The Kazakhstan Professional Football League (), 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 operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Kazakh 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.
From 1994 to 2001, the league's better clubs competed in the Asian Football Confederation clubs' competitions. Starting from 2001, the Kazakhstani clubs compete in the UEFA clubs' competitions.
Name changes Top Division (1992–2001) Super League (2002–2007) Premier League (2008–present)
Current clubs
The following teams are competing in the 2025 season: Team Location Venue Capacity Aktobe Aktobe Central Stadium 12,729 Astana Astana Astana Arena 30,200 Atyrau Atyrau Munaishy Stadium 8,900 Elimai Semey Spartak Stadium 8,000 Jenis Astana Astana Arena 30,200 Jetisu Taldykorgan Samat Suyumbayev Stadium 4,000 Kairat Almaty Central Stadium 23,804 Kaisar Kyzylorda Gany Muratbayev Stadium 7,500 Kyzylzhar Petropavl Karasai Stadium 11,000 Okzhetpes Kokshetau Torpedo Stadium 4,100 Ordabasy Shymkent Kazhymukan Munaitpasov Stadium 20,000 Tobol Kostanay Central Stadium 9,500 Turan Turkistan Turkistan Arena 7,000 Ulytau Jezkazgan Metallurg Stadium 2,500
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 establishment of the Class B republican competitions in 1960s, there were competitions for the Kazakhstani teams of masters organized sporadically often with teams from Kyrgyzstan. From 1980, the champion of the Soviet Kazakhstan was also awarded to "teams of masters" (professional teams) competing in football competitions of the Soviet Second League.
1936 : Alma-Aty City 1937 : Dinamo Alma-Ata1937. Regional-football.ru 1938 : Dinamo Alma-Ataunited Dynamo team of Alma-Ata and Chimkent1938. Regional-football.ru 1939–45 : No Championshiponly cup competition in 1939 and 1940, no data for 1941–1944, no competitions in 1945. Regional-football.ru 1946 : Dinamo Alma-Ata1946. Regional-football.ru 1947 : Lokomotiv Jambul1947. Regional-football.ru 1948 : Trudovye Rezervy Alma-Ata1948. Regional-football.ru 1949 : Dinamo Karaganda 1950 : Alma-Aty City 1951 : Meliorator Chimkent 1952 : Meliorator Chimkent 1953 : Meliorator Chimkent 1954 : Dinamo Alma-Ata 1955 : Dinamo Alma-Ata 1956 : Alma-Aty City 1957 : Stroitel Alma-Ata 1958 : Spartak Alma-Ata 1959 : Spartak Alma-Ata 1960 : Yenbek Guryev
1961 : Avangard Petropavlovsk 1962 : ADK Alma-Ata 1963 : Tselinnik Semipalatinsk 1964 : ADK Alma-Ata 1965 : ADK Alma-Ata 1966 : Aktyubinets Aktyubinsk 1967 : Torpedo Kokchetav 1968 : Gornyak Jezkangan 1969 : Shakhtyor Saran' 1970 : Stroitel Temir-Tau 1971 : Yenbek Jezkangan 1972 : Traktor Pavlodar 1973 : Yenbek Jezkangan 1974 : Gornyak Nikol'sky 1975 : Meliorator Chimkent 1976 : Khimik Stepnogorsk 1977 : Khimik Stepnogorsk 1978 : Trud Shevchenko 1979 : Khimik Stepnogorsk
1980 : Meliorator Chimkent 1981 : Burevestnik Kustanay Zone 7 (3rd level, included teams from other republics) 1980 : Traktor Pavlodar 1981 : Aktyubinets Aktyubinsk Zone 8 (3rd level) 1982 : Shakhtyor Karaganda 1983 : Shakhtyor Karaganda 1984 : Tselinnik Tselinograd 1985 : Meliorator Chimkent 1986 : Meliorator Chimkent 1987 : Meliorator Chimkent 1988 : Traktor Pavlodar 1989 : Traktor Pavlodar Zone 8 (4th level) 1990 : Vostok Ust'-Kamenogorsk 1991 : Aktyubinets Aktyubinsk
Sources: Kazakhstan – List of Champions. RSSSF The Kazakh SSR Football Championship (Чемпионат Казахской ССР). Footballfacts. The Kazakh SSR Football Championship D2 (Чемпионат Казахской ССР D2). Footballfacts.
Best teams in republican competitions
7 – Meliorator Chimkent (1951, 1952, 1953, 1975, 1985, 1986, 1987)
5 – Dinamo Alma-Ata (1937, 1938, 1946, 1954, 1955)
4 – Traktor Pavlodar (1972, 1980, 1988, 1989)
2 – Alma-Ata {collective city team} (1936, 1950, 1956) 3 – ADK Alma-Ata (1962, 1964, 1965) 3 – Khimik Stepnogorsk (1976, 1977, 1979) 3 – Yenbek Jezkangan (1968, 1971, 1973) 3 – Aktyubinets Aktyubinsk (1966, 1981, 1991)
2 – Spartak Alma-Ata (1958, 1959) 2 – Shakhter Karaganda (1982, 1983)
1 – Lokomotiv Jambul (1947) 1 – Trudovye Rezervy Alma-Ata (1948) 1 – Dinamo Karaganda (1949) 1 – Stroitel Alma-Ata (1957) 1 – Yenbek Guryev (1960) 1 – Avangard Petropavlovsk (1961) 1 – Tselinnik Semipalatinsk (1963) 1 – Torpedo Kokchetav (1967) 1 – Shakhter Saran (1969) 1 – Stroitel Temir-Tau (1970) 1 – Gornyak Nikol'sky (1974) 1 – Trud Shevchenko (1978) 1 – Tselinnik Tselinograd (1984) 1 – Vostok Ust'-Kamenogorsk (1990)
Kazakhstan League Seasons SeasonChampionRunner-upThird PlaceTop Scorer(s) – GoalsBest PlayerKairatOrdabasy (Arsenal SKIF)Irtysh (Traktor) Kogai (KSR) – 21 Volgin (KRT)Irtysh (Ansat)Ekibastuzets (Batyr)Gornyak Shmarikov (TAR) – 28 Kurganskiy (EKI)ElimaiIrtysh (Ansat)Ordabasy (Zhiger) Litvinenko (TAR) – 20 Musataev (ORD)ElimaiTarazShakhter Miroshnichenko (ELI) – 23 Miroshnichenko (ELI)TarazIrtyshElimai Antonov (IRT) – 21 Voskoboynikov (TAR)IrtyshTarazKairat Mazbaev (TAR) – 16 Voskoboynikov (TAR)ElimaiEkibastuzets (Batyr)Irtysh Litvinenko (ELI) – 14 Voskoboynikov (KSR)IrtyshKyzylzhar (Access Esil)Kairat Agabaýew (KRT) – 24 Avdeev (KYZ)JenisKyzylzhar (Access GG)Irtysh Mendes (IRT) – 21 Avdeev (KYZ)JenisAtyrauKyzylzhar (Esil B) Tlekhugov (JEN) – 30 Tlekhugov (JEN)IrtyshAtyrauTobol Lunev (SHA) – 16 Lovchev (JEN)IrtyshTobolJenis Finonchenko (SHA) – 18 Zhumaskaliyev (TOB)KairatIrtyshTobol Bakaev (TOB) / Tlekhugov (KRT) – 22 Smakov (KRT)AktobeTobolKairat Tleshev (IRT) – 20 Zhumaskaliyev (TOB)Jenis (Astana)AktobeTobol Irismetov (ALM) – 17 David Loria (JEN)AktobeTobolShakhter Irismetov (ALM) – 17 Smakov (AKT)AktobeTobolIrtysh Tleshev (IRT) – 13 Smakov (AKT)AktobeAstana (Lokomotiv)Shakhter Tleshev (AKT) / Baýramow (TOB) – 20 Smakov (AKT)TobolAktobeIrtysh Bakaev (TOB) – 16 Zhumaskaliyev (TOB)ShakhterJetisuAktobe Bakaev (JET) – 18 Konysbayev (SHA)ShakhterIrtyshAktobe Bakaev (IRT) – 14 Bakaev (IRT)AktobeAstanaKairat Zenkovich (SHA) – 15 Finonchenko (SHA)AstanaAktobeKairat Foxi (AST) – 16 Islamkhan (KRT)AstanaKairatAktobe Gohou (KRT) – 22 Gohou (KRT)AstanaKairatIrtysh Gohou (KRT) – 22 Islamkhan (KRT)AstanaKairatOrbadasy Gohou (KRT) – 24 Gohou (KRT)AstanaKairatTobol Pizzelli (AKT) – 18 Pizzelli (AKT)AstanaKairatOrbadasy Tomasov (AST) / Eseola (KRT) – 19KairatTobolAstana João Paulo (ORD) – 12TobolAstanaKairat Tomasov (AST) – 17AstanaAktobeTobol Eugénio (AST) – 22OrdabasyAstanaAktobe João Paulo (KRT) – 17KairatAstanaAktobe João Paulo (KRT) / Chesnokov (TOB) / Signevich (ATY) – 10 KairatAstanaTobol Nazmi Gripshi (AST) – 16 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 ClubWinnersRunners-upThird placeWinning years Astana7512014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022Kairat5561992, 2004, 2020, 2024, 2025Irtysh5461993, 1997, 1999, 2002, 2003Aktobe5452005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013Yelimay3–11994, 1995, 1998Jenis3–12000, 2001, 2006Tobol2552010, 2021Shakhter2–32011, 2012Taraz12–1996Ordabasy1–22023Kyzylzhar–21Atyrau–2–Ekibastuzets–2–Tomiris–1–Jetisu–1–Gornyak––1Zhiger––1Total 33 33 33
Notes Teams in bold currently compete in Premier League. Italics identifies either defunct or teams that lost professional status.
Performance by clubs
# 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 25 1st2nd3rdCupSCFDTotal1 Kairat 11111963345771371310101110332222213 4 4 11556911272 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 554231203 Astana 2 4 4 5 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 2 1 2 2 2 76133204 Irtysh31272131341125643935261063410812 5461175 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 3 25534196 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 71 13212107 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 231178 Zhenis91214101396411431081811 10 631379 Kaisar 10217845611101316151041389512656713 6 8 1124610Elimai1417113719878919 12 6 43111611Okzhetpes20 18118161010121711911159111214 8512711 12 85512 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 121413 Kyzylzhar 19 2 2 3 9 11 6 7 12 11 13 14 11 9 4 10 5 9 9 211414 Atyrau 2 2 4 5 10 14 14 15 6 5 10 11 8 9 5 8 8 9 11 11 11 7 7 13 21315Ekibastuzets4291156211161315812812 21316Zhetysu21256915131481315565721298111265614 11 11 12 12317Vostok111012812557119111412149716101211 11218Gornyak83135 1119 Akzhayik 16 16 16 14 16 17 11 8 12 10 12 9 14 1120 Caspiy 15 20 16 4 17 10 8 9 13 1121 Aksu 6 14 1 122 Turan 12 13 12 14023 Maktaaral 8 9 024 Ulytau 22 15 14 10 0
League participation
Note: The tallies below include up to the 2025 season. Teams denoted in bold are current participants.
33 seasons: Shakhter 32 seasons: Kairat, Tobol 30 seasons: Aktobe 28 seasons: Irtysh, Taraz 27 seasons: Kaisar, Jetisu 26 seasons: Ordabasy 24 seasons: Atyrau, Okzhetpes 20 seasons: Vostok 19 seasons: Kyzylzhar, Jenis 17 seasons: Astana 14 seasons: Akzhayik, Ekibastuzets, Spartak 9 seasons: Caspiy, Zhiger 8 seasons: Shakhter-Bulat 5 seasons: Alma-Ata, Tomiris 4 seasons: CSKA Almaty, Gornyak, Turan, Turkestan, Ulytau 2 seasons: Aksu, Azhar, Ekibastuz, Elimai, Maktaaral 1 season: Arman, BGS, Dinamo Alma-Ata, Dostyk, Kazakhmys, Megasport, Namys Almaty, Nasha Kampaniya, Sunkar
Soviet Top League participation
24 seasons: Kairat
All time top scorers
RankPlayerGamesGoals Nurbol Zhumaskaliyev Oleg Litvinenko Nurken Mazbaev Murat Tleshev Andrei Miroshnichenko Ulugbek Bakayev Andrei Finonchenko Aleksandr Shatskikh Ruslan Imankulov Kairat Aubakirov Vladimir Loginov Viktor Antonov Ruslan DuzmambetovAs the end of 2014 season. (Bold denotes players still in Premier League)
See also Football in Kazakhstan Sports league attendances
References
External links
Kazakhstan Premier League at Global Sports Archive