Country Norway Level on pyramid 3 | Confederation UEFA Promotion to OBOS-ligaen | |
Founded 2016– (as PostNord-ligaen)
2012–2015 (as Oddsen-ligaen)
2009–2011 (as Fair Play ligaen)
1991–2008 (as 2. divisjon)
1963–1990 (as 3. divisjon) Number of teams 56 (divided into 4 groups of 14) | ||
The 2. Divisjon is the third highest level of the Norwegian football league system.
There are 56 teams divided into four groups, and at the end of the season the winner of each group earns promotion to the second highest league, OBOS-Ligaen. The bottom three teams in each group are relegated to the Third Division.
The 2. Divisjon is the highest league a reserve team can participate in, and only reserve teams from the Tippeligaen clubs (first tier) are allowed to enter. The participation of reserve teams stirs debate from time to time.
History
Until the 1996 season the league was divided into six groups. Between 1997 and 2001 that was increased to eight. It was named the Third Division (Norwegian: 3. divisjon) until 1990.
From 2009 to 2011, the name of the league was Fair Play ligaen. Since 2012, the official name of the league has been Oddsenligaen (after the main sponsor Norsk Tipping's betting-game called Oddsen).
Starting with the 2017 season, the league will consist only of two groups. This is due to the creation of a new tier in the league system in between the former second and third division. Due to this change half the teams in the 2016 season will be relegated to the new tier whilst, apart from the league winner's of the four groups who will be promoted, the 6 remaining teams in the four groups and the four relegated teams from the 1. Divisjon will be split in to two groups to form the new second division for the 2017 season. This change resulted in no teams being promoted from 3. Divisjon after the 2016 season, but the four best teams in each of the 3. Divisjon groups alongside the 8th best 5th placed teams will join up with the relegated teams from 2. Divisjon to form the new 3. Divisjon. The rest of the teams in the 2016 3. Divisjon will be relegated.