Bulgarian Second League
The Bulgarian Second League is a professional second-tier football competition, acting as a vital stepping stone for clubs eyeing promotion to the elite First League. Featuring 16 teams, it delivers fierce battles for promotion spots and survival against relegation to the Third Division, where tactical nous and individual flair shape the hierarchy.
History and foundation
Established in 1948 within Bulgaria's football structure, the Second League navigated the communist era dominated by Sofia and Plovdiv sides. The 1990s BFS reforms boosted rivalry, and full professionalism arrived in 2016. Highlights include Lokomotiv (Gorna Oryahovitsa)'s thrilling 2021 playoff ascent and the 2019 match-fixing scandal that tightened oversight. Fun fact: Legends like Hristo Stoichkov honed skills here with CSKA 1948 roots.
Tournament format
Running from August to May, the season features a 30-match regular phase (home-and-away double round-robin). Post-split: top 10 vie for direct promotion (1st-2nd) and playoffs (3rd-6th); bottom 7 fight relegation. Weekends host games, broadcast on BNT and club channels.
Interesting facts
Average goals per game hover at 2.4, spiking in rivalries like Levski-Cska derbies. Top scorers: Golev (38 in 2017/18), Antonov (35 in 2022/23). Standouts: Dimitar Rangelov (150+ goals, league icon); Raicho Stefanov, set-piece wizard; current stars like Kristian Filev, Etar marksman, and Georgi Georgiev, Varna Spartak keeper with 85% save rate. Renowned for forging national team defenders.