The German football league system , or league pyramid , refers to the hierarchically interconnected league system for association football in Germany that in the 2016–17 season consisted of 2,235 leagues in up to 13 levels having 31,645 teams , in which all divisions are bound together by the principle of promotion and relegation .
41-672: The Kreisliga (English: District League ), along with the Kreisoberliga (English: District Premier League ) and the Kreisklasse (English: District Class ), are the lowest set of divisions in the German football league system , set at step 8 and below. Whereas the top amateur divisions are organised by the 21 state football associations of the German Football Association , the bottom divisions fall under
82-513: A league pyramid under its own jurisdiction. The state association of Bavaria starts its pyramid at level four. The top divisions of the state associations of Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, Middle Rhine, Lower Rhine, Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein and Westphalia sit at level five of the pyramid. The pyramids of the remaining associations of Baden, Berlin, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Rhineland, Saarland, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, South Baden, Southwest, Thuringia and Württemberg start at level six of
123-665: A single division, the Bezirksliga (County League) under their jurisdiction, then followed by the district associations' top flights Kreisliga (District League). State associations that are directly subdivided into district associations, typically run the Bezirksliga themselves. In Hesse, the Bezirksliga is called the Gruppenliga (Group League). The Schleswig-Holstein Football Association league system
164-661: Is a division at step 5 of the German football league system . After the fall of the Berlin Wall , it became the successor of the DDR-Oberliga , and functions today as a 5th division in the former territory of East Germany and the city of Berlin . This league is named after the Nordostdeutscher Fußballverband (NOFV: North-East German Football Association), the regional association of the DFB in
205-402: Is held under the jurisdiction of the nationwide German Football Association and its professional body German Football League , along with its five regional associations and their 21 state associations . On top of the system sits the level one 1. Bundesliga and the level two 2. Bundesliga , both organized by the professional German Football League. The two top flights are then followed by
246-505: Is organised by 21 state football associations . Therefore, 13 states, these being Bavaria , Berlin , Brandenburg , Bremen , Hamburg , Hesse , Lower Saxony , Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania , Saarland , Saxony , Saxony-Anhalt , Schleswig-Holstein and Thuringia have a state football association with a jurisdiction covering the whole area of the corresponding political entity. Three states are subdivided into more than one state football association. The state of North Rhine-Westphalia
287-520: Is subdivided into three state associations, these being Middle Rhine, Lower Rhine and Westphalia. The state of Baden-Württemberg is also subdivided into three state associations, these being Baden, South Baden and Württemberg. Finally, the state of Rhineland-Palatinate is subdivided into two state associations, these being Rhineland and Southwest. Starting on levels four to six of the German football league system, each of these 21 state associations runs
328-673: Is the state association league system in the state of Schleswig-Holstein and starts at level five of the German league system with the Oberliga Schleswig-Holstein on top. The current (2016–17 season) champions are Eutin 08. The champions enter a promotion playoff along with the Bremen-Liga champions, the Oberliga Hamburg champions and the Niedersachsenliga runner-up for two promotions to
369-912: The 3. Liga . Below the regional association's league system, the five state association league systems of the Baden Football Association , the Bavarian Football Association , the Hessian Football Association , the South Baden Football Association and the Württembergian Football Association work as feeders to the Regionalliga. Mostly in line with the geographical borders of the 16 German states , amateur football
410-720: The 3. Liga . Below the regional association's league system, the three state association league systems of the Lower Rhine Football Association , the Middle Rhine Football Association and the Westphalian Football and Athletics Association work as feeders to the Regionalliga. The Southwestern Regional Football Association league system is the regional association league system in the states of Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland and starts at level four of
451-494: The Bezirksliga . The Kreisliga exists within all associations in varying numbers and form. There are usually multiple levels of Kreisliga, distinguished by the suffix A, B, C or D. Some district associations also run a Kreisklasse below then Kreisliga, the Kreisklasse then distinguished by the prefix 1st, 2nd and 3rd. Several associations also run a Kreisoberliga (English: District Premier League ) as their top flight above
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#1732772803354492-626: The Regionalliga Nord . Below the state association league system 12 district associations work as feeders to the Verbandsliga. In the 2017–18 season, the full system comprises 61 divisions having 861 teams. Additionally, four teams play above the state association league system: Holstein Kiel ( 2. Bundesliga ), Eutin 08, SC Weiche Flensburg 08 and VfB Lübeck ( all Regionalliga Nord ). NOFV-Oberliga The NOFV- Oberliga
533-691: The Regionalliga Nordost and the Regionalliga West . The two regional bodies Southwestern Regional Football Association and Southern German Football Association share the jurisdiction on the Regionalliga Südwest . Finally, the Bavarian Football Association , although being just a subordinate state association to the superior Southern German Football Association, runs the Regionalliga Bayern , by far
574-985: The Regionalliga Südwest runner-up for three promotions to the 3. Liga . Below the regional association's league system, the six state association league systems of the Berlin Football Association , the Brandenburg State Football Association , the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern State Football Association , the Saxony Football Association , the Saxony-Anhalt Football Association and the Thuringian Football Association work as feeders to
615-777: The Western German Football Association , the Southwestern Regional Football Association and the Southern German Football Association . For Bavaria, the Bavarian Football Association , a member state association of the Southern German Football Association, runs their top division under their own jurisdiction. Starting at level five, the various fully amateur divisions are usually governed by
656-419: The elite division in the former East Germany for this season only. FC Hansa Rostock became champions of that league, with Dynamo Dresden being the runners-up. Thereby both acquired the starting rights for the 1991–92 Bundesliga season. The following teams qualified directly for the 2. Bundesliga : These two teams qualified indirectly through a playoff round: All remaining clubs continued to play in
697-411: The 21 state associations (Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, Middle Rhine, Lower Rhine, Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein and Westphalia) have an Oberliga (English: Premier League) as their top amateur state division, some followed by a Verbandsliga, some directly by a Landesliga. Starting in 2012, the state association of Bavaria organized its own Regionalliga (Regional League), a league formerly only organized by
738-2252: The 21 state associations. For the North East German Football Association and Southwestern Regional Football Association, both regional bodies still run the level five divisions under their jurisdiction. Their state member associations' pyramids therefore start at level six. Hamburg state league system ↑ 1 promotion playoff spot Bremen state league system ↑ 1 promotion playoff spot Schleswig-Holstein state league system ↑ 1 promotion playoff spot Lower Saxony state league system ↑ 1 promotion spot + 1 promotion playoff spot 2 divisions of NOFV-Oberliga 33 teams ↑ 2 promotion spots ↓ 5 to 11 relegation spots Lower Rhine state league system ↑ 1 promotion spot Middle Rhine state league system ↑ 1 promotion spot Westphalia state league system ↑ 2 promotion spots Oberliga Rheinland-Pfalz/Saar 19 teams ↑ 1 to 2 promotion spots ↓ 3 to 6 relegation spots Oberliga Baden-Württemberg 18 teams ↑ 1 promotion spot ↓ 3 to 6 relegation spots Hesse state league system ↑ 1 promotion spot Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania state league system ↑ 1 promotion spot Brandenburg state league system ↑ 1 promotion spot Berlin state league system ↑ 1 promotion spot Saxony-Anhalt state league system ↑ 1 promotion spot Thuringia state league system ↑ 1 promotion spot Saxony state league system ↑ 1 to 2 promotion spots Rhineland state league system ↑ 1 promotion spot to Oberliga Rheinland-Pfalz/Saar Saarland state league system ↑ 1 promotion spot to Oberliga Rheinland-Pfalz/Saar Southwest state league system ↑ 1 promotion spot to Oberliga Rheinland-Pfalz/Saar Baden state league system ↑ 1 promotion spot + 1 promotion playoff spot to Oberliga Baden-Württemberg South Baden state league system ↑ 1 promotion spot + 1 promotion playoff spot to Oberliga Baden-Württemberg Württemberg state league system ↑ 1 promotion spot + 1 promotion playoff spot to Oberliga Baden-Württemberg After each season,
779-481: The German football league system. All state associations have full jurisdiction over their league pyramids, though the configuration varies in between states. A traditional state league pyramid had a Verbandsliga (Association League) as its top flight, followed by several divisions of Landesliga (State League). Due to many structural reforms in the last decades, both on federal level and on state levels, this structure has become more indeterminate. Currently, eight of
820-422: The German league system with the Regionalliga Südwest on top, which is held under joint jurisdiction along with the Southern German Football Association . The champions and the runner-up enter a promotion playoff along with the winners of the four other Regionalliga divisions for three promotions to the 3. Liga . By rule, the champions and the runner-up will not face each other in the promotion playoffs. Below
861-523: The German league system with the Regionalliga Südwest , which is held under joint jurisdiction along with the Regional Football Association South West respectively with the Regionalliga Bayern . The champions and the runner-up of the Regionalliga Südwest and the champions of the Regionalliga Bayern enter a promotion playoff along with the winners of the three other Regionalliga divisions for three promotions to
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#1732772803354902-481: The Kreisliga or Kreisklasse. German football league system The top three professional levels contain one division each. Below this, the semi-professional and amateur levels have progressively more parallel divisions, which each cover progressively smaller geographic areas. Teams that finish at the top of their division at the end of each season can rise higher in the pyramid, while those that finish at
943-600: The Landesligen. Division champions and promotion to 2. Bundesliga: With the introduction of the Regionalliga the NOFV-Oberliga became the 4th level of the pyramid starting with the 1994–95 season. The number of divisions was reduced by one so that only North and South remained. Today it is the highest amateur division. The champions of both divisions were promoted directly to Regionalliga until Regionalliga
984-582: The NOFV-Oberliga. This became the third-highest division starting with the 1991–92 season. During these three seasons the NOFV-Oberliga was the third-highest league in German football. At this time it consisted of three divisions: North, Central and South. Overall there were 10 Oberligen in Germany at the time. At the end of the season, the Oberliga champions had a play-off for promotion to the 2. Bundesliga. The bottom two teams of each division were relegated to
1025-415: The Oberliga. The Western German Football Association league system is the regional association league system in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and starts at level four of the German league system with the Regionalliga West on top. The champions enter a promotion playoff along with the winners of the four other Regionalliga divisions and the Regionalliga Südwest runner-up for three promotions to
1066-442: The Regionalliga. The Northeastern German Football Association league system is the regional association league system in the states of Berlin , Brandenburg , Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania , Saxony , Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia and starts at level four of the German league system with the Regionalliga Nordost on top. The champions enter a promotion playoff along with the winners of the four other Regionalliga divisions and
1107-477: The bottom find themselves sinking further down. Therefore, in theory, it is possible for even the lowest local amateur club to rise to the top of the system and become German football champions one day. The number of teams promoted and relegated between the divisions varies, and promotion to the upper levels of the pyramid is usually contingent on meeting additional criteria, especially concerning appropriate facilities and finances. The German football league system
1148-493: The champion and runner-up of 3. Liga are promoted to the second flight. Additionally, the third-last ranked team of 2. Bundesliga and the third-best ranked team of 3. Liga play a promotion/relegation playoff for the final spot in the next 2. Bundesliga edition. The bottom four teams of 3. Liga are relegated to Regionalliga . Whereas the professional first three levels of the German football league system each are single division only and are organised by nationwide governing bodies,
1189-513: The end of this season. The bottom three teams of each division are relegated to the 5th level of the pyramid, but this number can increase depending on which teams are relegated from Regionalliga. The NOFV-Oberliga is played in two divisions: Promotions to the Regionalliga since 1994–95: At the end of the 2007–08 season, the NOFV-Oberligen were demoted one tier due to the inception of the new 3. Liga . The best three teams from each of
1230-812: The former East German territories. The league is currently split in two groups, north and south, the NOFV-Oberliga Nord and NOFV-Oberliga Süd . A third league, the NOFV-Oberliga Mitte existed from 1991 to 1994. The NOFV-Oberliga developed after the entry of the Deutscher Fußball-Verband (the East German Football Association) to the Deutscher Fußball-Bund . It was the successor of the DDR-Oberliga and functioned as
1271-528: The jurisdiction of their subsidiary bodies, being more than 400 district football associations that organise their divisions mostly following the borders of the corresponding policial districts . Therefore, in the league pyramid, the Kreisliga ranks below the superior state association's divisions, typically being the Verbandsliga , the Landesliga and depending on the state association's structure also
Kreisliga - Misplaced Pages Continue
1312-606: The largest single state football association in Germany. As an exception to the regular promotion rules within the German league system, not all champions of each Regionalliga division are granted automatic promotion. Instead only the Regionalliga West and Southwest each provide a fixed direct promotion. Another direct promotion place is assigned according to a rotation principle among the Regionalliga Nord, Nordost, and Bayern champions. The representatives from
1353-493: The latter are then subdivided into district associations. The associations of South Baden and Württemberg have several county associations following in the league system, but no district associations. The remaining associations (Baden, Brandenburg, Hesse, Lower Rhine, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Middle Rhine, Rhineland, Saarland, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, Thuringia and Westphalia) are directly subdivided into district associations. The county associations usually run
1394-762: The level three 3. Liga , the lowest full professional division in Germany, organised by the German Football Association itself. The professional level four Regionalliga is divided into 5 regional divisions, these typically organised by one or two of the five regional associations of the German Football association, these being the Northern German Football Association , the Northeastern German Football Association ,
1435-694: The regional association's league system, the three state associations league systems of the Rhineland Football Association , the Saarland Football Association and the Southwest German Football Association work as feeders to the Oberliga. The Southern German Football Association league system is the regional association league system in the states of Baden-Württemberg , Bavaria and Hessen and starts at level four of
1476-410: The remaining two Regionalligen determine the fourth promoted club in two-legged playoffs. The Northern German Football Association league system is the regional association league system in the states of Bremen , Hamburg , Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein and starts at level four of the German league system with the Regionalliga Nord on top. The champions enter a promotion playoff along with
1517-507: The semi-professional level four Regionalliga comprises five independent divisions, each run by different regional and/or state associations. Three regional bodies, being the Northern German Football Association , the North East German Football Association and the Western German Football Association , each run a division under their sole jurisdiction, these being the corresponding Regionalliga Nord ,
1558-527: The superior regional associations . With the exception of Berlin and Hamburg, all other state associations usually supervise several county and/or district associations. The county associations usually cover the area of a government district , whereas the district associations have jurisdiction for the territory of an urban district . The associations of Bavaria, Bremen, Lower Saxony and the Southwest are initially subdivided into several county associations,
1599-541: The winners of the Bundesliga are crowned German football champions . The bottom two Bundesliga teams are relegated to 2. Bundesliga , whereas the champion and runner-up of 2. Bundesliga are promoted to the top flight. Additionally, the third-last ranked team of Bundesliga and the third-best ranked team of 2. Bundesliga play a promotion/relegation playoff for the final spot in the next Bundesliga edition. The bottom two 2. Bundesliga teams are relegated to 3. Liga , whereas
1640-755: The winners of the four other Regionalliga divisions and the Regionalliga Südwest runner-up for three promotions to the 3. Liga . Below the regional association's league system, the four state association league systems of the Bremen Football Association , the Hamburg Football Association , the Lower Saxony Football Association and the Schleswig-Holstein Football Association work as feeders to
1681-414: Was reduced from 4 to 2 divisions from the 1999–2000 season. Due to that change, there was no promotion from Oberliga in the 1998–99, but more teams were relegated to Oberliga than usual. Starting with the 1999–2000 season promotion was decided by a two-leg playoff between the division champions. This rule was scrapped for the 2005–06 season, so that both division champions will be promoted to Regionalliga at