Uzbekistan Pro League

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Uzbekistan Pro League
O'zbekiston Pro Ligasi
Uzbekistan Proleague.png
Organising body Uzbekistan Professional Football League,
Uzbekistan Football Association
Founded1992;33 years ago (1992)
First season1992
CountryUzbekistan
Confederation AFC
Number of clubs6
Level on pyramid2
Promotion to Uzbekistan Super League
Relegation to Uzbekistan First League
Domestic cup(s) Uzbekistan Cup
League cup(s) Uzbekistan League Cup
International cup(s) AFC Champions League
Current champions Mash'al Mubarek
(2024)
Most championships Soghdiana and Kokand 1912 (3 times)
Broadcaster(s) Uzreport TV and Futbol TV [1]
Sponsor(s) Coca-Cola
Volkswagen
Website pfl.uz
Current: 2025

Uzbekistan Pro League (Uzbek: O'zbekiston Pro Ligasi) is a professional football league in Uzbekistan, and currently the second level after the Uzbekistan Super League.

Contents

The second-tier football competition in Uzbekistan was called the Uzbekistan First League from its establishment in 1992 until 2017. In 2018, following the reform of the national championships by the Uzbekistan Professional Football League (UzPFL), the Uzbekistan First League was renamed the Uzbekistan Pro League. Uzbekistan Pro League tournaments are organized by Uzbekistan Professional Football League. [2]

The winner and runner-up of Uzbekistan Pro League gain direct promotion to the Uzbekistan Super League, while the third-placed club in the Pro League participates in a playoff match against the team that finished 12th in the Super League. According to Uzbekistan Professional Football League Competition Regulations, this playoff match is held at the home ground of the Pro League team. At the end of the season, the club that finishes last in the Pro League is relegated to the Uzbekistan First League for the following season.

Pro League participants also compete annually in the Uzbekistan Cup and the Uzbekistan League Cup.

History

Uzbekistan Football Championship has been held since 1992. The composition and number of teams in the competition have changed over time. In the inaugural season of the championship, 16 teams participated. At the end of the league tournament, "Shifokor" from Gulistan and "Politodel-Ruor" from Tashkent region earned promotion to the Higher League. The number of participants in the competition varied from year to year. In the 1995 season, the league was divided into eastern and western regions for the first time, and the top-ranked teams from each region were combined in the second stage. A total of 26 teams participated throughout the league season. The 1997 season went down in history as the year with the highest number of participating teams in league history. In that season, 27 teams competed in the league.

In 2018, 16 teams participated in the Uzbekistan Pro League in a two-stage system (30 rounds), home and away. In 2019, the Uzbekistan Pro League was divided into leagues A and B, with 24 clubs playing in a 4-round system (28 rounds, 2 home and away). From 2020, the division of the Uzbekistan Pro League into leagues A and B was terminated and transformed into a single league consisting of 10 teams, and the Uzbekistan First League (a 3rd tier league in terms of importance in the football structure) was established in place of the B League. In 2024, the number of participating teams in the Pro League was 6. In 2025, 6 teams will also participate. [3]

On 21 November 2017 according to the UzPFL management decision the Uzbekistan First League was officially renamed to Uzbekistan Pro League starting from the 2018 season. The league has been reduced from 18 (2017) to 16 teams. [4]

Structure of the league

Regular season

The regulations changed depending on the number of participating teams in each league season. The updated preliminary regulations were first announced in 2017. The number of participants in the 2024 Uzbekistan Super League was reduced to 8 teams, and changes to the regulations were announced. According to the regulations, the clubs that take first and second places will receive a direct ticket to the Uzbekistan Super League. The team that finishes eighth at the end of the season in the LI will be relegated to the First League. [5] [6]

Teams get three points for a win and one point for a draw. Points are not awarded for defeat. The teams are ranked by total points. If the teams have equal points, the rules apply in the following order:

All participating clubs of the Pro League also have a U-19 team in their structure. These teams participate in the overall Uzbekistan U-19 Championship alongside the U-19 squads of Super League clubs.

In 2018 in the Pro League Uzbekistan involved 16 teams in a double round system (30 rounds), home and away. The winner of the Uzbekistan Pro League receives the permit in the Uzbekistan Super League, and the club took second place in the Pro League gets a place in the play-offs, consisting of two matches (home and away) where his opponent will be the Super League club, who took there the penultimate eleventh place. The winner of the playoffs gets a chance in Super League Uzbekistan, and the losing club will start the new season in the Pro League Uzbekistan. The clubs finishing in last place in the Pro League, will start the season in the Uzbekistan Pro-B League — the third level and the importance of football in the country.

Playoffs

At the end of the league season, the teams that took third and fourth places will play playoff matches for a spot in the Uzbekistan Super League with the teams that took 12th and 13th places in the 2024 Uzbekistan Super League.

Teams

ClubCoachLocationStadiumCapacityKit sponsorShirt sponsor
Dinamo Flag of Russia.svg Sergey Lushan Samarkand Dinamo Samarkand Stadium 16,000 Joma Agromir Buildings
Istiqlol Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Sergey Lebedev Fergana Fargona Stadium 11,000 Adidas Stroy Montaj Invest
Khorazm Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Maksud Karimov Urgench Xorazm Stadium 13,500 Macron
Neftchi Fergana Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Abdusmad Durmanov Fergana Fargona Stadium
Istiklol Stadium
11,000
22,000
Joma FNQIZ
Oqtepa Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Yaroslav Krushelnitskiy Tashkent Stadion Oq-tepa2,000 Nike
Shurtan Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Asror Aliqulov G‘uzor G'uzor Stadium 7,000 Sport-Saller Uzbekneftegaz
Turon Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Islom Ismoilov Yaypan Uzbekistan Stadium4,500 Adidas Turon Eco Cement
Zaamin Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Jakhongir Jiyamurodov Zaamin Zaamin Stadium5,000 Kappa

Winners and promotions by season

SeasonWinnersRunner-up3rd placeTop scorer
1992 Shifokor Guliston Politotdel Bakht Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Oleg Shatskikh (Politotdel, 25 goals)
1993 FK Atlaschi Surkhan Termez Baghdad Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Igor Burov (FK Atlaschi, 28 goals)
1994 Mash'al Mubarek FK Samarqand-Dinamo Kushan Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Khamza Jabbarov (FK Samarqand-Dinamo, 24 goals)
1995 Dinamo Urganch Kosonsoy Zarafshon Navoi Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Zakir Narzullaev (Diyor Bulungur, 24 goals)
1996 [7] Zarafshon NavoiChilonzor Tashkent Progress Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Aleksey Zhdanov (Chilonzor Tashkent, 50 goals)
1997 Temiryo'lchi Qo'qon Metallurg Bekabad Istiqlol Tashkent Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Shavkat Ismailov (Shurtan Guzar, 29 goals)
Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Ghayrat Odilov (Lochin, 29 goals)
1998 Yangiyer FK Samarqand-Dinamo Kimyogar Chirchiq Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Bakhtiyor Davlatov (FK Yangiyer, 39 goals)
1999 1 [8] Semurg AngrenKimyogar Chirchiq Qizilqum Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Eldor Kasymov (Semurg Angren, 36 goals)
2000Akademiya Tashkent Mash'al Mubarek Sementchi Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Bakhtiyor Davlatov (Mash'al Mubarek, 35 goals)
2001 Temiryo'lchi Qo'qon Mash'al Mubarek Sementchi Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Abduvosit Azizov (Mash'al Mubarek, 21 goals)
2002 FK Guliston Sementchi Angren Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Ulughbek Utarov (Sitora Bukhara, 19 goals)
2003 [9] Sogdiana Jizzakh Lokomotiv Tashkent NBU Osiyo Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Qobil Aliqulov (Sogdiana Jizzakh, 23 goals)
2004 Shurtan Guzar Topalang Sariosiyo NBU Osiyo Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Ravshan Bozorov (Topalang Sariosiyo, 44 goals)
2005 Andijan Xorazm FK Urganch NBU Osiyo Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Pavel Pavlov (Sementchi, 29 goals)
2006 [10] Kuruvchi Vobkent FK Mashʼal-2 Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Ilkhom Khamdamov (Vobkent FK, 42 goals)
2007 Sogdiana Jizzakh Uz-Dong-Ju Andijon Mashʼal-2 Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Vladimir Gavrilov (Oqtepa, 27 goals)
2008 Xorazm FK Urganch Dustlik JizzakhSokol Uchkuduk Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Muiddin Mamazulunov (O.Akbarov, 23 goals)
2009 2 [11] Bunyodkor Qo'qon 1912 Mash'al Sport Zarafshon Navoi Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Aziz Asimov (NBU Osiyo, 20 goals)
Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Mansur Abdullaev (Zarafshon NCZ, 20 goals) [12]
2010 FK Buxoro Sogdiana Jizzakh Guliston Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Abdulatif Juraev (Chust-Pakhtakor/FK Buxoro, 27 goals)
2011 Lokomotiv Tashkent Guliston Yangiyer Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Zaynitdin Tadjiyev (Lokomotiv Tashkent, 30 goals)
2012 Sogdiana Jizzakh Guliston 3 NBU Osiyo Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Khurshid Yuldoshev (Sogdiana Jizzakh, 26 goals)
2013 Mash’al Mubarek Andijan Kokand 1912 Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Firdavs Asadov (Spartak Bukhoro, 21 goals)
2014 Shurtan Guzar Kokand 1912 Obod Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Viktor Klishin (Shurtan Guzar, 40 goals)
2015 Obod Oqtepa Uz-Dong-Ju Andijan Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Alisher Azizov (Obod, 26 goals)
2016 Dinamo Samarqand Norin Sementchi Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Navruz Khaipov (Orol Nukus, 30 goals)
2017 Sementchi Istiqlol Fergana FC Andijon Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Shakhboz Ubaydullaev (Mashʼal-2, 33 goals)
2018 Andijon Mash'al Mubarek Istiqlol Fergana Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Shakhboz Jumabayev (FC Andijon, 16 goals)
2019 Mash'al Mubarek Istiqlol Fergana Oqtepa Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Pavel Purishkin (FC Oqtepa, 19 goals)
2020 Turon Neftchi Fergana Dinamo Samarqand Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Doston Toshmatov (Neftchi Fergana, 12 goals)
2021 Neftchi Fergana Dinamo Samarqand Olympic Flag of Serbia.svg Marko Obradović Neftchi Fergana/ Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Ruzimboy Akhmedov Dinamo Samarqand (12 goals)
2022 Andijon Buxoro Turon Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Ruzimboy Akhmedov (Buxoro, 23 goals)
2023 Lokomotiv Dinamo Kokand 1912 Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Anvar Xojimirzayev (Dinamo, 23 goals)
2024 Mash'alBuxoro Kokand 1912 Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Khumoyun Murtazoev (Dinamo, 16 goals)
1: ^ In the season 1999 additionally to the first second teams also promoted to Uzbek League: Qizilqum Zarafshon and Aral Nukus. [8]
2: ^ The winner and runner-up team of season 2009 did not promoted to Uzbek League because the number of teams of Top League was reduced from 16 to 14 for upcoming 2010 season. [11]
3: ^ FK Guliston could not enter the 2012 Uzbek League as runner-up team and was replaced by Qizilqum Zarafshon because of financial problems.

Coaches of promoted teams

SeasonTeamCoach
1992Shifokor GulistonRiza Mallaev
Politotdel Vladimir Bondarenko
1993 FK Atlaschi Aleksey Stepanov
Surkhon TermezBatyr Kashkenbaev
1994 Mash'al Mubarek Boris Serostanov
FK Samarqand-Dinamo Rustam Istamov
1995 Dinamo Urganch Bahodyr Mirzaev
FK Kosonsoy Vladimir Desyatchikov
1996Zarafshan NavoiUsmon Asqaraliev
Chilonzor Tashkent Rauf Inileev
1997 Temiryo'lchi Qo'qon Bakhrom Khakimov
Metallurg Bekabad Yakov Kaprov
1998 Yangiyer Bakhrom Davlatov
FK Samarqand-Dinamo Berador Abduraimov
1999 4 Semurg AngrenRafael Fabarisov
Kimyogar ChirchiqAlexander Ivankov
Qizilqum Zarafshon Vladimir Desyatchikov
Aral NukusQuvvat Tureev
2000Akademiya TashkentVladimir Zhukovkiy
2001 Temiryo'lchi Qo'qon Avhat Abdulin
Mash'al Mubarek Bakhtiyor Babaev
^ In the season 1999 four teams promoted to Uzbek League
SeasonTeamCoach
2002 FK Guliston Vladimir Zhukovkiy
Sementchi KuvasoyTokhir Kapadze
2003 Sogdiana Jizzakh Suyun Murtazaev
Lokomotiv Tashkent Andrey Miklyaev
2004 Shurtan Guzar Shamil Tolibov
Topalang SariosiyoVladimir Bordyuzha
2005 FK Andijan Islam Akhmedov
Xorazm FK Urganch Quvvat Tureev
2006 Kuruvchi Khikmat Irgashev
Vobkent FK Genadiy Kochnev
2007 Sogdiana Jizzakh Furqat Esanbaev
Uz-Dong-Ju AndijonIslam Akhmedov
2008 Xorazm FK Urganch Valijon Sultanov
Dustlik JizzakhSirojiddin Ergashev
2009 Bunyodkor Qo'qon 1912
Mash'al-Sport
2010 FK Buxoro Genadiy Kochnev
Sogdiana Jizzakh
2011 Lokomotiv Tashkent Rustam Muqimov
FK Guliston Alexandr Lushin
SeasonTeamCoach
2012 Sogdiana Jizzakh Davron Fayziev
FK Guliston Bakhtiyor Ashurmatov
2013 Mash'al Mubarek Alexander Khomyakov
FK Andijan Azamat Abduraimov
2014 Shurtan Guzar Mukhtor Kurbonov
Kokand 1912 Rustam Abdullaev
2015 Obod Tashkent Khayrulla Abdiev
2016 Dinamo Samarqand Ilkhom Sharipov

References

  1. "Pro liganing media va tijorat huquqlari bo'yicha UZREPORT TV bilan kelishuvga erishildi". pfl.uz. 15 July 2020. Archived from the original on 27 May 2022. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  2. Birinchi Liga: 1996 – 1998 (in Russian)
  3. "Superliga. Qaysi jamoalar qoladi, qaysilari ketadi?". championat.asia.
  4. Высшая и Первая лиги Узбекистана сменят названия (in Russian). Gazeta.uz. 21 November 2017.
  5. "Высшая и Первая лиги Узбекистана сменят названия" (in Russian). Gazeta.uz. 21 November 2017.
  6. "O'zbekiston Superligasi va Pro ligasi reglamenti: 7-bob Proliga formati" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 July 2024. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  7. Первая Лига: 1996 – 1998, 25 Ноября 2008 (in Russian)
  8. 1 2 Первая Лига: 1999 – 2002, 5 Декабря 2008 (in Russian)
  9. Первая Лига: 2003 – 2005, 9 Января 2009 (in Russian)
  10. Первая Лига: 2006 – 2008, 12 Января 2009 (in Russian)
  11. 1 2 "Бунедкор-Коканд" - победитель турнира, 29.10.2009 Archived 6 May 2016 at the Wayback Machine (in Russian)
  12. Первая лига-2009: Кто забивал, 16.11.2009 Archived 5 February 2018 at the Wayback Machine (in Russian)