The 2021–22 Second League was the 66th season of the Second League, the second tier of the Bulgarian football league system, and the 6th season under this name and current league structure.
For this season, the league was expanded from 17 to 20 teams, with four teams promoted from the Third League, as well as two reserve teams being added to the league. This makes this season the largest in terms of number of teams competing since the 2011–12 season, when 20 teams competed in two separate divisions.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, stadiums were initially limited to 50% capacity, with the spectators also being subject to compliance with social distancing and the wearing of face masks. Since 7 September 2021, only 30% of the stadium could be occupied. In mid September 2021, the Football Union postponed the next three Levski Lom matches (two for the league and one for the Cup) after 12 of the team's players tested positive for the coronavirus. From 14 October 2021, no fans were allowed at the stadiums of the teams based in Sofia Province and Sofia City Province. From 21 October, a prerequisite to fan attendance was the possession of a green certificate, entailing proof of vaccination, recovery from an infection or a negative COVID-19 test. From 24 February 2022, the green pass was no longer required for spectators, though it remained in place for the staff and event organizers. From 21 March 2022, the vaccine pass was abolished for all public activities, including football matches.
On 4 November 2021 the professional football license of Neftochimic was revoked by the Licensing commission of the Bulgarian Football Union as a result of the club not following financial fair play rules and outstanding payments towards personnel and state institutions. In the following days the team was to be removed from the group and its matches annulled. On 19 November the BFU confirmed its decision and removed Neftochimic from the group, annulling all their fixtures played until that point.
On 16 March 2022 Levski Lom decided to discontinue its participation in the league, citing the club's position in the league standings and financial issues. On March 17, as a result of the team`s withdrawal, the sports-technical commission of BFU removed Levski Lom from the group. Team`s results up to that date still count toward the league standings with opponents awarded 3:0 wins for the remainder of the season.
Teams The following teams have changed division since the 2020–21 season.
To Second League Introduced reserve team Botev Plovdiv IIВтора лига става с 20 отбора заради дублиращ отбор на Ботев Пд CSKA 1948 II Promoted from Third League Spartak Varna Levski Lom Marek Dupnitsa Maritsa Plovdiv
Relegated from First League Etar Montana
From Second League Relegated to Third League Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa Kariana Vitosha Bistritsa
Promoted to First League Pirin Lokomotiv Sofia
Stadia and locations
Team City Stadium Capacity Botev II Plovdiv Futbolen kompleks Botev 1912 3,500 CSKA 1948 II Sofia Bistritsa 2,500 Dobrudzha Dobrich Druzhba 12,500 Etar Veliko Tarnovo Ivaylo 18,000 Hebar Pazardzhik Georgi Benkovski 13,128 Levski Lom Dunavski Yunak 2,500 Litex Lovech Gradski 8,100 Ludogorets II Razgrad Eagles' Nest 2,000 Marek Dupnitsa Bonchuk 16,000 Maritsa Plovdiv Maritsa 5,000 Minyor Pernik Minyor 8,000 Montana Montana Ogosta 6,000 Neftochimic Burgas efbet Arena 18,037 Septemvri Simitli Struma 8,000 Septemvri Sofia DIT 2,000 Sozopol Sozopol Arena Sozopol 3,500 Spartak Varna Spartak 6,000 Sportist Svoge Chavdar Tsvetkov 3,500 Strumska Slava Radomir Gradski 3,500 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 sponsorBotev Plovdiv II Stefan Stoyanov Dimitar Balinov Uhlsport WinBet —CSKA 1948 II Vladimir Dimitrov Georgi Mariyanov Adidas efbet BachkovoDobrudzha Atanas Atanasov Dimitar Iliev Uhlsport Corteva Agriscience —Etar Veselin Velikov Zdravko Iliev Joma WinBet —Hebar Nikolay Mitov Tsvetelin Tonev Jako Efbet Pazardzhik MunicipalityLevski Lom Anatoli Tonov Nikolay Hristov Joma — —Litex Zhivko Zhelev Plamen Nikolov Givova WINBET —Ludogorets II Todor Zhivondov Tsvetoslav Petrov Nike Efbet Vivacom, SpetemaMarek Vasil Pavlov Aleksandar Bliznakov Joma Dupnitsa Municipality —Maritsa Nikolay Dimitrov Valeri Domovchiyski Tenev — —Minyor Hristo Yanev Andreas Vasev Jumper Efbet —Montana Antoni Zdravkov Ivan Mihov Joma efbet —Neftochimic Vladimir Ivanov Marin Orlinov KRASIKO Masterhaus Burgas MunicipalitySeptemvri Simitli Spas Stoimenov Anatoli Luleyski Joma Simitli Municipality —Septemvri Sofia Slavko Matić Asen Chandarov Uhlsport WINBET —Sоzopol Margarit Dimov Petar Kyumurdzhiev Erreà — EfbetSpartak Vasil Petrov Yancho Andreev Jako Efbet —Sportist Borislav Kyosev Borislav Stoychev Zeus Petar Electric —Strumska Slava Yuriy Vasev Borislav Nikolov Givova Efbet —Yantra Sasho Angelov Hristiyan 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 CSKA 1948 IIN/A (inaugural season) pre-season Miroslav Mindev 29 May 2021 Levski Lom Ferario Spasov Sacked 31 May 2021 pre-season Emil Velev 31 May 2021 Botev IIN/A (inaugural season) pre-season Stefan Stoyanov 7 June 2021 CSKA 1948 II Miroslav Mindev Promoted to CSKA 1948 27 July 2021 10th Atanas Apostolov 27 July 2021 Levski Lom Emil Velev Resigned 11 August 2021 19th Ivaylo Vasilev 12 August 2021 Yantra Gabrovo Kostadin Angelov Resigned 15 August 2021 19th Sasho Angelov 1 September 2021 Dobrudzha Stefan Slavov Mutual consent 14 September 2021 16th Atanas Atanasov 14 September 2021 CSKA 1948 II Atanas Apostolov Mutual consent 14 September 2021 15th Andrey Andreev 28 September 2021 Neftochimic Lyudmil Kirov Resigned 22 October 2021 20th Kaloyan Genov24 October 2021 Neftochimic Kaloyan Genov Resigned 27 October 2021 20th Vladimir Ivanov30 October 2021 Levski Lom Ivaylo Vasilev Sacked 1 November 2021 19th Anatoli Tonov1 November 2021 CSKA 1948 II Andrey Andreev Mutual consent 3 December 2021 14th Vladimir Dimitrov 19 December 2021 Strumska Slava Vladimir Dimitrov Mutual consent 17 December 2021 8th Yuriy Vasev 17 December 2021 Montana Svetlan Kondev Mutual consent 21 December 2021 9th Antoni Zdravkov 21 December 2021 Septemvri Sofia Hristo Arangelov Mutual consent 7 January 2022 6th Slavko Matić 9 January 2022
League table
Results
References