Czech Women's First League

The Czech Women's First League (Czech: I. liga žen), known as the FORTUNA=LIGA for sponsorship reasons,[1] is the top level women's football league of the Czech Republic. The league is dominated by teams of Prague. Slavia Prague won the last championships, Sparta Prague was runner-up. The winning team and runners-up of the league qualifies for the UEFA Women's Champions League.

Czech Women's First League
FORTUNA=LIGA
Founded1993
Country Czech Republic
ConfederationUEFA
Divisions1
Number of teams8
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toCzech Women's Second League
Domestic cup(s)Czech Women's Cup
International cup(s)UEFA Champions League
Current championsSK Slavia Prague (10th title)
(2023–24)
Most championshipsSparta Prague (21 titles)
WebsiteOfficial
Current: 2024–25
Czech Women's First League logo (2019–2024)

History and format

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As Czechoslovakia dissolved in 1993, also the Czechoslovak women's football championships competitions were discontinued.

The I. liga started as a competition for 12 teams, each playing all other teams twice.[2]

In 2002, the number of teams was reduced to ten and after the regular season was followed with a playoff with eight best teams.[2] In 2006, the system was abandoned and a league of 12 teams was re-instated.

Since 2009-10, only eight teams participated in the league and after the regular season, a playoff system was held. In those two playoff groups, place 1 to 4 for the championship and the relegation group for teams placed between 5th and 8th positions. In 2010–11 nine teams played again only a double-round robin.

Participating teams in 2024–25

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The following eight clubs are competing in the 2024–25 Czech Women's First League.

Club Stadium 2023–24 Position
Slovácko Městský stadion 3rd
FC Praha Stadion SK Prosek
AC Sparta Prague Stadion SK Prosek 2nd
Slovan Liberec Frýdlant 4th
Pardubice Areál Dolíček 6th
Viktoria Plzeň Dobřany 5th
Lokomotiva Brno H. H. Hrušovany u Brna 7th
SK Slavia Prague SK Horní Měcholupy 1st

Sponsorship

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In August 2024, FAČR and Czech betting company Fortuna [cs] signed a two-year partnership deal with option. In accordance with this deal, the Czech Women's First League will be called FORTUNA=LIGA from the 2024–25 season.[1]

Media coverage

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Country Broadcaster
  Czech Republic ČT Sport, TVCOM.cz[1]

Champions

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The list of championships is dominated by Sparta Prague:[3][4]

Season Champions Runner-up Third place Top Goalscorer Club
1993–94 Sparta Prague (1)
1994–95 Sparta Prague (2)
1995–96 Sparta Prague (3)   Gabriela Chlumecká (41) Sparta Prague
1996–97 Sparta Prague (4) Plzeň
1997–98 Sparta Prague (5)
1998–99 Sparta Prague (6) DFC Prague Otrokovice   Iveta Dudová (39) Otrokovice
1999–00 Sparta Prague (7) Slavia Prague Otrokovice   Iveta Dudová (37) Otrokovice
2000–01 Sparta Prague (8) Otrokovice DFC Prague 15   Iveta Dudová (45) Otrokovice
2001–02 Sparta Prague (9)[5] Slavia Prague   Iveta Dudová (31) Otrokovice
2002–03 Slavia Prague (1)[6] Sparta Prague
2003–04 Slavia Prague (2) Sparta Prague Hradec Králové
2004–05 Sparta Prague (10) Slavia Prague Hradec Králové   Iva Mocová (48) Sparta Prague
2005–06 Sparta Prague (11) Slavia Prague Otrokovice
2006–07 Sparta Prague (12) Slavia Prague Slovácko
2007–08 Sparta Prague (13) Slavia Prague Slovácko
2008–09 Sparta Prague (14) Slavia Prague Slovácko
2009–10 Sparta Prague (15) Slavia Prague Slovácko
2010–11 Sparta Prague (16)[7] Slavia Prague Slovácko   Petra Divišová Slavia Prague
2011–12 Sparta Prague (17) Slavia Prague Slovácko   Petra Divišová Slavia Prague
2012–13 Sparta Prague (18) Slavia Prague Plzeň   Petra Divišová (34) Slavia Prague
2013–14 Slavia Prague (3) Sparta Prague Bohemians Prague   Petra Divišová (19) Slavia Prague
2014–15 Slavia Prague (4) Sparta Prague Slovácko   Lucie Martínková (23) Sparta Prague
2015–16 Slavia Prague (5) Sparta Prague Slovácko   Petra Divišová (24) Slavia Prague
2016–17 Slavia Prague (6) Sparta Prague Slovácko   Kateřina Svitková (26) Slavia Prague
2017–18 Sparta Prague (19)[8] Slavia Prague Slovácko   Kateřina Svitková (24) Slavia Prague
2018–19 Sparta Prague (20)[9] Slavia Prague Liberec   Andrea Stašková (32) Sparta Prague
2019–20 Slavia Prague (7)[10] Sparta Prague Plzeň   Kateřina Svitková (23) Slavia Prague
2020–21 Sparta Prague (21)[11] Slavia Prague Slovácko   Lucie Martínková (37) Sparta Prague
2021–22 Slavia Prague (8)[12] Sparta Prague Slovácko   Lucie Martínková (24) Sparta Prague
2022–23 Slavia Prague (9)[13] Sparta Prague Slovácko   Marjolen Nekesa (14) Slavia Prague
2023–24 Slavia Prague (10)[14] Sparta Prague Slovácko   Marjolen Nekesa (23) Slavia Prague

Regions

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The following table lists the Czech women's football champions by region.

Region Titles Winning clubs
  Prague
31
Sparta Prague (21), Slavia Prague (10)

References

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  1. ^ a b c Malý, Jan (15 August 2024). "Fortuna liga se vrací, ženská soutěž má poprvé oficiální název". Sport.cz (in Czech). Borgis. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  2. ^ a b Jeřábek, Luboš (2007). Ceský a ceskoslovenský fotbal - lexikon osobností a klubu (in Czech). Prague: Grada Publishing. p. 228. ISBN 978-80-247-1656-5.
  3. ^ "Czech Republic Women 2008/09".
  4. ^ Jeřábek, Luboš (2007). Český a československý fotbal (in Czech) (1 ed.). Prague: Grada. p. 239. ISBN 978-80-247-1656-5.
  5. ^ "Match Report of last Matchday". AC Sparta Prague. 8 June 2002. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
  6. ^ "Slavia heads into UEFA Women's Cup (translated)". iDnes.cz. 19 August 2003.
  7. ^ "Women celebrate title". AC Sparta Prague. 16 May 2011. Archived from the original on 5 March 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2011.
  8. ^ "Ženy Sparty zvládly poslední krok a slaví mistrovský titul". FAČR (in Czech). 4 June 2018. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  9. ^ "Sparťanky získaly mistrovský titul". AC Sparta Prague (in Czech). 18 May 2019. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
  10. ^ "Slávistky jsou mistryně ligy!" (in Czech). Slávistické noviny. 7 April 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  11. ^ "Sparta mistrem 1. ligy žen". AC Sparta Prague (in Czech). 19 May 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  12. ^ "Slávistky si výhrou na Slovácku zajistily titul". FAČR (in Czech). 24 April 2022. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  13. ^ "Slávistky obhájily titul v ženské lize, Spartě utekly v nadstavbě". Blesk (in Czech). Czech News Center. Czech News Agency. 7 May 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  14. ^ "Slavia si pojistila titul. Fotbalistky mají před Spartou nedostižný náskok". Sport.cz (in Czech). Borgis. Czech News Agency. 4 May 2024. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
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