Montenegrin First League


The First League of Montenegro is the top football league in Montenegro. Founded in 2006, competition is headed by the Football Association of Montenegro. 10 teams participate in this league. The winner of the Montenegrin First League starts the qualifications for the UEFA Champions League from the second round. The second and third placed team and Montenegrin Cup winner play in the qualifying rounds of the UEFA Europa League. The last placed team is directly relegated to the Montenegrin Second League, and the two others are playing in Montenegrin First League playoffs.

History

Before independence

As a part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, Montenegrin clubs played in Montenegrin Football Championship which was formed in 1922. Despite the presence of the nationwide Yugoslav Football Championship, Montenegrin teams did not partake in it. Montenegrin Football Championship played until the beginning of World War II.
Most successful teams at that period were SK Crnogorac Cetinje, GSK Balšić Podgorica, FK Lovćen Cetinje, FK Budućnost Podgorica and FK Arsenal Tivat. While SK Crnogorac and GSK Balšić played all the seasons, work of FK Budućnost and FK Lovćen was forbidden in 1935, as they were recognized as workers’ clubs by Kingdom of Yugoslavia government and forbidden.
After World War II and the formation of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, the top league became the Yugoslav First League. Montenegrin teams were allowed to partake in the nationwide league structure, with a Montenegrin Republic League acting as a lower-tier division with promotion and relegation between the Yugoslav league system. The most prominent clubs from Montenegro in this period were FK Budućnost and FK Sutjeska.
FK Budućnost was among the founders of Yugoslav First League and a member of its inaugural season. During the most of SFRY era, FK Budućnost played in First League, while another team from Montenegro in top-tier waa FK Sutjeska. Other teams played in Yugoslav Second League or lower ranks. Among them, most successful was FK Lovćen, who played twice in First League qualifiers, but without success at the end of campaigns.
Below is the list of performances of Montenegrin teams in Yugoslav First League from 1946 to 1992, with final placements on every single season.
Club474950565758596063656772737677
Budućnost 106101191091114----159
Sutjeska ---------15151618--

When SFR Yugloslavia dissolved, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was formed in 1992 and the Serbian and Montenegrin teams played in this league, although it was still named Yugoslav First League. In 2003, FR Yugoslavia became Serbia and Montenegro and the football league followed suit. Montenegrin clubs played in the First League with Serbian clubs from 1992 to 2006. In that period, representatives of Montenegro in the Yugoslav/Serbia and Montenegro First League were FK Budućnost, FK Sutjeska, FK Rudar, FK Mogren, FK Zeta, FK Kom and FK Jedinstvo.
Below is the list of performances of Montenegrin teams in FR Yugoslavia First League from 1992 to 2006, with final placements on every single season.
Club9394959697989900010203040506
Budućnost 1061114108141215---614
Sutjeska 161819-2021-57114815-
Mogren 1320----1519--16---
Rudar -1320--20---717---
Zeta --------13581135
Kom -----------16--
Jedinstvo -------------16

For 2004–05, restructuring of the Serbo-Montenegrin football league system saw the dissolution of the national second league, instead being replaced by two regional divisions for both republics of the union with promotion to the still-united First League.
Montenegrin teams which played in European competitions during Yugoslav era were FK Budućnost, FK Sutjeska and FK Zeta.

After independence

In 2006, after the Independence referendum, Montenegro split from Serbia. Following that, Montenegrin First League is founded as top-tier national competition. On inaugural season, members of League became three teams from former First League of Serbia and Montenegro, seven from Second League, and two from Montenegrin Republic League.
In period 2006-2017, league consisted on 12 clubs, which played 33 matches during the season. From 2017-18 season number of participants in the Montenegrin First League is reduced to 10, with 36 week-long competition.
By now, 19 different clubs participated in the Montenegrin First League. Most successful were FK Sutjeska with four titles and FK Budućnost three national titles. Two titles won FK Rudar and FK Mogren. Another winners were FK Zeta and OFK Titograd with one title.

2006–16

Historical first game in Prva CFL was played on 11 August 2006 in Pljevlja. In front of 5,000 spectators, a game between the home side FK Rudar and FK Budućnost, finished with victory of away team. In fifth minute of that match, Ivan Čarapić scored the very first goal in the history of Prva CFL.
The first champion of the top-tier CFL was Zeta, who won the trophy on the championship's final weekend, after a hard struggle with neighbouring Budućnost. Game between FK Berane and FK Budućnost was not even finished, after the crowd disturbances during the second half. A third derby between Budućnost and Zeta in Podgorica was attended by 10,000 spectators, which is a record-high attendance in the history of CFL. During the season, many games were disrupted by crowd disturbances and a match between Zeta and Budućnost in Golubovci was not played, after the decision was made by the home team not to open their stadium following discussion with Football Association of Montenegro.

Next season started with incidents during the Montenegrin Derby in Nikšić. Budućnost won the title, with the same number of points as Zeta and Mogren. But, Budućnost had the best score against two opponents from the top of the table. This marked the first trophy for the team from Podgorica. Their manager at that time Branko Babić became the first foreign coach to win the Prva CFL title. With an average attendance of 4,250 for their home games, Budućnost made a Montenegrin First League all-time record.
The title winners for season 2008–09 became Mogren, the first-ever club from the coastal Montenegro to win the title. The race for the champions' trophy lasted until the final week, when Mogren won an away game against Jedinstvo. At the end of season, they had four points more than second-placed Budućnost and 11 more than the third-place team - Sutjeska.
A year later Rudar won the first title in their club's history. They won the trophy after dramatic struggle with Budućnost, and only two points decided the championship race. During that year, Ivan Bošković from Grbalj scored 28 goals, which is the all-time record for one single season. During the last week of season, his team made another record, with the highest victory ever in Montenegrin First League, against Kom '. During that game, Bošković scored four goals - which is another Prva CFL record, shared with FK Zeta’s player Miljan Vlaisavljević and OFK Titograd’s player Zoran Petrović.

Mogren became first club to win a second champion trophy in Prva CFL. The team from Budva won the title on season 2010-11, but with equal number of points as second-placed Budućnost: '. In the end, head-to-head scores compared, Mogren were victorious over Budućnost '.

Budućnost won their second trophy in season 2011-12, whilst also setting records for highest number of points in CFL by single season ' and highest number of scored goals by season '. But, the team from Podgorica didn't win the trophy easily - they were followed by Rudar, who trailed by three points at the end of season. Additionally, Budućnost failed to beat Rudar during the season '

Sutjeska became the first club to win two consecutive titles of CFL champion - both times with Dragan Radojičić as head coach. The team from Nikšić won the title for seasons 2012-13 and 2013-14. Sutjeska headed to their first title with five points more than Budućnost, but secured the trophy on last week of the season. During that season, Sutjeska for the first time in the First League played city derbies against Čelik ', who placed third at the end of competition. Second trophy, Sutjeska won after the dramatic spring half-season and struggle with Lovćen. The title winner was decided a week before the end of season, after a draw between Sutjeska and Lovćen. That was the first season on which Budućnost didn't finish in first or second position.

At the end of season 2014-15, Rudar won the second title in the club's history. The team from Pljevlja won the race against title holders Sutjeska, who finished second. The team at the bottom of the table - Berane at the end of season had only 13 points with 78 goals conceded, which were negative records of Prva CFL at that time. After the relegation playoffs, Mogren were relegated to the Second League. This was the first time in history of Prva CFL that former champions were relegated.
The tenth edition of Prva CFL finished with a shock, as OFK Titograd from Podgorica won their first-ever national title. During this era, OFK Titograd played under the name Mladost Podgorica. They won the champions' race against city rivals from Budućnost and during the season, OFK Titograd won all three games against them '. After the last week, OFK Titograd had four points more than the second-placed team.

In the period from 2006 to 2016, FK Budućnost, FK Sutjeska, FK Rudar and FK Mogren won two champion titles, and FK Zeta and OFK Titograd one. During that time, 19 different clubs participated in Prva CFL.

2016–present

FK Budućnost won their third champions' title on season 2016-17, but with equal number of points as Zeta and OFK Titograd. During the season, six points were deducted from FK Zeta because of irregularities, so they weren't able to win the trophy. Week before the end of season, on Budućnost - OFK Titograd match, ultras of home team burned a part of north stand at Podgorica City Stadium, and the game was interrupted and registered with result 0-3. But, that epilog did not have influence on final placement, as Budućnost finished on the top of the table, with better head-to-head score against OFK Titograd and Zeta.
Next season, FK Sutjeska won their third title. Team from Nikšić dominated from the very beginning of championship and secured the trophy after 30 weeks. Except that, Sutjeska made a new league record with 11 games without conceded goal. They finished season with 22 points more than second-placed Budućnost.
Season 2018-19 started with the poorest performances of Montenegrin clubs in European competitions since independence. Four teams played 10 games in Champions league and Europa League qualifiers, but without any single win. During the season, FK Sutjeska and FK Budućnost have battle for champions’ title and 100th Montenegrin Derby in Nikšić was followed by huge incidents after the game, with numerous wounded ultras and policemen. Week before the end, FK Sutjeska won the title - fourth in team's history. At the same time, Nikola Rakojević became the first manager to win three titles. That was the second time in Prva CFL that one club retained the title - both times it did Sutjeska. During the same season, Mornar finished with 12 points and only one victory from 36 games, which is the all-time negative record in Prva CFL.
Season 2019-20 started with the title race between FK Budućnost and FK Sutjeska, but the championship was interrupted in March 2020, after 23 weeks, due to the coronavirus pandemic. At that time, FK Budućnost was a leader, with 11 points more than FK Sutjeska. Two months after that, Football Association of Montenegro decided that Prva CFL will be continued on 30th May and that the season will last until 28th July. But, at the beginning of July, due to COVID-19 case among FK Budućnost players, Football Association of Montenegro decided to stop every official competition. Because of that, placement after 31 week was the final one. Therefore, FK Budućnost became a new champion. The team from Podgorica secured the title before the final interruption, as they have 18 points more than second-placed squad. Except that, FK Sutjeska, FK Iskra and FK Zeta qualified for European competitions, too. Last-placed OFK Grbalj was directly relegated to Druga CFL and FK Kom after the playoff games against FK Jezero.

Changes in league structure

Main rivalry in the Montenegrin First League is between Budućnost and Sutjeska, often called as Montenegrin Derby. First edition of derby in official competitions was played at 1932, and until today two clubs played derbies in the highest-tier competitions of SFR Yugoslavia, FR Yugoslavia and, at the new era, in Montenegrin First League.
Other traditional rivalry is between FK Budućnost and FK Lovćen Cetinje, because two clubs are playing important games since the 1920s. That rivalry is further fuelled by the fact that Budućnost is the major club from the capital Podgorica, while Lovćen is the main club from the former royal capital, Cetinje.
During the first two seasons of Montenegrin First League, there was a strong rivalry between Budućnost and Zeta. Two clubs from the territory of the Capital Podgorica were main candidates for title at 2006-07 and 2007–08, and their match from the spring 2007 attended more than 10,000 spectators at Podgorica City Stadium. That is the highest attendance in the history of Montenegrin First League.
At seasons 2012-13 and 2013–14, there was a big local derby in Nikšić, between Sutjeska and Čelik. At that time, their matches were often attended by more than 7,000 supporters.
In the new period, there was a strong title races between Rudar and Budućnost or Sutjeska and Rudar.

Champions and top goalscorers by season

Champions

Since its inception in 2006–07 season, six different clubs have won the title. Budućnost and Sutjeska won four titles both, while Rudar and Mogren won the trophy twice.
The only club retain the title is FK Sutjeska, who did it twice
;Key
†League champions also won the Montenegrin Cup.

Performance by club

and Sutjeska holded four trophies both. Except that, Budućnost is the only club which finished as a champion or runner-up more than 10 times. FK Lovćen is the only team which finished as a runner-up but never gained any title.
ClubCityChampionsRunners-upWinning years
FK BudućnostPodgorica
4
8
2007–08, 2011–12, 2016–17, 2019–20
FK SutjeskaNikšić
4
2
2012–13, 2013–14, 2017–18, 2018–19
FK RudarPljevlja
2
1
2009–10, 2014–15
FK MogrenBudva
2
-
2008–09, 2010–11
FK ZetaGolubovci
1
2
2006–07
OFK TitogradPodgorica
1
-
2015–16
FK LovćenCetinje
-
1

Top scorers

Every season, best scorer of Prva CFL is awarded with Radio Montenegro Trophy.
The biggest number of goals during one single season scored Ivan Bošković during the season 2009–10. On two seasons, top-scorers were two different players. Žarko Korać and Admir Adrović are the only players which were top-scorers on two different seasons. Most top scorers during the single seasons were from Budućnost, followed by 3 which played for Sutjeska, OFK Titograd and Zeta.
SeasonTop scorerClubGoals
2006–07 Damir Čakar
Žarko Korać		Rudar
Zeta		16
2007–08 Ivan JablanLovćen13
2008–09 Fatos BećirajBudućnost18
2009–10 Ivan BoškovićGrbalj28
2010–11 Ivan VukovićBudućnost20
2011–12 Admir AdrovićBudućnost22
2012–13 Admir Adrović
Žarko Korać		Budućnost
Zeta		15
2013–14 Stefan MugošaOFK Titograd15
2014–15 Goran VujovićSutjeska21
2015–16 Marko ŠćepanovićOFK Titograd19
2016–17 Zoran PetrovićOFK Titograd14
2017–18 Igor IvanovićSutjeska14
2018–19 Nikola KrstovićZeta17
2019–20 Marko ĆetkovićSutjeska10

Players and managers

Players

Appearances

Since foundation of Prva CFL, the biggest number of games played Miroje Jovanović. Except him, another seven different players have more than 300 appearances. Below is list of 5 players with the biggest number of played games in Prva CFL.
RankPlayerClubGamesFirstLast
1 Miroje JovanovićOFK Titograd, Kom, Rudar, Iskra4042006–072019–20
2 Miloš LakićKom, Petrovac, OFK Titograd, Lovćen, Iskra3962006–072019–20
3 Milan ĐurišićBudućnost, OFK Titograd, Lovćen, Iskra3782006–072019–20
4 Ivan NovovićZeta, OFK Titograd3752007–082019–20
5 Predrag BrnovićKom, Rudar, Čelik, Mornar3662006–072018–19

As of the end of 2019–20 season.
First = First season in Prva CFL; Last = Last season in Prva CFL
Sources:

Goalscorers

Since foundation of Prva CFL, most goals in competition scored Admir Adrović. Playing for four different teams, he scored overall 102 goals. Below is list of 5 best all-time goalscorers.
RankPlayerClubGoalsGamesFirstLast
1 Admir AdrovićBerane, Sutjeska, Budućnost, OFK Titograd1022432006–072019–20
2 Ivan VukovićBudućnost, OFK Titograd, Grbalj, Iskra872262006–072019–20
3 Žarko KoraćZeta, Grbalj851612006–072017–18
4 Ivan JablanPetrovac, Lovćen, Grbalj762982006–072018–19
5 Milan ĐurišićBudućnost, OFK Titograd, Lovćen, Iskra653782006–072019–20

As of the end of 2019–20 season.
Clubs = Only Prva CFL teams for which every player scored at least one goal; First = Season of player's first goal in Prva CFL; Last = Season of player's last goal in Prva CFL
Sources:

Goalkeepers

From the first edition of Prva CFL, many goalkeepers made runs without conceded goals during the three or more games. Below is the list of three biggest runs from 2006-07 edition until now, classified by minutes without conceded goal.

Foreign players

Performances
Defender from Bosnia and Herzegovina Srđan Graovac, who played for Petrovac, Budućnost and Mornar, is foreign player with most performances in the history of Prva CFL. Except him, two other foreign players which played more than 100 games in Prva CFL are Alphonse Soppo and Predrag Ranđelović.
Below is list of 5 foreign players with the biggest number of played games in Prva CFL.
RankPlayerClubGamesFirstLast
1 Srđan GraovacPetrovac, Budućnost, Mornar1782006–072015–16
2 Alphonse SoppoRudar, Zeta1322015–162019–20
3 Predrag RanđelovićRudar, Mogren1022008–092011–12
4 Nikola KaraklajićIskra812017–182019–20
5 Kohei KatoRudar, Iskra712013–142019–20
Goalscorers
Striker Predrag Ranđelović, who played for Rudar and Mogren, is foreign player with most scored goals in the history of Prva CFL. Among the best five all-time foreign goalscorers are only the players from Serbia.
Below is list of 5 best all-time goalscorers from foreign states.
RankPlayerClubGoalsGamesFirstLast
1 Predrag RanđelovićRudar, Mogren471022008–092011–12
2 Ivica JovanovićRudar30702008–092011–12
3 Đorđe ŠušnjarSutjeska19322012–132012–13
4 Nenad JovanovićPetrovac19622010–112011–12
5 Igor MatićGrbalj, Mogren19702009–102011–12

As of the end of 2018–19 season.
Clubs = Only Prva CFL teams for which every player scored at least one goal; First = Season of player's first goal in Prva CFL; Last = Season of player's last goal in Prva CFL
Sources:

Managers

During the history, nine different managers won the title of Montenegrin First League champions. Among them, Nikola Rakojević won the three titles. Dragan Radojičić and Dejan Vukićević did it twice. Rakojević and Radojičić are the managers which won more than one title with the same team.
ManagerClubWinsWinning years
Nikola RakojevićOFK Titograd, Sutjeska32015–16, 2017–18, 2018–19
Dragan RadojičićSutjeska22012–13, 2013–14
Dejan VukićevićZeta, Mogren22006–07, 2008–09
Branko BabićBudućnost12007–08
Miodrag RadulovićBudućnost12011–12
Miodrag VukotićBudućnost12016–17
Nebojša VignjevićRudar12009–10
Mirko MarićRudar12014–15
Mladen MilinkovićBudućnost12019–20
Branislav MilačićMogren12010–11

Awards

Every year, Football Association of Montenegro is organising awards ceremony for best player and best manager in Montenegrin First League. Best player and manager are chosen by coaches and captains of First League members.
Player of the Year
Manager of the Year

Montenegrin clubs in Yugoslav First League (1946–2006)

In period from 1946 to 2006, Montenegrin clubs played in the First league of SFR Yugoslavia, FR Yugoslavia and Serbia and Montenegro. Below is the list of all matches and seasons by every single club in the First league from 1946 until 2006.
ClubTownSeasonFirstLastPldWDLGDPts
BudućnostPodgorica371946–472005–0611523862665001274:16251424
SutjeskaNikšić201964–652004–05671217136318776:1029787
ZetaGolubovci62000–012005–06188833471269:250283
MogrenBudva51993–942002–0371443591171:289167
RudarPljevlja61994–952002–03140393368129:187150
KomPodgorica12003–042003–0430422421:6714
JedinstvoBijelo Polje12005–062005–0630322518:7211

Prva CFL (2006–present)

Since its inauguration in 2006–07 season, 20 different clubs played in Montenegrin First League. Clubs which played all the seasons are Budućnost, Sutjeska, Rudar, Zeta, Petrovac and Grbalj.
2020–21 Montenegrin First League
2020–21 Montenegrin Second League
2020–21 Montenegrin Third League
No longer exists

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

Participants by season

Relegation and promotion

At the end of every season, the last placed team are relegated to the Montenegrin Second League, while the winner of Second League is promoted to highest-rank. Additionally, another two teams from First and Second League every season are participating in the playoffs.

Directly promoted and relegated teams

Below is the list of directly promoted and relegated teams by every single season. Relegated were last-placed teams in First League, while directly promoted teams were the champions of Montenegrin Second League.
Year Directly relegated Directly promoted
2007FK BeraneFK Lovćen
2008OFK TitogradFK Jezero
2009FK JedinstvoFK Berane
2010FK KomOFK Titograd
2011OFK BarFK Bokelj
2012FK BokeljFK Čelik
2013FK JedinstvoFK Dečić
2014FK DečićFK Bokelj
2015FK BeraneFK Iskra
2016FK MornarFK Jedinstvo
2017FK JedinstvoFK Kom
2018FK DečićFK Mornar
2019FK MornarFK Podgorica
2020OFK GrbaljFK Dečić

Playoffs

Montenegrin First League playoffs is a two legs tournament between the teams from Montenegrin First League which above direct relegation, and the teams from Montenegrin Second League which below the direct promotion. Below is the list of playoffs participants by every single season.

Records and statistics

Champions

M = Number of matches ; H = Highest attendance on one match; CH = Club with highest average attendance; CL = Club with lowest average attendance

Current season (2020–21)

The 2020–21 Montenegrin First League is the 15th season of top-tier football in Montenegro. FK Budućnost are the defending champions. The season will begin in August 2020 and will end in May 2021. At the end of season, last-placed team will directly be relegated, and 9th and 8th club from the table will participate in playoffs.

The following 10 clubs complete in First League 2020-21.
Club
CityPosition
in 2019–20		Seasons in
top division		First season in
top division		StadiumFloodlightsOfficial website
Podgorica521946–47Stadion pod Goricom Yes
Tuzi1st in Druga CFL 112006–07Stadion Tuško Polje Yes
Danilovgrad62015–16Braća Velašević Stadium Yes
Plav2nd in Druga CFL 22008–09Stadion Pod Racinom No
Petrovac152006–07Stadion pod Malim brdom Yes
Podgorica5th22019–20DG Arena Yes
Pljevlja211993–94Stadion pod Golubinjom Yes
Nikšić351964–65Stadion kraj Bistrice Yes
Podgorica132006–07Mladost Stadium Yes
Golubovci212000–01Stadion Trešnjica Yes

Seasons in top division - including the season 2020-21.

Montenegrin clubs in European football competitions

History

During the history, Montenegrin football clubs played in three different UEFA competitions for clubs - UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europe League and Intertoto Cup.

Champions of Montenegro never played in the group-phase of UEFA Champions League, and most successful in the qualifiers was FK Zeta Golubovci at season 2007-08 and FK Sutjeska Nikšić at season 2019-20.

Best performances in UEFA Europe League had FK Zeta who played in the playoffs, and OFK Titograd, FK Budućnost and FK Sutjeska which played in Round 3. Most successful in Intertoto Cup was Budućnost, which was among the winners during the 1981 season.

Below is a table with Montenegrin clubs' scores in UEFA competitions.
As of the end of UEFA competitions 2019–20 season.
Except the official UEFA competitions, teams from Montenegro represented SFR Yugoslavia in the Balkans Cup, former regional football competition. Teams from Montenegro which played in Balkans Cup were FK Budućnost Podgorica and FK Sutjeska Nikšić. Biggest success made FK Budućnost, who played in the final 1991, after eliminated Galatasaray SK.

UEFA Rankings

UEFA Country Ranking for league participation in 2019–20 European football season
Prva CFL has been played in 20 different stadiums since its first edition. Biggest stadium, used by FK Budućnost, is Podgorica City Stadium. It's the only stadium whose capacity is more than 10,000 seats. There are three other stadiums with capacity more than 5,000 seats, while four stadiums meets UEFA criteria - Podgorica City Stadium, Stadium in Nikšić, DG Arena and Stadium in Petrovac. Below is the list of stadiums on which played members of Prva CFL from season 2006-07 until now.

Logo and sponsorships

Official logo and equipment

Since establishing, Montenegrin First League had two different official logos.
First logo was presented in 2006. Rebranding of the league came in 2018, together with the new logos of Montenegrin Cup, Montenegrin Second League and youth leagues.
Official ball of competition is produced under the Derbystar brand, while the official equipment of referees is product of Legea.

Sponsorships

Name of the competition

Since foundation, main sponsor of Montenegrin First League is Montenegrin 'Telekom' which operates under the T-Com / T-Mobile brand.
Since foundation of the competition, official broadcaster of First Montenegrin League matches is national television of Montenegro - RTCG. Matches of 1. CFL are directly broadcasting at RTCG channel 2, with most important matches on satellite programming.
From season 2017-18, broadcaster of matches is regional group Arena Sport. Every weekend, one game is broadcast live on Arena Sport channel.
Since season 2018-19, some games of Prva CFL are broadcast by cable-network channel MNE Sport TV.