2025–26 First Professional Football League (Bulgaria)

First Professional Football League
Season2025–26
Dates18 July 2025 – 29 May 2026
Matches152
Goals365 (2.4 per match)
Top goalscorerIvaylo Chochev
Mamadou Diallo
(11 goals each)
Best goalkeeperAnatoli Gospodinov
Svetoslav Vutsov
(8 clean sheets each)
Biggest home winLevski Sofia 7–0 Septemvri Sofia
(30 November 2025)
Biggest away winBotev Plovdiv 0–5 Arda
(4 August 2025)
Highest scoringCSKA 1948 5–4 Ludogorets Razgrad
(27 October 2025)
Longest winning run7 games
CSKA Sofia
Longest unbeaten run11 games
Ludogorets Razgrad
Slavia Sofia
Longest winless run10 games
Montana
Beroe
Longest losing run4 games
Dobrudzha
Septemvri Sofia
Slavia Sofia
2026–27 →
All statistics correct as of 18:55, 19 December 2025 (UTC).

The 2025–26 First Professional Football League, also known as efbet League for sponsorship reasons,[1] is the 102nd season of the top division of the Bulgarian football league system, the 78th since a league format was adopted for the national competition of A Group as a top tier of the pyramid, and also the 10th season of the First Professional Football League, which decides the Bulgarian champion. The season began on 18 July 2025 and will end on 29 May 2026.

Ludogorets Razgrad are the 14-time defending champions.

Overview

First League will be reduced from 16 to 14 teams in 2026–27, so that the teams placed 14th to 16th in the Relegation round will automatically be relegated to Second League, while the 13th place team will play a promotion/relegation playoff against the 2nd place team from Second League.

Teams

As in the last season, 16 teams will compete in the league this year. Two teams were promoted from the 2024–25 Second League, and two places are for the winners of the promotion/relegation playoffs.

The first team to earn promotion from the Second League was Dobrudzha, who mathematically secured a top two finish after winning against Lovech on 11 May.[2] Dobrudzha return to the top level after a 22-year absence.

The second team to earn promotion from the Second League was Montana, who mathematically secured a top two finish after Pirin Blagoevgrad lost to Dobrudzha on 16 May.[3] Montana return to the top level after a 4-year absence.

Additionally, Lokomotiv Plovdiv and Botev Vratsa remained in the First League after winning against Marek and Pirin Blagoevgrad, respectively, in the promotion/relegation playoffs.[4][5]

Stadiums and locations

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 Dobrudzha
Stadion Ticha Stadion Bistritsa Vasil Levski National Stadium Stadion Druzhba
Capacity: 12,000 Capacity: 3,000 Capacity: 43,000 Capacity: 12,000
Levski Sofia
Location of teams in 2025–26 First League
Sofia 2025–26 First League football clubs
 Lokomotiv Plovdiv
Stadion Georgi Asparuhov Stadion Lokomotiv
Capacity: 17,000 Capacity: 10,000
Lokomotiv Sofia Ludogorets Razgrad
Stadion Lokomotiv Huvepharma Arena
Capacity: 22,000 Capacity: 10,500
Montana Septemvri Sofia Slavia Sofia Spartak Varna
Stadion Ogosta Stadion Lokomotiv Stadion Aleksandar Shalamanov Stadion Spartak
Capacity: 8,000 Capacity: 22,000 Capacity: 25,000 Capacity: 10,000

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 Anatoli Gospodinov Uhlsport efbet IK Nataliya Ltd.
Beroe Josu Uribe Juan Salomoni Nike 8888.bg —
Botev Plovdiv Dimitar Dimitrov Todor Nedelev Macron WinBet PIMK, OZK Insurance, UG Market Trader
Botev Vratsa Todor Simov Daniel Genov Erima WinBet —
Cherno More Ilian Iliev Vasil Panayotov Macron Armeets Planex
CSKA 1948 Ivan Stoyanov Georgi Rusev Jako efbet Bachkovo
CSKA Sofia Hristo Yanev Gustavo Busatto Macron WinBet A1
Dobrudzha Atanas Atanasov Andrian Dimitrov Adidas Bethub Dobrich Municipality
Levski Sofia Julio Velázquez Wenderson Tsunami Adidas PalmsBet —
Lokomotiv Plovdiv Dušan Kosič Dimitar Iliev Joma WinBet —
Lokomotiv Sofia Stanislav Genchev Aleksandar Lyubenov Macron 8888.bg VIA 2000
Ludogorets Razgrad Per-Mathias Høgmo Anton Nedyalkov Jako efbet Vivacom, Huvepharma, Navibulgar
Montana TBA Vasil Simeonov Jako efbet —
Septemvri Sofia Slavko Matić Galin Ivanov Uhlsport 8888.bg —
Slavia Sofia Ratko Dostanić Ivan Minchev Joma bet365 Asset Insurance
Spartak Varna Gjoko Hadžievski Deyan Lozev Nike efbet 100 Tona

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
Botev Plovdiv Dušan Kerkez Resigned 26 May 2025[6] Pre-season Nikolay Kirov 28 June 2025[7]
Lokomotiv Sofia Ratko Dostanić Mutual agreement 29 May 2025[8] Stanislav Genchev 30 May 2025[9]
CSKA Sofia Aleksandar Tomash End of contract 31 May 2025[10] Dušan Kerkez 4 June 2025[11]
Spartak Varna Nikolay Kirov 31 May 2025[12] Gjoko Hadžievski 9 July 2025[13]
Septemvri Sofia Nikolay Mitov Resigned 1 June 2025[14] Stamen Belchev 5 June 2025[15]
Ludogorets Razgrad Igor Jovićević Mutual agreement 9 June 2025[16] Rui Mota 13 June 2025[17]
Beroe Plamen Lipenski End of interim spell 6 July 2025 Víctor Basadre 6 July 2025[18]
Montana Tancho Kalpakov Resigned 9 August 2025[19] 13th Anatoli Nankov 11 August 2025[20]
Beroe Víctor Basadre Mutual agreement 3 September 2025 9th Alejandro Sageras 3 September 2025[21]
CSKA Sofia Dušan Kerkez Sacked 20 September 2025 12th Valentin Iliev (caretaker) 20 September 2025[22]
Botev Vratsa Hristo Yanev Mutual agreement 24 September 2025 7th Todor Simov 24 September 2025[23]
CSKA Sofia Valentin Iliev (caretaker) End of interim spell 24 September 2025 12th Hristo Yanev 24 September 2025[24]
Botev Plovdiv Nikolay Kirov Resigned 25 September 2025 14th Ivan Tsvetanov (caretaker) 25 September 2025[25]
Slavia Sofia Zlatomir Zagorčić 11 October 2025 13th Ratko Dostanić 11 October 2025[26]
Septemvri Sofia Stamen Belchev 28 October 2025[27] 15th Mladen Stoev (caretaker) 28 October 2025
Ludogorets Razgrad Rui Mota Sacked 29 October 2025[28] 4th Todor Zhivondov (caretaker) 29 October 2025
Septemvri Sofia Mladen Stoev (caretaker) End of interim spell 30 October 2025 15th Slavko Matić 30 October 2025[29]
Botev Plovdiv Ivan Tsvetanov (caretaker) 17 November 2025 9th Dimitar Dimitrov 17 November 2025[30]
Ludogorets Razgrad Todor Zhivondov (caretaker) 21 November 2025 5th Per-Mathias Høgmo 21 November 2025[31]
Beroe Alejandro Sageras Sacked 24 November 2025 13th Plamen Lipenski (caretaker) 24 November 2025[32]
Plamen Lipenski (caretaker) End of interim spell 27 November 2025 13th Josu Uribe 27 November 2025[33]
Montana Anatoli Nankov Sacked 20 December 2025[34] 14th

Regular season

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Levski Sofia 19 14 2 3 43 12 +31 44 Qualification for the Championship group
2 CSKA 1948 19 11 4 4 31 20 +11 37
3 Ludogorets Razgrad 19 10 7 2 35 13 +22 37
4 Cherno More 19 9 6 4 25 14 +11 33
5 CSKA Sofia 19 8 7 4 27 16 +11 31 Qualification for the Conference League group
6 Lokomotiv Plovdiv 19 7 8 4 20 22 −2 29
7 Slavia Sofia 19 7 7 5 23 21 +2 28
8 Lokomotiv Sofia 19 6 8 5 21 18 +3 26
9 Botev Vratsa 19 6 7 6 15 16 −1 25 Qualification for the Relegation group
10 Arda 19 6 6 7 20 19 +1 24
11 Botev Plovdiv 19 6 3 10 25 29 −4 21
12 Spartak Varna 19 3 8 8 18 30 −12 17
13 Beroe 19 3 7 9 16 32 −16 16
14 Montana 19 3 6 10 14 33 −19 15
15 Septemvri Sofia 19 4 3 12 19 41 −22 15
16 Dobrudzha 19 3 3 13 13 29 −16 12
Updated to match(es) played on 19 December 2025. 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[35]

Results

Home \ Away ARD BER BPD BVR CHM CSK CSS DOB LEV LPD LSO LUD MON SEP SLA SPV
Arda — 2–2 0–0 0–2 0–1 3–0 1–0 0–3 0–0 1–1 0–1
Beroe — 1–2 2–0 1–2 1–1 1–0 1–3 0–4 1–1 0–0 0–0
Botev Plovdiv 0–5 a — 2–1 1–2 1–1 2–1 0–1 a 0–1 0–1 1–1
Botev Vratsa 1–2 — 1–0 0–0 1–1 0–0 0–1 0–0 2–1 0–1 2–0
Cherno More 4–0 2–1 — 2–0 2–0 1–3 1–1 0–1 0–0 1–1
CSKA 1948 1–0 2–1 0–1 — 0–0 4–0 5–4 2–1 2–1 3–1 1–1
CSKA Sofia 5–6 2–1 0–0 0–1 — a 2–1 0–0 3–1 3–1 1–1
Dobrudzha 0–2 0–2 2–1 0–1 — 1–1 2–2 0–2 2–1 2–0
Levski Sofia 3–1 2–1 0–1 3–0 — 0–0 5–0 7–0 2–0 2–1
Lokomotiv Plovdiv 0–2 1–0 0–4[37] 3–0 1–0 1–0 1–0 — a 1–1 0–0 2–1
Lokomotiv Sofia 0–0 3–2 0–1 1–1 0–1 1–1 1–2 2–2 — 3–0 a 0–0
Ludogorets Razgrad 2–3 2–1 2–0 2–1 0–0 — 3–0 5–0 1–1 1–1
Montana 1–1 0–0 1–3 1–0 1–5 1–1 1–2 — 2–0 1–2
Septemvri Sofia 2–3 1–3 1–4 2–1 1–2 2–2 1–0 0–2 — 0–1
Slavia Sofia 2–0 0–0 2–2 0–0 2–2 3–1 2–0 2–0 0–3 2–1 —
Spartak Varna 3–0 0–0 3–2 1–1 1–3 0–4 1–3 1–2 1–4 1–1 —
Updated to match(es) played on 19 December 2025. 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.

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Qualification for the Champions League first qualifying round
2 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Qualification for the Conference League second qualifying round
3 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Qualification for the Conference League play-off
4 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Updated to match(es) played on TBD 2026. Source: soccerway, Bulgarian Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Points in regular season; 3) Head-to-head points in regular season; 4) Head-to-head goal difference in regular season; 5) Head-to-head goals scored in regular season; 6) Head-to-head away goals scored in regular season (if two teams tied); 7) Goal difference; 8) Goals scored; 9) Fair play ranking; 10) Drawing of lots.

Conference League round

Points and goals carried over in full from regular season.

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Qualification for the Conference League play-off
2 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Updated to match(es) played on TBD 2026. Source: soccerway, Bulgarian Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Points in regular season; 3) Head-to-head points in regular season; 4) Head-to-head goal difference in regular season; 5) Head-to-head goals scored in regular season; 6) Head-to-head away goals scored in regular season (if two teams tied); 7) Goal difference; 8) Goals scored; 9) Fair play ranking; 10) Drawing of lots.

Relegation round

Points and goals carried over in full from regular season.

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Qualification for the relegation play-off
6 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Relegation to the Second League
7 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
8 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Updated to match(es) played on TBD 2026. Source: Soccerway, Bulgarian Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Points in regular season; 3) Head-to-head points in regular season; 4) Head-to-head goal difference in regular season; 5) Head-to-head goals scored in regular season; 6) Head-to-head away goals scored in regular season (if two teams tied); 7) Goal difference; 8) Goals scored; 9) Fair play ranking; 10) Drawing of lots.

Season statistics

Top scorers

As of 19 December 2025[38]
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Ivaylo Chochev Ludogorets Razgrad 11
Mamadou Diallo CSKA 1948
3 Bertrand Fourrier Septemvri Sofia 10
Santiago Godoy CSKA Sofia
5 Everton Bala Levski Sofia 9
Alberto Salido Beroe
7 Mustapha Sangaré Levski Sofia 8
8 Georgi Lazarov Cherno More 7
Marin Petkov Levski Sofia
10 Berna Spartak Varna 6
Boris Dimitrov Montana
Armstrong Oko-Flex Botev Plovdiv
Ioannis Pittas CSKA Sofia

Clean sheets

As of 19 December 2025[38]
Rank Goalkeeper Club Clean
sheets
1 Anatoli Gospodinov Arda 8
Svetoslav Vutsov Levski Sofia
3 Hendrik Bonmann Ludogorets Razgrad 7
Dimitar Evtimov Botev Vratsa
Bojan Milosavljević Lokomotiv Plovdiv
6 Lévi Ntumba Slavia Sofia 6
Martin Velichkov Lokomotiv Sofia
8 Sergio Padt Ludogorets Razgrad 5
Vasil Simeonov Montana
Kristian Tomov Cherno More
11 Maksym Kovalyov Spartak Varna 4
Fyodor Lapoukhov CSKA Sofia
Arthur Motta Beroe
Dimitar Sheytanov CSKA 1948

Hat-tricks

As of 19 December 2025
Player For Against Result Date
Nikolay Zlatev Cherno More Beroe 4–0 (H)[39] 4 August 2025
Alberto Salido Beroe Septemvri Sofia 3–2 (A)[40] 11 August 2025

References

  1. ^ "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.
  2. ^ "Добруджа се завърна в родния футболен елит" (in Bulgarian). btvsport.bg. 11 May 2025.
  3. ^ "Монтана се завърна в Първа лига" (in Bulgarian). trud.bg. 17 May 2025.
  4. ^ "Чудото е факт! Ботев Враца надви Пирин и остава в efbet Лига" (in Bulgarian). gong.bg. 29 May 2025.
  5. ^ "Локомотив Пловдив не срещна трудности срещу Марек и остава в елита" (in Bulgarian). gong.bg. 30 May 2025.
  6. ^ "Специалното послание на Керкез към „Колежа": В един момент ще се върна тук и Ботев ще стане шампион (ВИДЕО)" (in Bulgarian). dsport.bg. 26 May 2025. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
  7. ^ "Официално: Белия се завърна в Ботев Пловдив" (in Bulgarian). dsport.bg. 28 June 2025. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
  8. ^ "Ратко Достанич вече не е старши треньор на Локо (София), чака се назначението на Генчев" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 29 May 2025. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  9. ^ "Официално: Станислав Генчев се завърна в Локомотив София" (in Bulgarian). dsport.bg. 30 May 2025. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
  10. ^ "Официално: Томаш е аут, ЦСКА ще има нов треньор" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 31 May 2025. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  11. ^ "Душан Керкез е новият старши треньор на ЦСКА" (in Bulgarian). cska.bg. 4 June 2025. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
  12. ^ "Белия: Нямам оферти от Ботев и Спартак". sportal.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  13. ^ "Ветеран, бивш треньор на ЦСКА, пое Спартак (Вн)". sportal.bg. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
  14. ^ "Николай Митов ще напусне Септември след края на сезона" (in Bulgarian). bntnews.bg. 19 May 2025. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  15. ^ "Септември (София) обяви новия си треньор" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 5 June 2025. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  16. ^ "Официално: Лудогорец се раздели с Йовичевич" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 9 June 2025. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  17. ^ "Официално: Лудогорец има нов треньор" (in Bulgarian). dsport.bg. 13 June 2025. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  18. ^ "Берое представи новия си испански треньор" (in Bulgarian). dsport.bg. 13 June 2025. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  19. ^ "Падна първата треньорска глава в efbet Лига". sportal.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  20. ^ "Анатоли Нанков е новият старши треньор на Монтана". sportal.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  21. ^ "Берое се раздели с треньора си, обяви кой ще води тима в бъдеще". sportal.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 4 September 2025.
  22. ^ "ЦСКА се раздели с Душан Керкез" (in Bulgarian). cska.bg. 20 September 2025. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
  23. ^ "Ботев (Враца) има нов старши треньор" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 24 September 2025. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
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  26. ^ "Бивш наставник на Левски и Цървена звезда е новият треньор на Славия" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 11 October 2025. Retrieved 11 October 2025.
  27. ^ "Клуб от efbet Лига остана без треньор" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 28 October 2025. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  28. ^ "Официално: Мота приключи с Лудогорец, "орлите" загатнаха за още сериозни промени" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 29 October 2025. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  29. ^ "Официално: Септември (Сф) представи новия си треньор". sportal.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  30. ^ "Официално: Димитър Димитров е новият треньор на Ботев (Пловдив)" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 17 November 2025. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
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  32. ^ "Официално: Берое обяви раздяла със Сагерас". sportal.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  33. ^ "Официално: Хосу Урибе се завърна начело на Берое". sportal.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 28 November 2025.
  34. ^ "Точно преди Коледа: падна треньорска глава в efbet Лига". sportal.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 21 December 2025.
  35. ^ "Наредба за първенствата и турнирите по футбол в системата на БФС за сезон 2025/2026 година" (PDF) (in Bulgarian). Bulgarian Football Union. Retrieved 24 August 2025.
  36. ^ "Тежкото решение е взето: Локомотив със служебна загуба от Ботев". dsport.bg. 4 November 2025. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
  37. ^ Botev Plovdiv were awarded a 4–0 walkover win due to incidents caused by Lokomotiv Plovdiv supporters, leading to the abandonment of the match in the first half, with a score of 1–1 at the time.[36]
  38. ^ a b "Първа професионална лига 2025/26". bulgarian-football.com (in Bulgarian).
  39. ^ "Cherno More 4–0 Beroe" (in Bulgarian). bulgarian-football.com. 4 August 2025.
  40. ^ "Septemvri Sofia 2–3 Beroe" (in Bulgarian). bulgarian-football.com. 11 August 2025.
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