View source for First League of the Republika Srpska

{{Short description|Association football league in Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox football league
| logo       = First League of Republika Srpska.png
| pixels     = 170
| founded    = 1995
| first      = 1995–96
| country    = {{flag|Bosnia and Herzegovina}}
| confed     = [[UEFA]]
| teams      = 18
| levels     = [[Bosnia and Herzegovina football league system|2]]
| promotion  = [[Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina|Premier League]]
| relegation = [[Second League of the Republika Srpska|Second League of RS]]
| domest_cup = [[Bosnia and Herzegovina Football Cup|Bosnian Cup]], [[Republika Srpska Cup]]
| champions  = [[FK Laktaši|Laktaši]] (2nd title)
| season     = [[2024–25 First League of the Republika Srpska|2024–25]]
| most successful club = [[FK Borac Banja Luka|Borac Banja Luka]] (5 titles)
| tv         = [[Radio Televizija Republike Srpske|RTRS]]
| website    = {{URL|https://fsrs.org/sr-BA/takmicenja.html|fsrs.org}} {{in lang|sr}}
| current    = [[2024–25 First League of the Republika Srpska|2024–25 First League]]
}}
The '''First League of the Republika Srpska''' ({{langx|sh|Prva liga Republike Srpske}} / {{lang|sh|Прва лига Републике Српске}})  is a [[Association football|football]] league in [[Republika Srpska]], [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]]. Together with the [[First League of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina]], it forms the second level of football in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The league champion is promoted to the [[Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina]]. Relegated teams fall to the [[Second League of the Republika Srpska]].

==History==
===Separate and second tier league===
Since there were three different football championships in the country, organized on [[Ethnic groups in Bosnia and Herzegovina|ethnic principles]], the "First League of the Republika Srpska" was the top flight in the [[Republika Srpska]] before 2002. However, the champions of this League were not recognized by [[UEFA]]. In 2002, the top clubs from the Republika Srpska joined the [[Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina]] and the First League was kept as one of two second level divisions. It is still run by the [[Football Association of Republika Srpska]], and has ended its boycott of Bosnian football on a federal level.

===New format and expansion===
The league changed format in the [[2014–15 First League of the Republika Srpska|2014–15 season]] and was split into two stages, the regular season and the playoffs. Each of the 12 competitors in the First League hosts every other team once in the regular season, for a total of 22 matches. A playoff phase is then played from April to May. The point system in the championship playoff is the same as during the regular season, except that each team starts with half of the points they won in the regular season, rounded up to the nearest integer. The points gained by rounding are deducted in the case of a tie. Similar systems are also used in the [[Belgian First Division A]] and the Polish [[Ekstraklasa]].

The top six teams from the regular season enter the championship playoff, with the first-placed team winning the First League and teams ranked from 7 to 12 after the regular season enter the relegation playoffs. Each team plays their opponents once. The League champion is promoted to the Premier League at the end of the season, and the bottom clubs are relegated to the [[Second League of the Republika Srpska]] (third level). The number of relegated teams depends on how many clubs are entering the league. Those are the winners of the two third level league groups, the winner of the relegation play-off, and Republika Srpska clubs relegated from the Premier League. So, sometimes two clubs get relegated, and sometimes three or even four.

On 12 June 2020, it was confirmed that the league will be expanded from 10 to 16 teams in the 2020–21 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nezavisne.com/sport/fudbal/Potvrdjeno-prosirenje-Prve-lige-RS-u-fudbalu/604360|title=Potvrđeno proširenje Prve lige RS u fudbalu|date=12 June 2020|access-date=12 June 2020|language=bs|author=Goran Karać|publisher=nezavisne.com}}</ref>

On 13 June 2022, it was confirmed that the league will be expanded from 16 to 18 teams in the 2022–23 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pravdabl.com/izvrsni-odbor-fsrs-prva-liga-sa-18-klubova-jedinstva-druga-od-seldece-sezone-lopta-krece-6-avgusta/|title=Izvršni odbor FSRS: Prva liga sa 18 klubova, jedinstva Druga od sledeće sezone, lopta kreće 6. avgusta!|date=13 June 2022|access-date=13 June 2022|language=bs|publisher=pravdabl.com}}</ref>

==Member clubs for 2024–25==
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin-top:0; text-align:center; font-size:90%;"
|-
|- class="hintergrundfarbe5"
! width="250px"| Team !! Last season
|-
| [[FK Zvijezda 09|Zvijezda 09]] || align=center | [[2023–24 Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina|Relegated]]
|-
| [[FK Laktaši|Laktaši]] || align=center | 2.
|-
| [[FK Rudar Prijedor|Rudar Prijedor]] || align=center | 3.
|-
| [[FK Leotar|Leotar]] || align=center | 4.
|-
| [[FK Željezničar Banja Luka|Željezničar Banja Luka]] || align=center | 5.
|-
| [[FK Famos Vojkovići|Famos Vojkovići]] || align=center | 6.
|-
| [[FK Kozara Gradiška|Kozara Gradiška]] || align=center | 7.
|-
| [[FK Sloboda Mrkonjić Grad|Sloboda Mrkonjić Grad]] || align=center | 8.
|-
| [[FK Slavija Sarajevo|Slavija Sarajevo]] || align=center | 9.
|-
| [[FK Sutjeska Foča|Sutjeska Foča]] || align=center | 10.
|-
| [[FK Ljubić Prnjavor|Ljubić Prnjavor]] || align=center | 11.
|-
| [[FK Velež Nevesinje|Velež Nevesinje]] || align=center | 12.
|-
| [[FK BSK Banja Luka|BSK Banja Luka]] || align=center | 13.
|-
| [[FK Drina Zvornik|Drina Zvornik]] || align=center | 14.
|-
| [[FK Borac Kozarska Dubica|Borac Kozarska Dubica]] || align=center | 15.
|-
| [[FK Romanija Pale|Romanija Pale]] || align=center | 16.
|-
| [[FK Drina HE Višegrad|Drina HE Višegrad]] || align=center | [[Second League of the Republika Srpska|Promoted]]
|-
| [[FK Sloboda Novi Grad|Sloboda Novi Grad]] || align=center | [[Second League of the Republika Srpska|Promoted]]
|}

==League champions==
Previous champions and winners of the league are:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bihsoccer.com/index.php?s=prve_lige_bosne_i_hercegovine|title=Prvaci prve lige Federacije Bosne i Hercegovine|date=2010|access-date=2 April 2011|publisher=bihsoccer.com}}</ref>
{| bgcolor="#f7f8ff" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" border="1" style="font-size: 95%; border: gray solid 1px; border-collapse: collapse;"
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC"
! '''Season'''
! '''Champion'''
! '''Runners Up'''
! '''Top Goalscorer'''
! '''Club'''
! '''Goals'''
|-
|[[1995–96 First League of the Republika Srpska|1995–96]]||''' [[FK Boksit Milići|Boksit Milići]] '''||[[FK Rudar Prijedor|Rudar Prijedor]]|| [[Siniša Đurić]]<br /> [[Zoran Majstorović]] || [[FK Kozara Gradiška|Kozara Gradiška]]<br />[[FK Boksit Milići|Boksit Milići]] || 16 Goals<br />16 Goals
|-
|[[1996–97 First League of the Republika Srpska|1996–97]]||''' [[FK Rudar Ugljevik|Rudar Ugljevik]] '''||[[FK Sloga Trn|Sloga Trn]]|| [[Mladen Zgonjanin]] <br /> Marić || [[FK Sloga Trn|Sloga Trn]]<br /> [[FK Glasinac Sokolac|Glasinac Sokolac]] || 14 Goals<br /> 14 Goals
|-
|[[1997–98 First League of the Republika Srpska|1997–98]]||''' [[FK Rudar Ugljevik|Rudar Ugljevik]] '''||[[FK Borac Banja Luka|Borac Banja Luka]]|| [[Nikola Bala]] || [[FK Rudar Ugljevik|Rudar Ugljevik]] || 31 Goals
|-
|[[1998–99 First League of the Republika Srpska|1998–99]]||''' [[FK Radnik Bijeljina|Radnik Bijeljina]] '''||[[FK Rudar Ugljevik|Rudar Ugljevik]]|| [[Mladen Zgonjanin]] || [[FK Sloga Trn|Sloga Trn]] || 23 Goals
|-
|[[1999–2000 First League of the Republika Srpska|1999–2000]]||''' [[FK Boksit Milići|Boksit Milići]] '''||[[FK Rudar Ugljevik|Rudar Ugljevik]]|| [[Nedo Zdjelar]] || [[FK Sloboda Novi Grad|Sloboda Novi Grad]]|| 29 Goals
|-
|[[2000–01 First League of the Republika Srpska|2000–01]]||''' [[FK Borac Banja Luka|Borac Banja Luka]] '''||[[FK Sloboda Novi Grad|Sloboda Novi Grad]]|| [[Milanko Đerić]] || [[FK Boksit Milići|Boksit Milići]] || 26 Goals
|-
|[[2001–02 First League of the Republika Srpska|2001–02]]||''' [[FK Leotar|Leotar]] '''||[[FK Kozara Gradiška|Kozara Gradiška]] || [[Pavle Delibašić]]<br /> [[Siniša Jovanović]] || [[FK Leotar|Leotar]]<br /> [[FK Glasinac Sokolac|Glasinac Sokolac]] || 21 Goals<br /> 21 Goals
|}

Since the 2002–03 season, it became a second national level competition. The league champion gets direct promotion to the [[Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina|Bosnian Premier League]].

{| bgcolor="#f7f8ff" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" border="1" style="font-size: 95%; border: gray solid 1px; border-collapse: collapse;"
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC"
! '''Season'''
! '''Champion'''
|-
|[[2002–03 First League of the Republika Srpska|2002–03]]
|[[FK Modriča|Modriča]]
|-
|[[2003–04 First League of the Republika Srpska|2003–04]]
|[[FK Slavija Sarajevo|Slavija Sarajevo]]
|-
|[[2004–05 First League of the Republika Srpska|2004–05]]
|[[FK Radnik Bijeljina|Radnik Bijeljina]]
|-
|[[2005–06 First League of the Republika Srpska|2005–06]]
|[[FK Borac Banja Luka|Borac Banja Luka]]
|-
|[[2006–07 First League of the Republika Srpska|2006–07]]
|[[FK Laktaši|Laktaši]]
|-
|[[2007–08 First League of the Republika Srpska|2007–08]]
|[[FK Borac Banja Luka|Borac Banja Luka]]
|-
|[[2008–09 First League of the Republika Srpska|2008–09]]
|[[FK Rudar Prijedor|Rudar Prijedor]]
|-
|[[2009–10 First League of the Republika Srpska|2009–10]]
|[[FK Drina Zvornik|Drina Zvornik]]
|-
|[[2010–11 First League of the Republika Srpska|2010–11]]
|[[FK Kozara Gradiška|Kozara Gradiška]]
|-
|[[2011–12 First League of the Republika Srpska|2011–12]]
|[[FK Radnik Bijeljina|Radnik Bijeljina]]
|-
|[[2012–13 First League of the Republika Srpska|2012–13]]
|[[FK Mladost Velika Obarska|Mladost Velika Obarska]]
|-
|[[2013–14 First League of the Republika Srpska|2013–14]]
|[[FK Drina Zvornik|Drina Zvornik]]
|-
|[[2014–15 First League of the Republika Srpska|2014–15]]
|[[FK Rudar Prijedor|Rudar Prijedor]]
|-
|[[2015–16 First League of the Republika Srpska|2015–16]]
|[[FK Krupa|Krupa]]
|-
|[[2016–17 First League of the Republika Srpska|2016–17]]
|[[FK Borac Banja Luka|Borac Banja Luka]]
|-
|[[2017–18 First League of the Republika Srpska|2017–18]]
|[[FK Zvijezda 09|Zvijezda 09]]
|-
|[[2018–19 First League of the Republika Srpska|2018–19]]
|[[FK Borac Banja Luka|Borac Banja Luka]]
|-
|[[2019–20 First League of the Republika Srpska|2019–20]]
|[[FK Krupa|Krupa]]
|-
|[[2020–21 First League of the Republika Srpska|2020–21]]
|[[FK Rudar Prijedor|Rudar Prijedor]]
|-
|[[2021–22 First League of the Republika Srpska|2021–22]]
|[[FK Krupa|Krupa]]
|-
|[[2022–23 First League of the Republika Srpska|2022–23]]
|[[FK Krupa|Krupa]]
|-
|[[2023–24 First League of the Republika Srpska|2023–24]]
|[[FK Radnik Bijeljina|Radnik Bijeljina]]
|-
|[[2024–25 First League of the Republika Srpska|2024–25]]
|[[FK Laktaši|Laktaši]]
|}

==Performance by club==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Club
! Winners
! Winning years
|-
| [[FK Borac Banja Luka|Borac Banja Luka]]
| {{center|5}}
| 2001, 2006, 2008, 2017, 2019
|-
| [[FK Krupa|Krupa]]
| {{center|4}}
| 2016, 2020, 2022, 2023
|-
| [[FK Radnik Bijeljina|Radnik Bijeljina]]
| {{center|4}}
| 1999, 2005, 2012, 2024
|-
| [[FK Rudar Prijedor|Rudar Prijedor]]
| {{center|3}}
| 2009, 2015, 2021
|-
| [[FK Rudar Ugljevik|Rudar Ugljevik]]
| {{center|2}}
| 1997, 1998
|-
| [[FK Boksit Milići|Boksit Milići]]
| {{center|2}}
| 1996, 2000
|-
| [[FK Drina Zvornik|Drina Zvornik]]
| {{center|2}}
| 2010, 2014
|-
| [[FK Laktaši|Laktaši]]
| {{center|2}}
| 2007, 2025
|-
| [[FK Leotar|Leotar]]
| {{center|1}}
| 2002
|-
| [[FK Modriča|Alfa Modriča]]
| {{center|1}}
| 2003
|-
| [[FK Slavija Sarajevo|Slavija Sarajevo]]
| {{center|1}}
| 2004
|-
| [[FK Kozara Gradiška|Kozara Gradiška]]
| {{center|1}}
| 2011
|-
| [[FK Mladost Velika Obarska|Mladost Velika Obarska]]
| {{center|1}}
| 2013
|-
| [[FK Zvijezda 09|Zvijezda 09]]
| {{center|1}}
| 2018
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://www.fsrs.org/sr-BA/ Football Association of Republika Srpska] {{in lang|sr}}

{{First League of the Republika Srpska}} 
{{Football in Bosnia and Herzegovina before 2000}}
{{Football in BiH}}
{{UEFA second leagues}}

[[Category:First League of the Republika Srpska|    ]]
[[Category:Football leagues in Bosnia and Herzegovina|2]]
[[Category:Football leagues in Republika Srpska|1]]
[[Category:Second-level football leagues in Europe|Bos]]
[[Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1995]]
[[Category:1995 establishments in Bosnia and Herzegovina]]