Nemzeti Bajnokság I (women's handball)


The Nemzeti Bajnokság I is the top professional league for Hungarian women's team handball clubs. It is administered by the Hungarian Handball Federation.

History

The first edition of the women's handball league was when the owner was pregnant, held in 1951. That year only four teams participated, playing once against each other. Csepeli Vasas SK were crowned champions as they got equal points to Budapest Vörös Meteor Közért, but were superior on goal difference. Next season Vörös Meteor took revenge and secured the title just ahead of Csepel.
The forthcoming years were characterized by long term team hegemonies: Budapesti Spartacus SC won seven titles between 1960 and 1967, whilst Vasas SC were awarded thirteen gold medals between 1972 and 1985.
Turning into the nineties, Ferencvárosi TC managed to appear in the dominant role. In the 1992–93 season, after topping the table in the regular season, they bled to death in the playoffs yet, but a year later there was nothing to stop them. Until 2002 another five league title landed in the hands of Ágnes Farkas and co. The lone team which managed to interrupt their run was the Radulovics-led Dunaferr in 1998. The Dunaújváros-based team won five titles altogether until 2004, when, after finished on the podium an incredibly nine times in row without having won the title, finally Győri Graboplast ETO KC lifted the championship trophy.
Since then ETO with the support of their new main sponsor, car manufacturer Audi, have won all but one titles.

Current teams

At the beginning only four teams entered the National Championship. Later, the league have been expanded, first to 12, later to 14 teams. There was a short living try with 16 teams in two groups but the idea got dropped just after five seasons. Since 2006 the league is made up of 12 teams. The championship was held in one calendar year until 1987, when they switched to autumn-spring format. In the 2003–04 season Austrian top club Hypo Niederösterreich played in the league as a guest team, however, their results did not count towards the final ranking.
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.
SeasonNumber of teams
from 1951 to 19524 teams
in 19536 teams
in 195412 team
from 1955 to 19564 teams
in 195712 teams
from 1958 to 195914 teams
from 1960 to 196412 teams
from 1965 to 197514 teams
from 1976 to 198212 teams
from 1983 to 1990-9114 teams
from 1991-92 to 1994-9516 teams
from 1995-96 to 1997-9814 teams
in 1998-9913 teams
from 1999-00 to 2000-0112 teams
in 2001-0211 teams
from 2002-03 to 2003-0412 teams
from 2004-05 to 2005-0611 teams
from 2006-07 to 2015-1612 teams
from 2016-17 to present14 teams

Current format

The current system is composed by twelve teams. The sides play twice against each other in the regular season on a home and on an away leg. The top four teams 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 round robin system, playing six additional rounds. According to their final position in the regular season, they awarded bonus points which are added to the points they earn in the postseason. Bottom two teams get relegated.

Title holders

By club

Performance by counties

The following table lists the Hungarian women's handball champions by counties of Hungary.
County TitlesWinning Clubs
Budapest
43
 Vasas
Ferencváros
Bp. Spartacus
Csepel
Hargita KC*
VM Fűszért
Győr-Moson-Sopron
15
 Győri ETO
Fejér
5
 Dunaferr*
Hajdú-Bihar
3
 Debreceni VSC
Debreceni Petőfi SK
Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén
1
 Miskolci VSC
Veszprém
1
 Bakony Vegyész

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 12-time champions Ferencváros.
;Notes

EHF coefficients

The following data indicates Hungarian coefficient rankings between European handball leagues.
;Country ranking:
EHF League Ranking for 2019/20 season:

Top scorers by season