2024–25 Czech First League


The 2024–25 Czech First League, known as the Chance Liga for sponsorship reasons, was the 32nd season of the Czech Republic's top-tier football for professional clubs since its establishment in 1993. [AC AC Sparta Prague|Sparta Prague|Sparta Prague] were the reigning champions. The first half of the season had 19 rounds, starting in July 2024 and finishing in December. The second half commenced in February 2025. The season ended on 25 May 2025 with two extra play-out fixtures on 29 May and 1 June 2025.

Format

From the start of the 2024–25 season, the league became known as the "Chance Liga" after its new main sponsor, Chance betting office. The general season format is unchanged from last season, the 16 clubs play each other home and away, until the league is split up in championship, play-off and relegation groups. The lowest-ranked team will be relegated directly to the second league, and the two teams positioned 14th and 15th will play a play-out with two teams from the second league positioned 2nd and 3rd in a home and away format. The change is the cancellation of the Conference League play-off final between the teams finishing 5th and the team winning the play-off group. The winner of the middle group will only receive a financial bonus.
This is the seventh season to use VAR, featuring it in all matches played. The VAR central workplace in the Michle district of Prague was used for the first time. VAR had offside line technology available for the first time.
In the 2024–25 season, three new rules were introduced. The first is the ability for teams to use a sixth substitution if there is a head injury or concussion. Secondly, the punishment for a player in a situation where that player spoils a clear scoring opportunity with his hand was changed, and only a yellow card was awarded instead of a red card. Finally, the assessment of premature running of players into the penalty area during a penalty also changed.
Other changes concern the dates of matches, which is partly due to the new format of the European competitions. The spring part started a week earlier than in previous years and the exact dates of the matches were determined further in advance than three weeks, as has been the case so far.

Events

SK Dynamo České Budějovice became the first team in the history of the Czech First League to not win any match in the regular season. After continuing the run in the season-ending relegation group, in which they picked up a solitary point, the club finished their 35-game season without winning.

Teams

Promotion and relegation (pre-season)

A total of sixteen teams contest the league, including 15 sides from the 2023–24 season and the winner of last season's second league.
;Team promoted to Czech First League
After being relegated in the 2018–19 season, Dukla Prague returned to Czech First League as the champion of the 2023–24 Czech National Football League.
;Teams relegated from Czech First League
The lowest positioned team from the last season, FC Zlín, was relegated to the Czech National Football League.

Locations and stadiums

TeamLocationStadiumCapacity
Bohemians 1905PragueĎolíček6,300
SK Dynamo České BudějoviceČeské BudějoviceStadion Střelecký ostrov6,681
FK Dukla PraguePragueStadion Juliska8,150
FC Hradec KrálovéHradec KrálovéMalšovická aréna9,300
FK JablonecJablonec nad NisouStadion Střelnice6,108
MFK KarvináKarvináMěstský stadion (Karviná)4,833
FC Slovan LiberecLiberecStadion u Nisy9,900
FK Mladá BoleslavMladá BoleslavLokotrans Aréna5,000
SK Sigma OlomoucOlomoucAndrův stadion12,474
FC Baník OstravaOstravaMěstský stadion (Ostrava)15,123
FK PardubicePardubiceCFIG Arena4,620
FC Viktoria PlzeňPlzeňDoosan Arena11,700
Slavia PraguePragueFortuna Arena19,370
1. FC SlováckoUherské HradištěMěstský fotbalový stadion Miroslava Valenty8,000
AC Sparta PraguePragueepet ARENA18,944
FK TepliceTepliceNa Stínadlech18,221

RankRegionNumber of teamsClub
14Bohemians 1905, Dukla Prague,
Sparta Prague, Slavia Prague
22Jablonec, Slovan Liberec
22Baník Ostrava, Karviná
41Mladá Boleslav
41Hradec Králové
41Sigma Olomouc
41Pardubice
41Viktoria Plzeň
41Dynamo České Budějovice
41Teplice
41Slovácko

Managerial changes

Ahead of the season:
TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyReplaced byDate of appointmentContract valid until
Slovan Liberec End of contract30 06 2024 26 05 2024Undisclosed
Pardubice Mutual consent25 05 2024 27 05 2024Undisclosed
Sigma Olomouc Sacked12 05 2024 29 05 2024Undisclosed
Karviná Sacked30 06 2024 11 06 2024Undisclosed
Sparta Prague Mutual consent12 06 2024 12 06 2024Undisclosed
Slovácko Mutual consent31 05 2024 12 06 2024Undisclosed
Jablonec Sacked07 06 2024 17 06 2024Undisclosed

During the season:
TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyMatch-weekPosition in tableReplaced byDate of appointmentContract valid until
České Budějovice Sacked28 07 2024216th 28 07 2024Undisclosed
Mladá Boleslav Mutual consent24 08 2024510th 24 08 2024Undisclosed
Pardubice Sacked26 10 20241315th 29 10 2024Undisclosed
Slovácko Sacked27 10 2024138th 14 11 2024Summer 2027
České Budějovice Sacked10 01 20251916th 12 01 2025Undisclosed
Slovácko Sacked31 3 20252713th 31 3 2025End of the season
Mladá Boleslav Mutual consent08 04 20252810th

08 04 2025End of the season
Sparta Prague Sacked15 May 2025334th 15 May 2025End of the season

Regular season

League table


Championship group

Points and goals were carried over in full from the regular season.

Middle group

Teams will play a group for placement. Starting in the 2024–25 season, the group winner will no longer be awarded the Conference League play-off against the fourth-placed or fifth-placed of the championship group and will only receive a financial bonus.

Relegation group

Points and goals were carried over in full from the regular season.

Relegation play-offs

Teams placed 14th and 15th in the relegation group faced the teams placed 2nd and 3rd in the Czech National Football League for two spots in the next season.

Season statistics

Top scorers

Final standings
RankPlayerClubGoals
1 Jan KlimentOlomouc18
2 Pavel ŠulcPlzeň15
3 Tomáš ChorýSlavia14
4 Filip VechetaKarviná13
4 EwertonOstrava13
4 Vasil KušejMladá Boleslav / Slavia13
7 Lukáš HaraslínSparta11
8 Matyáš VojtaMladá Boleslav10
8 Amar MemićKarviná / Plzeň10
8 Matěj VydraPlzeň10

Hat-tricks

;Notes
– Home team, – Away team

Clean sheets

Final standings
RankPlayerClubClean sheets
1 Jan HanušJablonec16
2 Matouš TrmalMladá Boleslav / Teplice13
3 Antonín KinskýSlavia12
3 Adam ZadražilHradec Králové12
5 Matúš HruškaDukla10
6 Martin JedličkaPlzeň9
6 Jindřich StaněkSlavia9
7 Peter VindahlSparta8
9 Milan HečaSlovácko7
9 Jakub MarkovičOstrava / Slavia7
9 Jakub LapešKarviná7
9 Dominik HolecOstrava7

Attendances

RankClubAverage
1SK Slavia Praha18,306
2AC Sparta Praha15,865
3FC Baník Ostrava10,276
4FC Viktoria Plzeň8,922
5FC Hradec Králové6,225
6SK Sigma Olomouc5,267
7Bohemians Praha 19055,101
81. FC Slovácko4,188
9FK Teplice4,078
10FC Slovan Liberec3,430
11FK Dukla Praha3,048
12FK Jablonec3,007
13SK Dynamo České Budějovice2,898
14FK Pardubice2,547
15MFK Karviná2,416
16FK Mladá Boleslav2,231