Turkmenistan_Higher_League
Ýokary Liga
Football league
The Turkmenistan Higher League, also called Türkmenistan Ýokary Liga (Turkmen: Ýokary liga futbol klublarynyň arasyndaky futbol boýunça Türkmenistanyň çempionaty),[2] is the top division of professional football in Turkmenistan, operated by the Turkmenistan Football Federation.
| Organising body | Turkmenistan Football Federation |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1992; 32 years ago (1992) |
| Country | Turkmenistan |
| Confederation | AFC |
| Number of teams | 9[1] |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Relegation to | Turkmenistan First League |
| Domestic cup(s) | Turkmenistan Cup Turkmenistan Super Cup |
| International cup(s) | AFC Champions League Two |
| Current champions | FK Arkadag (1st title) (2023) |
| Most championships | Altyn Asyr (8 titles) |
| Top goalscorer | Mämmedaly Garadanow (175 goals) |
| TV partners | Turkmenistan Sport |
| Website | tff.com |
| Current: 2024 | |
It was founded in 1992. Nine clubs participate in the Higher League of the Turkmenistan National Championship. The season runs between April and November.
There are 9 teams in the competition. As of the 2024 season, the league had one AFC Champions League Two qualifying spot for the league winner league.[3]
Since the introduction of the Turkmenistan Higher League in 1992, FC Altyn Asyr (8 times), FC Kopetdag (6 times), FC Nebitchi (4 times), FC Nisa (4 times), FC Yedigen (4 times), FC Ashgabat (2 times), FC Ahal[4] (1 time), FC Arkadag and FC Shagadam (1 time) have won the title. FC Arkadag are the current champions for the first time.[5]
After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, starting in 1992, each former Soviet republic organized an independent national championship.
FC Kopetdag won the first four titles. Nisa Aşgabat was the only team which managed to break Kopetdag's dominance, winning the top division title in 1996.
In 2022, FC Ahal won the title for the first time in their history in Turkmenistan professional football.[6]
The league traditionally used to run in summer, from April to November.[7]
As of the 2022 season, the champions qualify for the AFC Champions League group stage. The runners-up qualifies for the AFC Cup group stage. If the winner of Turkmenistan Cup ends in first or second on the championship in same season, then the third-place team qualifies to AFC Cup group stage.[8][9]
A total of 9 teams will contest the league.[1] The following teams are competing in the 2024 season:
| Club | Location | Stadium | Capacity | Coach | Kit sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arkadag [10][11] | Arkadag[10] | Nusaý Stadium [12] | 5,000 |  Guwançmuhammet Öwekow [12] |
|
| Ahal | Änew | Ashgabat Stadium (Auxiliary field) | 500 | Hojaahmet Arazow |
Nike |
| Altyn Asyr | Ashgabat | Büzmeýin Sport Complex[13] | 10,000 | Ýazguly Hojageldiýew |
Puma |
| Aşgabat | Ashgabat | Ashgabat Stadium (Auxiliary field) | 500 | Said Seýidow |
Adidas |
| Nebitçi | Balkanabat | Balkanabat Sport Complex | 10,000 | Amanmyrat Meredow |
Jako[14] |
| Energetik | Saparmyrat Türkmenbaşy, Mary Region | Energetik stadiony | 1,000 | Rahmanguly Baýlyýew |
Nike |
| Köpetdag Aşgabat | Ashgabat | Köpetdag Stadium | 26,000 | Tofik Şükürow |
Kappa |
| Merw | Mary | Mary Sport Complex | 10,000 | Magtymguly Begenjew |
Nike |
| Şagadam | Türkmenbaşy | Şagadam Stadium | 5,000 | Aleksandr Klimenko |
Nike |
- 1937–38: Lokomotiw Aşgabat
- 1938: Dinamo Aşgabat
- 1939–45: no championship
- 1946: Dinamo Aşgabat
- 1947: Spartak Aşgabat
- 1948: Dinamo Aşgabat
- 1949: Lokomotiw Aşgabat
- 1950: Spartak Aşgabat
- 1951: DOSA Aşgabat
- 1952: DOSA Aşgabat
- 1953: Dinamo Aşgabat
- 1954: Combined team of Mary Oblast
- 1955: Combined team of Aşgabat
- 1956: Gyzyl Metallist Aşgabat
- 1957: Combined team of Aşgabat Oblast
- 1958: Combined team of Aşgabat
- 1959: Combined team of Nebitdag
- 1960: Combined team of Çärjew
- 1961: Energetik Nebitdag
- 1962: Energetik Nebitdag
- 1963: Gurluşykçy Mary
- 1964: Serhetçi Aşgabat
- 1965: Serhetçi Aşgabat
- 1966: Serhetçi Aşgabat
- 1967: Serhetçi Aşgabat
- 1968: Serhetçi Aşgabat
- 1969: Serhetçi Aşgabat
- 1970: Garagum Mary
- 1971: Maýak Çärjew
- 1972: Energogurluşykçy Mary
- 1973: Sementçi Büzmeýin
- 1974: Awtomobilist Aşgabat
- 1975: Nebitçi Krasnowodsk
- 1976: Energetik Mary
- 1977: Şatlyk Mary
- 1978: Nebitçi Krasnowodsk
- 1979: Nebitçi Krasnowodsk
- 1980: Nebitçi Krasnowodsk
- 1981: Gurluşykçy Nebitdag
- 1982: Lokomotiw Aşgabat
- 1983: Obahojalyktehnika Çärjew
- 1984: Nebitçi Krasnowodsk
- 1985: Lokomotiw Aşgabat
- 1986: Nebitçi Krasnowodsk
- 1987: SKIF Aşgabat
- 1988: Ahal Aşgabat Raýon
- 1989: Medik Nebitdag
- 1990: Awtomobilist Aşgabat
- 1991: Sel'khoztekhnika Aşgabat
| Team | Champions | Runners-up | Third place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Altyn Asyr | 8 (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021) | 3 (2010, 2022, 2023) | 1 (2013) |
| Köpetdag Aşgabat | 6 (1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997–98, 2000) | 3 (1996, 1998–99, 2001) | – |
| Nebitçi | 4 (2004, 2010, 2011, 2012) | 8 (1992, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2013, 2015, 2016) | 7 (1993, 1995, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2023) |
| Nisa Aşgabat | 4 (1996, 1998–99, 2001, 2003) | 4 (1994, 1995, 2002, 2004) | 2 (1997–98, 2000) |
| Ýedigen | 4 (2005, 2006, 2009, 2013) | 3 (2007, 2008, 2011) | 1 (2012) |
| Aşgabat | 2 (2007, 2008) | – | 3 (2006, 2011, 2015) |
| Ahal | 1 (2022) | 6 (2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021) | 1 (1992) |
| Şagadam | 1 (2002) | – | 6 (2003, 2014, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021) |
| Arkadag | 1 (2023) | – | – |
| Merw | – | 1 (2012) | 4 (1994, 2004, 2009, 2022) |
| Dagdan Aşgabat | – | 1 (1997–98) | 1 (1998–99) |
| Büzmeýin | – | 1 (1993) | – |
| Gazçy Gazojak | – | 1 (2005) | – |
| Bagtyyarlyk-Lebap | – | – | 3 (1996, 2002, 2010) |
| Energetik Mary | – | – | 2 (2016, 2018) |
Note: The tallies below include up to the 2024 season. Teams denoted in bold are current participants.
- 32 seasons: Merw, Nebitçi
- 30 seasons: Şagadam
- 24 seasons: Ahal, Köpetdag Aşgabat
- 23 seasons: Turan
- 19 seasons: Aşgabat
- 17 seasons: Altyn Asyr, Bagtyyarlyk-Lebap
- 13 seasons: Ýedigen
- 12 seasons: Nisa Aşgabat
- 10 seasons: Energetik Mary
- 7 seasons: Talyp Sporty
- 6 seasons: Büzmeýin
- 3 seasons: Dagdan Aşgabat, Galkan Aşgabat, Gazçy Gazojak
- 2 seasons: Arkadag, Asudalyk Aşgabat, Balkan Nebitdag, Gara Altyn, Kolhozçy Türkmengala, TSHT Aşgabat
- 1 season: Arkaç Gyzylarbat, Babadayhan Babadayhansky Etrap, Bereket Tejen, Hazyna, Hlopkovik Çärjew, Jeýhun Seýdi, Pakhtachi Çärjew, SMM+ Karatamak, Umyt Baýramaly
The Youth League (Turkmen: Ýaşlar liga), also known as Youth teams championship (Turkmen: Ýaşlar arasyndaky birinjilik) full name Youth football championship of Turkmenisatn among teams of clubs of the Higher League (Turkmen: Ýokary liganyň futbol klublarynyň ýaşlar düzümleriniň gatnaşmagyndaky futbol boýunça Türkmenistanyň birinjiligi), is a league that runs in parallel to the Ýokary Liga and includes the youth or reserve teams of the Turkmenistan Higher League teams. The number of players a team can have on the pitch at a time that are over 21 years of age or without a Turkmenistan citizenship is limited. 8 teams participate in the league.[19] Matches are commonly played a day before the match of the senior teams of the respective teams.
Youth championship winners (since 2019)
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- "Завершился чемпионат Туркменистана по футболу сезона-20222". Archived from the original on 7 May 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
- "Футбольный клуб «Ахал» впервые в истории стал чемпионом Туркменистана". Archived from the original on 19 December 2022. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
- "Чемпионат Туркменистана по футболу стартует 14 апреля". 4 April 2023. Archived from the original on 7 May 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
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{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - "Футбольный клуб «Аркадаг» включили в состав Федерации футбола Туркменистана". Archived from the original on 1 May 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 1 May 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - "«Аркадаг» дебютировал с победы в чемпионате Туркменистана по футболу". 19 April 2023. Archived from the original on 1 May 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 19 May 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - "Turkmenistan – List of Champions". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 11 August 2022. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
- "Федерация Футбола Туркменистана подвела итоги 2017 года". Archived from the original on 10 December 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
- "Нападающий «Ахала» Дидар Дурдыев стал лучшим бомбардиром чемпионата Туркменистана-2019". Archived from the original on 11 September 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
- "Высшая лига". tff.com.tm/. Football Federation of Turkmenistan. Archived from the original on 25 March 2021. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
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{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 7 May 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 7 May 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
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