History
The Premijer Liga was established in 2000, following the breakup of Yugoslavia and the formation of Bosnia and Herzegovina as an independent country. It replaced the Bosnia and Herzegovina Football Championship, which had been the top-level league in the country during the Yugoslav era. The Premijer Liga has since become the top professional football league in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
League System
The Premijer Liga operates on a promotion and relegation system, with the bottom two teams at the end of the season being relegated to the second-tier league (First League of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina or First League of the Republika Srpska, depending on their geographic location) and replaced by the top two teams from that league. The league consists of 12 teams, and the season typically runs from August to May.
Stats
As of the 2021-2022 season, FK Sarajevo is the most successful club in the league’s history, with 8 championships to their name. Other past champions include FK Željezničar, HŠK Zrinjski Mostar, and FK Borac Banja Luka. The league’s all-time leading goalscorer is Željezničar’s Nermin Šabić, who scored 117 goals in his Premijer Liga career.
Audience
The Premijer Liga is very popular among football fans in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and many matches draw large crowds. Matches are broadcast on television and streamed online, and the league’s official website provides information and updates for fans around the world.
Players
The Premijer Liga features both Bosnian and international players, with many talented individuals competing in the league. Notable former players who have competed in the league include Edin Džeko, Miralem Pjanić, and Zvjezdan Misimović, among others.
