# Ýokary Liga

The Turkmenistan Higher League, also called Türkmenistan Ýokary Liga (Turkmen: Ýokary liga futbol klublarynyň arasyndaky futbol boýunça Türkmenistanyň çempionaty), is the top division of professional football in Turkmenistan, operated by the Turkmenistan Football Federation.
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.
Since the introduction of the Turkmenistan Higher League in 1992, Altyn Asyr (8 times), Köpetdag (6 times), Nebitçi (4 times), Nisa (4 times), Ýedigen (4 times), Arkadag (2 times), Aşgabat (2 times), Ahal (1 time) and Şagadam (1 time) have won the title.
FC Arkadag are the current champions (2024) for the second time.

## History

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.

## Competition

The league traditionally used to run from April to November.
As of the 2022 season, the champions qualify for the AFC Champions League group stage. The runner-up qualifies for the AFC Cup group stage. If the winner of Turkmenistan Cup ends in first or second in the championship in same season, then the third-place team qualifies to AFC Cup group stage.

## Current clubs

A total of 9 teams will contest the league. The following teams are competing in the 2024 season:
| Club | Location | Stadium | Capacity | Coach | Kit sponsor |
| Ahal | Änew | Ashgabat Stadium (Auxiliary field) | 500 | Hojaahmet Arazow | Nike |
| Altyn Asyr | Ashgabat | Büzmeýin Sport Complex | 10,000 | Ýazguly Hojageldiýew | Puma |
| Arkadag | Arkadag | Nusaý Stadium | 5,000 | Guwançmuhammet Öwekow | |
| Aşgabat | Ashgabat | Ashgabat Stadium (Auxiliary field) | 500 | Said Seýidow | Adidas |
| 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 |
| Nebitçi | Balkanabat | Balkanabat Sport Complex | 10,000 | Amanmyrat Meredow | Jako |
| Şagadam | Türkmenbaşy | Şagadam Stadium | 5,000 | Aleksandr Klimenko | Nike |

## Soviet era champions

* 1937: Lokomotiv Ashkhabad
* 1938: Dinamo Ashkhabad
* 1939–45: no championship
* 1946: Dinamo Ashkhabad
* 1947: Spartak Ashkhabad
* 1948: Dinamo Ashkhabad
* 1949: Lokomotiv Ashkhabad
* 1950: Spartak Ashkhabad
* 1951: DOSA Ashkhabad
* 1952: DOSA Ashkhabad
* 1953: Dinamo Ashkhabad
* 1954: Lokomotiv Mary
* 1955: Sbornaya Ashkhabada
* 1956: Krasny Metallist Ashkhabad
* 1957: Sbornaya Ashkhabadskoy Oblasti
* 1958: Sbornaya Ashkhabada
* 1959: Sbornaya Nebit-Daga
* 1960: Sbornaya Chardzhou
* 1961: Energetik Nebit-Dag
* 1962: Energetik Nebit-Dag
* 1963: Stroitel' Mary
* 1964: Pogranichnik Ashkhabad
* 1965: Pogranichnik Ashkhabad
* 1966: Pogranichnik Ashkhabad
* 1967: Pogranichnik Ashkhabad
* 1968: Pogranichnik Ashkhabad
* 1969: Pogranichnik Ashkhabad
* 1970: Karakum Mary
* 1971: Mayak Chardzhou
* 1972: Energostroitel' Mary
* 1973: Tsementnik Bezmein
* 1974: Avtomobilist Ashkhabad
* 1975: Neftyanik Kvasnovodsk
* 1976: Energetik Mary
* 1977: Shatlyk Mary
* 1978: Neftyanik Kvasnovodsk
* 1979: Neftyanik Kvasnovodsk
* 1980: Neftyanik Kvasnovodsk
* 1981: Stroitel' Nebit-Dag
* 1982: Lokomotiv Ashkhabad
* 1983: Sel'khoztekhnika Chardzhou
* 1984: Neftyanik Kvasnovodsk
* 1985: Lokomotiv Ashkhabad
* 1986: Neftyanik Kvasnovodsk
* 1987: SKIF Ashkhabad
* 1988: Akhal Ashkhabadsky Rayon
* 1989: Medik Nebit-Dag
* 1990: Avtomobilist Ashkhabad
* 1991: Sel'khoztekhnika Ashkhabad
| Club | Trophies | Years won |
| Pogranichnik Ashkhabad | 6 | 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969 |
| Şagadam | 6 | 1975, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1986 |
| Dinamo Ashkhabad | 4 | 1938, 1946, 1948, 1953 |
| Lokomotiv Ashkhabad | 3 | 1937, 1982, 1985 |
| Köpetdag Aşgabat | 2 | 1949, 1950 |
| DOSA Ashkhabad | 2 | 1951, 1952 |
| Sbornaya Ashkhabada | 2 | 1955, 1958 |
| Energetik Nebit-Dag | 2 | 1961, 1962 |
| Merw | 2 | 1954, 1970 |
| Avtomobilist Ashkhabad | 2 | 1974, 1990 |
| Spartak Ashkhabad | 1 | 1947 |
| Krasny Metallist Ashkhabad | 1 | 1956 |
| Sbornaya Ashkhabadskoy Oblasti | 1 | 1957 |
| Sbornaya Nebit-Daga | 1 | 1959 |
| Sbornaya Chardzhou | 1 | 1960 |
| Stroitel' Mary | 1 | 1963 |
| Mayak Chardzhou | 1 | 1971 |
| Energostroitel' Mary | 1 | 1972 |
| Tsementnik Bezmein | 1 | 1973 |
| Energetik Mary | 1 | 1976 |
| Shatlyk Mary | 1 | 1977 |
| Stroitel' Nebit-Dag | 1 | 1981 |
| Sel'khoztekhnika Chardzhou | 1 | 1983 |
| SKIF Ashkhabad | 1 | 1987 |
| Akhal Ashkhabadsky Rayon | 1 | 1988 |
| Medik Nebit-Dag | 1 | 1989 |
| Sel'khoztekhnika Ashkhabad | 1 | 1991 |

## Seasons summary

| Season | Champions | Runners-up | Third place | Top scorer (Team) – Goals |
| 1992 | Köpetdag Aşgabat | Nebitçi Nebitdag | Ahal Akdaşaýak | Sergei Kazankow (TSHT Aşgabat) – 41 |
| 1993 | Köpetdag Aşgabat | Büzmeýin | Nebitçi Balkanabat | Berdimyrat Nurmyradow (Köpetdag Aşgabat) – 25 |
| 1994 | Köpetdag Aşgabat | Nisa Aşgabat | Merw Mary | Berdimyrat Nurmyradow (Köpetdag Aşgabat) – 13 |
| 1995 | Köpetdag Aşgabat | Nisa Aşgabat | Nebitçi Nebit-Dag | Rejepmyrat Agabaýew (Nisa Aşgabat) – 41 |
| 1996 | Nisa Aşgabat | Köpetdag Aşgabat | Ekskawatorçy Çärjew | Rejepmyrat Agabaýew (Nisa Aşgabat) – 28 |
| 1997–98 | Köpetdag Aşgabat | Dagdan Aşgabat | Nisa Aşgabat | Rejepmyrat Agabaýew (Nisa Aşgabat) – 17 |
| 1998–99 | Nisa Aşgabat | Köpetdag Aşgabat | Dagdan Aşgabat | Rejepmyrat Agabaýew (Nisa Aşgabat) – 16 Şarafutdin Jumanyýazow (Turan Daşoguz) – 16 Didargylyç Urazow (Nisa Aşgabat) – 16 |
| 2000 | Köpetdag Aşgabat | Nebitçi Balkanabat | Nisa Aşgabat | Amandurdy Annadurdyýew (Köpetdag Aşgabat) – 13 |
| 2001 | Nisa Aşgabat | Köpetdag Aşgabat | Nebitçi Balkanabat | Didargylyç Urazow (Nisa Aşgabat) – 32 |
| 2002 | Şagadam Türkmenbaşy | Nisa Aşgabat | Garagum Turkmenabat | Rustam Sadykow (Şagadam Türkmenbaşy) – 20 |
| 2003 | Nisa Aşgabat | Nebitçi Balkanabat | Şagadam Türkmenbaşy | Daýançgylyç Urazow (Nisa Aşgabat) – 21 |
| 2004 | Nebitçi Balkanabat | Nisa Aşgabat | Merw Mary | Berdi Şamyradow (HTTU Aşgabat) – 19 |
| 2005 | HTTU Aşgabat | Gazçy Gazojak | Nebitçi Balkanabat | Berdi Şamyradow (HTTU Aşgabat) – 30 |
| 2006 | HTTU Aşgabat | Nebitçi Balkanabat | FC Aşgabat | Hamza Allamow (Turan Daşoguz) – 22 |
| 2007 | FC Aşgabat | HTTU Aşgabat | Nebitçi Balkanabat | Berdi Şamyradow (HTTU Aşgabat) – 16 |
| 2008 | FC Aşgabat | HTTU Aşgabat | Nebitçi Balkanabat | Mämmedaly Garadanow (HTTU Aşgabat) – 12 Berdi Şamyradow (HTTU Aşgabat) – 12 |
| 2009 | HTTU Aşgabat | Nebitçi Balkanabat | Merw Mary | Berdi Şamyradow (HTTU Aşgabat) – 18 |
| 2010 | FC Balkan | Altyn Asyr | FC Lebap | Berdi Şamyradow (HTTU Aşgabat) – 11 |
| 2011 | FC Balkan | HTTU Aşgabat | FC Aşgabat | Mämmedaly Garadanow (HTTU Aşgabat) – 24 |
| 2012 | FC Balkan | Merw | HTTU Aşgabat | Aleksandr Boliyan (Şagadam) – 23 |
| 2013 | HTTU Aşgabat | FC Balkan | Altyn Asyr | Mämmedaly Garadanow (FC Balkan) – 26 |
| 2014 | Altyn Asyr | Ahal | Şagadam | Mämmedaly Garadanow (Şagadam – 28) |
| 2015 | Altyn Asyr | FC Balkan | FC Aşgabat | Myrat Ýagşyýew (FC Balkan) – 31 |
| 2016 | Altyn Asyr | FC Balkan | Energetik Türkmenbaşy | Süleýman Muhadow (Altyn Asyr) – 30 |
| 2017 | Altyn Asyr | Ahal | Şagadam | Myrat Ýagşyýew (Altyn Asyr) – 28 |
| 2018 | Altyn Asyr | Ahal | Energetik Türkmenbaşy | Altymyrat Annadurdyýew (Altyn Asyr) – 19 |
| 2019 | Altyn Asyr | Ahal | Şagadam | Didar Durdyýew (Ahal) – 14 |
| 2020 | Altyn Asyr | Ahal | Şagadam | Altymyrat Annadurdyýew (Altyn Asyr) – 35 |
| 2021 | Altyn Asyr | Ahal | Şagadam | Elman Tagaýew (Ahal) – 10 |
| 2022 | Ahal | Altyn Asyr | Merw | Didar Durdyýew (Ahal) – 27 |
| 2023 | Arkadag | Altyn Asyr | Nebitçi | Didar Durdyýew (Arkadag) – 26 |
| 2024 | Arkadag | Ahal | Altyn Asyr | Didar Durdyýew (Arkadag) – 31 |

## Performance by club

| Team | Champions | Runners-up | Third place |
| Altyn Asyr | 8 (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021) | 3 (2010, 2022, 2023) | 2 (2013, 2024) |
| 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) |
| Arkadag | 2 (2023, 2024) | – | – |
| Ahal | 1 (2022) | 7 (2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2024) | 1 (1992) |
| Şagadam | 1 (2002) | – | 6 (2003, 2014, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021) |
| 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) |

## League participation

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

## Youth championship

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. Matches are commonly played a day before the match of the senior teams of the respective teams.

### Youth championship winners (since 2019)

* 2019: FC Altyn Asyr-2
* 2020: FC Altyn Asyr-2
* 2021: FC Altyn Asyr-2
* 2022: FC Altyn Asyr-2
* 2023: FC Altyn Asyr-2
* 2024: FC Arkadag-2