The 2025–26 First Professional Football League, also known as efbet League for sponsorship reasons, was the 102nd season of the top division of the Bulgarian football league system, the 78th since a league format was adopted for the national competition of A Group as a top tier of the pyramid, and also the 10th season of the First Professional Football League, which decides the Bulgarian champion. The season began on 18 July 2025 and ended on 29 May 2026.
Ludogorets Razgrad were the 14-time defending champions, but they were unable to defend their title. On 2 May 2026, Levski Sofia won their 27th title and first since 2009 with four games to spare after a 1–0 win over local rivals CSKA 1948.
Overview First League will be reduced from 16 to 14 teams in 2026–27, so that the teams placed 14th to 16th in the Relegation round will automatically be relegated to Second League, while the 13th place team will play a promotion/relegation playoff against the 2nd place team from Second League.
Teams
As in the last season, 16 teams will compete in the league this year. Two teams were promoted from the 2024–25 Second League, and two places are for the winners of the promotion/relegation playoffs.
The first team to earn promotion from the Second League was Dobrudzha, who mathematically secured a top two finish after winning against Lovech on 11 May. Dobrudzha returned to the top level after a 22-year absence.
The second team to earn promotion from the Second League was Montana, who mathematically secured a top two finish after Pirin Blagoevgrad lost to Dobrudzha on 16 May. Montana returned to the top level after a 4-year absence.
Additionally, Lokomotiv Plovdiv and Botev Vratsa remained in the First League after winning against Marek and Pirin Blagoevgrad, respectively, in the promotion/relegation playoffs.
Promoted from2024–25 Second League Relegated from2024–25 First LeagueDobrudzhaMontanaHebarKrumovgrad
Stadiums and locations Team Location Stadium Capacity Arda Kardzhali Arena Arda Beroe Stara Zagora Stadion Beroe Botev Plovdiv Plovdiv Stadion Hristo Botev Botev Vratsa Vratsa Stadion Hristo Botev Cherno More Varna Stadion Ticha CSKA 1948 Bistritsa Stadion Bistritsa CSKA Sofia Sofia Vasil Levski National Stadium Dobrudzha Dobrich Stadion Druzhba Levski Sofia Sofia Stadion Georgi Asparuhov Lokomotiv Plovdiv Plovdiv Stadion Lokomotiv Lokomotiv Sofia Sofia Stadion Lokomotiv Ludogorets Razgrad Huvepharma Arena Montana Montana Stadion Ogosta Septemvri Sofia Sofia Stadion Lokomotiv Slavia Sofia Sofia Stadion Aleksandar Shalamanov Spartak Varna Varna Stadion Spartak
Personnel and kits 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 sponsorsMainOther(s)Arda Aleksandar Tunchev Anatoli GospodinovUhlsportefbetBeroe Josu Uribe Juan SalomoniNike8888.bgBotev Plovdiv Stanislav Genchev Todor NedelevMacronWinBetBotev Vratsa Todor Simov Daniel GenovErimaWinBetCherno More Ilian Iliev Vasil PanayotovMacronArmeetsCSKA 1948 Aleksandar Aleksandrov Diego MedinaJakoefbetCSKA Sofia Hristo Yanev Ivan TuritsovMacronWinBetDobrudzhaVacant Ventsislav KerchevAdidasBethubLevski Sofia Julio Velázquez Georgi KostadinovAdidasPalmsBetLokomotiv Plovdiv Dušan Kosič Parvizdzhon UmarbayevJomaWinBetLokomotiv Sofia Aleksandar Georgiev Krasimir StanoevMacron8888.bgLudogorets Per-Mathias Høgmo Anton NedyalkovJakoefbetMontana Atanas Atanasov Vasil SimeonovJakoefbetSeptemvri Sofia Hristo Arangelov Galin IvanovUhlsport8888.bgSlavia Sofia Ratko Dostanić Ivan MinchevJomabet365Spartak Varna Gjoko Hadžievski Deyan LozevNikeefbet 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 appointmentBotev Plovdiv Dušan Kerkez Resigned 26 May 2025Pre-season Nikolay Kirov 28 June 2025Lokomotiv Sofia Ratko Dostanić Mutual agreement 29 May 2025 Stanislav Genchev 30 May 2025CSKA Sofia Aleksandar TomashEnd of contract 31 May 2025 Dušan Kerkez 4 June 2025Spartak Varna Nikolay Kirov 31 May 2025 Gjoko Hadžievski 9 July 2025Septemvri Sofia Nikolay Mitov Resigned 1 June 2025 Stamen Belchev 5 June 2025Ludogorets Igor Jovićević Mutual agreement 9 June 2025 Rui Mota 13 June 2025Beroe Plamen Lipenski End of interim spell 6 July 2025 Víctor Basadre 6 July 2025Montana Tancho Kalpakov Resigned 9 August 2025 13th Anatoli Nankov 11 August 2025Beroe Víctor Basadre Mutual agreement 3 September 2025 9th Alejandro Sageras 3 September 2025CSKA Sofia Dušan Kerkez Sacked 20 September 2025 12th Valentin Iliev (caretaker) 20 September 2025Botev Vratsa Hristo YanevMutual agreement 24 September 2025 7th Todor Simov 24 September 2025CSKA Sofia Valentin Iliev (caretaker)End of interim spell 24 September 2025 12th Hristo Yanev 24 September 2025Botev Plovdiv Nikolay KirovResigned 25 September 2025 14th Ivan Tsvetanov (caretaker) 25 September 2025Slavia Sofia Zlatomir Zagorčić 11 October 2025 13th Ratko Dostanić 11 October 2025Septemvri Sofia Stamen Belchev 28 October 2025 15th Mladen Stoev (caretaker) 28 October 2025Ludogorets Rui Mota Sacked 29 October 2025 4th Todor Zhivondov (caretaker) 29 October 2025Septemvri Sofia Mladen Stoev (caretaker) End of interim spell 30 October 2025 15th Slavko Matić 30 October 2025Botev Plovdiv Ivan Tsvetanov (caretaker) 17 November 2025 9th Dimitar Dimitrov 17 November 2025Ludogorets Todor Zhivondov (caretaker) 21 November 2025 5th Per-Mathias Høgmo 21 November 2025Beroe Alejandro Sageras Sacked 24 November 2025 13th Plamen Lipenski (caretaker) 24 November 2025 Plamen Lipenski (caretaker) End of interim spell 27 November 2025 13th Josu Uribe 27 November 2025Montana Anatoli Nankov Sacked 20 December 2025 14th Akis Vavalis 29 December 2025Dobrudzha Atanas AtanasovMutual agreement 31 December 2025 16th Yasen Petrov 4 January 2026Septemvri Sofia Slavko Matić 11 February 2026 16th Hristo Arangelov 12 February 2026CSKA 1948 Ivan Stoyanov Resigned 12 February 2026 2nd Aleksandar Aleksandrov 12 February 2026Botev Plovdiv Dimitar Dimitrov Mutual agreement 16 February 2026 11th Lachezar Baltanov (caretaker) 19 February 2026 Montana Akis Vavalis Resigned 10 March 2026 16th Atanas Atanasov 17 March 2026Lokomotiv Sofia Stanislav Genchev Mutual agreement 28 April 2026 11th Aleksandar Georgiev (caretaker) 28 April 2026Dobrudzha Yasen Petrov Resigned 22 May 2026 15th Botev Plovdiv Lachezar Baltanov (caretaker) End of interim spell 27 May 2026 8th Stanislav Genchev 27 May 2026
Regular season League table
Positions by round
Results by round
Results
Rescheduled matches
Round Home team Away team Original date New dateReason 5 Match was rescheduled after an official request by Arda due to their Conference League play-off match against Raków Częstochowa.6 Match was rescheduled after an official request by Levski Sofia due to their Conference League play-off match against AZ Alkmaar. Match was rescheduled after an official request by Ludogorets Razgrad due to their Europa League play-off matches against Shkëndija. 22 Match was rescheduled due to significant snowfall and poor pitch condition.
Play-offs Championship group Table Points and goals carried over in full from regular season.
Positions by round
Results by round
Results
Conference League group Table Points and goals carried over in full from regular season.
Positions by round
Results by round
Results
Relegation group Table Points and goals carried over in full from regular season.
Positions by round
Results by round
Results
Conference League play-off
Promotion/relegation play-off
Season statistics Scoring First goal of the season: Atanas Iliev (CSKA 1948) against Arda (18 July 2025) Last goal of the season: Ivaylo Chochev (Ludogorets) against Arda (25 May 2026)
Top goalscorers
Rank Player Club Goals1 Everton BalaLevski18 Mamadou DialloCSKA 19483 Ivaylo ChochevLudogorets174 Bertrand FourrierSeptemvri13 Santiago GodoyCSKA Sofia6 Alberto SalidoBeroe/Ludogorets107 Boris DimitrovMontana9 Birsent KaragarenArda Franklin MascoteBotev Plovdiv Juan PereaLokomotiv Plovdiv/Levski Mustapha SangaréLevski Petar StanićLudogorets
Hat-tricks
RndPlayerClubGoalsDateHomeScoreAway3 Nikolay ZlatevCherno More78', 89', 90'+6' (pen.)Cherno More4–0Beroe4 Alberto SalidoBeroe23', 27', 50'Septemvri2–3Beroe35 Antonio VutovArda2', 13', 25'Arda4–0Lokomotiv Plovdiv37 Georg StojanovskiSpartak Varna9', 31', 63'Spartak Varna3–0Lokomotiv Sofia
Clean sheets
Player Rank Goalkeeper Club Cleansheets1 Anatoli GospodinovArda152 Hendrik BonmannLudogorets14 Svetoslav VutsovLevski4 Fyodor LapoukhovCSKA Sofia13 Bojan MilosavljevićLokomotiv Plovdiv6 Kristian TomovCherno More127 Daniel NaumovBotev Plovdiv118 Yanko GeorgievSeptemvri9 Lévi NtumbaSlavia Martin VelichkovLokomotiv Sofia
Team Most clean sheets: 19 Ludogorets
Discipline
Player Most yellow cards: 13 Reyan Daskalov (Lokomotiv Sofia)
Most red cards: 2 Ryan Bidounga (Lokomotiv Sofia) Erol Dost (Lokomotiv Sofia) David Idowu (Arda) Anton Ivanov (Dobrudzha) Ivaylo Ivanov (Lokomotiv Plovdiv) Bozhidar Katsarov (Lokomotiv Sofia) Hristo Mitev (Lokomotiv Sofia) Vasco Oliveira (Dobrudzha) Vajebah Sakor (Montana) Adama Traoré (CSKA 1948) Iliya Yurukov (Botev Vratsa)
Team Most yellow cards: 91 Lokomotiv Plovdiv
Fewest yellow cards: 65 Slavia
Most red cards: 10 Dobrudzha Lokomotiv Sofia
Fewest red cards: 1 Cherno More Levski
Awards Annual awards AwardWinnerClub Player of the Season Ivaylo Chochev Ludogorets Rookie of the Season Kristiyan Balov Slavia Goalkeeper of the Season Svetoslav Vutsov Levski Defender of the Season Maicon Levski Midfielder of the Season Ivaylo Chochev Ludogorets Forward of the Season Everton Bala Levski Manliness and character Lyuboslav Penev Lokomotiv Sofia Contribution to football Dimitar Iliev Retired Coach of the Season Julio Velázquez Levski
Team of the Year Goalkeeper Svetoslav Vutsov(Levski) Defenders Son(Ludogorets) Kristian Dimitrov(Levski) Teodor Ivanov(CSKA Sofia) Maicon(Levski) Midfielders Petar Stanić(Ludogorets) Akram Bouras(Levski) Ivaylo Chochev(Ludogorets) Forwards Mamadou Diallo(CSKA 1948) Everton Bala(Levski) Santiago Godoy(CSKA Sofia)
References