Yugoslav Second League (Bosnian: Druga savezna liga, Croatian: Druga savezna liga, Serbian: Друга савезна лига, Slovenian: Druga zvezna liga, Macedonian: Втора сојузна лига) was the second tier football league of SFR Yugoslavia. The top clubs were promoted to the top tier, the Yugoslav First League.
| Founded | 1947 |
|---|---|
| Folded | 1992 |
| Country | Yugoslavia |
| Level on pyramid | 2 |
| Promotion to | Yugoslav First League |
| Relegation to | Yugoslav Third League Inter-Republic Leagues |
Although the Yugoslav First League had existed since 1923, the unified Second League was only introduced in 1947. It existed until 1992.
League format
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Over the years, the league changed its format many times:
- In 1946–47 each of the six Yugoslav federal republics had its own league (SR Bosnia and Herzegovina, SR Croatia, SR Macedonia, SR Montenegro, SR Serbia and SR Slovenia)
- In 1947–48 the leagues were merged into a single national "Unified League" (Jedinstvena liga)
- In 1952 each of the republics played its own second-level "Republic League" again (Republička liga)
- In 1952–53 a number of "Inter-republic Leagues" were played (Međurepubličke lige)
- In 1953–54 a single "Unified League" was played again
- In 1955–56 the league was split into four regional groups called "zones" (zone, singular zona) with a total of 5 groups marked by roman numerals, called Zone I, Zone II-A, Zone II-B, Zone III, and Zone IV (I. Zona, II. A Zona, II. B Zona, III. Zona, IV. Zona)
- In 1958–59 this was reduced to only two regional divisions covering the entire country, named East and West (Istok and Zapad)
- In 1968–69 they were replaced by four regional divisions: East, West, North and South (Istok, Zapad, Sever/Sjever, and Jug)
- In 1973–74 the system returned to two regional groups, named East and West (Istok and Zapad)
- In 1988–89 these were merged into a single national "Unified League" again, which was played in this format for three seasons until 1990–91 and the breakup of Yugoslavia
In total:
- 10 seasons were played as a single national league (1947–51, 1953–55, and 1988–92)
- 25 seasons had two regional divisions (1958–68, and 1973–88)
Seasons
editSee also
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References
edit- ^ Champion of the regional champions. Changed name to Sarajevo the next season.
- ^ Podgorica was known as Titograd
- ^ Changed name to Vojvodina the next season
- ^ Changed name to Mačva Šabac the next season
- ^ NK Zagreb finished 13th but merged with top league Borac Zagreb thus taking Borac place in top league.
- ^ Today's Sutjeska Nikšić
- ^ The town of Užice was known as Titovo Užice
- ^ "NK Maribor: Zgodovina (sezona 1972/73)" (in Slovenian). NK Maribor official website. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
- ^ "NK Maribor: Zgodovina (sezona 1973/74)" (in Slovenian). NK Maribor official website. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
- ^ "NK Maribor: Zgodovina (sezona 1974/75)" (in Slovenian). NK Maribor official website. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
- ^ "NK Maribor: Zgodovina (sezona 1976/77)" (in Slovenian). NK Maribor official website. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
- ^ The town of Mitrovica was known as Titova Mitrovica back then
- ^ "NK Maribor: Zgodovina (sezona 1977/78)" (in Slovenian). NK Maribor official website. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
- ^ Today's HNK Cibalia
- ^ GOŠK-Jug was founded in 1978 by the merging of two clubs GOŠK and Jug (former Dubrovnik). GOŠK 1919 is considered to be this club's successor.
- ^ Changed name into Dubrovnik 1919
- ^ At the end of the 1990-91 season, the clubs from Croatia and Slovenia left the Yugoslav league system. Champions NK Zagreb along with the other representatives from Croatia, Cibalia and GOŠK-Jug, became members of the newly established 1992 Prva HNL. Slovenia did not have any representatives that season in the Second League.
- ^ Bečej, Hajduk Kula, Radnički Beograd, Mogren, OFK Kikinda, Priština and Napredak Kruševac getting the promotion to the 1992–93 First League of FR Yugoslavia, and Teteks and Balkan Skopje becoming members of the newly formed 1992–93 First Macedonian Football League. The clubs from the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina, namely Čelik Zenica and Leotar left the Yugoslav League system, however any football competitions were not yet established by then in Bosnia.