The 2019–20 Second League was the 64th season of the Second League, the second tier of the Bulgarian football league system, and the 4th season under this name and current league structure. The season began in July 2019 and ended in May 2020, but without playing all the scheduled games. The two promotion/relegation playoffs (involving teams from the First League as well) were held in July 2020.

After the possibility of holding matches without spectators was initially envisioned, on 13 March 2020, the Bulgarian Football Union decided to suspend all fixtures until 13 April in accordance with the measures taken to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. On 3 April 2020, the state of national emergency was extended until 13 May 2020 and on 11 April the Minister of Youth and Sports Krasen Kralev confirmed that no mass participation sports events and full training sessions will be held until that date. On 15 May 2020, the Bulgarian Football Union announced that the league will not be completed, with the standings after 22 rounds to be considered final. Reportedly, 10 of the lower-ranked clubs expressed a preference for this scenario due to the financial and personnel difficulties experienced by them as a result of the crisis, though Septemvri Sofia and Lokomotiv Sofia were opposed. CSKA 1948 gained promotion to the First League while Septemvri Sofia and Montana faced the teams who finished in the 13th (Tsarsko Selo) and the 12th (Dunav Ruse) places respectively in the highest league in promotion/relegation playoffs, with the former losing the playoff and the latter promoted.

The season was marred by controversies, as several teams were disqualified from the Second League and admitted to lower divisions. Vereya was disqualified before the season started and relegated to the fourth division. During the season, Pomorie declined to further participate, resulting in demotion to the Third League for next season, due to financial problems. Similarly to Pomorie, Botev Galabovo and Chernomorets Balchik decided to withdraw from the league (during the period when the games were halted) due to financial issues.

In July 2020, after the season, three Lokomotiv GO players, twelve Minyor Pernik playing personnel, two Neftochimic footballers, four members of the Hebar squad and four Septemvri footballers as well as a trainer were reported to have tested positive for COVID-19.

Teams The following teams have changed division since the 2018–19 season.

To Second League Promoted from Third League Spartak Varna Neftochimic Burgas Spartak Pleven Hebar Pazardzhik

Relegated from First League Septemvri Sofia

From Second League Relegated to Third League Dobrudzha Nesebar

Promoted to First League Tsarsko Selo Sofia Arda Kardzhali Note: FC Vereya, who were disqualified from the First League for match fixing, failed to obtain a professional license from the Bulgarian Football Union with the team instead entering the Southeast group of the Third Football League. As a result the Second League will consist of only 17 teams with no replacement team for Vereya's vacated spot.

Stadia and locations

Team City Stadium Capacity Botev Galabovo Energetik 3,000 Chernomorets Balchik Gradski, Balchik 3,100 CSKA 1948 Sofia Vasil Levski 43,230 Hebar Pazardzhik Georgi Benkovski 13,128 Kariana Erden Sport Complex Kariana 1,000 Litex Lovech Gradski, Lovech 8,100 Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa Lokomotiv, Gorna Oryahovitsa 10,500 Lokomotiv Sofia Lokomotiv, Sofia 22,000 Ludogorets II Razgrad Eagles' Nest 2,000 Montana Montana Ogosta 8,000 Neftochimic Burgas Arena Sozopol 3,500 Pirin Blagoevgrad Hristo Botev 7,500 Pomorie Pomorie Pomorie 2,000 Septemvri Sofia DIT 2,000 Spartak Pleven Pleven 22,000 Spartak Varna Spartak 8,000 Strumska Slava Radomir Gradski, Radomir 3,500

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 Kit sponsorBotev Galabovo Mitko Kotsinov Nikolay Yankov KRASIKO Jeep Knauf, Galabovo MunicipalityChernomorets Balchik Georgi Ivanov Genadi Lugo Uhlsport Balchik Municipality EfbetCSKA 1948 Yordan Yurukov Emil Mihaylov Errea Efbet BachkovoHebar Nikolay Mitov Vasil Gerov Jako Efbet Pazardzhik MunicipalityKariana Veselin Velikov Evgeni Ignatov Joma — —Litex Zhivko Zhelev Plamen Nikolov Givova WINBET —Lokomotiv Sofia Mladen Dodić Tom Joma Casa Boyana Efbet, Malizia, Intesa, VIA 2000, Club 33Lokomotiv GO Milcho Sarmov Ivo Harizanov KRASIKO Efbet Prity, Enel, Go GrillLudogorets II Todor Zhivondov Preslav Petrov Nike Efbet Vivacom, SpetemaMontana Vladimir Ivanov Ivan Mihov Jako Efbet —Neftochimic Diyan Petkov Tsvetan Filipov KRASIKO Masterhaus Burgas MunicipalityPirin Blagoevgrad Warren Feeney Vladislav Zlatinov Umbro Emirates Wealth —Pomorie Malin Orachev Georgi Petkov Jako Efbet —Septemvri Sofia Milen Radukanov Boris Galchev Uhlsport WINBET —Spartak Pleven Krasimir Bislimov Ivaylo Radentsov Hummel Efbet —Spartak Varna Nedelcho Matushev Boyan Iliev Jako Efbet —Strumska Slava Vladimir Dimitrov Borislav Nikolov Givova 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 appointmentSpartak Varna Engibar EngibarovEnd of contract29 May 2019Pre-season Diyan Bozhilov3 June 2019Septemvri Sofia Marian HristovMutual consent4 June 2019 Milen Radukanov4 June 2019Montana Atanas AtanasovEnd of contract5 June 2019 Vladimir Ivanov12 June 2019Ludogorets II Radoslav KomitovMutual consent14 June 2019 Todor Zhivondov14 June 2019Pirin Blagoevgrad Ivan StoychevMutual consent19 June 2019 Ivo Trenchev20 June 2019Botev Galabovo Saša SimonovićMutual consent2 July 2019 Mitko Kotsinov4 July 2019Lokomotiv GO Krasimir MechevMutual consent2 August 201914th Milcho Sarmov6 August 2019Spartak Varna Diyan BozhilovMutual consent3 August 201917th Nedelcho Matushev13 August 2019CSKA 1948 Petko PetkovMutual consent20 October 20192nd Yordan Yurukov21 October 2019

League table

Results

Positions by round

Results by round

Transfers List of Bulgarian football transfers summer 2019

References