Football overview in Central Europe and the Balkans / 2024
Football roundupobjective information, statistics
Koffol Gábor
Albania Population: 2 793 592
Density: 98/km²
Area: 28 748 km²
Position in FIFA rankings: 65.
Abissnet Superiore champion - (2023/24)
Reigning champion
Most valuable player
Brajan Gruda
Age: 20
Market value: € 25 million
Team: Brighton & Hove Albion (Premier League)
Information about the League
Abissnet Superiore / 45. ranking of the championships
Number of teams: 10
Record-holding champion: KF Tirana (26)
Number of players: 277
Ø-Age: 24,4
Foreigners: 95 (34,30 %)
Ø-Market value of players: € 144 thousands
The total value of the teams in the championship: € 40,00 million
Number of players in the Top 5 leagues: 19
The highest-ranked Albanian club in the UEFA rankings: FK Partizani (209.) - 6 500 UEFA coefficient
TOP 10 Most valuable players in Abissnet Superiore
Emerging young Albanian Football talents
Young players in the Abissnet Superiore
Number of Albanian players under the age of: 28
Average per team: 2,80
No Albanian club did qualify for the UEFA competition in 2023/24.
Austria Population: 8 979 894
Density: 109/km²
Area: 83 879 km²
Position in FIFA rankings: 23.
Austrian Bundesliga champion - (2023/24)
Reigning champion
Most valuable player
Konrad Laimer
Age: 27
Market value: € 30 million
Team: FC Bayern Munich (Bundesliga)
Information about the League
Bundesliga / 12. ranking of the championships
Number of teams: 12
Record-holding champion: Rapid Vienna (32)
Number of players: 344
Ø-Age: 24,5
Foreigners: 150 (43,6 %)
Ø-Market value of players: € 1,30 million
The total value of the teams in the championship: € 445,83 million
Number of players in the Top 5 leagues: 36
The highest-ranked Austrian club in the UEFA rankings: Red Bull Salzburg (45.) - 40 000 UEFA coefficient
TOP 10 Most valuable players in Austrian Bundesliga
Emerging young Austrian Football talent
Young players in the Austrian Bundesliga
Number
UEFA Competition Series -
(2023/24)
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Population: 3 507 017
Density: 74/km²
Area: 51 129 km²
Position in FIFA rankings: 74.
Premijer Liga champion - (2023/24) Reigning champion
Borac Banja Luka
Most
valuable player
Ermedin Demirovic
Age: 26
Market value: € 28 million
Team: VfB Stuttgart (Bundesliga)
Information about the League
Premijer Liga / 38. ranking of the championships
Number of teams: 12
Record-holding champion: HSK Zrinjski Mostar (8)
Number of players: 342
Ø-Age: 26,1
Foreigners: 152 (44,40 %)
Ø-Market value of players: € 189 thousands
The total value of the teams in the championship: € 64,75 million
Number of players in the Top 5 leagues: 13
The highest-ranked Bosnian club in the UEFA rankings: HŠK Zrinjski (138.) - 10 000 UEFA coefficient
TOP 10 Most valuable players in Premijer Liga
Emerging young Bosnian Football talents
Young players in the Premijer Liga
Number
Average
Bulgaria Population: 7 000 039
Density: 63/km²
Area: 110 994 km²
Position in FIFA rankings: 84.
efbet Liga champion - (2023/24) Reigning
Most valuable player
Kiril Despodov
Age: 27
Market value: € 7,0 million
Team: PAOK Thessaloniki (Super League)
Information about the League
efbet Liga / 27. ranking of the championships
Number of teams: 16
Record-holding champion: CSKA-Sofia (31)
Number of players: 399
Ø-Age: 25,9
Foreigners: 184 (48,90 %)
Ø-Market value of players: € 442 thousands
The total value of the teams in the championship: € 176,34 million
Number of players in the Top 5 leagues: 2
The highest-ranked Bulgarian club in the UEFA rankings: PFC Ludogorets 1945 (74.) - 21 000 UEFA coefficient Source:
TOP 10 Most valuable players in Efbet Liga
Emerging young Bulgarian Football talents
Young players in the efbet Liga
Number
(2023/24)
Croatia Population: 4 105 493
Density: 73/km²
Area: 56 594 km²
Position in FIFA rankings: 12.
1. SuperSport HNL champion -
(2023/24)
Reigning champion
Dinamo Zagreb
Most valuable player
Josko Gvardiol
Age: 22
Market value: € 75 million
Team: Manchester City (Premier League)
Information about the League
Supersport HNL / 19. ranking of the championships
Number of teams: 10
Record-holding champion: GNK Dinamo Zagreb (25)
Number of players: 310
Ø-Age: 24,9
Foreigners: 110 (35,5 %)
Ø-Market value of players: € 750 thousands
The total value of the teams in the championship: € 232,65 million
Number of players in the Top 5 leagues: 32
The highest-ranked Croatian club in the UEFA rankings: GNK Dinamo Zagreb (38.) - 45 000 UEFA coefficient
TOP 10 Most valuable players in Supersport HNL
Emerging young Croatian Football talents
Young players in the Supersport HNL
Number of Croatian players under the age of: 67
Average per team: 6,70
Competition
Series
- (2023/24)
Czech Republic
Population: 10 516 707
Density: 139/km²
Area: 78 866 km²
Position in FIFA rankings: 45.
Chance Liga champion - (2023/24)
Reigning champion
Most valuable player
Tomas Soucek
Age: 29
Market value: € 30 million
Team: West Ham United (Premier League)
Information about the League
Chance Liga / 9. ranking of the championships
Number of teams: 16
Record-holding champion: AC Sparta Prague (38)
Number of players: 450
Ø-Age: 25,9
Foreigners: 139 (30,90 %)
Ø-Market value of players: € 772 thousands
The total value of the teams in the championship: € 347,33 million
Number of players in the Top 5 leagues: 12
The highest-ranked Czech club in the UEFA rankings: SK Slavia Praha (32.) - 50 000 UEFA coefficient
TOP 10 Most valuable players in Chance Liga
Emerging young Czech Football talents
Young players in the Chance Liga
Number
UEFA Competition Series - (2023/24)
Hungary Population: 9 769 526
Density: 105/km²
Area: 93 023 km²
Position in FIFA rankings: 32.
Nemzeti Bajnokság champion - (2023/24)
Reigning champion
Most valuable player
Szoboszlai Dominik
Age: 24
Market value: € 75 million
Team: Liverpool FC (Premier League)
Information about the League
Nemzeti Bajnokság / 22. ranking of the championships
Number of teams: 12
Record-holding champion: Ferencvárosi TC (35)
Number of players: 337
Ø-Age: 26,0
Foreigners: 133 (39,50 %)
Ø-Market value of players: € 466 thousands
The total value of the teams in the championship: € 157,00 million
Number of players in the Top 5 leagues: 11
The highest-ranked Hungarian club in the UEFA rankings: Ferencvárosi TC (55.) - 31 000 UEFA coefficient
TOP 10 Most valuable players in Nemzeti Bajnokság
Emerging young Hungarian Football talents
Young players in the Nemzeti Bajnokság
Number of Hungarian players under the age of: 67
UEFA Competition Series - (2023/24)
Montenegro
Population: 622 359
Density: 48/km²
Area: 13 812 km²
Position in FIFA rankings: 75.
Meridianbet 1. CFL champion - (2023/24)
Reigning champion
Most valuable player
Nikola Krstovic
Age: 24
Market value: € 6 million
Team: US Lecce (Serie A)
Information about the League
Meridianbet 1. CFL / 47. ranking of the championships
Number of teams: 10
Record-holding champion: Buducnost Podgorica (6)
Number of players: 256
Ø-Age: 26,3
Foreigners: 40 (15,60 %)
Ø-Market value of players: € 91 thousands
The total value of the teams in the championship: € 23,30 million
Number of players in the Top 5 leagues: 3
The highest-ranked Montenegrin club in the UEFA rankings: FK Budućnost Podgorica (166.) - 8 000 UEFA coefficient
TOP 10 Most valuable players in Meridianbet 1. CFL
Young players in the Meridianbet 1. CFL
Number
Poland Population: 38 382 576
Density: 124/km²
Area: 312 696 km²
Position in FIFA rankings: 31.
PKO BP Ekstraklasa champion - (2023/24)
Reigning champion
Jagiellonia Bialystok
Most valuable player
Jakub Kiwior
Age: 24
Market value: € 30 million
Team: Arsenal FC (Premier League)
Information about the League
PKO BP Ekstraklasa / 18. ranking of the championships
Number of teams: 18
Record-holding champion: Legia Warszawa (15)
Number of players: 520
Ø-Age: 25,4
Foreigners: 212 (40,8 %)
Ø-Market value of players: € 472 thousands
The total value of the teams in the championship: € 245,58 million
Number of players in the Top 5 leagues: 33
The highest-ranked Polish club in the UEFA rankings: Legia Warszawa (79.) - 19 500 UEFA coefficient
TOP 10 Most valuable players in PKO Ekstraklasa
Emerging young Polish Football talents
Young players in the PKO Ekstraklasa-ban
Number
UEFA Competition Series - (2023/24)
Romania
Population: 19 586 539
Density: 84/km²
Area: 238 397 km²
Position in FIFA rankings: 43.
SuperLiga champion - (2023/24)
Reigning champion
Most valuable player
Radu Dragusin
Age: 22
Market value: € 25 million
Team: Tottenham Hotspur (Premier League)
Information about the League
SuperLiga / 26. ranking of the championships
Number of teams: 16
Record-holding champion: FCSB (27)
Number of players: 471
Ø-Age: 26,4
Foreigners: 188 (39,90 %)
Ø-Market value of players: € 492 thousands
The total value of the teams in the championship: € 231,89 million
Number of players in the Top 5 leagues: 11
The highest-ranked Romanian club in the UEFA rankings: CFR 1907 Cluj (80.) - 19 000 UEFA coefficient
TOP 10 Most valuable players in Romanian SuperLiga
Emerging young Romanian Football talents
Young players in the Romanian SuperLiga
Number of Romanian players under the age of: 78
Average per team: 4,88
Serbia Population: 7 022 268
Density: 83/km²
Area: 77 474 km²
Position in FIFA rankings: 33.
Super liga champion -
(2023/24)
Reigning champion
Most valuable player
Dušan Vlahović
Age: 24
Market value: € 65 million
Team: Juventus (Serie A)
Information about the League
Super Liga / 20. ranking of the championships
Number of teams: 16
Record-holding champion: Red Star Belgrade (13)
Number of players: 490
Ø-Age: 24,9
Foreigners: 150 (30,60 %)
Ø-Market value of players: € 546 thousands
The total value of the teams in the championship: € 267,73 million
Number of players in the Top 5 leagues: 33
The highest-ranked Serbian Club in the UEFA rankings: FK Crvena Zvezda (51.) - 34 000 UEFA coefficient
TOP 10 Most valuable players in Serbian Super Liga
Emerging young Serbian Football talents
Young players in the Serbian Super Liga
Number
(2023/24)
Slovakia Population: 5 449 270
Density: 114/km²
Area: 49 036 km²
Position in FIFA rankings: 41.
Nike Liga champion -
(2023/24)
Reigning champion
Most valuable player
Dávid Hancko
Age: 26
Market value: € 35 million
Team: Feyenoord Rotterdam (Eredivisie)
Information about the League
Niké Liga / 24. ranking of the championships
Number of teams: 12
Record-holding champion: Slovan Bratislava (14)
Number of players: 312
Ø-Age: 25,5
Foreigners: 127 (40,70 %)
Ø-Market value of players: € 316 thousands
The total value of the teams in the championship: € 98,73 million
Number of players in the Top 5 leagues: 11
The highest-ranked Slovakian club in the UEFA rankings: ŠK Slovan Bratislava (65.) - 27 500 UEFA coefficient Source:
TOP 10 Most valuable players in Niké Liga
Emerging young Slovakian Football talents
Young players in the Niké Liga
Number
Average
UEFA Competition Series - (2023/24)
Slovenia Population: 2 066 880
Density: 103/km²
Area: 20 273 km²
Position in FIFA rankings: 52.
Prva Liga champion - (2023/24)
Reigning champion
Most valuable player
Benjamin Sesko
Age: 21
Market value: € 50 million
Team: RB Leipzig (Bundesliga)
Information about the League
Prva Liga / 30. ranking of the championships
Number of teams: 10
Record-holding champion: NK Maribor (16)
Number of players: 273
Ø-Age: 24.7
Foreigners: 126 (46,20 %)
Ø-Market value of players: € 235 thousands
The total value of the teams in the championship: € 64,27 million
Number of players in the Top 5 leagues: 8
The highest-ranked Slovenian club in the UEFA rankings: NK Olimpija Ljubljana (127.) - 11 000 UEFA coefficient
Emerging young Slovenian Football talents
Young players in the Prva Liga
Number of Slovenian players under the age of: 44 Average per team: 4,40
Ukraine Population: 41 588 354
Density: 69/km²
Area: 603 700 km²
Position in FIFA rankings: 25.
Ukrainian Premier Liga champion - (2023/24)
Reigning champion
Most valuable player
Oleksandr Zinchenko
Age: 27
Market value: € 35 million
Team: Arsenal FC (Premier League)
Information about the League
Premier Liga / 21. ranking of the championships
Number of teams: 16
Record-holding champion: Dynamo Kyiv (16)
Number of players: 421
Ø-Age: 25,4
Foreigners: 89 (21,10 %)
Ø-Market value of players: € 928 thousands
The total value of the teams in the championship: € 390,85 million
Number of players in the Top 5 leagues: 13
The highest-ranked Ukranian club in the UEFA rankings: FC Shakhtar Donetsk (42.) - 42 000 UEFA coefficient
TOP 10 Most valuable players in Ukrainian Premier Liga
Emerging young Ukrainian Football talents
Young players in the Ukrainian Premier Liga
Number of Ukranian players under the age of: 94
Average per team: 5,87
Competition Series - (2023/24)
Number of players in the TOP 5 Leagues
Average
PLAYER (CAPITA)
Average age of players in the league
Percentage of foreign players in the league
Sources:
FIFA World Ranking
https://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/men?dateId=id13792
Date: 31.10.2024
UEFA Club coefficients
https://www.uefa.com/nationalassociations/uefarankings/club/#/yr/2023
Date: 24.10.2024
UEFA 5-Year Rankings
https://www.transfermarkt.com/uefa/5jahreswertung/statistik
Date: 22.10.2024
Information and maps about countries https://www.wikipedia.org
Date: 10.10.2022
Information about players
https://www.transfermarkt.com
Date: 2024.10.
Team crests
https://www.sofascore.com
Date: 2024.10.
SciSports - the platform used for screening
https://www.scisports.com
Date: 2024.10.
In some cases, players, can be citizens of several countries at the same time, but the tables ususally contain once Citizenship.
There may be some overlap in the number of players in the TOP 5 leagues, as some players are dual citizens
The data were collected in October 2024. Koffol Gábor
02.11.2024
