# Kazakhstan Premier League

The Kazakhstan Professional Football League (Kazakh: Қазақстан Премьер Лигасы, Qazaqstan Premier Ligasy), commonly referred to as the Kazakh Premier League or simply the Premier League, is a professional association football league in Kazakhstan and the highest level of the Kazakh football league system.
The league is controlled by the Football Federation of Kazakhstan and was set up in 1992. The league is fed into by the First Division and starts in spring and finishes in late autumn because of the low temperatures in the winter, with each championship corresponding to a calendar year. The majority of matches have been played at weekends in recent seasons.

## Name changes

* Top Division (1992–2001)
* Super League (2002–2007)
* Premier League (2008–present)

## Current clubs

The following teams are competing in the 2024 season:
| Team | Home city | Stadium | Capacity |
| Aktobe | Aktobe | Central Stadium (Aktobe) or ODSYUSHOR №8 | 14,500 |
| Astana | Astana | Astana Arena | 30,244 |
| Atyrau | Atyrau | Munayshy Stadium | 8,690 |
| Zhenis | Astana | Astana Arena | 30,244 |
| Kairat | Almaty | Central Stadium (Almaty) | 23,804 |
| Maktaaral | Maktaaral | Alpamys Batyr Stadium | 4,229 |
| Kaisar | Kyzylorda | Gany Muratbayev Stadium | 7,500 |
| Kyzylzhar | Petropavl | Karasai Stadium | 11,000 |
| Ordabasy | Shymkent | Kazhymukan Munaitpasov Stadium | 25,000 |
| Shakhter | Karaganda | Shakhter Stadium (Karagandy) | 19,000 |
| Elimai | Semey | Spartak Stadium | 8,000 |
| Tobol | Kostanay | Kostanay Central Stadium | 10,500 |
| Turan | Turkistan | Turkistan Arena | 7,000 |
| Zhetysu | Taldykorgan | Zhetysu Stadium | 4,500 |

## Soviet winners of republican level

Note that some teams such as Kairat Almaty participated in the upper leagues of the Soviet annual football competition. There was no solidly established independent Kazakh championship and the republican winner was conditionally picked by the Football Federation of Kazakh SSR. Since 1936 there was taken places republican football competition among sports societies and agencies and later among "collectives of physical culture" (CPhC → KFK). Since 1980 champion of the Soviet Kazakhstan was also awarded to "teams of masters" (professional teams) competing in football competitions of the Soviet Second League.
Sources:
* Kazakhstan – List of Champions. RSSSF
* The Kazakh SSR Football Championship (Чемпионат Казахской ССР). Footballfacts. (in Russian)
* The Kazakh SSR Football Championship D2 (Чемпионат Казахской ССР D2). Footballfacts. (in Russian)

### Best teams in republican competitions
## Kazakhstan League Seasons

| Season | Champion | Runner-up | Third Place | Top Scorer(s) – Goals | Best Player |
| 1992 | Kairat | Ordabasy (Arsenal SKIF) | Irtysh (Traktor) | Kogai (KSR) – 21 | Volgin (KRT) |
| 1993 | Irtysh (Ansat) | Ekibastuzets (Batyr) | Gornyak | Shmarikov (TAR) – 28 | Kurganskiy (EKI) |
| 1994 | Elimai | Irtysh (Ansat) | Ordabasy (Zhiger) | Litvinenko (TAR) – 20 | Musataev (ORD) |
| 1995 | Elimai | Taraz | Shakhter | Miroshnichenko (ELI) – 23 | Miroshnichenko (ELI) |
| 1996 | Taraz | Irtysh | Elimai | Antonov (IRT) – 21 | Voskoboynikov (TAR) |
| 1997 | Irtysh | Taraz | Kairat | Mazbaev (TAR) – 16 | Voskoboynikov (TAR) |
| 1998 | Elimai | Ekibastuzets (Batyr) | Irtysh | Litvinenko (ELI) – 14 | Voskoboynikov (KSR) |
| 1999 | Irtysh | Kyzylzhar (Access Esil) | Kairat | Agabaýew (KRT) – 24 | Avdeev (KYZ) |
| 2000 | Zhenis | Kyzylzhar (Access GG) | Irtysh | Mendes (IRT) – 21 | Avdeev (KYZ) |
| 2001 | Zhenis | Atyrau | Kyzylzhar (Esil B) | Tlekhugov (ZNS) – 30 | Tlekhugov (ZNS) |
| 2002 | Irtysh | Atyrau | Tobol | Lunev (SHA) – 16 | Lovchev (ZNS) |
| 2003 | Irtysh | Tobol | Zhenis | Finonchenko (SHA) – 18 | Zhumaskaliyev (TOB) |
| 2004 | Kairat | Irtysh | Tobol | Bakaev (TOB) / Tlekhugov (KRT) – 22 | Smakov (KRT) |
| 2005 | Aktobe | Tobol | Kairat | Tleshev (IRT) – 20 | Zhumaskaliyev (TOB) |
| 2006 | Zhenis (Astana) | Aktobe | Tobol | Irismetov (ALM) – 17 | David Loria (ZNS) |
| 2007 | Aktobe | Tobol | Shakhter | Irismetov (ALM) – 17 | Smakov (AKT) |
| 2008 | Aktobe | Tobol | Irtysh | Tleshev (IRT) – 13 | Smakov (AKT) |
| 2009 | Aktobe | Astana (Lokomotiv) | Shakhter | Tleshev (AKT) / Baýramow (TOB) – 20 | Smakov (AKT) |
| 2010 | Tobol | Aktobe | Irtysh | Bakaev (TOB) – 16 | Zhumaskaliyev (TOB) |
| 2011 | Shakhter | Zhetysu | Aktobe | Bakaev (ZTS) – 18 | Konysbayev (SHA) |
| 2012 | Shakhter | Irtysh | Aktobe | Bakaev (IRT) – 14 | Bakaev (IRT) |
| 2013 | Aktobe | Astana | Kairat | Zenkovich (SHA) – 15 | Finonchenko (SHA) |
| 2014 | Astana | Aktobe | Kairat | Foxi (AST) – 16 | Islamkhan (KRT) |
| 2015 | Astana | Kairat | Aktobe | Gohou (KRT) – 22 | Gohou (KRT) |
| 2016 | Astana | Kairat | Irtysh | Gohou (KRT) – 22 | Islamkhan (KRT) |
| 2017 | Astana | Kairat | Orbadasy | Gohou (KRT) – 24 | Gohou (KRT) |
| 2018 | Astana | Kairat | Tobol | Pizzelli (AKT) – 18 | Pizzelli (AKT) |
| 2019 | Astana | Kairat | Orbadasy | Tomasov (AST) / Eseola (KRT) – 19 | |
| 2020 | Kairat | Tobol | Astana | João Paulo (ORD) – 12 | |
| 2021 | Tobol | Astana | Kairat | Tomasov (AST) – 17 | |
| 2022 | Astana | Aktobe | Tobol | Eugénio (AST) – 22 | |
| 2023 | Ordabasy | Astana | Aktobe | João Paulo (KRT) – 17 | |
| 2024 | Kairat | Astana | Aktobe | João Paulo (KRT) / Chesnokov (TOB) / Signevich (ATY) – 10 | |
Notes:
* Historical names shown in brackets according to the season.
* Best Player Award by FFK (1992–2005, 2008, 2010–) and GOAL Journal (2006–2007, 2009).

## List of champions

| Club | Winners | Runners-up | Winning years |
| Astana | 7 | 5 | 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022 |
| Aktobe | 5 | 4 | 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013 |
| Irtysh | 5 | 4 | 1993, 1997, 1999, 2002, 2003 |
| Kairat | 4 | 5 | 1992, 2004, 2020, 2024 |
| Elimai | 3 | – | 1994, 1995, 1998 |
| Zhenis | 3 | – | 2000, 2001, 2006 |
| Tobol | 2 | 5 | 2010, 2021 |
| Shakhter | 2 | – | 2011, 2012 |
| Taraz | 1 | 2 | 1996 |
| Ordabasy | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Ekibastuzets | | 2 | |
| Kyzylzhar | | 2 | |
| Atyrau | | 2 | |
| Zhetysu | | 1 | |
| Total | 32 | 32 | |

### Notes

* Teams in bold currently compete in Premier League.
* Italics identifies either defunct or teams that lost professional status.

## Performance by club

    As of end of the 2024 season.
| # | Club | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Cup | SC | FD | Total |
| 1 | Kairat | 1 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 6 | 3 | | 3 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 10 | | 10 | 11 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 26 |
| 2 | Aktobe | 12 | 9 | 4 | 14 | 10 | 11 | | | | 8 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 12 | | 7 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 20 |
| 3 | Astana | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 3 | | 19 |
| 4 | Irtysh | 3 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 8 | 12 | | | | | 5 | 4 | 6 | 1 | | | 17 |
| 5 | Tobol | 13 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 11 | | | 8 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 1 | | | 13 |
| 6 | Ordabasy | 2 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 14 | 10 | 11 | 6 | 13 | 16 | | 6 | 14 | 6 | 13 | 9 | 12 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 10 |
| 7 | Shakhter | 7 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 8 | 4 | 9 | 10 | 5 | 12 | 6 | 10 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 2 | | 3 | 1 | 1 | | 7 |
| 8 | Zhenis | 9 | 12 | 14 | 10 | 13 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 10 | 8 | 1 | 8 | 11 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10 | 3 | | 1 | 3 | | | 7 |
| 9 | Kaisar | 10 | 21 | | | 7 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 16 | | 15 | 10 | 4 | 13 | | 8 | 9 | | 5 | 12 | | 6 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 13 | | 6 | 8 | | | | 2 | | 4 | 6 |
| 10 | Elimai | 14 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 19 | | | | | | | | | | 12 | | | | | | | | | | 6 | 3 | | 1 | 1 | | 1 | 6 |
| 11 | Okzhetpes | 20 | | | | 18 | 11 | 8 | 16 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 17 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 15 | 9 | 11 | 12 | | 14 | | | 8 | 5 | 12 | | 7 | 11 | | | 12 | | | | | | | 5 | 5 |
| 12 | Taraz | 5 | 14 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 14 | 11 | 15 | | 12 | 7 | 11 | 10 | 16 | | 8 | 9 | 9 | 4 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 11 | | 10 | 8 | 10 | 12 | | | 1 | 2 | | 1 | | | 4 |
| 13 | Kyzylzhar | 19 | | | | | | | 2 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 11 | 6 | 7 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 14 | | | | | | | | | 11 | | 9 | 4 | 10 | 5 | 9 | | 2 | 1 | | | 1 | 4 |
| 14 | Atyrau | | | | | | | | | | 2 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 6 | 5 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 11 | | 11 | 11 | 7 | 7 | | 2 | | 1 | | | 3 |
| 15 | Ekibastuzets | 4 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 11 | 16 | 13 | | 15 | 8 | 12 | 8 | 12 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | | | | 1 | 3 |
| 16 | Zhetysu | 21 | 25 | | 6 | 9 | | | 15 | 13 | 14 | | 8 | 13 | 15 | | 5 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 12 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 12 | | 6 | 5 | 6 | 14 | | 11 | 11 | | 1 | | | | 2 | 3 |
| 17 | Vostok | 11 | 10 | 12 | 8 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 9 | 7 | 16 | 10 | | 12 | | 11 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | 1 | 2 |
| 18 | Gornyak | 8 | 3 | 13 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | 1 |
| 19 | Akzhayik | 16 | 16 | 16 | | | | 14 | | | | | 16 | 17 | | | | | | 11 | | 8 | 12 | | | | 10 | 12 | | | 9 | 14 | | | | | | | | 1 | 1 |
| 20 | Caspiy | 15 | 20 | | 16 | 4 | | | | | 17 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10 | 8 | 9 | 13 | | | | | | | 1 | 1 |
| 21 | Aksu | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | 14 | | | | | | | 1 | 1 |
| 22 | Turan | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 12 | 13 | | 12 | | | | | | | 0 |
| 23 | Maktaaral | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 8 | 9 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| 24 | Ulytau | | 22 | | | 15 | 14 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |

## League participation

Note: The tallies below include up to the 2024 season. Teams denoted in bold are current participants.
* 33 seasons: Shakhter
* 31 seasons: Kairat, Tobol
* 29 seasons: Aktobe
* 28 seasons: Irtysh, Taraz
* 26 seasons: Kaisar, Zhetysu
* 25 seasons: Ordabasy
* 23 seasons: Atyrau, Okzhetpes
* 20 seasons: Vostok
* 18 seasons: Kyzylzhar, Zhenis
* 16 seasons: Astana
* 15 seasons: Ekibastuzets
* 14 seasons: Akzhayik, Elimai
* 9 seasons: Caspiy, Zhiger
* 8 seasons: Shakhter-Bulat
* 5 seasons: Alma-Ata, Tomiris
* 4 seasons: CSKA Almaty, Gornyak, Yassy
* 3 seasons: Turan, Ulytau
* 2 seasons: Aksu, Azhar, Ekibastuz, Maktaaral
* 1 season: Arman, BGS, Dinamo Alma-Ata, Dostyk, Kazakhmys, Megasport, Namys Almaty, Nasha Kampaniya, Sunkar, Yelimay

### Soviet Top League participation

* 24 seasons: Kairat

## All time top scorers

    As of 1 January 2015
| Rank | Player | Games | Goals |
| 1 | Nurbol Zhumaskaliyev | 405 | 157 |
| 2 | Oleg Litvinenko | 311 | 147 |
| 3 | Nurken Mazbaev | 400 | 142 |
| 4 | Murat Tleshev | 303 | 138 |
| 5 | Andrei Miroshnichenko | 242 | 115 |
| 6 | Ulugbek Bakayev | 183 | 109 |
| 7 | Andrei Finonchenko | 274 | 98 |
| 8 | Aleksandr Shatskikh | 275 | 96 |
| 9 | Ruslan Imankulov | 366 | 96 |
| 10 | Kairat Aubakirov | 302 | 94 |
| 11 | Vladimir Loginov | 339 | 87 |
| 12 | Viktor Antonov | 207 | 86 |
| 13 | Ruslan Duzmambetov | 230 | 86 |
| As the end of 2014 season. (Bold denotes players still in Premier League) ||||