2018–19 Second Professional Football League (Bulgaria)

The 2018–19 Second League was the 64th season of the Second League, the second tier of the Bulgarian football league system, and the 3rd season under this name and current league structure. In June 2018, the Executive Committee of the Bulgarian Football Union decided to increase the participating teams to 18 for the 2019–20 season; as a result, only two teams will be relegated to Third League.[1] The fixture list was released on 8 June 2018.[2] The participating teams were confirmed on the same day. FC Tsarsko Selo Sofia became champions of the second league and were promoted directly to the first division. FC Dobrudzha Dobrich and PFC Nesebar were relegated.[3]

Second Professional Football League
Season2018–19
ChampionsTsarsko Selo
PromotedTsarsko Selo
Arda
RelegatedDobrudzha
Nesebar
Matches played240
Goals scored567 (2.36 per match)
Top goalscorerBulgaria Georgi Minchev
(29 goals)
Longest winning run14 games by Tsarsko Selo
Longest unbeaten run20 games by Montana and Tsarsko Selo
Longest winless run18 games by Dobrudzha
Longest losing run5 games by Ludogorets II
All statistics correct as of 29 May 2019.

Teams

The following teams have changed division since the 2017–18 season.

Stadia and locations
Location of teams in 2018–19 Second League
Sofia 2018–19 Second League football clubs
Team City Stadium Capacity
ArdaKardzhaliDruzhba15,000
BotevGalabovoEnergetik3,000
ChernomoretsBalchikGradski, Balchik3,100
CSKA 1948SofiaVasil Levski National Stadium43,230
DobrudzhaDobrichDruzhba12,500
KarianaErdenSport Complex Kariana1,000
LitexLovechGradski, Lovech8,100
LokomotivGorna OryahovitsaLokomotiv, Gorna Oryahovitsa10,500
LokomotivSofiaLokomotiv, Sofia22,000
Ludogorets IIRazgradEagles' Nest2,000
MontanaMontanaOgosta8,000
NesebarNesebarNesebar7,000
PirinBlagoevgradHristo Botev7,500
PomoriePomoriePomorie2,000
Strumska SlavaRadomirGradski, Radomir3,500
Tsarsko SeloSofiaTsarsko Selo Sports Complex2,000

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 sponsor
Arda Bulgaria Stamen Belchev Bulgaria Borislav Stoychev Nike — —
Botev Galabovo Bulgaria Gospodin Mirchev Bulgaria Nikolay Yankov KRASIKO Galabovo Municipality Knauf
Chernomorets Balchik Bulgaria Georgi Ivanov Bulgaria Genadi Lugo Legea Balchik Municipality —
CSKA 1948 Bulgaria Petko Petkov Bulgaria Evgeni Zyumbulev[4] Errea Efbet —
Dobrudzha Dobrich Bulgaria Emil Velev Bulgaria Daniel Gramatikov KRASIKO Albena Resort Pioneer Seeds, Izida
Kariana Bulgaria Veselin Velikov Bulgaria Evgeni Ignatov Joma Upgrade —
Litex Bulgaria Zhivko Zhelev Bulgaria Plamen Nikolov adidas — —
Lokomotiv Sofia Serbia Mladen Dodić Bulgaria Vladislav Romanov Joma Efbet Malizia, Intesa, VIA 2000
Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa Bulgaria Krasimir Mechev Bulgaria Krasen Trifonov KRASIKO Efbet Prity, Enel, Go Grill
Ludogorets Razgrad II Bulgaria Radoslav Zdravkov Bulgaria Oleg Dimitrov Umbro Efbet Vivacom, Spetema
Montana Bulgaria Ferario Spasov Bulgaria Ivan Mihov Jako Efbet —
Nesebar Bulgaria Nikolay Zhechev Bulgaria Nikolay Kostov Joma Nesebar Municipality Efbet
Pirin Blagoevgrad Bulgaria Petar Zlatinov Bulgaria Yulian Popev Erreà Katarino Spa —
Pomorie Bulgaria Radoslav Boyanov Bulgaria Georgi Petkov Joma Efbet —
Strumska Slava Bulgaria Vladimir Dimitrov[5] Bulgaria Todor Zyumbulev Jumper Efbet —
Tsarsko Selo Bulgaria Nikola Spasov Bulgaria Simeon Ganchev Nike Winbet —

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
Lokomotiv GO Bulgaria Aleksandar Dimitrov End of contract 23 May 2018 Pre-season Bulgaria Todor Kiselichkov 10 June 2018[6]
Tsarsko Selo Bulgaria Velislav Vutsov Mutual consent 1 June 2018 Bulgaria Nikola Spasov 1 June 2018[7]
Pomorie Bulgaria Veselin Branimirov Signed by Latvia Riga 12 June 2018[8] Bulgaria Radoslav Boyanov 22 June 2018[9]
Lokomotiv Sofia Serbia Mladen Dodić End of contract 14 June 2018 Bulgaria Angel Kolev 14 June 2018[10]
Pirin Blagoevgrad Bulgaria Milen Radukanov 19 June 2018[11] Bulgaria Petar Zlatinov 20 June 2018[12]
CSKA 1948 Bulgaria Valentin Iliev Mutual consent 21 August 2018[13] 4th Bulgaria Petko Petkov 24 August 2018[14]
Kariana Bulgaria Atanas Dzhambazki Sacked 21 August 2018 14th Bulgaria Veselin Velikov 26 August 2018[15]
Arda Bulgaria Elin Topuzakov 26 August 2018 7th Bulgaria Stoycho Stoev 26 August 2018[16]
Lokomotiv GO Bulgaria Todor Kiselichkov Mutual consent 18 September 2018[17] 16th Bulgaria Marin Baichev (caretaker) 11 October 2018[18]
Botev Galabovo Bulgaria Lyudmil Kirov Signed by Vereya 27 September 2018 4th Bulgaria Gospodin Mirchev 27 September 2018[19]
Dobrudzha Bulgaria Diyan Bozhilov Mutual consent 6 November 2018 16th Bulgaria Emil Velev 13 November 2018[20]
Lokomotiv GO Bulgaria Marin Baichev (caretaker) Caretaking spell over 13 December 2018 9th Bulgaria Krasimir Mechev 13 December 2018[21]
Lokomotiv Sofia Bulgaria Angel Kolev Mutual consent 17 December 2018 11th Serbia Mladen Dodić 17 December 2018[22]
Arda Bulgaria Stoycho Stoev Signed by Ludogorets 6 March 2019 3rd Bulgaria Stamen Belchev 6 March 2019[23][24]

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Tsarsko Selo (C, P) 30 24 4 2 68 27 +41 76 Promotion to the First League
2 Montana 30 18 9 3 49 22 +27 63 Qualification for the promotion play-offs
3 Arda (P) 30 19 5 6 44 18 +26 62
4 CSKA 1948 30 16 11 3 39 18 +21 59
5 Litex 30 12 9 9 43 26 +17 45
6 Strumska Slava Radomir 30 10 7 13 36 44 −8 37[lower-alpha 1]
7 Chernomorets Balchik 30 10 7 13 27 35 −8 37[lower-alpha 1]
8 Lokomotiv Sofia 30 9 9 12 25 28 −3 36[lower-alpha 2]
9 Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa 30 10 6 14 30 43 −13 36[lower-alpha 2]
10 Pomorie 30 10 6 14 35 49 −14 36[lower-alpha 2]
11 Ludogorets Razgrad II 30 9 5 16 31 43 −12 32 Ineligible for promotion
12 Kariana 30 8 7 15 29 38 −9 31[lower-alpha 3]
13 Pirin Blagoevgrad 30 9 4 17 29 49 −20 31[lower-alpha 3]
14 Botev Galabovo 30 7 10 13 32 38 −6 31[lower-alpha 3]
15 Nesebar (R) 30 6 9 15 33 51 −18 27 Relegation to the Third League
16 Dobrudzha Dobrich (R) 30 4 10 16 17 38 −21 22
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.[25]
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. Strumska Slava Radomir is ahead of Chernomorets Balchik on head-to-head points: Strumska Slava–Chernomorets Balchik 1–0, Chernomorets Balchik–Strumska Slava 2–1.
  2. Lokomotiv Sofia is ahead of Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa and Pomorie on head-to-head points: Lokomotiv Sofia 8 pts, Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa 6 pts, Pomorie 2 pts.
  3. Kariana is ahead of Pirin Blagoevgrad and Botev Galabovo on head-to-head points: Kariana 9 pts, Pirin Blagoevgrad 4 pts, Botev Galabovo 4 pts.

Results
Home \ Away ARD GAL CBA CSK DOB KAR LIT LGO LSO LUD MON NES PIR POM STR TSS
Arda — 2–1 1–0 1–0 1–0 2–0 1–0 3–0 2–0 0–1 2–0 5–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 0–1
Botev Galabovo 2–3 — 3–1 1–1 0–0 3–1 2–1 0–0 0–0 0–1 0–1 2–0 3–3 4–1 0–0 3–2
Chernomorets Balchik 1–3 1–0 — 0–0 3–0 0–0 2–2 1–2 1–0 1–0 0–0 2–1 2–1 0–3 2–1 1–3
CSKA 1948 0–0 0–0 2–1 — 0–0 2–1 1–0 4–0 3–1 0–0 1–1 2–0 2–1 1–2 3–0 1–1
Dobrudzha Dobrich 0–2 1–0 0–1 0–0 — 0–1 0–0 0–0 1–1 1–3 0–0 1–0 1–2 2–0 1–2 0–2
Kariana 0–1 3–0 0–0 0–1 2–0 — 1–1 0–2 0–2 3–0 0–0 2–0 2–1 2–0 1–2 1–2
Litex 2–0 2–0 3–0 1–0 2–2 1–1 — 0–1 0–0 2–0 1–2 3–0 3–1 3–0 2–0 2–3
Lokomotiv GO 2–0 1–2 1–2 0–1 1–1 3–2 1–2 — 0–2 1–0 1–1 1–1 0–2 3–2 1–0 0–1
Lokomotiv Sofia 0–3 1–0 0–0 0–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 4–1 — 1–0 0–1 0–0 0–2 1–1 0–1 0–1
Ludogorets Razgrad II 0–1 2–0 0–2 0–1 1–1 4–0 0–0 3–2 0–3 — 1–3 4–1 0–0 2–2 3–1 0–2
Montana 0–0 2–2 1–0 2–2 1–2 2–1 2–1 4–1 3–0 2–0 — 3–1 2–0 1–0 3–1 2–0
Nesebar 2–1 0–0 0–0 0–2 3–1 1–1 0–0 2–1 3–0 4–2 1–2 — 2–3 1–1 0–0 0–2
Pirin Blagoevgrad 0–0 2–1 2–1 1–2 1–0 1–2 0–5 0–0 0–2 1–0 0–3 1–3 — 0–2 3–0 1–3
Pomorie 1–1 2–2 1–0 1–2 1–0 1–0 2–1 1–2 0–0 2–1 1–3 4–3 1–0 — 0–2 2–5
Strumska Slava 1–3 1–0 1–0 3–4 3–1 3–1 0–1 0–1 1–1 2–3 2–2 2–2 2–0 1–0 — 2–2
Tsarsko Selo 2–1 3–1 4–2 0–0 3–1 1–1 3–1 2–1 2–1 4–0 1–0 3–1 3–0 4–1 3–1 —
Source: bulgarian-football.com
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
For upcoming matches, an "a" indicates there is an article about the rivalry between the two participants.

Positions by round
Team ╲ Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930
Tsarsko Selo211111111111111111111111111111
Montana865745222222222222222222332222
Arda348684333334444333334433223333
CSKA 1948932422674545333444443344444444
Litex12151112149767866666656555555555555
Strumska Slava5532338810101312121113101210910101010101088876
Chernomorets11121510681011911787887777677899101010107
Lokomotiv Sofia1013981312131411121199779118889998899988
Lokomotiv GO7141415121416128791111131113991198877766669
Pomorie151043574554535555656766666777910
Ludogorets II16111314151614161514141410121281013131314141414141211111111
Kariana141616161615151516161615141415151515151513121313121314141312
Pirin48121310119913131213151514141414141415151515151513131413
Botev Galabovo6265765466871199111311121111111111111112121214
Nesebar171011913121312910108101012812101212131212131415151515
Dobrudzha139791110111014151516161616161616161616161616161616161616
Updated to match(es) played on 23 May 2019. Source: bulgarian-football.com

Top scorers
As of match(es) played on 23 May 2019[26]
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Bulgaria Georgi Minchev Tsarsko Selo 29
2 Bulgaria Andon Gushterov CSKA 1948 20
3 Bulgaria Atanas Iliev Montana 18
4 Bulgaria Ventsislav Hristov Arda 12
Bulgaria Denislav Aleksandrov[lower-alpha 1] CSKA 1948
Bulgaria Vladislav Zlatinov Pirin Blagoevgrad
  1. Includes 6 goals for Ludogorets Razgrad II

References
  1. "Изпълкомът увеличава състава на Втора професионална лига за сезон 2019/20" (in Bulgarian). Bulgarian Football Union. 7 June 2018.
  2. "Жребият за професионалния футбол е изтеглен" (in Bulgarian). Bulgarian Football Union. 8 June 2018.
  3. "Състав на Първа и Втора професионална лига за сезон 2018/19" (in Bulgarian). Bulgarian Football Union. 8 June 2018.
  4. "Лентата вече е на ръката на Евгени Зюмбулев" (in Bulgarian). cska1948.bg. 19 June 2018.
  5. "Владимир Димитров ще води Струмска слава и във Втора лига" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 31 May 2017.
  6. "Тодор Киселичков е новият треньор на ФК Локомотив (ГО)" (in Bulgarian). lokomotivgo.com. 10 June 2018.
  7. "Официално съобщение" (in Bulgarian). fa.tsarskoselo-bg.com. 1 June 2018.
  8. "Веселин Бранимиров отиде в Латвия, Поморие търси треньор" (in Bulgarian). kotasport.com. 12 June 2018.
  9. "ОФК Поморие с нов треньор" (in Bulgarian). ofc.pomorie.bg. 22 June 2018.
  10. "Иван Василев остава начело на Локомотив, Ангел Колев е старши треньор, начало на подготовката понеделник 18.06.2018 17:30 ч." (in Bulgarian). lokomotivsofia.bg. 14 June 2018.
  11. "Милен Радуканов вече не е треньор на Пирин" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 19 June 2018.
  12. "Петър Златинов извежда ОФК Пирин за първа тренировка утре" (in Bulgarian). pirinfc.com. 20 June 2018.
  13. "Вальо, ти ни вдигна от пепелта! Благодарим ти!" (in Bulgarian). cska1948.bg. 21 August 2018. Archived from the original on 27 August 2018. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
  14. "Петкратен шампион на България застана начело на ЦСКА" (in Bulgarian). cska1948.com. 24 August 2018. Archived from the original on 27 August 2018. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
  15. "Официално: Кариана има нов старши треньор" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 26 August 2018.
  16. "АРДА освободи Елин Топузаков, Стойчо Стоев поема отбора" (in Bulgarian). fcarda.bg. 26 August 2018.
  17. "Киселичков: Пожелавам много успехи на Локо (ГО)". sportal.bg (in Bulgarian). 18 September 2018. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  18. "Локо (ГО) обяви кой ще води отбора до зимата". sportal.bg (in Bulgarian). 11 October 2018. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  19. "Нова треньорска рокада във Втора лига". sportal.bg (in Bulgarian). 27 September 2018. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  20. "Последният шампион с Левски ще спасява Добруджа" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 13 November 2018.
  21. "Локо (ГО) взе юноша на Левски, бащата на Симеон Мечев пое тима". sportal.bg (in Bulgarian). 13 December 2018. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  22. "Локо (София) има нов старши треньор". sportal.bg (in Bulgarian). 17 December 2018. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  23. "Официално: Стойчо Стоев е новият треньор на Лудогорец, обявиха бъдещето на Здравков". sportal.bg (in Bulgarian). 6 March 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  24. "Арда обяви официално новия треньор". sportal.bg (in Bulgarian). 6 March 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  25. "Second League - Season Rules". Scoresway. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  26. "Втора лига 2018/19" [Second League 2018/19] (in Bulgarian). bulgarian-football.com. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
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