Nemzeti Bajnokság I (men's handball)

Nemzeti Bajnokság I (men's handball)
The Nemzeti Bajnokság I (commonly abbreviated NB I) is the premier men's professional handball league in Hungary, administered by the Hungarian Handball Federation. Since 2016 the official name of the championship is K&H Férfi Kézilabda Liga due to sponsorship reasons.
Overview
Running since 1951, the Hungarian championship is among the strongests in Europe. Veszprém KC have won the EHF Cup Winners' Cup in 2008 and have reached the semi-final of the EHF Champions League three times in the last nine seasons, capturing a silver medal in 2002. Main domestic rivals SC Pick Szeged are also regular members of the Champions League.
Famous handball players who have played in the league include Carlos Perez, Zlatko Saračević, Mirza Džomba, Árpád Sterbik, Kiril Lazarov, László Nagy, Dániel Buday, Balázs Laluska, József Éles, Julio Fis, Rolando Uríos, Nenad Peruničić, Vlado Šola, Dejan Perić, Vladimir Hernandez, Gergő Iváncsik and many others.
Currently, it consists of 14 teams. The top four teams after the regular season qualify for the playoffs, where a best-of-three system is used. Teams ranked fifth to ninth and tenth to twelfth decide their final places in a classification round, using a double round robin system, playing six additional rounds. Depending on their final position in the regular season, they are awarded bonus points which are added to the points they earn in the postseason.
According to the EHF league ranking, NB I champions and runners-up receive an automatic spot in the Group phase of the forthcoming Champions League season, while following two clubs enter the EHF Cup. Teams ranked thirteenth and fourteenth get relegated and will be replaced by the winners of the Eastern and Western group of the second division.
Current season
Teams for season 2023–24
Sponsorship
The league went through various name changes depending on the sponsor for the given season(s):
–2002: No sponsor
2002–2012: Budapest Bank (Budapest Bank Kézilabda Liga)
2012–2016: No sponsor (Nemzeti Bajnokság I - NB I)
2016– : K&H Bank (K&H liga)
Format
As we can see from the chart the number of teams in the Hungarian First Division changed a lot and continuously. The league started in 1951 with four teams and with the formation of teams the league expanded continuously. Currently, there are 14 teams in the first division.
Title holders
1951 : Vörös Meteor
1952 : Honvéd
1953 : Újpest
1954 : Vörös Meteor
1955 : Vörös Meteor
1956 : Suspended
1957 : Vörös Meteor
1958 : Újpest
1959 : Bp. Spartacus
1960 : Bp. Spartacus
1961 : Bp. Spartacus
1962 : Bp. Spartacus
1963 : Bp. Honvéd
1964 : Bp. Honvéd
1965 : Bp. Honvéd
1966 : Bp. Honvéd
1967 : Bp. Honvéd
1968 : Bp. Honvéd
1969 : Elektromos SE
1970 : Elektromos SE
1971 : Elektromos SE
1972 : Bp. Honvéd
1973 : Bp. Spartacus
1974 : Tatabánya
1975 : Debreceni Dózsa
1976 : Bp. Honvéd
1977 : Bp. Honvéd
1978 : Tatabányai Bányász
1979 : Tatabányai Bányász
1980 : Bp. Honvéd
1981 : Bp. Honvéd
1982 : Bp. Honvéd
1983 : Bp. Honvéd
1984 : Tatabányai Bányász
1985 : Veszprém
1986 : Veszprém
1987 : Győri ETO
1988/89 : Győri ETO
1989/90 : Győri ETO
1990/91 : Elektromos SE
1991/92 : Veszprém
1992/93 : Veszprém
1993/94 : Veszprém
1994/95 : Veszprém
1995/96 : Szeged
1996/97 : Veszprém
1997/98 : Veszprém
1998/99 : Veszprém
1999/00 : Dunaferr
2000/01 : Veszprém
2001/02 : Veszprém
2002/03 : Veszprém
2003/04 : Veszprém
2004/05 : Veszprém
2005/06 : Veszprém
2006/07 : Szeged
2007/08 : Veszprém
2008/09 : Veszprém
2009/10 : Veszprém
2010/11 : Veszprém
2011/12 : Veszprém
2012/13 : Veszprém
2013/14 : Veszprém
2014/15 : Veszprém
2015/16 : Veszprém
2016/17 : Veszprém
2017/18 : Szeged
2018/19 : Veszprém
2019/20 : Not awarded
2020/21 : Szeged
2021/22 : Szeged
2022/23 : Veszprém
Performances
By club
By counties
The following table lists the Hungarian handball champions by counties of Hungary.
The bolded teams are currently playing in the 2022–23 season of the Hungarian League.
Clubs
Since 1951, clubs have participated in the Hungarian League. Below the list of Hungarian League clubs who have participated in the first division. The club with the most appearances are the 28-time champions Ferencváros, however the club spent three years in the Nemzeti Bajnokság II (Hungarian Second Division) between 2006 and 2009. The only clubs who have never been relegated are Újpest.
Notes
The teams in bold are competing in the 2015–16 season of the Hungarian League.
Statistics
EHF coefficients
The following data indicates Hungarian coefficient rankings between European handball leagues.
Country ranking
EHF League Ranking for 2018/19 season:
1. (1) Handball-Bundesliga (128.50)
2. (2) Liga ASOBAL (115)
3. (3) Nemzeti Bajnokság I (106.83)
4. (4) LNH Division 1 (105.83)
5. (5) Polish Superliga (75.71)
Club ranking
EHF Club Ranking as of 3 March 2019:
2. Veszprém (912)
9. Szeged (685)
40. Tatabánya (241)
54. Balatonfüred (156)
61. Csurgó (135)
In European competitions
See also
Nemzeti Bajnokság I Top Scorers
Magyar Kupa (National Cup of Hungary)
Hungarian handball clubs in European competitions
Hungarian Handballer of the Year
References
External links
Hungarian Habdall Federation
Hungary at EHF
NB I current season results and table at Soccerway
Hétméteres - men's handball website
1951 establishments in Hungary
Professional sports leagues in Hungary