2017–18 Second Professional Football League (Bulgaria)

Second Professional Football League
Season2017–18
Dates22 July 2017–19 May 2018
ChampionsBotev Vratsa
PromotedBotev Vratsa
RelegatedNeftochimic
Sozopol
Maritsa Plovdiv
Oborishte
Matches played240
Goals scored592 (2.47 per match)
Top goalscorerSvetoslav Dikov (25)
Biggest home winBotev Vratsa 5–0 Ludogorets Razgrad II
(28 April 2018)[1]
Biggest away winSozopol 0–5 Montana
(20 October 2017)[2]
Highest scoringStrumska Slava 3–6 Maritsa Plovdiv
(12 August 2017)[3]
Longest winning run7 games by Tsarsko Selo[4]
Longest unbeaten run11 games by Tsarsko Selo[4]
Longest winless run19 games by Neftochimic[4]
Longest losing run12 games by Neftochimic[4]
All statistics correct as of 19 May 2018.

The 2017–18 Second League was the 62nd season of the Second League, the second tier of the Bulgarian football league system, and the 2nd season under this name and current league structure. The fixture list was released on 22 June 2017.[5]

Teams

The following teams have changed division since the 2016–17 season.

a.^ Zagorets, the champions of South-East Third League, declined promotion due to financial and organizational reasons; Maritsa Plovdiv took their place as runners-up.[6]
b.^ CSKA Sofia II officially declined to participate in the South-West Third League and was dissolved.[7]

Stadia and locations

class=notpageimage|
Location of teams in 2017–18 Second League
Team City Stadium Capacity
Botev Galabovo Energitik 3,000
Botev Vratsa Hristo Botev 12,000
Chernomorets Balchik Gradski, Balchik 3,100
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
Maritsa Plovdiv Botev 1912 Football ComplexA 3,500
Montana Montana Kiprovets, ChiprovtsiB 1,600
Neftochimic Burgas Gradski, BalgarovoC 3,000[8]
Nesebar Nesebar Nesebar Stadium 7,000
Oborishte Panagyurishte Orcho Voyvoda 3,000
Pomorie Pomorie Lazur, BurgasD 18,037[9]
Sozopol Sozopol Arena Sozopol 3,500
Strumska Slava Radomir Gradski, Radomir 3,500[10]
Tsarsko Selo Sofia Tsarsko Selo 2,000

A.^ Maritsa Plovdiv will play at Botev 1912 Football Complex because their Maritsa Stadium is not licensed for Second League.[11]
B.^ Montana will play at Kiprovets Stadium in Chiprovtsi due to ongoing renovation works at their Ogosta Stadium.[12]
C.^ Neftochimic will play at Gradski Stadium in Balgarovo for financial reasons.[13]
D.^ Pomorie will play at Lazur Stadium in Burgas due to renovation works at their Pomorie Stadium.[14]

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 sponsor
Botev Galabovo Bulgaria Lyudmil Kirov Bulgaria Georgi Kirilov KRASIKO Galabovo Municipality Knauf
Botev Vratsa Bulgaria Sasho Angelov Bulgaria Ivaylo Mihaylov Jumper WinBet
Chernomorets Balchik Bulgaria Georgi Ivanov Bulgaria Genadi Lugo Legea Balchik Municipality
Litex Bulgaria Zhivko Zhelev Bulgaria Ivaylo Radentsov adidas
Lokomotiv Sofia Serbia Mladen Dodić Bulgaria Aleksandar Branekov Joma Efbet Malizia
Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa Bulgaria Aleksandar Dimitrov Bulgaria Mariyan Ivanov KRASIKO Efbet Prity, Enel, Go Grill
Ludogorets Razgrad II Bulgaria Radoslav Zdravkov Bulgaria Ventsislav Kerchev Umbro bet365 Vivacom, Spetema
Maritsa Bulgaria Dimcho Belyakov Bulgaria Iliya Nikolov Sportika Hristov Commerce
Montana Bulgaria Ferario Spasov Bulgaria Ivan Mihov Jako Efbet
Neftochimic Bulgaria Diyan Petkov Bulgaria Stanislav Zhekov KRASIKO Masterhaus
Nesebar Bulgaria Nikolay Zhechev Bulgaria Nikolay Kostov Joma Efbet
Oborishte Bulgaria Ivan Atanasov Bulgaria Tsvetomir Tsonkov KRASIKO Asarel Medet
Pomorie Bulgaria Veselin Branimirov Bulgaria Georgi Petkov Erreà[15] Pomorie Municipality, Efbet[15]
Sozopol Bulgaria Margarit Dimov Bulgaria Ivan Yanchev KRASIKO
Strumska Slava Bulgaria Vladimir Dimitrov[16] Bulgaria Nikolay Nikolov Sportika
Tsarsko Selo Bulgaria Velislav Vutsov Bulgaria Simeon Ganchev Nike

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

Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment
Oborishte Bulgaria Emil Velev End of contract 1 June 2017[17] Pre-season Bulgaria Georgi Chilikov 9 June 2017[18]
Lokomotiv Sofia Bulgaria Yavor Valchinov Mutual consent 2 June 2017[19] Serbia Mladen Dodić 9 June 2017[20]
Neftochimic Bulgaria Hristo Yanev Resigned 3 June 2017[21] Bulgaria Nikolay Krastev 23 June 2017[22]
Montana Bulgaria Atanas Atanasov End of contract 11 June 2017[23] Bulgaria Yavor Valchinov 14 June 2017[24]
Botev Galabovo Bulgaria Ivan Vutov Signed by Etar 16 June 2017 Bulgaria Svetoslav Todorov 16 June 2017[25]
Nesebar Bulgaria Nikolay Rusev Appointed as Head of Academy 18 June 2017 Bulgaria Nikolay Zhechev 18 June 2017[26]
Oborishte Bulgaria Georgi Chilikov Signed by Ludogorets Razgrad 14 August 2017 4th Bulgaria Angel Slavkov 14 August 2017[27]
Montana Bulgaria Yavor Valchinov Resigned 27 August 2017[28] 12th Bulgaria Ferario Spasov 28 August 2017[29]
Pomorie Bulgaria Malin Orachev 27 September 2017 14th Bulgaria Veselin Branimirov 27 September 2017[30]
Neftochimic Bulgaria Nikolay Krastev Demoted to assistant 6 October 2017 16th Bulgaria Blagomir Mitrev 6 October 2017[31]
Botev Galabovo Bulgaria Svetoslav Todorov Mutual consent 16 November 2017[32] 12th Bulgaria Lyudmil Kirov 21 November 2017[33]
Oborishte Bulgaria Angel Slavkov 2 December 2017[34] 12th Bulgaria Ivan Atanasov 12 December 2017[35]
Neftochimic Bulgaria Blagomir Mitrev Signed by Vereya 2 January 2018[36] 16th Bulgaria Diyan Petkov 3 January 2018[37]
Tsarsko Selo Bulgaria Nikola Spasov Signed by Kazakhstan Kyzylzhar 3 January 2018 2nd Bulgaria Veselin Velikov 3 January 2018[38]
Sozopol Bulgaria Rumen Dimov Resigned 24 April 2018 15h Bulgaria Margarit Dimov 24 April 2018[39]
Maritsa Plovdiv Bulgaria Stoyan Dimitrov 30 April 2018 14th Bulgaria Dimcho Belyakov 30 April 2018[40]
Tsarsko Selo Bulgaria Veselin Velikov Mutual consent 8 May 2018 3rd Bulgaria Velislav Vutsov 8 May 2018[41]

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Botev Vratsa (C, P) 30 19 7 4 46 20 +26 64 Promotion to the First League
2 Lokomotiv Sofia 30 19 6 5 51 27 +24 63[a] Qualification for the promotion play-offs
3 Tsarsko Selo 30 19 6 5 56 28 +28 63[a]
4 Montana 30 17 5 8 50 20 +30 56
5 Nesebar 30 13 5 12 42 43 −1 44
6 Pomorie 30 10 11 9 36 32 +4 41[b]
7 Botev Galabovo 30 11 8 11 37 40 −3 41[b]
8 Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa 30 10 10 10 42 39 +3 40[c]
9 Ludogorets Razgrad II 30 11 7 12 40 50 −10 40[c] Ineligible for promotion
10 Litex Lovech 30 10 9 11 26 26 0 39[d]
11 Chernomorets Balchik 30 10 9 11 37 40 −3 39[d]
12 Strumska Slava Radomir 30 10 6 14 31 43 −12 36
13 Oborishte (R) 30 9 6 15 26 32 −6 33[e] Relegation to the Third League
14 Maritsa Plovdiv (R) 30 9 6 15 34 45 −11 33[e]
15 Sozopol (R) 30 6 6 18 25 47 −22 24
16 Neftochimic (R) 30 2 3 25 15 62 −47 9
Source: bulgarian-football.com
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Head-to-head away goals scored (only if two teams); 6) Goal difference; 7) Goals scored; 8) Fairplay ranking; 9) Draw.[42]
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Lokomotiv Sofia is ahead of Tsarsko Selo on head-to-head points: Lokomotiv Sofia–Tsarsko Selo 0–0, Tsarsko Selo–Lokomotiv Sofia 1–2.
  2. ^ a b Pomorie is ahead of Botev Galabovo on head-to-head points: Pomorie–Botev Galabovo 0–0, Botev Galabovo–Pomorie 0–1.
  3. ^ a b Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa is ahead of Ludogorets Razgrad II on overall goal difference.
  4. ^ a b Litex Lovech is ahead of Chernomorets Balchik on head-to-head goal difference: Litex Lovech–Chernomorets Balchik 4–0, Chernomorets Balchik–Litex Lovech 1–0.
  5. ^ a b Oborishte is ahead of Maritsa Plovdiv on head-to-head goal difference: Oborishte–Maritsa Plovdiv 1–2, Maritsa Plovdiv–Oborishte 0–3.

Results

Home \ Away GAL BVR CBA LIT LGO LSO LUD MAR MON NEF NES OBO POM SOZ STR TSS
Botev Galabovo 0–4 3–2 3–0 1–0 2–3 0–0 1–1 0–2 2–1 2–1 1–2 0–1 2–0 1–0 0–0
Botev Vratsa 0–0 3–2 1–0 0–0 2–2 5–0 2–1 2–1 4–0 1–1 1–0 1–0 0–1 1–0 1–0
Chernomorets Balchik 4–1 0–1 1–0 1–1 2–2 3–0 1–0 1–0 2–1 3–2 0–0 1–1 1–1 4–0 1–1
Litex 0–1 0–0 4–0 1–1 0–0 4–1 1–1 0–1 2–0 1–0 1–0 0–2 2–1 2–0 0–1
Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa 3–1 1–3 3–0 1–0 1–0 2–2 1–1 1–1 3–1 3–0 0–0 1–1 3–0 4–3 1–3
Lokomotiv Sofia 1–1 1–0 1–0 4–0 3–0 1–0 4–2 1–0 2–0 4–1 1–0 2–1 3–0 0–1 0–0
Ludogorets Razgrad II 2–1 4–1 2–2 1–1 2–2 2–1 0–2 1–0 2–0 0–2 3–0 2–1 1–0 1–2 3–2
Maritsa Plovdiv 1–2 1–1 0–1 0–1 3–1 1–3 3–3 1–0 1–0 0–0 0–3 1–0 1–0 0–1 1–3
Montana 3–1 0–1 4–0 2–1 1–0 4–0 4–0 2–1 4–0 1–3 2–0 2–1 2–1 1–1 1–0
Neftochimic 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–2 0–1 2–1 0–2 0–3 0–1 0–2 1–3 0–2 1–0 0–2
Nesebar 1–5 2–0 2–0 0–1 4–2 1–3 3–1 4–0 1–1 2–1 2–1 0–3 0–0 0–0 2–3
Oborishte 2–0 0–2 2–0 0–1 2–1 1–2 0–0 1–2 0–0 3–1 0–1 0–0 1–0 1–1 1–3
Pomorie 0–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–1 2–3 0–1 2–1 0–2 1–1 3–1 1–0 1–1 1–1 2–2
Sozopol 2–2 1–2 1–0 1–1 1–3 0–0 1–2 2–0 0–5 3–1 1–2 1–3 1–2 2–1 0–1
Strumska Slava Radomir 2–2 0–2 0–2 1–0 0–0 2–1 2–1 3–6 1–0 1–0 0–1 3–1 1–2 1–0 1–3
Tsarsko Selo 2–0 1–2 2–1 0–0 1–0 1–2 3–2 2–0 1–1 5–1 3–2 2–0 2–0 4–1 3–2
Source: bulgarian-football.com
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Top scorers

As of match(es) played on 19 May 2018[43]
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Bulgaria Svetoslav Dikov Tsarsko Selo 25
2 Bulgaria Iliya Dimitrov Lokomotiv Sofia 17
3 Bulgaria Ivan Kolev Botev Vratsa[n 1] 15
Bulgaria Vladislav Mirchev Chernomorets Balchik
5 Bulgaria Pavel Petkov Tsarsko Selo 11
Bulgaria Atanas Iliev Montana
7 Bulgaria Nikolay Kostov Nesebar 10
Bulgaria Petar Atanasov Botev Vratsa[n 2]
9 Bulgaria Nikolay Tsvetkov Lokomotiv Sofia 9
Bulgaria Ivan Kokonov Montana
Bulgaria Ventsislav Gyuzelev Maritsa Plovdiv
Bulgaria Deyan Hristov Lokomotiv GO
Bulgaria Kristiyan Peshov Sozopol
14 Bulgaria Spas Georgiev Botev Vratsa 8
Bulgaria Iliyan Kapitanov Oborishte[n 3]
Bulgaria Ahmed Ahmedov Pomorie
Bulgaria Denislav Aleksandrov Ludogorets Razgrad II
Bulgaria Kristiyan Tasev Strumska Slava
Bulgaria Zhivko Petkov Pomorie
20 Bulgaria Ivaylo Stoyanov Strumska Slava 7
Bulgaria Rangel Ignatov Maritsa Plovdiv
Bulgaria Ivan Tsachev Botev Galabovo
Notes
  1. ^ Including 8 goals for Nesebar.
  2. ^ Including 3 goals for Montana.
  3. ^ Including 6 goals for Botev Galabovo.

References

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