Country Slovenia Level on pyramid 3 Founded 1992 Levels on pyramid 3 | Divisions 4 Number of teams 52 Promotion to Slovenian Second League | |
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Most championships Dravinja
Korte
Krka
Zavrč
(3 titles each) Current champions ND Ilirija 1911 (Centre), ND Beltinci (East), NK Brežice 1919 (North), NK Brda (West) Relegation to MNZ Koper, MNZ Nova Gorica, MNZ Ljubljana, MNZ Maribor, MNZ Kranj, MNZ Ptuj Teams NŠ Mura, NK Tromejnik, ND Dravinja, NK Rudar Trbovlje, NK Šampion | ||
Zgodba 18 maribor b ekipa v 3 snl
The Slovenian Third League (Slovene: Tretja Slovenska Nogometna Liga), commonly known as the 3. SNL, is the third tier of the Slovenian football system. The league consists of four regional groups (Centre, East, North and West). They are operated by the Intercommunal Football Associations.
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Format and rules
Between 1992–93 and 1997–98 seasons, Slovenian Third League was divided into two regional groups (East and West) with both group winners directly promoting to the Slovenian Second League.
In the 1998–99 season the third 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 two-legged playoffs were introduced, as only two teams promoted.
In 2004–05 the format was changed back to two regional groups with both group winners promoting.
From the 2014–15 season onwards the Slovenian Third League is again divided into four regional groups with a total of 52 participating clubs. Three groups (i.e. North, Centre, East) are composed of 14 clubs, while the group West only has 10 clubs that are participating in the competition.
In 2014–15 and 2015–16 seasons group winners played a promotional two-legged play-off to decide which two teams promoted, but after expansion of the Slovenian Second League all four group winners promoted directly in the following seasons.
The number of relegated teams from each group is determined by the number of regional MNZ's from which the clubs in all four groups are a part of. There are nine MNZ's governing bodies in Slovenian football:
This means that three teams from 3. SNL North are relegated at the end of the season and replaced by the winners of the fourth tier competitions held separately in MNZ Celje, MNZ Maribor and MNZ Ptuj. The number of relegated teams from 3. SNL Centre and 3. SNL East is two, while only the bottom team relegates from 3. SNL West as MNZ Koper and MNZ Nova Gorica manage a combined fourth tier competition. The number of relegated teams is also influenced by the location of teams which relegate from the second division. Each of the bottom placed second division teams can only relegate to the one 3. SNL group that is managed by the MNZ they are a part of.