| Season | 2023–24 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 14 July 2023 – 31 May 2024 |
| Champions | Ludogorets Razgrad (13th title) |
| Relegated | Etar Pirin Blagoevgrad |
| Champions League | Ludogorets Razgrad |
| Europa League | Botev Plovdiv |
| Conference League | Cherno More CSKA 1948 |
| Matches | 283 |
| Goals | 678 (2.4 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Aleksandar Kolev (15 goals) |
| Best goalkeeper | Plamen Andreev (17 clean sheets) |
| Biggest home win | Levski Sofia 6–0Lokomotiv Sofia (30 July 2023) Botev Plovdiv 6–0Lokomotiv Sofia (26 October 2023) Ludogorets 6–0Lokomotiv Sofia (16 March 2024) |
| Biggest away win | Botev Vratsa 0–5Ludogorets (5 August 2023) |
| Highest scoring | Botev Vratsa 3–5Botev Plovdiv (21 October 2023) |
| Longest winning run | 14 games Ludogorets Razgrad |
| Longest unbeaten run | 15 games CSKA Sofia |
| Longest winless run | 12 games Etar |
| Longest losing run | 7 games Slavia Sofia |
2024–25 → All statistics correct as of 19:57, 31 May 2024 (UTC). | |
The2023–24 First Professional Football League, also known asefbet League for sponsorship reasons,[1] is the 100th season of the top division of theBulgarian 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.
Ludogorets Razgrad were the 12-time defending champions and successfully managed to defend the title, winning it for the thirteenth consecutive time.
As in the last season, 16 teams will compete in the league this year. Two teams were promoted from the2022–23 Second League, and another place is for the winner of thepromotion/relegation playoff.
The first team to earn promotion from the Second League wasEtar, who mathematically secured a top three finish afterSportist Svoge lost toYantra 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 wasKrumovgrad, who mathematically secured a top three finish after winning againstBotev 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]
| 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 | Sofia 2023–24First 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 |
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined underFIFA eligibility rules. Players and managers may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Note: Individual clubs may wear jerseys with advertising. However, only one sponsorship is permitted per jersey for official tournaments organised byUEFA 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.
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Levski Sofia | End of interim period | 12 June 2023 | Pre-season | 13 June 2023[14] | ||
| Beroe | 14 June 2023 | 15 June 2023[15] | ||||
| Pirin Blagoevgrad | End of contract | 17 June 2023[16] | 17 June 2023[16] | |||
| Slavia Sofia | End of interim period | 22 June 2023 | 23 June 2023[17] | |||
| CSKA Sofia | Sacked | 29 July 2023[18] | 5th | 29 July 2023[19] | ||
| CSKA 1948 | Resigned | 15 August 2023[20] | 7th | 15 August 2023[21] | ||
| Botev Plovdiv | Mutual agreement | 22 August 2023[22] | 14th | 22 August 2023[23] | ||
| Pirin Blagoevgrad | Sacked | 27 August 2023[24] | 15th | 31 August 2023[25] | ||
| Botev Plovdiv | End of interim period | 4 September 2023 | 11th | 4 September 2023[26] | ||
| Lokomotiv Sofia | Resigned | 4 September 2023[27] | 12th | 4 September 2023[28] | ||
| Botev Vratsa | 18 September 2023[29] | 13th | 19 September 2023[30] | |||
| Beroe | Sacked | 18 September 2023[31] | 6th | 20 September 2023[32] | ||
| Slavia Sofia | 19 September 2023[33] | 14th | 20 September 2023[34] | |||
| Etar | 30 September 2023[35] | 16th | 30 September 2023[36] | |||
| End of interim period | 2 October 2023 | 16th | 2 October 2023[37] | |||
| Slavia Sofia | Mutual agreement | 23 October 2023 | 15th | 23 October 2023[38] | ||
| Ludogorets Razgrad | Sacked | 23 October 2023[39] | 5th | 24 October 2023[40] | ||
| Krumovgrad | 28 October 2023 | 10th | 24 October 2023[41] | |||
| Pirin Blagoevgrad | 4 February 2024[42] | 14th | 5 February 2024[43] | |||
| Arda | Mutual agreement | 25 February 2024[44] | 8th | 26 February 2024[45] | ||
| CSKA 1948 | Sacked | 5 April 2024[46] | 7th | 5 April 2024[47] | ||
| CSKA Sofia | 14 April 2024[48] | 3rd | 14 April 2024[49] | |||
| Lokomotiv Sofia | 22 April 2024[50] | 14th | 22 April 2024 | |||
| Lokomotiv Plovdiv | Mutual agreement | 27 May 2024[51] | 5th | |||
| Krumovgrad | 28 May 2024 | 6th | 28 May 2024[52] | |||
| Levski Sofia | End of contract | 28 May 2024 | 4th | 28 May 2024[53] | ||
| Arda | Mutual agreement | 31 May 2024[54] | 8th | |||
| CSKA Sofia | Resigned | 31 May 2024[55] | 3rd |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ludogorets Razgrad | 30 | 24 | 3 | 3 | 78 | 15 | +63 | 75 | Qualification for theChampionship 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 theConference 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 theRelegation 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 |
| 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 | — |
Points and goals will carry over in full from regular season.
| 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 theChampions League first qualifying round | — | — | 3–1 | — | 3–0 | 3–3 | |
| 2 | Cherno More | 35 | 22 | 9 | 4 | 56 | 26 | +30 | 75 | Qualification for theConference League second qualifying round | 4–0 | — | — | — | 1–0 | 3–1 | |
| 3 | CSKA Sofia | 35 | 20 | 7 | 8 | 56 | 27 | +29 | 67 | Qualification for theConference 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 | — |
Points and goals will carry over in full from regular season.
| 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 theConference 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 theEuropa 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 | — |
Points and goals will carry over in full from regular season.
| 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 therelegation play-off | 1–0 | — | 1–0 | — | — | — | |
| 5 | Pirin Blagoevgrad(R) | 35 | 7 | 11 | 17 | 26 | 48 | −22 | 32 | Relegation to theSecond League | — | — | 0–0 | 1–2 | — | 2–2 | |
| 6 | Etar(R) | 35 | 3 | 8 | 24 | 22 | 66 | −44 | 17 | — | 1–1 | — | 1–1 | — | — |
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Krumovgrad | 15 | |
| 2 | Ludogorets | 14 | |
| 3 | Ludogorets | 13 | |
| 4 | Cherno More | 12 | |
| Hebar / Botev Plovdiv | |||
| 6 | Ludogorets | 11 | |
| 7 | Slavia Sofia | 10 | |
| Ludogorets | |||
| 9 | CSKA Sofia | 9 | |
| Levski Sofia | |||
| 11 | Botev Plovdiv | 8 | |
| Levski Sofia | |||
| CSKA 1948 | |||
| Beroe |
| Rank | Goalkeeper | Club | Clean sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Levski Sofia | 17 | |
| 2 | Cherno More | 16 | |
| 3 | CSKA Sofia | 15 | |
| 4 | Arda | 13 | |
| 5 | Ludogorets | 12 | |
| 6 | Krumovgrad | 10 | |
| Botev Plovdiv | |||
| Lokomotiv Sofia | |||
| 9 | Beroe | 8 | |
| Lokomotiv Plovdiv | |||
| Pirin Blagoevgrad | |||
| Ludogorets |
| Player | For | Against | Result | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hebar | Lokomotiv Plovdiv | 3–4 (H)[58] | 25 August 2023 | |
| Botev Plovdiv | Beroe | 4–1 (H)[59] | 30 September 2023 | |
| Cherno More | Lokomotiv Sofia | 3–0 (H)[60] | 4 April 2024 |