2021–22 Second Professional Football League (Bulgaria)

The 2021–22 Second League is the 67th 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.

Second Professional Football League
Season2021–22
Dates24 July 2021 – 21 May 2022[1]
RelegatedNeftochimic (disqualified)
Levski Lom (withdrawn)
Matches played305
Goals scored763 (2.5 per match)
Top goalscorer Mariyan Tonev
(18 goals)
Biggest home winSeptemvri Sofia 7-0 Septemvri Simitli
Highest scoringMaritsa 3-5 Spartak Varna
2022–23 →
All statistics correct as of 3 May 2022.

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.[2] Since 7 September 2021, only 30% of the stadium could be occupied.[3] 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.[4] From 14 October 2021, no fans were allowed at the stadiums of the teams based in Sofia Province and Sofia City Province.[5] 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.[6] From 24 February 2022, the green pass was no longer required for spectators, though it remained in place for the staff and event organizers.[7] From 21 March 2022, the vaccine pass was abolished for all public activities, including football matches.[8]

On 4 November 2021 the professional football license of Neftochimic was revoked by the Licensing commission of the Bulgarian Football Union as a result of the club not following financial fair play rules and outstanding payments towards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.[9] On 19 November the BFU confirmed its decision and removed Neftochimic from the group, annulling all their fixtures played until that point.[10]

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.[11] 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.[12]

Teams

The following teams have changed division since the 2020–21 season.

Stadia and locations
Location of teams in 2021–22 Second League
Team City Stadium Capacity
Botev IIPlovdivFutbolen kompleks Botev 19123,500
CSKA 1948 IISofiaBistritsa2,500
DobrudzhaDobrichDruzhba12,500
EtarVeliko TarnovoIvaylo18,000
HebarPazardzhikGeorgi Benkovski13,128
LevskiLomDunavski Yunak2,500
LitexLovechGradski8,100
Ludogorets IIRazgradEagles' Nest2,000
MarekDupnitsaBonchuk16,000
MaritsaPlovdivMaritsa5,000
MinyorPernikMinyor8,000
MontanaMontanaOgosta6,000
NeftochimicBurgasefbet Arena18,037
SeptemvriSimitliStruma8,000
SeptemvriSofiaDIT2,000
SozopolSozopolArena Sozopol3,500
SpartakVarnaSpartak6,000
SportistSvogeChavdar Tsvetkov3,500
Strumska SlavaRadomirGradski3,500
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
Botev Plovdiv II Stefan Stoyanov Dimitar Balinov Uhlsport WinBet —
CSKA 1948 II Vladimir Dimitrov Georgi Mariyanov Adidas efbet Bachkovo
Dobrudzha Atanas Atanasov Dimitar Iliev Uhlsport Corteva Agriscience —
Etar Veselin Velikov Zdravko Iliev Joma[15] WinBet —
Hebar Nikolay Mitov Tsvetelin Tonev Jako Efbet Pazardzhik Municipality
Levski Lom Anatoli Tonov Nikolay Hristov Joma — —
Litex Zhivko Zhelev Plamen Nikolov Givova WINBET —
Ludogorets II Todor Zhivondov Tsvetoslav Petrov Nike Efbet Vivacom, Spetema
Marek 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 Municipality
Septemvri Simitli Spas Stoimenov Anatoli Luleyski Joma Simitli Municipality —
Septemvri Sofia Slavko Matić Asen Chandarov Uhlsport WINBET —
Sоzopol Margarit Dimov Petar Kyumurdzhiev Erreà — Efbet
Spartak 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
Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment
CSKA 1948 II N/A (inaugural season) pre-season Miroslav Mindev 29 May 2021[16]
Levski Lom Ferario Spasov Sacked 31 May 2021 pre-season Emil Velev 31 May 2021[17]
Botev II N/A (inaugural season) pre-season Stefan Stoyanov 7 June 2021[18]
CSKA 1948 II Miroslav Mindev Promoted to CSKA 1948 27 July 2021 10th Atanas Apostolov 27 July 2021[19]
Levski Lom Emil Velev Resigned 11 August 2021 19th Ivaylo Vasilev 12 August 2021[20]
Yantra Gabrovo Kostadin Angelov Resigned 15 August 2021 19th Sasho Angelov 1 September 2021[21]
Dobrudzha Stefan Slavov Mutual consent 14 September 2021 16th Atanas Atanasov 14 September 2021[22]
CSKA 1948 II Atanas Apostolov Mutual consent 14 September 2021 15th Andrey Andreev 28 September 2021[23]
Neftochimic Lyudmil Kirov Resigned 22 October 2021 20th Kaloyan Genov 24 October 2021[24]
Neftochimic Kaloyan Genov Resigned 27 October 2021 20th Vladimir Ivanov 30 October 2021[25]
Levski Lom Ivaylo Vasilev Sacked 1 November 2021 19th Anatoli Tonov 1 November 2021[26]
CSKA 1948 II Andrey Andreev Mutual consent 3 December 2021 14th Vladimir Dimitrov 19 December 2021[27][28]
Strumska Slava Vladimir Dimitrov Mutual consent 17 December 2021 8th Yuriy Vasev 17 December 2021[29]
Montana Svetlan Kondev Mutual consent 21 December 2021 9th Antoni Zdravkov 21 December 2021[30]
Septemvri Sofia Hristo Arangelov Mutual consent 7 January 2022 6th Slavko Matić 9 January 2022[31][32]

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Septemvri Sofia (T) 33 20 5 8 72 33 +39 65 Promotion to the First League
2 Spartak Varna 32 20 5 7 58 33 +25 65
3 Etar Veliko Tarnovo 32 18 5 9 62 37 +25 59
4 Hebar Pazardzhik 32 18 4 10 44 31 +13 58 Qualification for the promotion play-off
5 Montana 33 15 10 8 37 29 +8 55
6 Minyor Pernik 32 15 9 8 39 32 +7 54
7 Strumska Slava Radomir 33 15 8 10 38 32 +6 53
8 Ludogorets Razgrad II 32 15 7 10 61 44 +17 52 Ineligible for promotion
9 Maritsa Plovdiv 32 13 7 12 46 40 +6 46
10 Sportist Svoge 32 12 6 14 31 40 −9 42
11 Litex Lovech 32 11 8 13 37 37 0 41
12 CSKA 1948 II 32 11 7 14 45 43 +2 40 Ineligible for promotion
13 Sozopol 32 8 12 12 35 46 −11 36
14 Yantra Gabrovo 32 9 9 14 26 43 −17 36
15 Dobrudzha Dobrich 32 8 12 12 30 40 −10 36
16 Botev Plovdiv II 32 7 12 13 29 40 −11 33 Ineligible for promotion
17 Marek Dupnitsa 33 7 12 14 24 39 −15 33 Relegation to the Third League
18 Septemvri Simitli 32 7 9 16 37 59 −22 30
19 Levski Lom (R, D) 32 1 5 26 12 65 −53 8 Club dissolved
20 Neftochimic Burgas (R, D) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Updated to match(es) played on 1 May 2022. Source: https://bulgarian-football.com/vtora-liga.html
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.[33]
(D) Disqualified; (R) Relegated; (T) Qualified, but not yet to the particular phase indicated

Results
Home \ Away BOT CSK DOB ETA HEB LEV LIT LUD MAR MRP MIN MON NEF SIM SEP SOZ SPA SPO STR YAN
Botev Plovdiv II — 2–0 0–0 0–2 1–0 3–0 1–1 1–1 1–0 3–0 1–1 / 1–1 0–3 4–1 0–1 1–1 1–1
CSKA 1948 Sofia II — 1–2 3–1 3–0 4–1 4–3 2–0 3–1 0–1 0–1 / 2–0 0–3 1–1 2–3 2–1 1–3 3–0
Dobrudzha 1–1 0–0 — 0–3 0–1 3–0 1–0 3–2 1–1 1–3 0–1 / 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–1 2–3 0–1
Etar 2–0 1–0 — 2–4 3–0 2–1 1–2 6–0 3–0 0–2 / 2–1 4–1 2–0 1–2 4–0 1–2 3–1
Hebar 3–0 4–1 2–0 1–1 — 1–0 1–0 2–0 1–1 0–3 / 2–0 1–0 2–1 2–1 3–1 1–1 2–0
Levski Lom 0–0 1–2 0–3 1–2 — 2–3 1–2 0–3 0–3 0–1 1–1 / 1–1 0–2 0–0 0–3 0–1 1–1
Litex 3–0 0–0 0–0 2–0 3–0 — 1–2 1–0 3–1 0–3 1–2 / 2–0 0–1 1–0 2–1 0–1 0–1
Ludogorets II 3–3 3–3 5–0 4–1 3–1 3–0 1–2 — 3–1 1–1 1–0 / 2–1 2–2 2–1 1–0 0–1 4–0
Marek 1–0 0–0 1–1 0–1 2–0 0–1 1–1 1–0 — 1–0 0–0 3–1 / 2–2 2–1 0–2 1–1 2–4 0–1
Maritsa 1–2 1–1 1–0 2–0 3–1 1–0 1–1 1–1 3–0 — 4–1 / 1–2 1–1 3–5 2–0 1–1
Minyor Pernik 1–0 1–0 1–1 2–2 1–3 3–1 1–1 1–0 — 1–1 / 4–2 0–3 3–0 1–0 1–0 3–0 2–0
Montana 1–0 1–1 0–0 0–2 0–1 2–1 1–1 1–0 1–0 0–1 2–1 — / 1–1 0–0 3–2 1–0 2–0
Neftochimic / / / / / / / / / / / / — / / / / / / /
Septemvri Simitli 2–2 1–4 1–1 1–2 1–2 2–1 2–1 1–1 2–2 1–1 / — 1–2 2–1 0–1 0–1 1–3 5–2
Septemvri Sofia 3–2 2–1 3–1 2–1 3–0 3–1 3–2 1–1 1–2 3–0 / 7–0 — 5–0 4–2 0–3 2–0 4–1
Sozopol 4–1 3–0 1–1 0–0 3–0 1–1 0–0 3–2 0–2 1–0 / 2–1 0–5 — 1–2 2–2 1–1 1–0
Spartak 3–0 2–0 1–2 3–1 1–0 2–1 2–1 0–1 0–0 3–0 2–0 2–1 / 3–1 2–1 — 2–1 1–1
Sportist Svoge 0–0 0–1 1–1 1–0 2–1 1–1 2–3 2–0 0–2 0–0 1–3 / 0–1 2–1 0–3 — 1–0 1–1
Strumska Slava 1–0 1–0 3–0 1–4 0–1 2–0 1–0 2–1 2–0 0–0 2–1 0–1 / 0–1 1–1 0–0 1–2 — 1–0
Yantra Gabrovo 1–0 1–0 1–1 0–2 3–0 2–2 0–0 1–0 0–1 1–1 / 2–0 1–0 0–0 1–1 0–1 2–1 —
Updated to match(es) played on 3 May 2022. 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.

References
  1. "Втора професионална лига 2021/22".
  2. "Заповед № РД-01-646/29.07.2021 г." (PDF). mh.government.bg (in Bulgarian). 29 July 2021. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  3. "Заповед № РД-01-748/02.09.2021 г." (PDF). mh.government.bg (in Bulgarian). 2 September 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  4. Koleva, Hristina (16 September 2021). "БФС отложи 3 мача на Левски Лом заради 12 болни от Ковид 19". trud.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 17 September 2021.
  5. Hristova, Anna (12 October 2021). "София затяга ограничителните мерки срещу COVID-19 от четвъртък". dnevnik.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  6. Pehlivanova, Ivomira (19 October 2021). "От четвъртък: Всички дейности на закрито - само срещу "зелен" сертификат (ВИДЕО)". nova.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  7. "Новата COVID заповед: Зеленият сертификат отпада и за футболните фенове". dariknews.bg (in Bulgarian). 23 February 2022. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  8. "От 21 март отпада изискването за „зелен сертификат" за всякакви дейности в България". mh.government.bg (in Bulgarian). 17 March 2022. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  9. "Second Professional League 2021/2022". bulgarian-football.com. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  10. "BFU confirmed the withdrawal of Neftochimic from the Second League". Sportal.bg. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  11. "Официално: Левски (Лом) се отказа от Втора лига". topsport.bg (in Bulgarian). 16 March 2022. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  12. "Официално: БФС извади Левски (Лом) от Втора лига". sportal.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  13. Втора лига става с 20 отбора заради дублиращ отбор на Ботев Пд
  14. ""Етър" е първият изпадащ, "Славия" оцеля" (in Bulgarian). btvnovinite.bg. 19 May 2021.
  15. "Етър показа новите екипи за сезон 2020/21" (in Bulgarian). etarvt.bg. 8 August 2020.
  16. "Бивш голмайстор на Сливен поема дубъла на ЦСКА 1948" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg.
  17. "Емил Велев - Кокала отново ще е треньор на Левски, но от Лом" (in Bulgarian). offnews.bg.
  18. "Ботев ІІ стартира подготовка на 14-ти юни, информация за елитните юношески групи". botevplovdiv.bg (in Bulgarian).
  19. "Обявиха новия наставник на ЦСКА 1948" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg.
  20. "Ивайло Василев поема "Левски" Лом" (in Bulgarian). BNR.
  21. "Сашо Ангелов пое Янтра" (in Bulgarian). topsport.bg.
  22. "Атанас Атанасов е новият старши-треньор на Добруджа" (in Bulgarian). topsport.bg.
  23. "ЦСКА 1948 официално обяви новия наставник на дубъла на тима" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg.
  24. "Ясно е кой ще води Нефтохимик в Пловдив" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg.
  25. "Владимир Иванов е новият треньор на Нефтохимик". topsport.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  26. "Падна треньорска глава във Втора лига". sportal.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  27. "Андрей Андреев вече не е старши треньор на ЦСКА 1948 II". bg.cska1948.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  28. "Доскорошният треньор на Струмска слава поема дубъла на ЦСКА 1948". sportal.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  29. "Сензационни треньорски рокади! Замесени са ЦСКА 1948, Марек и Струмска слава". kotasport.com (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  30. "Монтана има нов треньор". sportal.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  31. "Септември официално се раздели с Арангелов". sportal.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  32. "Славко Матич е новият треньор на Септември (София)". sportal.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  33. "Second League - Season Rules". Scoresway. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
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