Wikipedia
2022–23 First Professional Football League (Bulgaria)
The 2022–23 First Professional Football League, also known as efbet League for sponsorship reasons,[1] will be the 99th season of the top division of the Bulgarian football league system, the 75th since a league format was adopted for the national competition of A Group as a top tier of the pyramid, and also the 7th season of the First Professional Football League, which decides the Bulgarian champion. Ludogorets Razgrad are the 11-time defending champions. The season began on 8 July 2022. Due to the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the last round before winter break was held on 11–12 November. The league resumed on 11 February 2023.
| Season | 2022–23 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 8 July 2022 – June 2023 |
| Matches played | 232 |
| Goals scored | 538 (2.32 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Ivaylo Chochev (19 goals) |
| Best goalkeeper | Plamen Andreev (20 clean sheets) |
| Biggest home win | Ludogorets 8–1 Botev Vratsa (8 April 2023) |
| Biggest away win | Lokomotiv Sofia 0–6 CSKA 1948 (3 March 2023) |
| Highest scoring | Ludogorets 8–1 Botev Vratsa (8 April 2023) |
| Longest winning run | 7 games Ludogorets |
| Longest unbeaten run | 16 games CSKA Sofia |
| Longest winless run | 11 games Levski Sofia |
| Longest losing run | 7 games Spartak Varna |
← 2021–22 2023–24 → All statistics correct as of 21:31, 4 May 2023 (UTC). | |
Teams
From this season, the league was expanded from 14 to 16 teams, with 12 teams returning from last season, three teams promoted from the 2021–22 Second League, as well as 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 three finish after winning their game against Sozopol on May 5, coupled with Etar losing to CSKA 1948 II.[2] Spartak return to the top level after a 13-year absence.
The second team to earn promotion from the Second League was Septemvri Sofia, who mathematically secured a top three finish after drawing with Sportist Svoge on May 9. Septemvri Sofia return to the top level after a 3-year absence.[3]
The third team to earn promotion from the Second League was Hebar, who secured a top three finish in the very last round of the Second League, on May 21. Hebar return to the top level of Bulgarian football after a 21-year absence.[4]
Additionally, Botev Vratsa managed to defeat Etar with a score of 3–2 in the promotion/relegation playoff, thus maintaining its place in the First League.[5]
Stadia and locations
| 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 | Hebar |
| Ticha | Bistritsa | Balgarska Armia | Georgi Benkovski |
| Capacity: 8,250 | Capacity: 2,500 | Capacity: 22,995 | Capacity: 13,128 |
| Levski Sofia | Sofia class=notpageimage| Location of teams in 2022–23 First League | Lokomotiv Plovdiv | |
| Vivacom Arena - Georgi Asparuhov | Lokomotiv | ||
| Capacity: 25,000 | Capacity: 8,610 | ||
| Lokomotiv Sofia | Ludogorets | ||
| Lokomotiv | Huvepharma Arena | ||
| Capacity: 22,000 | Capacity: 10,422 | ||
| Pirin Blagoevgrad | Septemvri Sofia | Slavia Sofia | Spartak Varna |
| Hristo Botev | Vasil Levski National Stadium | Aleksandar Shalamanov | Spartak |
| Capacity: 7,500 | Capacity: 43,230 | Capacity: 25,556 | Capacity: 6,000 |
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.
| Team | Manager | Captain | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor | Additional |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arda | Aleksandar Tunchev | Ivan Kokonov | Uhlsport | efbet | IA Nataliya Ltd. |
| Beroe | Nikolay Kirov | Ivan Karadzhov | Jako[6] | efbet | Chahov Ltd. |
| Botev Plovdiv | Bruno Baltazar | Viktor Genev | Macron[7] | WinBet | — |
| Botev Vratsa | Daniel Morales | Krasimir Kostov | Zeus[8] | WinBet | Vratsa Municipality, SportRespect |
| Cherno More | Ilian Iliev | Daniel Dimov | Uhlsport | Armeets | — |
| CSKA 1948 | Todor Yanchev | Daniel Naumov | Adidas[9] | efbet | Bachkovo |
| CSKA Sofia | Saša Ilić | Jurgen Mattheij | Macron[10] | WinBet | — |
| Hebar | Lyuboslav Penev | Petar Debarliev | Jako | efbet | Pazardzhik Municipality |
| Levski Sofia | Elin Topuzakov | Nikolay Mihaylov | Joma[11] | PalmsBet | — |
| Lokomotiv Plovdiv | Aleksandar Tomash | Dimitar Iliev | Nike[12] | WinBet | General Broker, Money+ |
| Lokomotiv Sofia | Stanislav Genchev | Krasimir Miloshev | Joma | Betano | Casa Boyana, Malizia, Intesa, VIA 2000, Club 33 |
| Ludogorets | Ivaylo Petev | Anton Nedyalkov | Nike[13] | efbet | Vivacom, HUVESEPT |
| Pirin Blagoevgrad | Hristo Yanev | Krasimir Stanoev | Adidas | 8888.bg | — |
| Septemvri Sofia | Svetoslav Petrov | Asen Georgiev | Uhlsport | 8888.bg | — |
| Slavia Sofia | Zlatomir Zagorčić | Georgi Petkov | Uhlsport | bet365 | Asset Insurance |
| Spartak Varna | Dimitar Dimitrov | Rumen Rumenov | Jako | efbet | Intercom Group |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arda | Stamen Belchev | End of contract | 16 May 2022[14] | Pre-season | Aleksandar Tunchev | 19 May 2022[15] |
| Lokomotiv Sofia | Ivan Kolev | 23 May 2022[16] | Stanislav Genchev | 25 May 2022[17] | ||
| CSKA 1948 | Nikolay Kirov | Mutual consent | 23 May 2022[18] | Lyuboslav Penev | 28 May 2022[19] | |
| CSKA Sofia | Alan Pardew | 1 June 2022[20] | Saša Ilić | 2 June 2022[21] | ||
| Botev Vratsa | Gennaro Iezzo | Sacked | 2 June 2022[22] | Rosen Kirilov | 2 June 2022[23] | |
| Hebar | Nikolay Mitov | End of contract | 8 June 2022[24] | Fulvio Pea | 13 June 2022[25] | |
| Pirin Blagoevgrad | Radoslav Mitrevski | Resigned | 20 June 2022[26] | Petar Mihtarski (interim) | 21 June 2022 | |
| Petar Mihtarski | End of interim period | 3 July 2022[27] | Krasimir Petrov | 4 July 2022[28] | ||
| Botev Plovdiv | Azrudin Valentić | Promoted to advisor | 29 July 2022[29] | 16th | Željko Kopić | 3 August 2022[30] |
| Spartak Varna | Vasil Petrov | Resigned | 11 August 2022[31] | 15th | Georgi Ivanov (interim) | 11 August 2022[31] |
| Georgi Ivanov | End of interim period | 22 August 2022 | 16th | Todor Kiselichkov | 23 August 2022[32] | |
| Botev Vratsa | Rosen Kirilov | Resigned | 6 September 2022[33] | 12th | Vladislav Vutov (interim) | 6 September 2022[33] |
| Beroe | Petar Hubchev | Mutual consent | 12 September 2022[34] | 10th | Nikolay Kirov | 14 September 2022[35] |
| Botev Vratsa | Vladislav Vutov | End of interim period | 14 September 2022[36] | 14th | Daniel Morales | 14 September 2022[36] |
| Hebar | Fulvio Pea | Promoted to sports director | 23 September 2022[37] | 15th | Vladimir Manchev | 23 September 2022[37] |
| Septemvri Sofia | Slavko Matić | Mutual consent | 9 October 2022[38] | Svetoslav Petrov | 9 October 2022[39] | |
| Pirin Blagoevgrad | Krasimir Petrov | 18 October 2022[40] | Hristo Yanev | 25 October 2022[41] | ||
| CSKA 1948 | Lyuboslav Penev | Resigned | 10 December 2022[42] | 3rd | Todor Yanchev | 13 December 2022[43] |
| Botev Plovdiv | Željko Kopić | Sacked | 7 December 2022[44] | 10th | Bruno Baltazar | 3 January 2023[45] |
| Ludogorets | Ante Šimundža | 7 March 2023[46] | 2nd | Ivaylo Petev | 7 March 2023[47] | |
| Hebar | Vladimir Manchev | 20 March 2023[48] | 15th | Lyuboslav Penev | 21 March 2023[49] | |
| Levski Sofia | Stanimir Stoilov | Resigned | 8 April 2023[50] | 4th | Elin Topuzakov | 12 April 2023[51] |
Regular season
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ludogorets Razgrad (Q) | 29 | 22 | 5 | 2 | 70 | 21 | +49 | 71 | Qualification for the Championship group |
| 2 | CSKA Sofia (Q) | 29 | 22 | 4 | 3 | 52 | 13 | +39 | 70 | |
| 3 | CSKA 1948 (Q) | 29 | 17 | 8 | 4 | 49 | 21 | +28 | 59 | |
| 4 | Levski Sofia (Q) | 29 | 15 | 9 | 5 | 38 | 13 | +25 | 54 | |
| 5 | Cherno More (Q) | 29 | 14 | 8 | 7 | 33 | 25 | +8 | 50 | |
| 6 | Lokomotiv Plovdiv (X) | 29 | 13 | 8 | 8 | 32 | 28 | +4 | 47 | |
| 7 | Slavia Sofia (X) | 29 | 14 | 4 | 11 | 29 | 26 | +3 | 46 | Qualification for the Europa Conference League group |
| 8 | Arda (Q) | 29 | 11 | 8 | 10 | 32 | 31 | +1 | 41 | |
| 9 | Lokomotiv Sofia (Q) | 29 | 10 | 7 | 12 | 31 | 37 | −6 | 37 | |
| 10 | Botev Plovdiv (Q) | 29 | 9 | 5 | 15 | 38 | 38 | 0 | 32 | |
| 11 | Botev Vratsa (Q) | 29 | 7 | 7 | 15 | 22 | 50 | −28 | 28 | Qualification for the Relegation group |
| 12 | Beroe (Q) | 29 | 7 | 6 | 16 | 26 | 45 | −19 | 27 | |
| 13 | Septemvri Sofia (Q) | 29 | 5 | 7 | 17 | 24 | 43 | −19 | 22 | |
| 14 | Pirin Blagoevgrad (Q) | 29 | 4 | 9 | 16 | 20 | 39 | −19 | 21 | |
| 15 | Hebar (Q) | 29 | 5 | 5 | 19 | 17 | 51 | −34 | 20 | |
| 16 | Spartak Varna (Q) | 29 | 3 | 8 | 18 | 25 | 57 | −32 | 17 |
Updated to match(es) played on 4 May 2023. 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.[52]
(Q) Qualified for the phase indicated; (X) Assured of a place in the Europa Conference League group
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.[52]
(Q) Qualified for the phase indicated; (X) Assured of a place in the Europa Conference League group
Results
Results by round
Updated to match(es) played on 4 May 2023. Source: Bulgarian Football
W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss
W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss
Season statistics
Top scorers
- As of 4 May 2023[53]
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ivaylo Chochev | CSKA 1948 | 19 |
| 2 | Antoine Baroan | Botev Plovdiv | 14 |
| Duckens Nazon | CSKA Sofia | ||
| 4 | Igor Thiago | Ludogorets | 12 |
| 5 | Kiril Despodov | Ludogorets | 11 |
| Matías Tissera | Ludogorets | ||
| 7 | Aboubacar Toungara | Beroe / Arda | 9 |
| Brayan Perea | Botev Vratsa | ||
| Brayan Moreno | CSKA Sofia | ||
| 10 | Bernard Tekpetey | Ludogorets | 8 |
| Birsent Karagaren | Lokomotiv Plovdiv / CSKA 1948 | ||
| Maurício Garcez | CSKA Sofia |
Most assists
- As of 4 May 2023[54]
| Rank | Player | Club | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kiril Despodov | Ludogorets | 11 |
| 2 | Igor Thiago | Ludogorets | 7 |
| Thibaut Vion | CSKA Sofia | ||
| 4 | Georgi Rusev | CSKA 1948 | 6 |
| Jakub Piotrowski | Ludogorets | ||
| 6 | Bernard Tekpetey | Ludogorets | 5 |
| Duckens Nazon | CSKA Sofia | ||
| Dimitar Iliev | Lokomotiv Plovdiv |
Clean sheets
- As of 4 May 2023[55]
| Rank | Goalkeeper | Club | Clean sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Plamen Andreev | Levski Sofia | 20 |
| 2 | Gustavo Busatto | CSKA Sofia | 17 |
| 3 | Daniel Naumov | CSKA 1948 | 14 |
| 4 | Ivan Dyulgerov | Cherno More | 12 |
| 5 | Dinko Horkaš | Lokomotiv Plovdiv | 10 |
| Krasimir Kostov | Botev Vratsa | ||
| Sergio Padt | Ludogorets | ||
| 8 | Svetoslav Vutsov | Slavia Sofia | 9 |
| 9 | Aleksandar Lyubenov | Lokomotiv Sofia | 8 |
| Anatoli Gospodinov | Arda |
References
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Дългото чакане приключи! Спартак (Варна) се завръща в елита" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 5 May 2022.
- ^ "Септември (София) взе нужното от Спортист (Своге) и се завърна в efbet Лига!" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 9 May 2022.
- ^ "Хебър се завърна във футболния елит на България след 21 години чакане!" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 21 May 2022.
- ^ "Ботев (Враца) се спаси, но замалко да изживее кошмар" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 27 May 2022.
- ^ "Днес „Берое" стартира сезона с нов екип" (in Bulgarian). beroe.bg. 11 July 2022.
- ^ "Ботев представи два от екипите за новия сезон" (in Bulgarian). botevplovdiv.bg. 20 June 2022.
- ^ Новите екипи са тук!
- ^ "ФК ЦСКА 1948 представи новите си екипи" (in Bulgarian). topsport.bg. 31 May 2022.
- ^ "Официалната фланелка на ЦСКА за сезон 2022/23 г. вече е в продажба" (in Bulgarian). cska.bg. 4 June 2022.
- ^ Ти си част от отбора!
- ^ "Новите екипи за сезон 2022/2023" (in Bulgarian). lokomotivpd.com. 2 July 2022.
- ^ "Лудогорец показва новите екипи в шампионското шоу срещу Черно море" (in Bulgarian). ludogorets.com. 12 May 2022.
- ^ "Арда и Стамен Белчев официално се разделиха" (in Bulgarian). dsport.bg. 16 May 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
- ^ "АРДА избра новия треньор" (in Bulgarian). fcarda.bg. 19 May 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
- ^ "Официално: Локомотив (София) се раздели с Иван Колев" (in Bulgarian). topsport.bg. 23 May 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
- ^ "Официално: Локомотив София обяви Станислав Генчев" (in Bulgarian). gong.bg. 25 May 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
- ^ "Николай Киров официално напусна ЦСКА 1948" (in Bulgarian). bta.bg. 23 May 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
- ^ "Любослав Пенев е начело на ЦСКА!" (in Bulgarian). cska1948.bg. 28 May 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
- ^ "До армейците" (in Bulgarian). cska.bg. 1 June 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
- ^ "Саша Илич е новият наставник на ЦСКА" (in Bulgarian). cska.bg. 2 June 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
- ^ "Клуб от Първа лига изненадващо смени треньора си" (in Bulgarian). segabg.com. 2 June 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
- ^ "Росен Кирилов е новият наставник на Ботев /Враца/" (in Bulgarian). bnr.bg. 2 June 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
- ^ "Николай Митов се разделя с Хебър" (in Bulgarian). dsport.bg. 8 June 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
- ^ "Фулвио Пеа е новият старши треньор на Хебър (Пазарджик)" (in Bulgarian). fakti.bg. 13 June 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
- ^ "Изненада: Радослав Митревски вече не е треньор на Пирин" (in Bulgarian). topsport.bg. 20 June 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
- ^ "Петър Михтарски се раздели с Пирин" (in Bulgarian). dsport.bg. 3 July 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
- ^ "Красимир Петров е новият старши треньор на Пирин (Благоевград)" (in Bulgarian). trud.bg. 4 July 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
- ^ "Официално: Валентич напуска поста старши треньор на Ботев (Пловдив), но остава в клуба". sportal.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 4 August 2022.
- ^ "Сериозно име застана начело на Ботев (Пловдив)". sportal.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 4 August 2022.
- ^ a b "ОФИЦИАЛНО: Спартак (Варна) остана без треньор". novsport.com (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 17 August 2022.
- ^ "Спартак Вн представи Тодор Киселичков". dsport.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 23 August 2022.
- ^ a b "Росен Кирилов напуска Ботев Враца, Владислав Вутов e новият треньор". 7dnisport.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 6 September 2022.
- ^ "Берое се раздели с Хубчев, специалистът напуска по лични причини". sportal.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 14 September 2022.
- ^ "Официално: Николай Киров е новият старши треньор на Берое". sportal.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 14 September 2022.
- ^ a b "Дани Моралес ще търси агресивна игра от Ботев (Враца)". sportal.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 14 September 2022.
- ^ a b "Владо Манчев стана старши треньор в efbet Лига". dsport.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 1 October 2022.
- ^ "Официално: Славко Матич вече не е треньор на Септември". dsport.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 10 October 2022.
- ^ "Септември представи Светослав Петров". dsport.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 10 October 2022.
- ^ "След декларация на феновете: "падна главата" на треньор от efbet Лига". dsport.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 27 October 2022.
- ^ "Пирин официално обяви Христо Янев, представя го в сряда". dsport.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 27 October 2022.
- ^ "Любослав Пенев официално напусна поста старши треньор на ЦСКА". cska1948.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 17 December 2022.
- ^ "Тодор Янчев официално е новият старши треньор на ЦСКА". cska1948.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 17 December 2022.
- ^ "Желко Копич напуска Ботев Пловдив". botevplovdiv.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 5 January 2023.
- ^ "Официално: Португалец е новият треньор на Ботев (Пловдив)". sportal.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 5 January 2023.
- ^ "Лудогорец освободи Анте Шимунджа". ludogorets.com (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 7 March 2023.
- ^ "Легендарен треньор се завръща в Лудогорец". ludogorets.com (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 7 March 2023.
- ^ "Официално: Хебър освободи Владо Манчев". gong.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 24 March 2023.
- ^ "Хебър представи Любо Пенев". gong.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 24 March 2023.
- ^ "Официално: Станимир Стоилов обяви: Няма да продължа да работя в Левски". sportal.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 8 April 2023.
- ^ "Левски официално потвърди назначението на Елин Топузаков за старши треньор". sportal.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 12 April 2023.
- ^ "A PFG - Regular season rules". Scoresway. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
- ^ "Players: Topscorers". Soccerway. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
- ^ "Players: Most Assists". Fctables. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
- ^ "Първа професионална лига 2022/23". bulgarian-football.com (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 11 October 2022.