The 2017–18 First Professional Football League was the 94th season of the top division of the Bulgarian football league system, the 70th since a league format was adopted for the national competition of A Group as a top tier of the pyramid and also the 2nd season of the First Professional Football League, which decides the Bulgarian champion. The season is the second with a new league structure and strict financial criteria where 14 clubs play each other home and away, until the league is split up in championship and relegation playoffs. The new league structure, inspired by the ones used by the Belgian First Division A and Danish Superliga, was approved by the Bulgarian Football Union on 6 June 2016. The fixture list was released on 22 June 2017.
On 29 April 2018, four rounds before the end of the championship, Ludogorets Razgrad managed to secure the title for a seventh consecutive and overall time.
Teams A total of 14 teams would be contesting the league. Etar were promoted as champions of the 2016–17 Second League, sealing their title on the final day of the season with a 2–2 away draw against Nesebar, coupled with Septemvri Sofia's 0–2 away defeat to Oborishte. The promoted club replaced Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa, who suffered an immediate return to the second tier after elimination in the relegation play-offs by Montana.
Septemvri Sofia, runners-up of the 2016–17 Second League, won the play-off against Montana and return to the top flight after an 18-year absence, for the first time since the 1998–99 season. Montana return to the second tier after two seasons in the top flight.
Vitosha Bistritsa, who finished 3rd in the 2016–17 Second League, defeated Neftochimic in the play-off and won promotion to the top division for the first time in their history. Neftochimic spent only one season in the First League.
Stadia and locations
Note: From the 2016–17 season onwards, all participating clubs are required to have electric floodlights and adequate pitch conditions under the BFU and TV broadcaster's new licensing criteria. The following stadiums below have either obtained a license under UEFA's category ranking or fulfill the licensing criteria.
Team Location Stadium Capacity (seating)Beroe Stara Zagora Beroe 12,128Botev Plovdiv Botev 1912 Football Complex 4,000Cherno More Varna Ticha 8,250CSKA Sofia Balgarska Armiya 18,495Dunav Ruse Gradski, Ruse 12,400Etar Veliko Tarnovo Ivaylo 18,000Levski Sofia Vivacom Arena - Georgi Asparuhov 25,000Lokomotiv Plovdiv Lokomotiv 13,000Ludogorets Razgrad Ludogorets Arena 9,000Pirin Blagoevgrad Hristo Botev 7,000Septemvri Sofia Vasil Levski National Stadium 43,230Slavia Sofia Slavia Vasil Levski National Stadium 25,556 43,230Vereya Stara Zagora Trace Arena 3,500Vitosha Bistritsa Bistritsa Stadium 2,500
a.Cherno More played their first home match at Kavarna Stadium in Kavarna due to ongoing renovation works at their Ticha Stadium. b.Etar played their first two home matches at Lovech Stadium in Lovech due to ongoing renovation works at their Ivaylo Stadium. c.Septemvri Sofia will play at the Vasil Levski National Stadium because their Dragalevtsi Stadium is not licensed for First League. d.Slavia Sofia obtained permission from the Bulgarian Football Union to use their own stadium and will play their matches at the Vasil Levski National Stadium only when floodlights are necessary.
Personnel and sponsorship 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 AdditionalBeroe Aleksandar Tomash Veselin Penev Uhlsport — RefanBotev Plovdiv Nikolay Kirov Lachezar Baltanov Uhlsport Efbet —CSKA Sofia Hristo Yanev (caretaker) Bozhidar Chorbadzhiyski adidas Mtel WinBet, BaristoCherno More Ilian Iliev Georgi Iliev Uhlsport Armeets —Dunav Ruse Malin Orachev Diyan Dimov Joma — WinBetEtar Krasimir Balakov Kiril Akalski Joma — WinBetLevski Sofia Delio Rossi Bozhidar Mitrev Joma Vivacom Strabag, Efbet, SpetemaLokomotiv Plovdiv Bruno Akrapović Vančo Trajanov Uhlsport Efbet General BrokerLudogorets Razgrad Dimitar Dimitrov Svetoslav Dyakov Umbro bet365 Vivacom, SpetemaPirin Blagoevgrad Milen Radukanov Yulian Popev Erreà Katarino Spa —Septemvri Sofia Nikolay Mitov Valentin Galev Uhlsport Efbet —Slavia Sofia Zlatomir Zagorčić Georgi Petkov Joma bet365 —Vereya Elias Elias Erreà Efbet SpetemaVitosha Bistritsa Kostadin Angelov Chetin Sadula Jumper Efbet
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 TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming managerDate of appointment Beroe Ferario Spasov Mutual consent 19 May 2017 Pre-season Aleksandar Tomash 8 June 2017 Septemvri Hristo Arangelov Demoted to assistant 4 June 2017 Dimitar Vasev 8 June 2017 Vereya Aleksandar Tomash Signed by Beroe 5 June 2017 Ilian Iliev 9 June 2017 Levski Nikolay Mitov Mutual consent 4 August 2017 6th Asen Bukarev (caretaker) 4 August 2017 Asen Bukarev End of caretaker tenure 8 August 2017 9th Delio Rossi 8 August 2017 Ludogorets Georgi Dermendzhiev Resigned 9 August 2017 2nd Petko Petkov (caretaker) 10 August 2017 Petko Petkov End of caretaker tenure 14 August 2017 Dimitar Dimitrov 14 August 2017 Septemvri Dimitar Vasev Sacked 23 August 2017 13th Nikolay Mitov 23 August 2017 Cherno More Georgi Ivanov Resigned 21 September 2017 6th Emanuel Lukanov (caretaker) 21 September 2017 Dunav Veselin Velikov Mutual consent 16 October 2017 12th Plamen Donev (caretaker) 16 October 2017 Lokomotiv Plovdiv Voyn Voynov Mutual consent 30 October 2017 8th Bruno Akrapović 30 October 2017 Dunav Plamen Donev End of caretaker tenure 31 October 2017 13th Malin Orachev 31 October 2017 Cherno More Emanuel Lukanov End of caretaker tenure 28 December 2017 7th Ilian Iliev 28 December 2017 Vereya Ilian Iliev Signed by Cherno More 28 December 2017 6th Blagomir Mitrev 2 January 2018 Etar Stanislav Genchev Demoted to assistant 4 January 2018 12th Krasimir Balakov 4 January 2018 Vereya Blagomir Mitrev Mutual consent 1 April 2018 6th Elias 2 April 2018 CSKA Sofia Stamen Belchev Mutual consent 1 May 2018 2nd Hristo Yanev (caretaker) 1 May 2018 1.No license for First League.
Regular season League table
Results
Positions by round
Results by round
Championship round Points and goals will carry over in full from regular season.
Positions by round Below the positions per round are shown. As teams did not all start with an equal number of points, the initial pre-playoffs positions are also given.
Relegation round Points and goals will carry over in full from regular season.
Group A
Group B
European play-offs
Bracket
European play-off quarter-finals
European play-off semi-finals
European play-off final
Relegation play-offs
Bracket
Winners of matches 3, 5 and 6 will play in the top division next season
First round
Second round
Pirin Blagoevgrad are relegated to the Second League.
Third round
Season statistics Round Goal of the week Club Save of the week Club1 Dani Kiki vs Etar Lokomotiv Plovdiv Mihail Ivanov vs Cherno More Vitosha Bistritsa2 Vladislav Uzunov vs Botev Plovdiv Slavia Dušan Perniš vs Dunav Beroe3 Tiago Rodrigues vs Botev Plovdiv CSKA Sofia Hristiyan Vasilev vs Levski Sofia Vitosha Bistritsa 4 Carlos Ohene vs Slavia Beroe Dušan Perniš vs Slavia Beroe5 David Jablonský vs Dunav Levski Sofia Stanislav Antonov vs Levski Sofia Dunav6 Junior Mapuku vs Pirin Blagoevgrad Levski Sofia Jorge Broun vs Dunav Ludogorets7 Dimo Bakalov vs Dunav Lokomotiv Plovdiv Dušan Perniš vs CSKA Sofia Beroe8 Virgil Misidjan vs Slavia Ludogorets Stanislav Antonov vs Vitosha Bistritsa Dunav9 Gabriel Obertan vs Septemvri Levski Sofia Yevhen Borovyk vs CSKA Sofia Cherno More10 Tiago Rodrigues vs Dunav CSKA Sofia Dušan Perniš vs Levski Sofia Beroe11 Alioune Badará vs CSKA Sofia Etar Emil Mihaylov vs Levski Sofia Cherno More12 Pedro Eugénio vs Lokomotiv Plovdiv Beroe Blagoy Makendzhiev vs CSKA Sofia Pirin Blagoevgrad13 Roman Procházka vs CSKA Sofia Levski Sofia Jorge Broun vs Etar Ludogorets14 Martin Kamburov vs Vereya Beroe Stanislav Antonov vs Septemvri Dunav15 Jordi Gómez vs Lokomotiv Plovdiv Levski Sofia Georgi Argilashki vs Cherno More Vereya16 Martin Kamburov vs Pirin Blagoevgrad Beroe Georgi Argilashki vs Etar Vereya17 Carlos Ohene vs Slavia Beroe Georgi Argilashki vs Levski Sofia Vereya18 Ivan Minchev vs Cherno More Slavia Dušan Perniš vs Botev Plovdiv Beroe19 Junior Mapuku vs Pirin Blagoevgrad Levski Sofia Dušan Perniš vs Septemvri Beroe20 Serkan Yusein vs Etar Botev Plovdiv21 Pedro Eugénio vs Cherno More Beroe Daniel Naumov vs CSKA Sofia Vereya22 Gabriel Obertan vs Septemvri Levski Sofia Blagoy Makendzhiev vs CSKA Sofia Pirin Blagoevgrad23 Daniel Peev vs Slavia Vitosha Bistritsa Valentin Galev vs Ludogorets Septemvri24 Alasana Manneh vs CSKA Sofia Etar Nikolay Krastev vs Cherno More Levski Sofia25 João Paulo vs Vereya Botev Plovdiv Ilko Pirgov vs Beroe Lokomotiv Plovdiv26 Todor Nedelev vs Dunav Botev Plovdiv Georgi Argilashki vs Vitosha Bistritsa Vereya27 Pedro Eugénio vs Levski Sofia Beroe Dušan Perniš vs Levski Sofia Beroe 28 Martin Kamburov vs Vereya Beroe Renan vs CSKA Sofia Ludogorets29 Claudiu Keșerü vs Levski Sofia Ludogorets Bozhidar Mitrev vs Ludogorets Levski Sofia30 Ivan Goranov vs CSKA Sofia Levski Sofia Bozhidar Mitrev vs CSKA Sofia Levski Sofia31 Georgi Bozhilov vs Slavia Cherno More Martin Lukov vs Etar Dunav32 Jordi Gómez vs Beroe Levski Sofia Daniel Kajzer vs CSKA Sofia Botev Plovdiv33 Paulinho vs Botev Plovdiv Levski Sofia Nikolay Krastev vs Botev Plovdiv Levski Sofia34 Mehdi Fennouche vs Septemvri Cherno More Georgi Argilashki vs Botev Plovdiv Beroe35 Atanas Zehirov vs Lokomotiv Plovdiv Cherno More Bozhidar Mitrev vs CSKA Sofia Levski Sofia36 Paulinho vs Vereya Levski Sofia
Top scorers
RankPlayerClubGoals1 Claudiu KeșerüLudogorets Razgrad262 Fernando KarangaCSKA Sofia233 Pedro EugénioBeroe164 Steven PetkovBotev Plovdiv155 Martin KamburovBeroe Stara Zagora146 Virgil MisidjanLudogorets Razgrad127 Ivaylo DimitrovSlavia Sofia11 Martin ToshevSeptemvri Sofia9 Alioune BadaráEtar10 João PauloBotev PlovdivIncluding 1 goal for Ludogorets Razgrad.11 Fernando VianaBotev Plovdiv9 MarcelinhoLudogorets Razgrad Todor NedelevBotev Plovdiv Tiago RodriguesCSKA Sofia Galin IvanovSlavia Sofia David JablonskýLevski Sofia Dimo BakalovLokomotiv Plovdiv Stanislav KostovLevski SofiaIncluding 6 goals for Pirin Blagoevgrad.19 Vasil ShopovDunav Ruse8 Kiril DespodovCSKA Sofia PaulinhoLevski Sofia22 Miroslav BudinovSeptemvri SofiaIncluding 6 goals for Dunav Ruse.7 Sergiu BușLevski Sofia Boris GalchevSeptemvri Sofia Chris GadiSeptemvri Sofia Jody LukokiLudogorets Razgrad Jakub ŚwierczokLudogorets Razgrad WandersonLudogorets Razgrad29 Junior MapukuLevski Sofia6 Mariyan OgnyanovCherno More Ivan MinchevSlavia Sofia Radoslav VasilevCherno More Ismail IsaDunav RuseIncluding 2 goals for Vereya. Georgi IlievCherno More Mehdi FennoucheCherno MoreIncluding 3 goals for Vereya.
Notes
Hat-tricks Player For Against Result Date Fernando Karanga CSKA Sofia Botev Plovdiv 6–2 30 July 2017 Junior Mapuku Levski Sofia Pirin Blagoevgrad 3–0 18 August 2017 Fernando Viana4 Botev Plovdiv Septemvri Sofia 5–0 12 October 2017 Claudiu Keșerü Ludogorets Razgrad Etar 4–0 23 October 2017 Fernando Karanga CSKA Sofia Beroe 6–0 10 December 2017 Pedro Eugénio Beroe Cherno More 4–1 17 February 2018 Claudiu Keșerü Ludogorets Razgrad Beroe 7–0 18 April 2018