Country Czech Republic Founded 1993 Level on pyramid 1 | Confederation UEFA Number of teams 16 | |
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Relegation to Czech National Football League | ||
The Czech First League, currently known as the ePojisteni.cz liga, is a Czech professional league for football clubs. At the top of the Czech football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 16 clubs, operating a system of promotion and relegation with the Czech National Football League. Seasons run from August to May, with teams playing 30 games each. The league is currently ranked 13th in Europe in the UEFA league rankings.
Contents
- Competition
- Participating teams in 201516
- Sponsorship
- Managers
- All time Czech First League table
- UEFA league coefficient ranking
- References
The history of the Czech football league began at the end of the 20th century. It was reorganised for the 1993–1994 season, after the dissolution of former Czechoslovakia and therefore of the Czechoslovak League. Having won more than half of league titles, Sparta Prague are the most successful team in Czech First League history. Other clubs who have won the title are Slavia Prague, Slovan Liberec, Baník Ostrava and Viktoria Plzeň.
Competition
There are 16 clubs in the league. During the course of a season, which lasts from August to May, each club plays the others twice, once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponents, for a total of 30 games. In the inaugural season, two points were awarded for a win, before switching to three points for a win in 1994. Teams receive one point for a draw and no points are awarded for a loss. Teams are ranked by total points, in the case of two or more teams finishing with equal points, the head-to-head record between the teams is used for ranking, counting points in relevant games, then goal difference and then goals scored. The two lowest placed teams are relegated to the second tier Czech National Football League.
Participating teams in 2015–16
The following 16 clubs are competing in the 2015–16 Czech First League.
Sponsorship
In 1997 the league started a sponsorship deal with Plzeňský Prazdroj, a. s. and became known as the Gambrinus liga (after the company's Gambrinus beer). In 2008, the sponsorship was extended until the end of the 2013–14 season.
In May 2014, the league announced a four-year sponsorship deal with betting firm Synot, becoming the Synot liga. However, in January 2016 the company announced that their deal would conclude at the end of the 2015–16 season.
In July 2016 a new two-year sponsorship deal has been announced with an online insurance company ePojisteni.cz, the league is officially called ePojisteni.cz liga.
In October 2016 FAČR, LFA and Czech betting company Fortuna signed a 6-year partnership deal. According to this deal the Czech First League will be called Fortuna liga from the 2018–19 season.
Managers
Last update: 17 September 2016
All time Czech First League table
1993–94 – 2012–13
Point reductions:
UEFA league coefficient ranking
(As of 9 April 2016)