Serbian First League Explained

Pixels:150px
Country:Serbia
Confed:UEFA
Founded:2005
Teams:16
Promotion:Serbian SuperLiga
Relegation:Serbian League
Levels:2
Domest Cup:Serbian Cup
Champions:OFK Beograd (1st title)
Season:2023–24
Most Successful Club:Mladost Lučani,
Napredak Kruševac
(2 titles)
Website:prvaliga.rs
Current:2024–25
Confed Cup:UEFA Europa League (via Serbian Cup)

The Serbian First League (sr|Прва лига Србије / Prva liga Srbije), referred to as the Mozzart Bet First League for sponsorship reasons, is the second tier in professional Serbia's football league. The league was formed in 2005, following a reshuffle of the second tier Serbo-Montenegrin divisions. It is operated by the Football Association of Serbia.

Format

The league is usually formed by 16 clubs which play all against one another twice, once at home, once away. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the Football Association of Serbia completed a restructure of the league system, and in season 2020/2021 that meant 18 clubs would be competing in the Serbian First League, the number of clubs will go back to the usual 16 following the conclusion of the 2020-2021 season. The top two clubs are directly promoted to the Serbian SuperLiga, Third team going into the playoff, and playing against 14 teams from the Super League, while the bottom are relegated to the Serbian League. The Football Association of Serbia announced that in the 2015–16 Serbian First League 4 clubs will be relegated.

History

See main article: Yugoslav Second League and Second League of Serbia and Montenegro. The Serbian First League is the successor of the Yugoslav Second League. With the break-up of SFR Yugoslavia in 1992, the clubs from the newly independent states of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia and Slovenia joined to their own newly formed leagues, while Serbia and Montenegro remained united and renamed into FR Yugoslavia with the clubs from both republics kept competing in the league. In 2003, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was renamed to Serbia and Montenegro and the football league followed suit. Finally, after Montenegrin independence in 2006, the Montenegrin clubs withdrew and formed their own league.

Serbia and Montenegro second tier

In 2005, a reshuffle of the second tier of the Serbo-Montenegrin football league system saw two parallel leagues set up, for each republic.

Serbian First League

After Montenegro's independence, the Serbian First League kept the name and single league format readopted in 2005.

SeasonChampionsRunners upThird placeTop scorer(s)Goals
2006–07Mladost Lučani (3)ČukaričkiNapredak Kruševac Filip Đorđević (Rad)16
2007–08Javor Ivanjica (2)JagodinaBSK Borča Igor Pavlović (Jagodina)17
2008–09BSK BorčaSmederevoMladi Radnik Marko Pavićević (Sevojno)15
2009–10InđijaSevojnoKolubara Borivoje Filipović (Inđija)12
2010–11BASKRadnički KragujevacNovi Pazar Darko Spalević (Radnički Kragujevac)13
2011–12Radnički Niš (3)Donji SremMladost Lučani Ivan Pejčić (Radnički Niš)13
2012–13Napredak Kruševac (7)ČukaričkiVoždovac Milanko Rašković (Borac Čačak)19
2013–14Mladost Lučani (4)Borac ČačakMetalac Gornji Milanovac Predrag Živadinović (Mladost Lučani)15
2014–15Radnik SurdulicaJavor IvanjicaMetalac Gornji Milanovac Stefan Dražić (Javor)13
2015–16Napredak Kruševac (8)OFK BačkaČSK Čelarevo Nenad Lukić (Bežanija)14
2016–17Mačva ŠabacZemunSloboda Užice Uroš Đerić (Sloboda Užice)19
2017–18Proleter Novi SadDinamo VranjeMetalac Gornji Milanovac Zakaria Suraka (Dinamo Vranje)17
2018–19TSCJavor IvanjicaInđija Ivan Marković (Javor Ivanjica)29
2019–20ZlatiborGrafičarOFK Bačka Aleksandar Katanić (Metalac Gornji Milanovac)19
2020–21Radnički KragujevacKolubaraKabel Dragiša Komarčević (Loznica)14
2021–22Mladost Novi SadJavor IvanjicaŽelezničar Pančevo Milan Vidakov (Mladost Novi Sad)18
2022–23IMTŽelezničar PančevoGrafičar Krsta Đorđević (Radnički SM)
Miloš Luković (IMT)
15
2023–24OFK BeogradJedinstvoInđija Dejan Georgijević (OFK Beograd)17

2023–24 teams

TeamCityStadiumCapacity
Borac 1926ČačakČačak Stadium8,000
DubočicaLeskovacGradski stadion pod Kraljevicom8,168
GrafičarBelgradeStadion Rajko Mitić - Jug veštačka trava1,000
Inđija Toyo TiresInđijaTOYO Tires Arena4,000
Javor-MatisIvanjicaStadion kraj Moravice5,000
MačvaŠabacStadion FK Mačva Šabac5,500
Mladost GATNovi SadGAT Arena1,400
RadnikSurdulicaSurdulica City Stadium3,312
Radnički SMSremska MitrovicaFudbalska Akademija1,000
SlobodaUžiceRadomir Antić Stadium9,949
SlovenRumaStadion Sloven1,000
Smederevo 1924SmederevoSmederevo Stadium17,200
TrayalKruševacMladost Stadium10,331
VoždovacBelgradeVoždovac Stadium5,200
OFK VršacVršacGradski stadion Vršac5,000
ZemunBelgradeZemun Stadium9,600

Previous seasons

Relegated teams (from First League to Serbian League)

SeasonClubs
2006–07Inđija, Dinamo Vranje, Mačva Šabac, BASK, Spartak Subotica, Obilić
2007–08Radnički Niš, Zemun, Vlasina, Mladenovac, Radnički Pirot
2008–09Voždovac, Hajduk Beograd
2009–10Radnički Niš, Sloga Kraljevo, ČSK, Mladost Apatin
2010–11Zemun, Big Bull Radnički, Dinamo Vranje
2011–12Radnički Sombor, Mladi Radnik, Sinđelić Niš, Srem S. Mitrovica
2012–13Novi Sad, Kolubara, Mladenovac, Radnički Nova Pazova, Banat
2013–14Timok, Dolina, Teleoptik, Smederevo
2014–15Moravac, Jedinstvo Užice, Sloga Kraljevo, Mačva Šabac
2015–16Sloga Petrovac, Donji Srem, Loznica, Radnički Kragujevac
2016–17Kolubara, BSK Borča, OFK Odžaci, OFK Beograd
2017–18Radnički Pirot, Temnić 1924, ČSK, Jagodina
2018–19Bežanija, Borac Čačak, Bečej 1918, Teleoptik, Sloboda Užice
2019–20Smederevo 1924, Sinđelić Beograd
2020–21Borac 1926, Dinamo Vranje, Dubočica, Trayal, Radnički Pirot, Jagodina, Sloga, Zemun
2021–22Kabel, Timok 1919, OFK Bačka, Budućnost Dobanovci, Žarkovo
2022–23Loznica, Trayal, Zlatibor, Rad
2023–24Kolubara, Metalac, Novi Sad 1921, Radnički

Relegated teams (from SuperLiga to First League)

SeasonClubs
2006–07Zemun, Voždovac
2007–08Bežanija, Mladost Lučani, Smederevo
2008–09Banat Zrenjanin
2009–10Mladi Radnik, Napredak Kruševac
2010–11Čukarički, Inđija
2011–12Metalac, Borac Čačak
2012–13Smederevo, BSK Borča
2013–14Javor, Sloboda Užice
2014–15Radnički Kragujevac, Donji Srem, Napredak Kruševac
2015–16Jagodina, OFK Beograd
2016–17Metalac, Novi Pazar
2017–18Javor, Borac Čačak
2018–19Dinamo Vranje, Zemun, Bačka
2019–20None
2020–21Javor, Rad, Bačka, Inđija, Mačva, Zlatibor
2021–22Proleter, Metalac
2022–23Mladost GAT, Kolubara
2023–24Javor, Voždovac, Radnik Surdulica

Promoted teams (from Serbian League to First League)

SeasonClubs
Serbian League BelgradeSerbian League EastSerbian League VojvodinaSerbian League West
2006–07Hajduk BeogradJagodinaNovi SadMetalac Gornji Milanovac
2007–08KolubaraDinamo VranjeSpartak Subotica
Inđija
Mladi Radnik
2008–09Zemun
Teleoptik
Radnički NišProleter Novi Sad
Radnički Sombor
Sloga Kraljevo
2009–10BASKSinđelić NišBig Bull RadničkiRadnički 1923
2010–11MladenovacRadnički NišDonji SremSloga Kraljevo
2011–12VoždovacTimokRadnički Nova PazovaJedinstvo Užice
2012–13Sinđelić BeogradRadnik SurdulicaDolina PadinaSloga Petrovac
2013–14KolubaraMoravacBačkaMačva
2014–15ZemunDinamo VranjeČSKLoznica
2015–16Budućnost DobanovciRadnički PirotOFK OdžaciMačva Šabac
2016–17TeleoptikTemnić 1924TSCRadnički 1923
2017–18ŽarkovoTrayalBečejZlatibor
2018–19GrafičarRadnički PirotKabelSmederevo 1924
2019–20IMTJagodina
Dubočica
Železničar Pančevo
Radnički Sremska Mitrovica
Borac 1926
Loznica
Sloga Kraljevo
2020–21NoneTimokMladost Novi SadNone
2021–22Radnički BeogradTrayalOFK VršacSloboda Užice
Jedinstvo Ub
2022–23OFK BeogradDubočicaTekstilacSmederevo 1924
2023–24ZemunTrayalSloven RumaBorac 1926

All-time table 2005–2024

The following is a list of clubs who have played in the Serbian First League at any time since its formation in 2005 to the current season. Teams playing in the 2024–25 Serbian First League season are indicated in bold. A total of 75 teams have played in the Serbian First League.

Pos.TeamSPWDLFAPtsHighest finish
1 Inđija 14 472 198 126 148 585 470 720 1 2
2 12 395 151 125 119 451 352 578 1
3 10 333 147 86 100 405 301 527 3
4 11 361 122 109 130 389 409 475 1 1
5 9 286 114 75 97 377 314 417 1
6 9 309 109 77 123 307 375 404 1
7 6 208 108 47 53 297 193 371 2 1
8 9 294 100 68 126 304 375 368 1
9 7 238 95 78 65 251 207 363 2 1
10 8 268 92 87 89 283 271 363 1
11 9 316 95 76 145 309 422 361
12 7 226 95 59 72 265 222 344 1 1
13 Javor 5 176 92 55 29 255 140 331 1 3
14 7 233 91 58 84 277 271 331 1 1
15 Mačva Šabac 7 247 84 79 84 259 279 331 1
16 7 246 79 64 103 253 311 301
17 Sloboda Užice 7 231 68 78 85 223 275 282 1
18 Zemun 7 226 71 67 88 223 247 280 1
19 7 233 68 72 93 248 274 276
20 7 217 71 59 87 229 261 272
21 7 234 73 51 110 242 292 270
22 5 178 71 52 55 218 179 265 1
23 Grafičar 5 175 73 45 57 273 209 264 1 1
24 5 178 68 53 57 196 169 257 1
25 4 144 71 40 33 188 107 253 2 1
26 6 198 62 54 82 200 244 240
27 6 196 58 52 86 174 244 226
28 5 178 53 48 77 186 234 207
29 3 108 59 25 25 189 108 202 1
30 Radnički Sremska Mitrovica 4 145 53 39 53 154 145 198
31 4 146 52 41 53 180 172 197
32 4 127 54 34 39 159 129 196 1 1
33 4 140 54 34 52 139 140 196 1
34 4 138 54 31 53 152 155 193
35 4 141 51 38 52 155 158 191 1
36 Borac Čačak 4 135 52 31 52 147 130 187 1
37 Smederevo 1924 4 131 50 35 46 140 140 185 1
38 3 108 53 21 34 155 114 180 1 1
39 4 136 44 45 47 136 147 177
40 4 138 44 39 55 149 169 175
41 3 110 46 24 40 133 121 162 1
42 3 112 45 25 42 133 131 160 1
43 Trayal 4 138 41 35 62 127 160 158
44 Voždovac 3 102 40 32 30 120 92 152 1
45 4 128 37 39 52 122 161 150 1
46 2 67 41 18 8 129 49 141 1
47 3 102 39 24 39 104 111 141 1
48 3 110 36 29 45 126 132 137
49 3 110 33 38 39 110 131 137
50 3 102 36 27 39 85 95 135
51 3 101 34 28 39 87 127 130 1
52 3 94 33 27 34 93 105 126
53 3 90 32 26 32 106 113 122
54 Mladost Novi Sad 2 74 32 22 20 83 62 118 1
55 3 101 30 27 44 101 127 117
56 Radnik Surdulica 2 60 29 15 16 72 50 102 1
57 OFK Vršac 2 74 27 20 27 72 73 101
58 2 64 24 23 17 58 53 95 1
59 2 67 25 16 26 88 85 91 1
60 Dubočica 2 71 21 26 24 63 81 89
61 2 68 22 18 28 75 84 84
62 2 74 19 14 41 64 118 65
63 1 37 15 12 10 44 27 57
64 2 68 14 12 42 48 113 54
65 1 37 12 8 17 39 44 44
66 1 38 11 7 20 47 58 40
67 1 34 9 8 17 35 44 35
68 1 30 10 5 15 32 41 35
69 1 30 9 7 14 31 42 34
68 1 38 7 6 25 26 64 27
69 1 30 6 8 16 24 35 26
70 1 30 6 8 16 24 47 26
71 1 34 7 5 22 26 50 26
73 1 38 0 6 32 16 83 6
75 Sloven

Players

Top scorers

+ Ten players with most goals in the Serbian First League (2006–present)
PlayerPeriodClub(s)Goals
1 Nenad Lukić2010–2011 / 2015–2016 / 2016–2017 / 2018–2019Teleoptik / Bežanija / Zemun / Inđija / TSC50
2 Slobodan Dinčić2010–2011 / 2012–2014 / 2014–2016BASK / Čukarički / Metalac / Javor / Kolubara / Zemun47
3 Jovan Jovanović2007 / 2010–2015 / 2017 / 2019–2021Radnički Niš / Sinđelić Niš / Sloga Kraljevo / Radnik Surdulica / Novi Pazar / Kolubara / Dubočica43
4 Slađan Nikodijević2012 / 2014–2015 / 2016–2018 / 2019–2021Borac Čačak / Metalac / Bačka / ČSK / Inđija / Radnički 192339
=5 Predrag Živadinović2008–2011 / 2012–2014BSK Borča / Radnički 1923 / Metalac / Mladost Lučani35
=5 Srđan Vujaklija2007–2009 / 2012 / 2013–2015 / 2022–Novi Sad / Banat / Proleter Novi Sad35
= 5 Ognjen Damnjanović2009–2011 / 2015–2016 / 2017–2019Proleter Novi Sad / Napredak / Mačva / TSC / Inđija35
8 Nikola Vujošević2007–2011 / 2012–2013Zemun / Kolubara34
=9 Ivan Marković2012 / 2018–2019Banat / Javor33
=9 Krsta Đorđević2018–2020 / 2022–Žarkovo / OFK Bačka / Radnički Sremska Mitrovica33

Most apps

+ Ten players with most apps in the Serbian First League (2006–present)
PlayerPeriodClub(s)Apps
1 Nikola Nedeljković2008–2014 / 2016–2020 / 2021–presentBežanija / Budućnost Dobanovci / Zlatibor / Inđija 263
2 Saša Tomanović2008–2010 / 2011–2015 / 2017–2019 / 2023–Mladost Apatin / Inđija / Radnički Sombor / TSC / Železničar Pančevo223
=3 Filip Bajić2010–2016 / 2019–2021Novi Sad / Inđija / Bečej / Dinamo Vranje206
=3 Branko Žigić2007–2017Proleter Novi Sad206
5 Milovan Petrić2012–2013 / 2014–2017 / 2018–Novi Sad / BSK Borča / Proleter Novi Sad / Kolubara / Bečej 1918 / Kabel / OFK Bačka / OFK Vršac201
6 Milan Janjić2015–2019 / 2020–Bežanija / Budućnost Dobanovci / Inđija193
7 Dušan Plavšić2012–2018 / 2021–2022Mladenovac / Dolina Padina / Sloboda Užice / Jedinstvo Užice / BSK Borča / Kolubara / Proleter Novi Sad / Železničar Pančevo191
8 Nemanja Matović2010–2018Bežanija / Mačva / Radnički Pirot / Sinđelić Beograd190
9 Nemanja Milovanović2010–2013 / 2017–2020Napredak / Teleoptik / Mačva / Dinamo Vranje / Javor / Bačka / Kolubara189
10 Aleksandar Stojković2008 / 2009–2010 / 2013 / 2014 / 2015–2018 / 2019–2020Mladost Apatin / Radnički Sombor / Voždovac / Metalac / Kolubara / Dinamo Vranje / Budućnost Dobanovci188

Names of the competition

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mozzart Bet Super liga Srbije. 2022-07-11. 2022-07-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20220705190834/https://www.superliga.rs/vesti/3611-mozzart-bet-super-liga-srbije. live.