–0 0–1 2–0 1–0 3–0
Botev Plovdiv 1–1 0–0 — 3–1 1–0 0–5 0–3 1–1 1–0 1–0 2–2 2–0 2–4 3–0 1–0 0–1
Botev Vratsa 3–1 1–2 1–3 — 2–3 0–3 1–1 1–0 0–0 0–2 0–0 0–3 0–2 2–0 3–2 1–1
Cherno More 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–1 — 0–0 0–0 1–0 3–0 2–1 1–2 4–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1
CSKA 1948 1–2 1–1 0–1 1–0 0–4 — 1–3 1–3 4–1 2–4 2–1 1–4 1–3 2–0 2–0 2–2
CSKA Sofia 2–0 1–0 0–1 2–0 1–1 2–2 — 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–0 1–0 2–2 0–1 0–1 3–1
Hebar 0–2 3–1 0–1 1–1 0–1 1–1 0–1 — 0–0 1–4 0–0 2–1 0–2 1–2 1–1 0–2
Krumovgrad 0–0 0–1 0–1 3–0 1–1 1–1 1–0 1–0 — 0–2 0–0 0–2 0–3 2–0 1–0 0–1
Levski Sofia 2–1 0–2 1–1 4–0 1–2 2–0 1–0 1–0 3–0 — 2–1 2–0 2–1 2–3 3–3 2–0
Lokomotiv Plovdiv 1–0 1–2 0–1 1–0 1–2 0–2 2–2 3–3 0–2 0–2 — 1–1 1–0 0–1 0–1 1–2
Lokomotiv Sofia 0–2 2–1 1–1 0–1 2–1 0–0 0–3 0–0 0–0 1–6 0–1 — 1–2 1–2 3–2 2–1
Ludogorets Razgrad 5–1 2–1 3–0 3–0 0–0 3–0 1–0 3–0 3–0 1–0 1–0 2–0 — 0–0 2–0 2–1
Septemvri Sofia 0–4 0–1 1–0 2–2 1–2 1–1 0–1 6–1 1–0 0–1 2–3 0–1 0–2 — 3–2 0–1
Slavia Sofia 1–1 2–1 3–2 4–2 1–0 1–1 1–0 3–2 0–1 0–1 2–1 3–2 0–1 2–3 — 3–1
Spartak Varna 1–0 0–3 1–0 1–0 0–2 1–1 3–0 4–0 1–0 0–0 1–0 3–2 1–3 4–2 1–3 —
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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 carried over in full from regular season.

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification LUD LEV CHM ARD
1 Ludogorets Razgrad (C) 36 25 8 3 70 22 +48 83 Qualification for the Champions League first qualifying round — 1–1 2–0 2–2
2 Levski Sofia 36 21 9 6 64 29 +35 72 Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round[a] 2–2 — 2–0 1–1
3 Cherno More 36 15 14 7 44 30 +14 59 Qualification for the Conference League second qualifying round 2–0 0–0 — 1–1
4 Arda (O) 36 15 13 8 54 41 +13 58 Qualification for the Conference League play-off 1–1 0–3 0–0 —
Close
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[42]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners
Notes:
  1. [a]
    As Ludogorets Razgrad won the 2024–25 Bulgarian Cup, the cup's Europa League first qualifying round berth was passed to the second-placed team in the First League.

Conference League round

Points and goals carried over in full from regular season.

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification CSS BPD SPV BER
1 CSKA Sofia 36 19 8 9 58 28 +30 65 Qualification for the Conference League play-off — 3–0 5–0 2–1
2 Botev Plovdiv 36 16 8 12 43 43 0 56 0–4 — 3–2 1–1
3 Spartak Varna 36 15 6 15 45 53 −8 51 0–1 2–1 — 1–2
4 Beroe 36 14 7 15 41 43 −2 49 0–3 0–6 3–1 —
Close
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[42]

Relegation round

Points and goals carried over in full from regular season.

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation SLA LSO CSK SEP LPD BVR KRU HEB
1 Slavia Sofia 37 14 7 16 50 52 −2 49 — 0–0 0–1 — 1–2 — — 3–2
2 Lokomotiv Sofia 37 13 8 16 43 51 −8 47[a] — — 2–1 — — 3–0 3–0 3–0
3 CSKA 1948 37 12 11 14 45 47 −2 47[a] — — — 2–0 — 0–1 2–0 0–0
4 Septemvri Sofia 37 14 3 20 42 56 −14 45 3–1 0–2 — — 2–0 — — 1–0
5 Lokomotiv Plovdiv (O) 37 10 8 19 37 49 −12 38 Qualification for the relegation play-off — 1–1 0–1 — — 1–3 — —
6 Botev Vratsa (O) 37 10 6 21 34 65 −31 36 2–1 — — 3–2 — — 1–0 —
7 Krumovgrad (R) 37 8 9 20 20 45 −25 33 Relegation to the Second League 0–1 — — 1–2 0–4 — — —
8 Hebar (R) 37 4 9 24 28 64 −36 21 — — — — 1–2 1–0 1–3 —
Close
Source: Soccerway, Bulgarian Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points (only in regular season); 3) Head-to-head goal difference (only in regular season); 4) Head-to-head goals scored (only in regular season); 5) Head-to-head away goals scored (only if two teams and only in regular season); 6) Goal difference; 7) Goals scored; 8) Fairplay ranking; 9) Draw[42]
(O) Play-off winners; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. [a]
    Head-to-head points: Lokomotiv Sofia 4; CSKA 1948 1.

Conference League play-off

More information Arda, 1–1 (a.e.t.) ...
Arda1–1 (a.e.t.)CSKA Sofia
 Report
Penalties
 4–1
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Attendance: N/A
Referee: Radoslav Gidzhenov (Plovdiv)

Promotion/relegation play-offs

More information Botev Vratsa, 1–0 ...
Botev Vratsa1–0Pirin Blagoevgrad
 Report
Close
Attendance: 2,218
Referee: Volen Chinkov (Sofia)
More information Lokomotiv Plovdiv, 3–0 ...
Lokomotiv Plovdiv3–0Marek
 Report
Close
Attendance: 3,422
Referee: Nikola Popov (Sofia)

Season statistics

Top scorers

As of 31 May 2025[43]
More information Rank, Player ...
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Argentina Santiago Godoy Beroe 18
2 Bulgaria Ahmed Ahmedov Spartak Varna 16
Croatia Ante Aralica Lokomotiv Sofia
4 Central African Republic Goduine Koyalipou CSKA Sofia 14
5 Bulgaria Borislav Rupanov Septemvri Sofia 12
6 Bulgaria Stanislav Ivanov Arda 11
Bulgaria Tonislav Yordanov
8 Brazil Rwan Cruz Ludogorets Razgrad 10
Bulgaria Ivan Minchev Slavia Sofia
Bulgaria Vladimir Nikolov
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Clean sheets

As of 31 May 2025[43]
More information Rank, Goalkeeper ...
Rank Goalkeeper Club Clean
sheets
1 Bulgaria Plamen Iliev Cherno More 14
2 Denmark Hans Christian Bernat Botev Plovdiv 13
Bulgaria Yanko Georgiev Krumovgrad
4 Bulgaria Petar Marinov CSKA 1948 12
5 Bulgaria Anatoli Gospodinov Arda 11
Bulgaria Aleksandar Lyubenov Lokomotiv Sofia
Brazil Arthur Motta Beroe
Netherlands Sergio Padt Ludogorets Razgrad
Bulgaria Martin Velichkov Spartak Varna
10 Germany Hendrik Bonmann Ludogorets Razgrad 8
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Hat-tricks

As of 31 May 2025
More information Player, For ...
PlayerForAgainstResultDate
Bulgaria Ahmed AhmedovSpartak VarnaHebar4–0 (H)[44]22 November 2024
Argentina Santiago Godoy4BeroeBotev Vratsa5–1 (H)[45]4 December 2024
Argentina Santiago GodoySpartak Varna3–0 (A)[46]1 March 2025
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Note

4 Player scored 4 goals

Attendances

More information No., Club ...
No. Club Average attendance[47] Change Highest
1Levski Sofia8,192-4,4%31,948
2Botev Plovdiv4,215-12,8%14,035
3CSKA Sofia3,943-36,5%25,000
4Cherno More Varna2,295-8,9%8,000
5Spartak Varna1,991-6,500
6Lokomotiv Plovdiv1,975-42,8%6,500
7Ludogorets Razgrad1,627-11,9%6,000
8Beroe Stara Zagora1,1979,5%5,500
9Arda Kardzhali910-23,1%3,896
10Botev Vratsa8816,0%2,000
11Hebar Pazardzhik843-60,6%3,800
12Slavia Sofia73582,7%5,500
13Lokomotiv Sofia69230,8%4,300
14Krumovgrad385-39,5%1,300
15Septemvri Sofia298-2,000
16CSKA 1948200-15,9%550
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References

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