The Serbian Meridian Superliga is the professional league competition for football clubs located at the top echelon of the Serbian football league system. left: OFK's Omladinski Stadium
The Yugoslav First League (as it was then known) was formed in 1992 and is currently contested by twelve clubs from across Serbia. In a total of fifteen seasons, the title has been won by only three teams: Partizan (eight times), Crvena Zvezda (six times), and Obilić (once). The current Superliga champions are Partizan Belgrade. UEFA currently ranks the league 20th in Europe.
Format The Superliga title holder begins its UEFA Champions League campaign in the second round of qualifying as a seeded team. left: Kula's Hadjuk Stadium
The second, third and fourth placed teams begin in the Europa League first round of qualifying also as seeded teams.
The last two teams at the end of the season get relegated to the Second Division known as Prva Liga Telekom Srbija. The team holding 10th position at the end of the season is not automatically relegated. It plays against the winner from the Prva Liga Telekom Srbija playoff in a two-legged matchup. Above - FK Sartid's Kraj Stadion.
The Superliga will change format starting from the 2007-08 season. The league will no longer be divided into a playoff and playout group midway through the campaign. Instead, the 12 teams will play each other three times in a conventional league format.Above - Partizan's multi-coloured stadium.
History The Superliga was known as the Yugoslav First League after its creation in 1992. In 2003, Yugoslavia was renamed to Serbia and Montenegro and the football league followed suit. Right: Stadion Mladost in Krusavec
The First League of Serbia and Montenegro contained 16 teams, but the current Superliga has only 12 in an attempt to bring up the level of play. The Football Association of Serbia questionned their decision prior to the 2007-08 season but have decided that there will be no changes in the number of teams.
The first official kick-off under the name of Meridian Superliga was on August 5, 2006. Crvena Zvezda are the current defending champions and are officially the first Serbian champions. Last season the title was taken by city rivals Partizan, holding off the challenge of Red Star.
The following twelve clubs are currently competing in the Serbian Superliga.
Borac, Čačak Čukarički, Belgrade - Click here for more details on football in Belgrade. Hajduk, Kula Jagodina, Jagodina Javor Ivanjica, Ivanjica Mladost, Lučani Napredak, Kruševac OFK Beograd, Belgrade - Click here for more details on football in Belgrade. Partizan, Belgrade - Click here for more details on football in Belgrade. Crvena Zvezda, Belgrade - Click here for more details on football in Belgrade. FK Rad, Belgrade - Click here for more details on football in Belgrade Vojvodina, Novi Sad
The following teams were relegated at the end of the 2008/09 season:-
The Serbian Meridian Superliga is the professional league competition for football clubs located at the top echelon of the Serbian football league system.
Format
The last two teams at the end of the season get relegated to the Second Division known as Prva Liga Telekom Srbija. The team holding 10th position at the end of the season is not automatically relegated. It plays against the winner from the Prva Liga Telekom Srbija playoff in a two-legged matchup. Above - FK Sartid's Kraj Stadion.
The Superliga will change format starting from the 2007-08 season. The league will no longer be divided into a playoff and playout group midway through the campaign. Instead, the 12 teams will play each other three times in a conventional league format.Above - Partizan's multi-coloured stadium.
History
The first official kick-off under the name of Meridian Superliga was on August 5, 2006. Crvena Zvezda are the current defending champions and are officially the first Serbian champions. Last season the title was taken by city rivals Partizan, holding off the challenge of Red Star.