The 2020–21 Second League was the 65th season of the Second League, the second tier of the Bulgarian football league system, and the 5th season under this name and current league structure. It was delayed by two weeks due to the COVID-19 situation in Bulgaria, which saw footballers from a number of the participating teams testing positive for COVID-19 in July 2020, with Minyor Pernik especially affected. The season began in August 2020.
The first game of the season was played on 7 August 2020, between Hebar and Pirin Blagoevgrad, ending in a draw.
On 28 September 2020, Vitosha Bistritsa was excluded from the league, after the club announced on the same day that they will withdraw from the competition due to financial problems. The club also announced that they will fold their senior team, only remaining active at youth level. Following Vitosha's expulsion from the league, the BFU announced that it would annul all of Vitosha's results from the start of the league until 28 September.
The season started with spectators being allowed (albeit at a reduced stadium capacity), but on 27 October 2020, following a worsening of the epidemiological situation in Bulgaria, Minister of Health Kostadin Angelov issued a decree valid from 29 October until 12 November, stipulating that all matches are to be held behind closed doors. On 12 November 2020, the ban regarding the presence of spectators was extended at least until 30 November. Fans were once again allowed from 24 April 2021 onwards, at 30% stadium capacity, with a maximum of 1000 people per stand.
On 7 December 2020, the match between Ludogorets II and Neftochimic was abandoned early in the first half with the score 2:0 in favour of the hosts after a Neftochimic player sustained an injury, reducing his side to 6 men. The guests had started the match with 7 players due to a wage-related boycott from the senior footballers and a ban on players under the age of 18 participating in sports events because of the coronavirus. Ludogorets II were eventually awarded a 5:0 win.
After the first half of the season ended in December, Kariana Erden announced that the team would withdraw from the league, for personal reasons related to its owners. Kariana's results would not be annulled, though, as per the BFU rules, teams that withdraw from the league during, or after the winter break will not have their results annulled.
On 23 April 2021, Pirin Blagoevgrad were promoted to the First League after a 2–0 away win against Litex Lovech.
Teams The following teams have changed division since the 2019–20 season.
To Second League Promoted from Third League Dobrudzha Dobrich Sozopol Yantra Gabrovo Minyor Pernik Septemvri Simitli Sportist Svoge
Relegated from First League Vitosha Bistritsa Dunav Ruse
From Second League Relegated to Third League Pomorie Spartak Pleven Spartak Varna Botev Galabovo Chernomorets Balchik
Promoted to First League CSKA 1948 Sofia Montana Note: Dunav Ruse, who were relegated from the First League, failed to obtain a professional license from the Bulgarian Football Union with the team instead entering the Northeast group of the Third Football League. As a result, the Second League will consist of only 17 teams with no replacement team for Dunav's vacated spot.
Stadia and locations
Team City Stadium Capacity Dobrudzha Dobrich Druzhba 12,500 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 Minyor Pernik Minyor 8,000 Neftochimic Burgas efbet Arena 18,037 Pirin Blagoevgrad Hristo Botev 7,500 Septemvri Simitli Struma 8,000 Septemvri Sofia DIT 2,000 Sozopol Sozopol Arena Sozopol 3,500 Sportist Svoge Chavdar Tsvetkov 3,500 Strumska Slava Radomir Gradski, Radomir 3,500 Vitosha Bistritsa Bistritsa 2,000 Yantra Gabrovo Hristo Botev 14,000
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 sponsorDobrudzha Svetoslav Petrov Dimitar Iliev Uhlsport Corteva Agriscience —Hebar Nikolay Mitov Vasil Gerov Jako Efbet Pazardzhik MunicipalityKariana Veselin Velikov Evgeni Ignatov Joma — —Litex Zhivko Zhelev Plamen Nikolov Givova WINBET —Lokomotiv Sofia Ivan Kolev Mario Petkov Joma Casa Boyana Efbet, Malizia, Intesa, VIA 2000, Club 33Lokomotiv GO Milcho Sarmov Petar Chalakov KRASIKO Efbet Zaharni Zavodi, Prity, Enel, Go GrillLudogorets II Todor Zhivondov Tsvetoslav Petrov Nike Efbet Vivacom, SpetemaMinyor Hristo Yanev Tomislav Pavlov Jumper Efbet —Neftochimic Nikolay Krastev Tsvetan Filipov KRASIKO Masterhaus Burgas MunicipalityPirin Blagoevgrad Warren Feeney Vladislav Zlatinov Umbro Emirates Wealth —Septemvri Simitli Todor Kiselichkov Anatoli Luleyski Joma Simitli Municipality —Septemvri Sofia Hristo Arangelov Georgi Sarmov Uhlsport WINBET —Sоzopol Margarit Dimov Petar Kyumurdzhiev Erreà — EfbetSportist Ivaylo Vasilev Borislav Stoychev Zeus Petar Electric —Strumska Slava Vladimir Dimitrov Borislav Nikolov Givova Efbet —Vitosha Bistritsa Asen Bukarev Chetin Sadula Jumper Efbet —Yantra Kostadin Angelov Plamen Kozhuharov 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 Sportist Georgi Stankov Sacked 15 August 2020 17th Ivaylo Vasilev 1 September 2020 Septemvri Simitli Ivo Trenchev Sacked 21 September 2020 9th Todor Kiselichkov 21 September 2020 Minyor Yuriy Vasev Sacked 1 October 2020 9th Hristo Yanev 1 October 2020 Neftochimik Viktorio Pavlov Sacked 2 October 2020 16th Nikolay Krastev 3 October 2020 Yantra Stoyan Atsarov Sacked 7 October 2020 13th Kostadin Angelov 7 October 2020
League table
Results
Positions by round
Transfers List of Bulgarian football transfers summer 2020
References