Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Founded2000
First season2000–01
Country Bosnia and Herzegovina
ConfederationUEFA
Number of teams12
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toFirst League of FBiH
First League of RS
Domestic cup(s)Bosnian Cup
International cup(s)UEFA Champions League
UEFA Europa Conference League
Current championsZrinjski (8th title)
(2022–23)
Most championshipsZrinjski (8 titles)
Most appearancesWagner (297)
Top goalscorerNemanja Bilbija (162)
TV partnersArena Sport
MY TV
Websitenfsbih.ba
Current: 2023–24 Premier League

The Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Bosnian: Premijer liga Bosne i Hercegovine; Croatian: Premijer liga Bosne i Hercegovine; Serbian: Премијер лига Босне и Херцеговине), also known as Liga 12, is the top tier football league in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and is operated by the Football Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina. As the country's most prestigious level of football competition, the league changed format in the 2016–17 season and is contested by 12 clubs with the last two teams relegated at the end of every season.

The League is, as of the 2023–24 season, represented by four clubs in European competition. The winner of the Premier League starts from the UEFA Champions League first qualifying round. The winner of the Bosnian Cup as well as the runner-up and third placed team on the table starts from the first qualifying round of the UEFA Europa Conference League.

At the end of the season, the bottom two teams are relegated while winners of the First League of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the First League of the Republika Srpska are promoted to the Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

History

War period 1992–1996

After breakup of Yugoslavia, and following proclamation of independence in late winter 1992, Bosnia and Herzegovina clubs left the Yugoslav First League, which ceased to exist after the 1991–92 season. Already in April the same year N/FSBiH applied for membership with FIFA and UEFA.[1] Meanwhile, due to the outbreak of Bosnian War in April 1992 no games were played in the 1992–93 season. In late 1993 some parts of the country re-launched football competitions with reduced scope. But just as the country was divided along ethnic lines, so was football.

In 1993 Bosnian Croats launched the Football Federation of Herzeg Bosnia and its First League of Herzeg-Bosnia, in which only Croatian clubs competed on parochial scale within the limits of West Herzegovina and few other enclaves. In the same year Bosnian Serbs also organized their own First League of the Republika Srpska, on a territory held by Republika Srpska regime at the time. Only football on a territory under the control of then Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina institutions and auspices of N/FSBiH, at the time consequently with Bosniak majority, apart from a brief competition for the season 1994–95 (won by Čelik Zenica), came to a standstill. Competition under auspices of N/FSBiH did not resume until 1995–96 season when the First League of Bosnia and Herzegovina was launched.[1]

Post-war period 1996–2000

These three separate football leagues were operating in Bosnia and Herzegovina until 1998, and 2000. Since FIFA and UEFA showed support only for the association operating under patronage of the official and internationally recognized state institutions, during the war and prior to Dayton Peace Agreement as well as after its signage, they endorsed unification of all three organizations as N/FSBiH. This also came as a consequence of FIFA decision to recognize N/FSBiH already in July 1996, while in the same year UEFA admitted N/FSBiH as an adjacent member until 1998 when they recognized its full membership. This meant that only N/FSBiH clubs and its national team could compete at the international and official level.[1]

Final unification has been preceded by several stages. At first was created a playoff where clubs were playing for the champion under N/FSBiH auspices. Idea was that playoff under unified N/FSBiH auspices should bring together clubs competing under three separate organizations for the first time but was rejected by Serb association, leaving clubs from Croat football association and N/FSBiH participating playoff for the seasons 1997–98 and 1999–00, while 1998–99 playoff was canceled due to Croat's association hesitation on the decision on which stadiums games should be played. Next season playoff was resumed for the last time prior to full and final agreement on unified N/FSBiH and its competition, Premier League BiH (Premijer Liga), in the fall 2000.

Premier League creation 2000–01

Full and final agreement on unified N/FSBiH and its competition, Premier League BiH (Premijer Liga), happened in the fall 2000. However, the first 2000–01 season seen clubs from Federation of BiH only, while clubs from Republic of Srpska entity continue to compete in their own separate league as their entity association still refused to join agreed unified N/FSBiH and its new competition. However, UEFA and FIFA never intended to recognize this separate organization nor its competition, which meant clubs could not compete outside territory of the entity and would not compete internationally. This situation forced clubs to insist that their organization also join N/FSBiH, and two years later they became part of the competition for the season 2002–03. Ever since the year 2000 Premier League is the top tier of Bosnia and Herzegovina football, with two entity-based leagues, First League of Republika Srpska and First League of the Federation of BiH, being pushed to the second tier of the football pyramid and serve as feeder leagues to Premier League.[1]

Premier League as Liga 12 from 2016–17 until 2018–19

During the 2016–17 season and the 2017–18 season BH Telecom Premier League had changed its format entirely, reducing a number of clubs from 16 to 12, thus sometimes referred to as "Liga 12" (League 12), with the calendar also modified accordingly, and introducing playoffs (also known as the "title playoffs") and play out. Number of matches were played by each club during regular season after which, according to their position, they entered to play-offs or play out. Playoffs were contested by the top 6 clubs in the regular season, with each club playing each other twice for the title, which guarantees Champions League qualifications, second and third place, guaranteeing Europa League qualifications berths. Play out was contested by six clubs to avoid relegation with last two teams being relegated.

Old format since 2018–19

Since the 2018–19 season, the league is not played as the last two seasons before. Actually very simple, after all the 12 clubs play each other two times, once home and once away, they play each other three times, also playing home or away depending on how the schedule is made. With that, the league season has 33 full rounds instead of the 22 rounds and an additional 10 rounds in the relegation and championship games.[2]

Sponsorship

On 31 July 2012, the Football Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina signed a two-year deal with BH Telecom regarding the sponsorship of the league, effectively renaming the league BH Telecom Premier League.[3] The deal was extended once more before the start of 2014–15 season. On 24 July 2020, it was announced that Mtel had become the new league sponsor for the next three years with an estimate 23 Million BAM worth,[4] renaming the league m:tel Premier League.

2023–24 Member Clubs

Team Location Stadium Capacity[5]
Borac Banja Luka Banja Luka Banja Luka City Stadium 10,030
GOŠK Gabela Gabela Perica-Pero Pavlović 3,000
Igman Konjic Konjic Stadion Igmana 5,000
Posušje Posušje Mokri Dolac Stadium 8,000
Sarajevo Sarajevo Asim Ferhatović Hase 34,500
Sloga Meridian Doboj Luke Stadium 3,000
Široki Brijeg Široki Brijeg Pecara 7,000
Tuzla City Tuzla Tušanj 7,200
Velež Mostar Mostar Rođeni Stadium 7,000
Zrinjski Mostar Mostar Bijeli Brijeg 9,000
Zvijezda 09 Ugljevik Ugljevik City Stadium 5,000
Željezničar Sarajevo Grbavica 13,146

Rankings

Source: Bert Kassies' website (country rankings; team rankings)

Bosnia and Herzegovina Champions

Champions of First League of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Champions of First League of Herzeg-Bosnia

  • 1993–94 - Široki Brijeg[6] – Mario Prskalo (10 goals, Široki Brijeg)
  • 1994–95 - Široki Brijeg – Anđelko Marušić (15, Široki Brijeg)
  • 1995–96 - Široki Brijeg – Mario Marušić (15, Grude), Dejan Džepina (15, Novi Travnik)
  • 1996–97 - Široki Brijeg – Anđelko Marušić (21, Široki Brijeg)
  • 1997–98 - Široki Brijeg – Stanko Bubalo (31, Široki Brijeg)
  • 1998–99 - Posušje – Slađan Filipović (19, Široki Brijeg)
  • 1999–2000 - Posušje – Robert Ristovski (18, Kiseljak)

Champions of First League of the Republika Srpska

Season Champions Runners-up Top goalscorer Club Goals
1995–96 Boksit Milići Rudar PrijedorBosnia and Herzegovina Siniša Đurić
Bosnia and Herzegovina Zoran Majstorović
Kozara Gradiška
Boksit Milići
16
1996–97 Rudar Ugljevik Sloga TrnBosnia and Herzegovina Mladen Zgonjanin
Marić
Sloga Trn
Glasinac Sokolac
14
1997–98 Rudar Ugljevik Borac Banja LukaNikola BalaRudar Ugljevik
31
1998–99 Radnik Bijeljina Rudar UgljevikBosnia and Herzegovina Mladen ZgonjaninSloga Trn
23
1999–2000 Boksit Milići Rudar UgljevikNedo ZdjelarSloboda Novi Grad
29
2000–01 Borac Banja Luka Sloboda Novi GradBosnia and Herzegovina Milanko ĐerićBoksit Milići
26
2001–02 Leotar Kozara GradiškaFederal Republic of Yugoslavia Pavle Delibašić
Siniša Jovanović
Leotar
Glasinac Sokolac
21

Champions of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Listing seasons (aside of 1998–99 season) before the creation of Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina where the champion was decided via a play-off played between best placed clubs who played in First League of Bosnia and Herzegovina and First League of Herzeg-Bosnia (without clubs from First League of the Republika Srpska).

Season Winner of play-off Runners-up of play-off Winning manager Top scorer(s) of play-off
Player(s) (Club) Goals
1997–981 Željezničar (1) Sarajevo Bosnia and Herzegovina Enver Hadžiabdić (1) Croatia Stanko Bubalo (Široki Brijeg)
Bosnia and Herzegovina Hadis Zubanović (Željezničar)
3
1998–992 Bosnia and Herzegovina Nermin Hadžiahmetović (3)
1999–20003 Brotnjo (1) Budućnost Bosnia and Herzegovina Ivo Ištuk (1) Bosnia and Herzegovina Zikret Kuljaninović (Budućnost)
Bosnia and Herzegovina Alen Škoro (Sarajevo)
Bosnia and Herzegovina Halim Stupac (Jedinstvo)
5

1 A play-off between the best placed teams of First League of Bosnia and Herzegovina and First League of Herzeg-Bosnia was played; without clubs from First League of Republika Srpska. The best two clubs got the right to play in 1998–99 UEFA Cup.
2 Play-off was scheduled but was later canceled because of stadium issues. Three different leagues played, no play-off contested, therefore no club got the right to play in European competition.
3 A play-off between the best placed teams of First League of Bosnia and Herzegovina and First League of Herzeg-Bosnia was played without clubs from First League of Republika Srpska. Three clubs got the right to play in European competition.

Premier League Champions

Since the 2000–01 season, the first tier of Bosnia and Herzegovina's football competition became the Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Season Champions
(Premier League titles)
Runners-up Third place Winning manager Top scorer(s)
Player(s) (Club) Goals
2000–011 Željezničar (2) Brotnjo Sarajevo Bosnia and Herzegovina Amar Osim (1) Bosnia and Herzegovina Dželaludin Muharemović (Željezničar)
31
2001–021 Željezničar (3) Široki Brijeg Brotnjo Bosnia and Herzegovina Amar Osim (2) Bosnia and Herzegovina Ivica Huljev (Željezničar)
15
2002–03 Leotar (1) Željezničar Sarajevo Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Milan Jovin (1) Bosnia and Herzegovina Emir Obuća (Sarajevo)
24
2003–04 Široki Brijeg (1) Željezničar Sarajevo Bosnia and Herzegovina Ivo Ištuk (1) Bosnia and Herzegovina Alen Škoro (Sarajevo)
20
2004–05 Zrinjski (1) Željezničar Široki Brijeg Bosnia and Herzegovina Franjo Džidić (1) Serbia and Montenegro Zoran Rajović (Zrinjski)
17
2005–06 Široki Brijeg (2) Sarajevo Zrinjski Bosnia and Herzegovina Ivica Barbarić (1) Bosnia and Herzegovina Petar Jelić (Modriča)
19
2006–07 Sarajevo (2) Zrinjski Slavija Bosnia and Herzegovina Husref Musemić (1) Bosnia and Herzegovina Stevo Nikolić (Modriča)
Bosnia and Herzegovina Dragan Benić (Borac)
19
2007–08 Modriča (1) Široki Brijeg Čelik Zenica Serbia Slaviša Božičić (1) Serbia Darko Spalević (Slavija)
18
2008–09 Zrinjski (2) Slavija Sloboda Tuzla Bosnia and Herzegovina Dragan Jović (1) Serbia Darko Spalević (Slavija)
17
2009–10 Željezničar (4) Široki Brijeg Borac Bosnia and Herzegovina Amar Osim (3) Bosnia and Herzegovina Feđa Dudić (Travnik)
16
2010–11 Borac (1) Sarajevo Željezničar Bosnia and Herzegovina Vlado Jagodić (1) Croatia Ivan Lendrić (Zrinjski)
16
2011–12 Željezničar (5) Široki Brijeg Borac Bosnia and Herzegovina Amar Osim (4) Bosnia and Herzegovina Eldin Adilović (Željezničar)
19
2012–13 Željezničar (6) Sarajevo Borac Bosnia and Herzegovina Amar Osim (5) Bosnia and Herzegovina Emir Hadžić (Sarajevo)
20
2013–14 Zrinjski (3) Široki Brijeg Sarajevo Croatia Branko Karačić (1) Brazil Wagner (Široki Brijeg)
18
2014–15 Sarajevo (3) Željezničar Zrinjski Bosnia and Herzegovina Dženan Uščuplić (1) Bosnia and Herzegovina Riad Bajić (Željezničar)
15
2015–16 Zrinjski (4) Sloboda Tuzla Široki Brijeg Bosnia and Herzegovina Vinko Marinović (1) Croatia Leon Benko (Sarajevo)
17
2016–17 Zrinjski (5) Željezničar Sarajevo Bosnia and Herzegovina Blaž Slišković (1) Croatia Ivan Lendrić (Željezničar)
19
2017–18 Zrinjski (6) Željezničar Sarajevo Bosnia and Herzegovina Blaž Slišković (2) Serbia Miloš Filipović (Zrinjski)
16
2018–19 Sarajevo (4) Zrinjski Široki Brijeg Bosnia and Herzegovina Husref Musemić (2) Bosnia and Herzegovina Sulejman Krpić (Željezničar)
16
2019–20[nb 1] Sarajevo (5) Željezničar Zrinjski Bosnia and Herzegovina Vinko Marinović (2) Bosnia and Herzegovina Mersudin Ahmetović (Sarajevo)
16
2020–21 Borac (2) Sarajevo Velež Bosnia and Herzegovina Marko Maksimović (1) Bosnia and Herzegovina Nemanja Bilbija (Zrinjski)
17
2021–22 Zrinjski (7) Tuzla City Borac Bosnia and Herzegovina Sergej Jakirović (1) Bosnia and Herzegovina Nemanja Bilbija (Zrinjski)
33
2022–23 Zrinjski (8) Borac Željezničar Croatia Krunoslav Rendulić (1) Bosnia and Herzegovina Nemanja Bilbija (Zrinjski)
24
League champions also won the Bosnian Cup, i.e. the domestic Double.

1 Played without clubs from the Republika Srpska entity of BiH which have only taken part in the league since 2002.

Times finished in first three

Times finished in first three from season 1997–98 onward:

Club Winners Runner-up Third place Times finished in first three
Željezničar 6 7 2 15
Sarajevo 5 4 6 15
Zrinjski 8 2 3 13
Široki Brijeg 2 5 3 10
Borac 2 1 4 7
Brotnjo 1 1 1 3
Slavija 0 1 1 2
Sloboda 0 1 1 2
Leotar 1 0 0 1
Modriča 1 0 0 1
Tuzla City 0 1 0 1
Čelik 0 0 1 1
Velež 0 0 1 1

Cities

The following table lists the champions by cities from season 1997–98 onward:

City Titles Winning clubs
Sarajevo
11
Željezničar (6), Sarajevo (5)
Mostar
8
Zrinjski (8)
Banja Luka
2
Borac (2)
Široki Brijeg
2
Široki Brijeg (2)
Čitluk
1
Brotnjo (1)
Trebinje
1
Leotar (1)
Modriča
1
Modriča (1)

Notable performances in Europe

In the qualifiers for the 2002–03 UEFA Champions League, Željezničar gained the first big success in Bosnian post-war club-football, going all the way to the last qualifying round for the most important club competition in Europe. After big wins over ÍA Akraness and Lillestrøm, however, they were held by Newcastle United. In the first match, held in Sarajevo, Newcastle won 0–1 with English team defeating Željezničar 4–0 in England.

The second time a Bosnian club moved into the last qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League was FK Sarajevo in 2007–08, when they lost to Dynamo Kyiv 0–4 on aggregate, after going over Maltese Marsaxlokk and Belgian side Genk.

Another remarkable season for Bosnian clubs in Europe was 2009–10. The most memorable performances were marked by Sarajevo and Slavija. While Slavija surprisingly beat Aalborg in the second qualifying round but could not overcome MFK Košice in the third round, Sarajevo was able to reach the Play-offs for the Group Stage of the newly formed UEFA Europa League after beating Spartak Trnava and Helsingborg. However, they lost there unhappily 3–2 on aggregate to CFR Cluj. Sarajevo made it again in the 2014–15 UEFA Europa League, playing all the way to the play-off round where they lost to Borussia Mönchengladbach. In the 2020–21 UEFA Europa League season, Sarajevo once again played in the play-off round, this time losing to Celtic.

After getting eliminated from the 2022–23 UEFA Champions League first qualifying round, Zrinjski Mostar made it to the 2022–23 UEFA Europa Conference League play-off round, where they got eliminated by Slovak club Slovan Bratislava following a penalty shoot-out, missing out on a chance to play in the group stage.[8]

In August 2023, Zrinjski became the first ever club from Bosnia and Herzegovina to reach the group stages of a European club competition after eliminating Icelandic club Breiðablik in the 2023–24 UEFA Europa League third qualifying round, which assured Zrinjski of a group stage spot in the UEFA Europa Conference League as a minimum.[9]

All time table of Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Counting only since the 2002–03 season, the season the league became a unified country-wide league.
As of the end of the 2022–23 season. Teams in bold are part of the 2023–24 season.

Ssn = Number of seasons; Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points; HF = Highest finish

Rank
Club
Town
Ssn
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
HF
1ZrinjskiMostar 216463581161721,041635+4061,190 (-1)1
2SarajevoSarajevo 216463421531511,061571+4901,1791
3ŽeljezničarSarajevo 21646334147165983591+3921,1491
4Široki BrijegŠiroki Brijeg 21646312159175979628+3511,0951
5BoracBanja Luka 1752124496181661540+121828 (-1)1
6SlobodaTuzla 19586216127243622673−517752
7ČelikZenica 18547195134218609669−60716 (-3)3
8VeležMostar 15459166103190542575−33598 (-3)3
9LeotarTrebinje 1443416765202504617−1135661
10SlavijaIstočno Sarajevo 1236013765158416493−77476 (-3)2
11TravnikTravnik 1236012264174422538−1164305
12RadnikBijeljina 1236510998158372478−1064255
13OlimpikSarajevo 927510067108309333−243675
14PosušjePosušje 928410054130325444−1193548
15ModričaModriča 7210873489298290+82951
16OrašjeOrašje 72188533100307325−182887
17ZvijezdaGradačac 7210704991248304−562597
18Rudar (P)Prijedor 72135756100207286−7922710
19ŽepčeŽepče 6188623294192274−822188
20Tuzla CityTuzla 5154574255187190−32132
21Mladost (DK)Doboj, Kakanj 6182535079196265−692096
22JedinstvoBihać 4128531461171203−321737
23VitezVitez 5154393481126210−841519
24KrupaKrupa na Vrbasu 4130373657141170−291474
25BudućnostBanovići 4128392168139199−601388
26GOŠKGabela 4125333260110175−651317
27LaktašiLaktaši 390351441122125−31198
28Rudar (U)Ugljevik 398341450118143−251169
29GlasinacSokolac 26825103371103−328514
30DrinaZvornik 39020125868159−917213
31BrotnjoČitluk 26819143576114−387113
32KozaraGradiška 26819133674107−337015
33Mladost (VO)Velika Obarska 2601417294282−405911
34Zvijezda 09Ugljevik 2551016294596−51469
35Mladost (G)Gacko 138116214065−253918
36IgmanKonjic 133910144248−6378
37SlogaDoboj 133107164055−15379
38MetallegheJajce 132711142534−93211
39BosnaVisoko 138413328107−791320
40GradinaSrebrenik 13016231757−40916

1 In the 2004–05 season, Borac were deducted 1 point (Slavija were awarded 3–0 vs Borac in week 11).
2 In the 2006–07 season, Zrinjski were deducted 1 point (Orašje were awarded 3–0 vs Zrinjski).
3 In the 2013–14 season, Slavija were deducted 3 points.
4 In the 2019–20 season, Čelik were deducted 3 points (Željezničar were awarded 3–0 vs Čelik).
5 In the 2021–22 season, Velež were deducted 3 points (Borac were awarded 3–0 vs Velež).

See also

Notes

  1. 2019–20 Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina suspended in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Bosnia and Herzegovina; season curtailed and final standings (including Sarajevo as champions) declared by a points-per-game ratio on 1 June 2020.[7]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "N/FSBiH History". www.nfsbih.ba. N/FSBiH. Archived from the original on 30 November 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  2. E.B. (19 June 2018). "Premijer liga BiH se igra u trokružnom formatu, broj stranih igrača smanjen na četiri" (in Bosnian). Klix.ba. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  3. "BH Telecom the first ever sponsor of the Premier League, signing a two year deal!" (in Bosnian). SportSport.ba. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  4. E. Škorić (24 July 2020). "NFSBiH i zvanično dobio novog sponzora!" (in Bosnian). sportsport.ba. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  5. "Capacity of stadiums of the Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina". Soccerway. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  6. "Zlatne godine" (PDF). Nk-sirokibrijeg.com. p. 138. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 March 2016. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
  7. F.Z. (1 June 2020). "Zvanično! Sarajevo prvak BiH drugu godinu zaredom, Čelik i Zvijezda ispadaju" (in Bosnian). Klix.ba. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
  8. M. Šljivak (25 August 2022). "Tragedija HŠK Zrinjski u Bratislavi!". sportsport.ba (in Bosnian). Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  9. H.H. (17 August 2023). "Zrinjski postao prvi klub iz BiH koji se plasirao u grupnu fazu evropskih takmičenja" (in Bosnian). Klix.ba. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
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