2020–21 Second Professional Football League (Bulgaria)

The 2020–21 Second League was the 66th 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,[1][2] which saw footballers from a number of the participating teams testing positive for COVID-19 in July 2020,[3] with Minyor Pernik especially affected.[4] The season began in August 2020.[5]

Second Professional Football League
Season2020–21
ChampionsPirin Blagoevgrad
PromotedPirin Blagoevgrad
Lokomotiv Sofia
RelegatedVitosha Bistritsa (excluded)
Kariana (excluded)
Lokomotiv GO
Top goalscorerBulgaria Svetoslav Dikov (23 goals)
Biggest home winLokomotiv Sofia 6–0 Neftochimic
Biggest away winNeftochimic 0–6 Septemvri Sofia
Highest scoring Hebar Pazardzhik 5–2 Septemvri Sofia
Septemvri Sofia 2–5 Lokomotiv Sofia

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.[6] 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.[7] On 12 November 2020, the ban regarding the presence of spectators was extended at least until 30 November.[8] Fans were once again allowed from 24 April 2021 onwards, at 30% stadium capacity, with a maximum of 1000 people per stand.[9]

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.[10] Ludogorets II were eventually awarded a 5:0 win.[11]

After the first half of the season ended in December, Kariana Erden announced that the team would withdraw from the league, due to 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.[12]

On 23 April 2021, Pirin Blagoevgrad were promoted to the First League after a 2–0 away win against Litex Lovech.[13]

Teams

The following teams have changed division since the 2019–20 season.

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.[14]

Stadia and locations
Location of teams in 2020–21 Second League
Team City Stadium Capacity
DobrudzhaDobrichDruzhba12,500
HebarPazardzhikGeorgi Benkovski13,128
KarianaErdenSport Complex Kariana1,000
LitexLovechGradski, Lovech8,100
LokomotivGorna OryahovitsaLokomotiv, Gorna Oryahovitsa10,500
LokomotivSofiaLokomotiv, Sofia22,000
Ludogorets IIRazgradEagles' Nest2,000
MinyorPernikMinyor8,000
NeftochimicBurgasefbet Arena18,037
PirinBlagoevgradHristo Botev7,500
SeptemvriSimitliStruma8,000
SeptemvriSofiaDIT2,000
SozopolSozopolArena Sozopol3,500
SportistSvogeChavdar Tsvetkov3,500
Strumska SlavaRadomirGradski, Radomir3,500
VitoshaBistritsaBistritsa2,000
YantraGabrovoHristo Botev14,000

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
Dobrudzha Bulgaria Svetoslav Petrov Bulgaria Dimitar Iliev Germany Uhlsport Corteva Agriscience —
Hebar Bulgaria Nikolay Mitov Bulgaria Vasil Gerov Germany Jako Efbet Pazardzhik Municipality
Kariana Bulgaria Veselin Velikov Bulgaria Evgeni Ignatov Spain Joma — —
Litex Bulgaria Zhivko Zhelev Bulgaria Plamen Nikolov Italy Givova WINBET —
Lokomotiv Sofia Bulgaria Ivan Kolev Bulgaria Mario Petkov Spain Joma Casa Boyana Efbet, Malizia, Intesa, VIA 2000, Club 33
Lokomotiv GO Bulgaria Milcho Sarmov Bulgaria Petar Chalakov Bulgaria KRASIKO Efbet Zaharni Zavodi, Prity, Enel, Go Grill
Ludogorets II Bulgaria Todor Zhivondov Bulgaria Tsvetoslav Petrov United States Nike Efbet Vivacom, Spetema
Minyor Bulgaria Hristo Yanev Bulgaria Tomislav Pavlov Bulgaria Jumper Efbet —
Neftochimic Bulgaria Nikolay Krastev Bulgaria Tsvetan Filipov Bulgaria KRASIKO Masterhaus Burgas Municipality
Pirin Blagoevgrad Northern Ireland Warren Feeney Bulgaria Vladislav Zlatinov England Umbro Emirates Wealth —
Septemvri Simitli Bulgaria Todor Kiselichkov Bulgaria Anatoli Luleyski Spain Joma Simitli Municipality —
Septemvri Sofia Bulgaria Hristo Arangelov Bulgaria Georgi Sarmov Germany Uhlsport WINBET —
Sоzopol Bulgaria Margarit Dimov Bulgaria Petar Kyumurdzhiev Italy Erreà — Efbet
Sportist Bulgaria Ivaylo Vasilev Bulgaria Borislav Stoychev Italy Zeus Petar Electric —
Strumska Slava Bulgaria Vladimir Dimitrov Bulgaria Borislav Nikolov Italy Givova Efbet —
Vitosha Bistritsa Bulgaria Asen Bukarev Bulgaria Chetin Sadula Bulgaria Jumper Efbet —
Yantra Bulgaria Kostadin Angelov Bulgaria Plamen Kozhuharov Bulgaria 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
Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment
Sportist Bulgaria Georgi Stankov Sacked 15 August 2020[15] 17th Bulgaria Ivaylo Vasilev 1 September 2020
Septemvri Simitli Bulgaria Ivo Trenchev Sacked 21 September 2020[16] 9th Bulgaria Todor Kiselichkov 21 September 2020[17]
Minyor Bulgaria Yuriy Vasev Sacked 1 October 2020[18] 9th Bulgaria Hristo Yanev 1 October 2020
Neftochimik Bulgaria Viktorio Pavlov Sacked 2 October 2020[19] 16th Bulgaria Nikolay Krastev 3 October 2020
Yantra Bulgaria Stoyan Atsarov Sacked 7 October 2020[20] 13th Bulgaria Kostadin Angelov 7 October 2020

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Pirin Blagoevgrad (C, P) 30 20 5 5 66 26 +40 65 Promotion to the First League
2 Lokomotiv Sofia (P) 30 19 5 6 65 30 +35 62
3 Septemvri Sofia (Q) 30 17 5 8 54 29 +25 56 Qualification for the promotion play-off
4 Ludogorets II 30 14 8 8 56 38 +18 50 Ineligible for promotion
5 Sportist Svoge 30 14 7 9 43 36 +7 49
6 Hebar 30 13 9 8 50 36 +14 48
7 Litex 30 9 12 9 36 31 +5 39
8 Sozopol 30 10 9 11 35 40 −5 39
9 Minyor Pernik 30 10 9 11 30 37 −7 39
10 Strumska Slava 30 8 10 12 31 37 −6 34
11 Yantra Gabrovo 30 10 4 16 30 47 −17 34
12 Septemvri Simitli 30 9 6 15 34 42 −8 33
13 Dobrudzha 30 7 9 14 28 46 −18 30
14 Neftochimic 30 7 6 17 27 61 −34 27
15 Lokomotiv GO (R) 30 5 10 15 24 43 −19 25 Relegation to the Third League
16 Kariana (R, D) 30 9 4 17 29 59 −30 31 Club dissolved[lower-alpha 1]
17 Vitosha Bistritsa (R, D) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Club dissolved[lower-alpha 2]
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.[21]
(C) Champions; (D) Disqualified; (P) Promoted; (Q) Qualified for the phase indicated; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. Kariana were excluded from the league on 19 January 2021, due to the team voluntarily retiring their senior team in light of financial problems. All remaining fixtures involving Kariana will be awarded as a 3:0 victory for the opposing team.
  2. Vitosha Bistritsa were excluded from the league on 28 September 2020, due to the team voluntarily retiring their senior team in light of financial problems. All remaining fixtures involving Vitosha were cancelled.

Results
Home \ Away DOB GAB HEB KAR LGO LIT LSO LUD MIN NEF PIR SEP SIM SOZ SPO STR VIT
Dobrudzha — 0–1 2–1 3–0 2–0 4–3 0–3 0–1 0–0 3–2 0–2 0–1 0–2 2–1 1–2 2–0 /
Yantra Gabrovo 2–1 — 1–0 1–0 1–3 0–3 1–1 2–2 3–2 4–0 0–2 0–2 0–1 2–0 0–1 0–1 /
Hebar 1–1 4–0 — 3–0 2–1 0–0 1–1 1–3 2–0 1–1 1–1 5–2 3–2 2–1 1–2 3–0 /
Kariana 2–2 0–3 1–1 — 4–0 0–3 3–2 2–1 0–3 0–3 1–2 0–3 3–0 0–3 0–3 2–1 /
Lokomotiv GO 1–1 0–1 0–0 3–0 — 0–0 0–0 0–2 1–2 1–1 1–2 0–2 3–0 1–0 0–0 0–0 /
Litex 0–0 1–0 3–1 1–2 1–0 — 1–1 2–2 5–1 1–0 0–2 2–3 1–1 3–2 1–1 1–1 /
Lokomotiv Sofia 4–1 1–3 1–3 3–0 2–0 2–0 — 3–1 0–0 6–0 3–1 1–0 2–0 4–1 3–0 3–2 /
Ludogorets II 2–2 3–0 3–2 3–0 2–0 0–1 1–4 — 2–1 2–0 3–2 2–0 4–1 1–1 1–1 4–1 /
Minyor Pernik 0–0 2–0 2–2 0–1 1–0 0–0 1–0 0–0 — 2–1 1–1 1–0 1–0 0–2 3–0 1–1 /
Neftochimic 0–0 1–1 2–1 0–4 1–3 0–0 0–1 3–1 0–1 — 2–1 0–6 2–1 0–1 2–4 1–0 /
Pirin Blagoevgrad 4–0 4–1 2–0 3–0 5–1 0–0 5–1 2–1 3–2 4–0 — 1–3 2–0 4–1 4–0 2–0 /
Septemvri Sofia 1–0 5–0 0–1 0–0 3–0 1–0 2–5 2–1 3–1 3–0 0–2 — 0–0 4–0 3–0 0–0 /
Septemvri Simitli 3–0 1–1 2–3 3–0 1–1 2–0 1–4 1–1 3–0 1–2 2–0 1–3 — 2–0 0–1 2–0 /
Sozopol 1–1 1–0 1–2 2–2 3–3 1–0 2–0 3–2 1–1 3–2 0–0 0–0 0–0 — 2–1 2–0 /
Sportist Svoge 2–0 1–0 1–1 1–2 3–0 1–0 0–2 1–2 5–1 1–1 1–1 5–1 3–1 1–0 — 0–0 /
Strumska Slava 4–0 4–2 0–2 3–0 1–1 3–3 0–2 0–0 1–0 1–0 1–2 1–1 2–0 0–0 3–1 — /
Vitosha Bistritsa / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / —
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 ╲ Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334
Pirin73103865454332121221121112111111111
Lokomotiv Sofia1111111222223334112212221222222222
Septemvri Sofia84811129876544666776566676666654333
Ludogorets II324753353355454343344444543445444
Sportist171711101415141515121210797654433333334333555
Hebar9107964434666545565655555455566666
Sozopol11131215151415161213131214131210109887767788987777
Minyor Pernik14852376991010111214131313121211111111111077778888
Litex1693575767887878998999988810108999109
Strumska Slava1215171213111310109991081012121111121212121212121212121110910
Yantra Gabrovo4668910101114141515151616151514141414141414141414141313131111
Septemvri Simitli2726489887789101188777889991111101010111212
Dobrudzha51116141113121311111113111191111101010101010101199111112121313
Neftochimic61213161616161716161616161515161615151515151515151515151515151514
Lokomotiv GO101414171717171413151414131214141413131313131313131313131414141415
Kariana1559422211111121231616161616161616161616161616161616
Vitosha13161513101211121717171717171717171717171717171717171717171717171717
Updated to match(es) played on 16 May 2021. Source: bulgarian-football.com

Transfers

References
  1. "Официално: Отложиха старта на efbet Лига". nova.bg. 10 July 2020. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  2. "Решения след заседанието на Изпълнителния комитет на БФС". Bulgarian Football Union. 21 July 2020. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  3. "Пет играчи с коронавирус в отбор от Втора лига, спряха тренировки". plovdivskinovini.bg. 26 July 2020. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  4. "Миньор ще поиска отлагане на старта във Втора лига?". news.bg (in Bulgarian). 14 July 2020. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  5. "Сезонът във Втора лига стартира на 8 август". bnr.bg (in Bulgarian). 14 July 2020. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  6. Krastev, Todor (28 September 2020). "Витоша (Бистрица) закрива мъжкия отбор и напуска Втора лига!". topsport.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  7. "Затвориха стадионите в България до 12 ноември! Публика само на Sofia Open". sportal.bg. 27 October 2020. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  8. "Без публика по стадионите до 30 ноември!". livetv.sx (citing sportal.bg). 12 November 2020. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  9. "От утре, 24 април, се възобновява провеждането на присъствени групови занятия в езикови, образователни и други обучителни центрове и школи" (in Bulgarian). mh.government.bg. 23 April 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  10. "7 на терена и прекратен мач след бойкот на футболистите на "Нефтохимик"". btvnovinite.bg. 7 December 2020. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  11. "Решение СТК 19.01.2021". Bulgarian Football Union. 19 January 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  12. "Лидерът на Втора лига обяви защо напуска първенството". sportal.bg. 1 December 2020. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  13. topsport.bg (2021-04-23). "Пирин отново е част от елита на България!". Topsport.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2021-04-23.
  14. "Втора лига остана с отбор по-малко - Дунав отива в Трета лига". sportlive.bg (in Bulgarian). 4 August 2020.
  15. "Спортист Своге се раздели със старши треньора Георги Станков". dsport.bg (in Bulgarian). 15 August 2020.
  16. "Ръководството на Септември Симитли освободи треньорския състав". simitli.info (in Bulgarian). 21 September 2020.
  17. "Тодор Киселичков поема Септември Симитли". simitli.info (in Bulgarian). 21 September 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-11-01. Retrieved 2020-10-05.
  18. "Христо Янев смени Юрий Васев начело на Миньор". minyor-pernik.bg (in Bulgarian). 1 October 2020.
  19. "Нефтохимик уволни Викторио Павлов". topsport.bg (in Bulgarian). 2 October 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  20. "Мъжкият отбор на Янтра е с нов треньор". fcyantra.bg (in Bulgarian). 7 October 2020.
  21. "Second League - Season Rules". Scoresway. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
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