Montenegrin Women's League

Football league
Montenegrin Women's League
Founded2008 (as FSCG Trophy); 2011 (as 1. ŽFL)
Country Montenegro
ConfederationUEFA
Divisions1
Number of teams5
Level on pyramid1
Domestic cup(s)Montenegrin Cup (women)
International cup(s)UEFA Champions League
Current championsBreznica (8th title)
(2023–24)
Most championshipsBreznica (7 titles)
WebsiteFederation

The Montenegrin Women's Football league or 1. ŽFL is the top level women's football league of Montenegro. It is organized by the Football Association of Montenegro.

The winning team of the league is eligible for a spot in the UEFA Women's Champions League.

The first national women's football competition was held in the season 2008-09, but the league played its inaugural season in 2011-12.[1]

History

Women's football history in Montenegro started in the period after the Montenegrin independence referendum. Beside the fact that the first women's club was founded in 2005, competitions started years after that. In 2008, Football Association of Montenegro founded national women's team and first women's competition - a yearly tournament called FSCG Trophy.[2] With its first season 2008-09, FSCG trophy matches lasted 60 minutes, with seven substitutes allowed. From season 2011-12, Montenegrin Women's First League is founded (commonly known as 1. ŽFL), with participation of the champion in the UEFA Women's Champions League.

FSCG Trophy (2008-2011)

Inaugural competition for women, Trophy of Montenegrin FA (Trofej FSCG) lasted three seasons. With matches' duration of 60 minutes, competition was preparation for founding of First Montenegrin Women's Football League.
First two editions of FSCG Trophy (2008–09, 2009–10) won ŽFK Palma from Podgorica[3][4] (from season 2016-17 under the name ŽFK Budućnost Podgorica[5]). On season 2010-11, winner was ŽFK Ekonomist from Nikšić.[6] In the first season of FSCG trophy participated only four clubs, but until the season 2010-11 there was six members of the competition.

First Women's League (2011-)

First matches of Montenegrin Women's League (1. ŽFL) were played in autumn 2011. In its first season, new competition with conventional rules (90 minutes games, 3 substitutes) had participants from all three regions of Montenegro (northern, central and southern).
In period from 2011 to 2015, most successful squad in 1. ŽFL was ŽFK Ekonomist. They won four consecutive titles, mostly finishing the seasons without a single defeat.[7][8] Successes of ŽFK Ekonomist finished on the season 2015-16, whose winner was ŽFK Breznica from Pljevlja.[9] That was the beginning of ŽFK Breznica domination. They won eight titles in a row, including the season 2019-20, which was interrupted due to COVID-19 pandemic in Montenegro.[10] Season 2020-21 was remembered by most dramatic title race, which won ŽFK Breznica, thanks to one single goal more than second-placed ŽFK Budućnost in their head-to-head matches.
Since foundation, 1. ŽFL had different number of participants: 2011/12 - 7 clubs; 2012-13 - 6 clubs; 2013/14 - 7 clubs; 2014/15 - 8 clubs; 2015/16 - 8 clubs; 2016/17 - 5 clubs; 2017/18 - 4 clubs; 2018/19 - 7 clubs; 2019/20 - 6 clubs; 2020/21 - 5 clubs; 2021/22 - 4 clubs; 2022/23 - 6 clubs.

Champions and top goalscorers

Titles by seasons

Season Competition Champion Runner-up Third
2008–09 FSCG Trophy Budućnost Podgorica Ekonomist Nikšić Pristan Bar
2009–10 FSCG Trophy Budućnost Podgorica Ekonomist Nikšić Pristan Bar
2010–11 FSCG Trophy Ekonomist Nikšić Sport Uno Bijelo Polje Pristan Bar
2011–12 1. ŽFL Ekonomist Nikšić Budućnost Podgorica Pristan Bar
2012–13 1. ŽFL Ekonomist Nikšić Podgorica Sport Uno Bijelo Polje
2013–14 1. ŽFL Ekonomist Nikšić Breznica Pljevlja Podgorica
2014–15 1. ŽFL Ekonomist Nikšić Breznica Pljevlja Podgorica
2015–16 1. ŽFL Breznica Pljevlja Ekonomist Nikšić Obilić Herceg Novi
2016–17[11] 1. ŽFL Breznica Pljevlja Ekonomist Nikšić Mladost Podgorica
2017–18[12] 1. ŽFL Breznica Pljevlja Ekonomist Nikšić Mladost Podgorica
2018–19 1. ŽFL Breznica Pljevlja Budućnost Podgorica Ekonomist Nikšić
2019–20 1. ŽFL Breznica Pljevlja Budućnost Podgorica Ekonomist Nikšić
2020–21 1. ŽFL Breznica Pljevlja Budućnost Podgorica Ekonomist Nikšić
2021–22 1. ŽFL Breznica Pljevlja Danilovgrad Ekonomist Nikšić
2022–23 1. ŽFL Breznica Pljevlja Budućnost Podgorica Ekonomist Nikšić

Titles by team

Club Winners Runners-up Winning Years
ŽFK Breznica Pljevlja
8
2
2015-16, 2016-17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23
ŽFK Ekonomist Nikšić
5
5
2010–11, 2011-12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15
ŽFK Budućnost Podgorica
2
5
2008-09, 2009-10
ŽFK Sport Uno Bijelo Polje
-
1
ŽFK Podgorica
-
1
ŽFK Danilovgrad
-
1

Top scorers

Season Top scorer(s) Club Goals
2015-16 Montenegro Tamara Bojat
Serbia Marijana Jankov
Breznica 21[13]
2016-17 Montenegro Tamara Bojat Breznica 24
2017-18 Serbia Marijana Jankov Breznica 14[14]
2018-19 Montenegro Anđela Tošković Budućnost 30
2019-20 Montenegro Jelena Vujadinović Breznica 35
2020-21 Montenegro Anđela Tošković Budućnost 32
2021-22 Bosnia and Herzegovina Minela Gačanica Breznica 21
2022-23 Montenegro Milica Šebek Breznica 30

Participants and records

All-time participants (2008-)

Since foundation, in Montenegrin Women's League participated 19 different clubs. Below is a list of participants with number of seasons in the First League and total games, with victories, draws and defeats.

Club Town Ssn First Last G W D L Pts
Ekonomist Nikšić
15
2008-09
2022-23
195
132
15
48
411
Breznica Pljevlja
10
2013-14
2022-23
151
128
12
11
396
Budućnost Podgorica
9
2008-09
2022-23
104
81
7
16
250
Mladost Podgorica
8
2015-16
2022-23
119
32
10
67
106
Podgorica Podgorica
3
2012-13
2014-15
42
32
2
20
98
Obilić Herceg Novi
4
2014-15
2019-20
63
24
6
33
78
Pristan Bar
7
2009-10
2015-16
67
24
4
39
76
Sport Uno Bijelo Polje
5
2008-09
2012-13
41
17
6
18
57
Cvetex Berane
8
2013-14
2022-23
130
14
8
108
50
Sjeverna Zvijezda Bijelo Polje
3
2013-14
2015-16
30
7
4
19
25
Zora Spuž
1
2022-23
2022-23
20
6
4
10
22
Danilovgrad Danilovgrad
1
2021-22
2021-22
12
6
3
3
21
Lovćen Cetinje
2
2015-16
2016-17
38
6
2
30
20
Brskovo Mojkovac
1
2014-15
2014-15
14
4
1
9
13
Durmitor Žabljak
4
2008-09
2012-13
36
3
4
29
13
Ulcinj Ulcinj
2
2012-13
2013-14
28
3
3
22
12
Cetinje Cetinje
1
2018-19
2018-19
18
3
0
15
9
Berane Berane
2
2009-10
2010-11
15
2
1
12
7
Ribnica Podgorica
2
2010-11
2011-12
15
0
0
15
0

Records

  • Biggest league victory/defeat: 28–0, Budućnost vs. Ribnica, 29.04.2012 (season 2011-12);[15] 27–0, Ekonomist vs. Cvetex, 28.03.2014 (season 2013-14)[16]
  • Longest unbeaten run: 91 matches, Ekonomist, 20.05.2010 - 09.11.2015
  • Longest winning streak: 88 matches, Ekonomist, 20.05.2010 - 24.09.2015
  • Longest run without win: 32 matches, Cvetex, 14.11.2020 - '
  • Longest losing streak: 25 matches, Cvetex, 27.03.2021 -
  • Most points by season: 54, Ekonomist, season 2013-14
  • Fewest points by season: 0, Ribnica, season 2010-11; Durmitor, season 2012-13; Lovćen, season 2016-17, Cvetex, season 2022-23
  • Highest number of scored goals by season: 252, Ekonomist, season 2013-14
  • Highest number of conceded goals by season: 206, Cvetex, season 2022-23

Sources:[17][18][19][20][21]

Current clubs (2023-24)

The 2023-24 Montenegrin Women's First League is 16th season of top-tier football in Montenegro. ŽFK Breznica Pljevlja are defending champions title.
The following five clubs complete in First League 2023-24.

Club
City Finishing
in 2019-20
First season in
top division
Stadium Official website
ŽFK Breznica Pljevlja 1st 2013-14 Stadion pod Golubinjom (5,140) http://fkbreznica.me
ŽFK Budućnost Podgorica 2nd 2008-09 Podgorica City Stadium (15,230)
ŽFK Cvetex Berane 6th 2013-14 Berane City Stadium (8,000)
ŽFK Ekonomist Nikšić 3rd 2008-09 Stadion kraj Bistrice (5,214)
ŽFK Mladost Podgorica 4th 2015-16 Mladost Stadium (1,500)
FK Zora Spuž 5th 2022-23 Spuž City Stadium (1,700)

Sources:[22]

Montenegrin clubs in European competitions

Since the season 2012-13, champion of Montenegrin Women's League is playing in the UEFA Women's Champions League. In the period 2012-2015, the only Montenegrin representative was ŽFK Ekonomist. From season 2016-17 to 2023-24, Montenegro was represented in UEFA Champions League by ŽFK Breznica.
Below is a table with Montenegrin clubs' scores in UEFA competitions.

Team Seasons G W D L GD
ŽFK Breznica Pljevlja
8
17
2
4
11
21:64
ŽFK Ekonomist
4
12
0
2
10
8:45
OVERALL
29
2
6
21
29:109

As of the end of UEFA competitions 2023–24 season.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Women's football gains firm footing in Montenegro". UEFA. 28 June 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
  2. ^ "FSCG Trophy" for the ladies will start on Sunday" (in Montenegrin). 23 April 2009. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
  3. ^ "Montenegro (Women) 2009". RSSSF. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
  4. ^ "Montenegro (Women) 2010". RSSSF. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
  5. ^ "Od 2017. Crnogorska Prva liga sa 10 članova - Vijesti.me". Archived from the original on 2018-02-12. Retrieved 2016-10-25.
  6. ^ "Montenegro (Women) 2010/11". RSSSF. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
  7. ^ "Titula za Ekonomist" (in Montenegrin). fscg.co.me. 21 May 2012. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  8. ^ "Ekonomist win 2nd title" (in Montenegrin). hercegovina.info/. 13 May 2013. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
  9. ^ [1]
  10. ^ "Saopštenje Izvršnog odbora - 07.07.2020".
  11. ^ "Početak dominacije - druga uzastopna titula Breznice (Dominated from start, Breznica wins second title)" (in Montenegrin). vijesti.me. 5 May 2017. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
  12. ^ "Fk Breznica Šampion Crne Gore! |". 9 April 2018.
  13. ^ https://fscg.me/files/documents/1132/Amlanah%20fscg%202015-16_web.pdf[bare URL PDF]
  14. ^ https://fscg.me/files/documents/1485/Godisnjak_2017-18_FINAL_web.pdf[bare URL PDF]
  15. ^ https://fscg.me/files/documents/1128/Almanah%20fscg%202011%20-%2012_web.pdf[bare URL PDF]
  16. ^ https://fscg.me/files/documents/1130/Almanah%20fscg%202013-14_web.pdf[bare URL PDF]
  17. ^ "Fudbalski savez Crne Gore".
  18. ^ "Montenegro (Women) 2010/11".
  19. ^ "Montenegro (Women) 2012/13".
  20. ^ "Montenegro (Women) 2013/14".
  21. ^ "Fudbalski savez Crne Gore".
  22. ^ "ŽFL".

External links

  • Montenegrin Women's League at Federation website
  • mnesport.me
  • cg-fudbal.com
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