Liga III

The Liga 3, most often spelled as Liga III, is the third level of the Romanian football league system. It was founded in 1936 and was called Divizia C until 2006. An exception was the seasons 1992–93 to 1996–97, in which the league was called Divizia B. Its name was changed from Divizia C to Liga III before the start of the 2006–07 season.[1]

Not to be confused with Liga 3 (Indonesia) or Liga 3 (Portugal).
Liga III
Organising bodyFRF
Founded1936
CountryRomania
Number of teams100 (10x10)
Level on pyramid3
Promotion toLiga II
Relegation toLiga IV
Domestic cup(s)Cupa României
Supercupa României
Current championsForesta Suceava, Metalul Buzău, Afumați, Tunari, Blejoi, Alexandria, Deva, Reșița, Corvinul Hunedoara, Bihor Oradea
(2022–23)
Current: 2023–24 Liga III

History

Divizia C was founded in 1936 with the task of forming both an organizational and managerial buffer between national and regional football. In this sense, it was abolished several times, when a totally local management was opted for. Even on other occasions, its format was highly unstable.

Until 1963 the competition was only held irregularly. After the first two seasons in 1936–37 and 1937–38, the Divizia C was discontinued and only resumed for one season in 1946–47. After another year's break, a new attempt was made in 1948–49, which was canceled after the first half of the season. The fourth edition of the Divizia C took place in 1956, which was followed by the two seasons 1957–58 and 1958–59. After a further four-year break, the next season only came in 1963–64, since which the Divizia C has now been held annually.

Current format

Since the 2021–2022 season Liga III was reorganized from 5 to 10 groups, each with 10 teams, based on the geographic position. In each group, teams play each other twice, before the play-off, with the 4 best teams, and the play-out, with the remaining 6 teams, starts.

The top 2 teams form each group goes in the promotion semi-final, first in group 1 plays second in group 2 and vice versa all the way to group 9 and group 10, and then the final, winners of the games between the group 1 and group 2 teams all the way to groups 9 and 10, ending with 5 winners getting promoted to Liga II.

The bottom two teams from each group are relegated at the end of the season to the Liga IV. From the 4th placed teams in the play-out, the team with the least points is relegated.

List of champions and promoted teams

Source:[2][3]

Divizia C (–1992 )
Season Seria I Seria II Seria III Seria IV Seria V Seria VI Seria VII Seria VIII Seria IX Seria X Seria XI Seria XII
1984–85Minerul Vatra DorneiAripile BacăuDelta TulceaDunărea CălărașiICSIM BucureștiMuscelul CâmpulungElectroputere CraiovaMetalul BocșaÎnfrățirea OradeaCIL SighetMecanica OrăștieICIM Brașov
1985–86Minerul Gura HumoruluiUnirea Dinamo FocșaniFEPA 74 BârladUnirea SloboziaAutobuzul BucureștiROVA RoșioriGloria Pandurii Târgu JiuMinerul ParoșeniSteaua CFR Cluj-NapocaUnio Satu MareInter SibiuPoiana Câmpina
1986–87Siretul PașcaniInter VasluiPetrolul Ianca Sportul 30 DecembrieMetalul BucureștiSportul Muncitoresc CaracalGloria ReșițaProgresul TimișoaraSticla Arieșul TurdaMinerul Baia SprieElectromureș Târgu MureșMetalul Plopeni
1987–88ASA Explorări Câmpulung-MoldovenescAripile Victoria BacăuMetalul MangaliaDunărea CălărașiMetalul MijaDacia PiteștiMinerul MotruCFR TimișoaraMinerul CavnicUnirea Alba-IuliaAvântul ReghinPoiana Câmpina
1988–89Foresta FălticeniViitorul VasluiOlimpia Râmnicu SăratUnirea SloboziaAutobuzul BucureștiMecanică Fină BucureștiConstructorul TCI CraiovaVagonul AradMureșul Explorări DevaIMASA Sfântu GheorgheSteaua CFR Cluj-NapocaSomeșul Satu Mare
1989–90Fortus IașiBorzeștiGloria CFR GalațiCallatis MangaliaProgresul BucureștiElectroputere CraiovaȘoimii IPA SibiuMontana SinaiaVulturii LugojAurul BradMetalurgistul CugirCIL Sighet
1990–91Relonul SăvineștiFEPA 74 BârladPetrolul IancaPortul ConstanțaMetalul BucureștiMetrom BrașovOlt ScorniceștiJiul IELIF CraiovaElectromureș Târgu MureșMinerul CavnicCFR Cluj-NapocaUM Timișoara
1991–92CFR PașcaniCotidianul BacăuDelta TulceaMetalul PlopeniElectrica FieniDunărea CălărașiDacia PiteștiMureșul ToplițaMinerul MătăsariArsenal ReșițaȘoimii LipovaCuprom Baia Mare
Due to the reorganization of the competitive system in the summer of 1992, dictated by the Romanian Football Federation, no team promoted from the third tier.

Divizia B (1992–1997 )
Season Seria I Seria II Seria III Seria IV
1992–93Constructorul IașiMetalul PlopeniGaz Metan MediașPhoenix Baia Mare
1993–94Cetatea Târgu NeamțPoiana CâmpinaDacia PiteștiUnirea Dej
1994–95Foresta FălticeniOțelul TârgovișteMinerul MotruMinaur Zlatna
Other promoted teams: Electro Mecon Onești (I), Dunărea Călărași (II), ARO Câmpulung (III), Olimpia Satu Mare (IV).
1995–96Petrolul MoineștiDanubiana BucureștiPrecizia SăceleCFR Cluj-Napoca
1996–97Nitramonia FăgărașMidia NăvodariVega DevaUM Timișoara

Divizia C (1997–2006 )
Season Seria I Seria II Seria III Seria IV
1997–98Laminorul RomanCimentul FieniRulmentul AlexandriaBihor Oradea
Other promoted teams: Chimica Târnăveni (I), Drobeta-Turnu Severin (III)
1998–99Diplomatic FocșaniCallatis MangaliaElectro Bere CraiovaUM Timișoara
Other promoted teams: Juventus București (II), Flacăra Râmnicu Vâlcea (III)
Season Seria I Seria II Seria III Seria IV Seria V Seria VI
1999–00Apemin BorsecHondor AgigeaFulgerul BragadiruCetate DevaPandurii Târgu-JiuBaia Mare
Season Seria I Seria II Seria III Seria IV Seria V Seria VI Seria VII Seria VIII
2000–01 Petrolul MoineștiDacia Unirea BrăilaInter Gaz BucureștiElectromagnetica BucureștiInter PiteștiMinaur ZlatnaIndustria Sârmei Câmpia TurziiUniversitatea Cluj
2001–02 Politehnica Unirea IașiGloria BuzăuMedgidiaRulmentul AlexandriaMinerul MotruCorvinul HunedoaraMetrom BrașovCFR Cluj-Napoca
2002–03Petrolul MoineștiUnirea UrziceniJuventus BucureștiDacia MioveniRarora Râmnicu VâlceaJiul PetroșaniOltul Sfântu GheorgheArmătura Zalău
Other promoted teams: Laminorul Roman (I), FC Vaslui (I), Poiana Câmpina (II), Callatis Mangalia (III), Electrica Constanța (III), Chindia Târgoviște (IV), Building Vânju Mare (V),
Certej (VI), ACU Arad (VI), Precizia Săcele (VII), Tricotaje Ineu (VIII), Oașul Negrești (VIII).
Season Seria I Seria II Seria III Seria IV Seria V Seria VI Seria VII Seria VIII Seria IX
2003–04 BotoșaniDunărea GalațiOtopeniGhimbavOltul SlatinaPolitehnica TimișoaraUnirea Sânnicolau MareUnirea DejFC Sibiu
2004–05 Cetatea SuceavaPortul ConstanțaDunărea GiurgiuPoiana CâmpinaRâmnicu VâlceaCFR TimișoaraMinerul LupeniForex BrașovGloria Bistrița II
2005–06Politehnica Iași IIDelta TulceaSnagovChimia BraziBuilding Vânju MareOltchim Râmnicu VâlceaAuxerre LugojBaia MareGhimbav
Other promoted teams: Ghimbav were not eligible for promotion, runners-up Tractorul Brașov promoted.

Liga III (2006–2022)
Season Seria I Seria II Seria III Seria IV Seria V Seria VI
2006–07FocșaniDinamo București IIConcordia ChiajnaDrobeta-Turnu SeverinArieșul TurdaLiberty Salonta
Other promoted teams: Inter Gaz București (II), Mureșul Deva (V).
2007–08Cetatea SuceavaSnagovFC PloieștiInternațional Curtea de ArgeșUnirea Sânnicolau MareLuceafărul Lotus Băile Felix
Other promoted teams: Buftea (III), ACU Arad (V).
2008–09Râmnicu SăratFCSB IIVictoria BrăneștiGaz Metan CFR CraiovaFortuna CovaciBaia Mare
Other promoted teams: Tricolorul Breaza (III), Silvania Șimleu Silvaniei (VI).
2009–10Dacia Unirea BrăilaViitorul ConstanțaJuventus BucureștiAlro SlatinaPandurii Târgu Jiu IIVoința Sibiu
Other promoted teams: Pandurii Târgu Jiu II were not eligible for promotion, runners-up ACU Arad promoted.
2010–11 FCM BacăuCallatis MangaliaChindia TârgovișteSlatinaLuceafărul OradeaFCMU Baia Mare
2011–12 Rapid CFR SuceavaUnirea SloboziaBufteaDamila MăciucaRecașCorona Brașov
2012–13 SC BacăuGloria BuzăuBerceniMinerul MotruOlimpia Satu MareUnirea Tărlungeni
2013–14 DorohoiVoluntariBaloteștiCaransebeșȘoimii PâncotaFortuna Poiana Câmpina
Season Seria I Seria II Seria III Seria IV Seria V
2014–15 Bucovina PojorâtaDunărea CălărașiChindia TârgovișteUTA AradBaia Mare
2015–16 Sepsi Sfântu GheorgheJuventus BucureștiAfumațiASU Politehnica TimișoaraLuceafărul Oradea
2016–17 Știința MiroslavaMetaloglobus BucureștiSCM PiteștiRipensia TimișoaraHermannstadt
2017–18 Aerostar BacăuFarul ConstanțaPetrolul PloieștiȘirineasaUniversitatea Cluj
2018–19 SCM Gloria BuzăuRapid BucureștiTurris-Oltul Turnu MăgureleReșițaMiercurea Ciuc
2019–20Aerostar BacăuUnirea SloboziaSlatinaFC U Craiova 1948Comuna Recea
Season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Romania.
Season Seria I Seria II Seria III Seria IV Seria V Seria VI Seria VII Seria VIII Seria IX Seria X
2020–21Bucovina RădăuțiOțelul GalațiAfumațiSteaua BucureștiCorona BrașovVedița ColoneștiViitorul ȘelimbărȘoimii LipovaCugirMinaur Baia Mare
Promoted teams via play-offs: Dacia Unirea Brăila, Steaua București, Corona Brașov, Viitorul Șelimbăr, Unirea Dej
2021–22Dante BotoșaniOțelul GalațiAfumațiProgresul SpartacOdorheiu SecuiescSlatinaReșițaDumbrăvițaHunedoaraMinaur Baia Mare
Promoted teams via play-offs: Oțelul Galați, Progresul Spartac, Slatina, Dumbrăvița, Minaur Baia Mare
2022–23Foresta SuceavaMetalul BuzăuAfumațiTunariBlejoiAlexandriaDevaReșițaCorvinul HunedoaraBihor Oradea
Promoted teams via play-offs: Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț, Tunari, Alexandria, Reșița, Corvinul Hunedoara

See also

References
  1. Cotidianul, Divizia A a fost mitraliată (The "A Division" was gunned down), accessed on 3 February 2007 Archived 12 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  2. "Romania – List of Second Division Final Tables". RSSSF. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
  3. "Divizia B – Istorie – statistics". romaniansoccer.ro. Retrieved 27 October 2015.


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