Slovenian Third League

Slovenian Third League
Organising bodyFootball Association of Slovenia
Founded1992; 32 years ago (1992)
CountrySlovenia
Divisions2
Number of clubs28
Level on pyramid3
Promotion toSlovenian Second League
Relegation toRegional Leagues or
Intercommunal Leagues
Current championsDrava Ptuj (East)
Dob (West)
(2023–24)
Most championshipsDravinja (4 titles)
Websitenzs.si

The Slovenian Third Football League (Slovene: Tretja slovenska nogometna liga or commonly 3. SNL) is the third tier of the Slovenian football system. Since 2019, the league consists of two regional groups (East and West). They are operated by the Intercommunal Football Associations.

Format and rules

Between 1992–93 and 1997–98, the Slovenian Third League was divided into two regional groups (East and West), with both group winners directly promoting to the Slovenian Second League (except in the 1994–95 season, when the top two divisions got reorganized).

In the 1998–99 season, the league was expanded to four regional groups (Centre, East, North, West). Up to the 2002–03 season, all four group winners were promoted directly to the second division. In the 2003–04 season, a two-legged play-offs were introduced, as only two teams promoted.

In the 2004–05 season, the format was changed back to two regional groups with both group winners promoting.

From the 2014–15 season onwards, the league was again divided into four regional groups. Three of those groups (Centre, East and North) were composed of fourteen clubs, while the West group consisted of ten clubs.

In the 2014–15 and 2015–16 seasons, the group winners played a promotional two-legged play-off to decide two promoting teams. Due to the expansion of the Slovenian Second League, the top two teams in each of the four groups were promoted in the 2016–17 season. In the following season, the group winners again played a two-legged play-off for two promotion spots.

In the 2018–19 season, the North, Centre and East groups were reduced to ten teams. After the season, the old system with two groups (East and West) with both winners promoting to the Second League was reintroduced.[1]

2024–25 teams

Winners

Season East West
1992–93 Veržej Piran
1993–94 Drava Ptuj Mengeš
1994–95 Šentjur Črnuče
1995–96 Dravograd Renče
1996–97 Aluminij Krka
1997–98 Pohorje Tabor Sežana
Season Centre East North West
1998–99 Livar Črenšovci Rogoza Korte
1999–2000 Komenda Renkovci Dravinja Brda
2000–01 Bela Krajina Bakovci Drava Ptuj Renče
2001–02 Grosuplje Križevci Krško Izola
2002–03 Svoboda Čarda[B] Pohorje[B] Korte[A]
2003–04 Factor Ježica[C] Nafta Lendava[D] Šoštanj[D] Korte[C]
Season East West
2004–05 Zavrč[E] Šenčur
2005–06 Mura 05 Bonifika
2006–07 Zavrč Krka
2007–08 MU Šentjur Olimpija
2008–09 Dravinja Šenčur
2009–10 Šmartno 1928 Adria[F]
2010–11 Odranci[G] Radomlje
2011–12 Zavrč Krka
2012–13 Veržej Ankaran Hrvatini
2013–14 Dravinja Tolmin
Season Centre East North West
2014–15 Zarica Kranj[H] Odranci[J] Maribor B[I] Ajdovščina Škou[H]
2015–16 Ilirija[K] Beltinci[L] Brežice 1919[K] Brda[L]
2016–17 Bravo Nafta 1903 Maribor B[M] Tabor Sežana
2017–18 Bled[N] Beltinci[N] Dravograd[O] Bilje[O]
2018–19 Bled[P] Grad[Q] Dravograd[P] Koper[Q]
Season East West
2019–20 N/A[R]
2020–21 Rogaška Ilirija 1911
2021–22 Bistrica Brinje Grosuplje
2022–23 Dravinja Tolmin
2023–24 Drava Ptuj Dob[S]
Notes
  1. ^
    Korte declined promotion; their place was taken by the second-placed Tabor Sežana.
  2. ^ a b
    Čarda and Pohorje declined promotion (no replacement taken).
  3. ^ a b
    Play-off: Korte – Factor Ježica 4–0, 0–4 (1–4 pen.); Factor Ježica promoted.
  4. ^ a b
    Play-off: Šoštanj – Nafta Lendava 0–0, 2–0; Šoštanj denied licence, Nafta Lendava promoted.
  5. ^
    Zavrč declined promotion (no replacement taken).
  6. ^
    Adria declined promotion; their place was taken by the second-placed Dob.
  7. ^
    Odranci declined promotion; their place was taken by the second-placed Šampion.
  8. ^ a b
    Play-off: Ajdovščina Škou vs. Zarica Kranj 1–1, 1–3; Zarica Kranj promoted.
  9. ^
    Maribor B was ineligible for promotion; second-placed Drava Ptuj played the play-off.
  10. ^
    Play-off: Drava Ptuj vs. Odranci 2–0, 1–2; Drava Ptuj promoted.
  11. ^ a b
    Play-off: Ilirija vs. Brežice 1919 0–4, 2–0; Brežice promoted.
  12. ^ a b
    Play-off: Brda vs. Beltinci 0–0, 2–1; Brda promoted.
  13. ^ a b
    Maribor B declined promotion; their place was taken by the third-placed Fužinar.
  14. ^ a b
    Play-off: Beltinci vs. Bled 1–1, 1–0; Beltinci promoted.
  15. ^ a b
    Play-off: Bilje vs. Dravograd 2–1, 0–0; Bilje promoted.
  16. ^ a b
    Play-off: Dravograd vs. Bled 2–1, 0–0; Dravograd promoted.
  17. ^ a b
    Play-off: Koper vs. Grad 4–0, 4–0; Koper promoted.
  18. ^
    The season was not completed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Šmartno 1928 (East) and Primorje (West), who were in first place before the competition was interrupted, were promoted.
  19. ^
    Dob declined promotion; their place was taken by the second-placed Slovan.

References

  1. ^ "Zadeva: Spremembe tekmovanja na nivoju 3. SNL od TL 2018/2019 dalje" (PDF) (in Slovenian). Football Association of Slovenia. 30 May 2018. Retrieved 28 July 2020.