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Oberliga (football)
Encyclopedia
| Oberliga |
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| Nation |
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| Level on Pyramid |
| Level 5 German football league system The German football league system, or league pyramid, refers to a series of hierarchically interconnected leagues for association football clubs in Germany that consists of over 2,300 men's divisions, in which all leagues are bound together by the principle of promotion and relegation... |
| Number of leagues |
| 11 |
The Oberliga (Plural: Oberligen) (Premier league) is currently the name of the fifth tier of the German football
German football league system
The German football league system, or league pyramid, refers to a series of hierarchically interconnected leagues for association football clubs in Germany that consists of over 2,300 men's divisions, in which all leagues are bound together by the principle of promotion and relegation...
(soccer) leagues. Before the introduction of the 3rd Liga
3rd Liga
The 3rd Liga is the third division of football in Germany. The league started with the beginning of the 2008–09 season, when it replaced the Regionalliga as the third tier football league in Germany. In the German football league system, it is positioned between the 2...
in 2008, it was the fourth tier. The word Oberliga is equivalent to Premier League in English, however, its literal translation would be Upper League.
The term Oberliga was also used prior to the establishment of the Gauliga
Gauliga
A Gauliga was the highest level of play in German football from 1934-45. The leagues were introduced in 1933, after the Nazi takeover of power by the Sports office of the Third Reich.-Name:...
system in 1933 and again between the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and the formation of the Bundesliga
Fußball-Bundesliga
The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
in 1963 for first division leagues in Germany. Between 1978-94 the term Amateuroberliga was used for third tier leagues, which were then the highest level of amateur play in the country. The current usage of the designation Oberliga was introduced in 1994. In East Germany a separate league structure was in place from 1948-1990 and the top flight division there was known as the DDR-Oberliga
DDR-Oberliga
The DDR-Oberliga was, prior to German reunification in 1990, the elite level of football competition in the DDR , being roughly equivalent to the Oberliga or Bundesliga in West Germany.-Overview:Following World...
.
Pre-Bundesliga Oberligen
From the end of the 2nd World War until the formation of the Bundesliga in 1963 there were five regional Oberligen:- Oberliga BerlinOberliga Berlin (1945-63)The Oberliga Berlin was the highest level of the German football league system in the city of West-Berlin in Germany from 1945 until the formation of the Bundesliga in 1963. It was by far the smallest of the five Oberligas.-Overview:...
- Oberliga NordOberliga Nord (1947-63)The Oberliga Nord was the highest level of the German football league system in the north of Germany from 1947 until the formation of the Bundesliga in 1963. It covered the states of Lower Saxony, Bremen, Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein.-Overview:...
- Oberliga WestOberliga West (1947-63)The Oberliga West was the highest level of the German football league system in the west of Germany from 1947 until the formation of the Bundesliga in 1963...
- Oberliga SüdwestOberliga Südwest (1945-63)The Oberliga Südwest was the highest level of the German football league system in the southwest of Germany from 1945 until the formation of the Bundesliga in 1963. It covered the two states of Rheinland-Pfalz and Saarland.-Overview:...
- Oberliga SüdOberliga Süd (1945-63)The Oberliga Süd was the highest level of the German football league system in the south of Germany from 1945 until the formation of the Bundesliga in 1963.It covered the three states of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and Hessen.-Overview:...
Based on criteria outlined by the German association in October 1982 an evaluation system covering the last 12 seasons was established through which the sixteen clubs from these five leagues were established which were to form the new nationwide first division Bundesliga, with the others going to the new second tier Regionalligen.
Overview
Oberliga champions are usually promoted to RegionalligaRegionalliga (football)
The Fußball-Regionalliga is the fourth tier of football in the German football league system. Until 1974, it was the second tier of the league system before being disbanded. The Regionalliga was then re-introduced as the third tier of the system in 1994...
which is directly below the 3rd Liga
3rd Liga
The 3rd Liga is the third division of football in Germany. The league started with the beginning of the 2008–09 season, when it replaced the Regionalliga as the third tier football league in Germany. In the German football league system, it is positioned between the 2...
. The Oberliga Nordost has two divisions ("Süd" and "Nord").
If the champion of an Oberliga is the B-team of a club which already has a team in the Regionalliga, or which has a team which will be relegated to the Regionalliga, the B-team cannot be promoted, and the next highest qualified team will be promoted instead.
There are eleven "Oberligen", based on states and regions of Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Promotion from the Oberligas to the 2nd Bundesliga
From 1974 to 1994, the Oberligas, originally called 1st Amateurliga, were set right below the two 2nd Bundesligas, North and South. Originally there was 15 Amateurligas which were reduced to 8 Oberligas in 1978. From 1981 the 2nd Bundesliga was reduced to one single league. Because there always were more Oberliga champions then promtion spots, these clubs had to determind the promoted teams by the way of a promotion play-off to the 2nd BundesligaPromotion to the 2nd Bundesliga (Football)
The Promotion to the 2nd Bundesliga was an end-of-season competition, held annually to determined the clubs that were promoted from the Amateurligas, later the Amateur Oberligas to the 2nd Bundesligas...
, called "Aufstiegsrunde zur 2.Bundesliga".
Short history of the Oberligas
The Oberliga Baden-WürttembergOberliga Baden-Württemberg
The Oberliga Baden-Württemberg is the highest Football League in the state of Baden-Württemberg and the Baden-Württemberg football league system. It is one of eleven Oberligas in German Football, the 5th tier of the German football league system...
was formed in 1978 to provide a single-division 3rd tier league for the state of Baden-Württemberg. Previously, the clubs in the state had played in four separate Amateurligas; Nordwürttemberg, Schwarzwald-Bodensee, Nordbaden and Südbaden. Two of those were merged, the Amateurligas Nordwürttemberg and Schwarzwald-Bodensee to form the Verbandliga Württemberg.
Feeder Leagues to the Oberliga Baden-Württemberg
- Verbandsliga NordbadenVerbandsliga NordbadenThe Verbandsliga Baden is currently the 6th tier of the German football league system. Until the introduction of the 3rd Liga it was the 5th tier of the league system.- Overview :...
- Verbandsliga SüdbadenVerbandsliga SüdbadenThe Verbandsliga Südbaden is currently the 6th tier of the German football league system. Until the introduction of the 3rd Liga it was the 5th tier of the league system.-Overview:...
- Verbandsliga WürttembergVerbandsliga WürttembergThe Verbandsliga Württemberg is currently the 6th tier of the German football league system. Until the introduction of the 3rd Liga it was the 5th tier of the league system.-Overview:...
The Fußball-Bayernliga was formed in 1945. In 1946/47, 1947/48 and from 1953/54 till 1962/63 it was split in a northern and a southern division. Since then it has played in the single division format. The league is also commonly referred to as the Bayernliga.
Feeder Leagues to the Bayernliga
- Landesliga Bayern-NordLandesliga Bayern-NordThe Landesliga Bayern-Nord is currently the 6th tier of the German football league system. Until the introduction of the 3rd Liga it was the 5th tier of the league system....
- Landesliga Bayern-MitteLandesliga Bayern-MitteThe Landesliga Bayern-Mitte is currently the 6th tier of the German football league system. Until the introduction of the 3rd Liga it was the 5th tier of the league system....
- Landesliga Bayern-SüdLandesliga Bayern-SüdThe Landesliga Bayern-Süd is currently the 6th tier of the German football league system. Until the introduction of the 3rd Liga it was the 5th tier of the league system....
The Hessenliga
Hessenliga
The Hessenliga is the highest football league in the state of Hesse and the Hessian football league system. It is one of eleven Oberligas in German football, the 5th tier of the German football league system. It was, until the introduction of the 3...
was formed in 1945. In its first two seasons, 1945/46 and 1946/47 it played in two separate divisions, east and west. Since then it has been a single league and is the oldest Oberliga to operate continuously in this format.
Feeder Leagues to the Hessenliga
- Landesliga Hessen-Nord
- Landesliga Hessen-Mitte
- Landesliga Hessen-Süd
The Oberliga Südwest
Oberliga Südwest
The Oberliga Südwest is the highest regional football league for the Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland state of Germany. It is the fifth tier of the German football league system. It is one of eleven Oberligas in German Football, the 5th tier of the German football league system...
was formed in 1978 to provide a single-division 3rd tier league for the two states Saarland
Saarland
Saarland is one of the sixteen states of Germany. The capital is Saarbrücken. It has an area of 2570 km² and 1,045,000 inhabitants. In both area and population, it is the smallest state in Germany other than the city-states...
and Rheinland-Pfalz. Previously, the clubs that make up this Oberliga played in three separate leagues; the Amateurligas Südwest, Saarland, and Rheinland.
Feeder Leagues to the Oberliga Südwest
- Verbandsliga SüdwestVerbandsliga SüdwestThe Verbandsliga Südwest is currently the 6th tier of the German football league system. Until the introduction of the 3rd Liga it was the 5th tier of the league system.-Overview:...
- Verbandsliga SaarlandVerbandsliga SaarlandThe Verbandsliga Saarland is currently the 7th tier of the German football league system. Until the introduction of the 3rd Liga in 2008 it was the 5th tier of the league system and until the introduction of the Saarlandliga in 2009, it was the 6th tier....
- Verbandsliga RheinlandVerbandsliga RheinlandThe Rheinlandliga, formerly the Verbandsliga Rheinland, is currently the 6th tier of the German football league system. Until the introduction of the 3rd Liga it was the 5th tier of the league system.- Overview :...
The NOFV-Oberliga Nord
NOFV-Oberliga Nord
The NOFV-Oberliga Nord is the fifth tier of the German football league system in the northern states of former East Germany and West-Berlin. Until the introduction of the 3. Liga in 2008, it was the fourth tier of the league system. It covers the German states of Berlin, Brandenburg and...
was established in 1991 after the German reunification
German reunification
German reunification was the process in 1990 in which the German Democratic Republic joined the Federal Republic of Germany , and when Berlin reunited into a single city, as provided by its then Grundgesetz constitution Article 23. The start of this process is commonly referred by Germans as die...
. It covers the northern part of former East Germany and the city of Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. In 1994 the NOFV-Oberliga Mitte ceased and its clubs were split between the other two NOFV-Oberligas.
Feeder Leagues to the NOFV-Oberliga Nord
- Berlin-Liga
- Brandenburg-Liga
- Verbandsliga Mecklenburg-VorpommernVerbandsliga Mecklenburg-VorpommernThe Verbandsliga Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is the sixth tier of the German football league system and the highest league in the German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern...
The NOFV-Oberliga Süd
NOFV-Oberliga Süd
The NOFV-Oberliga Süd is the fifth tier of the German football league system in the southern states of former East Germany. Until the introduction of the 3rd Liga in 2008, it was the fourth tier of the league system. It covers the German states of Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia and Saxony...
was established in 1991 after the reunification of the two German states. It covers the southern part of former East Germany. In 1994 the NOFV-Oberliga Mitte ceased and its clubs were split between the other two NOFV-Oberligas.
Feeder Leagues to the NOFV-Oberliga Süd
- Landesliga SachsenLandesliga SachsenThe Sachsenliga, formerly referred to as Landesliga Sachsen, is the sixth tier of the German football league system and the highest league in the German state of Saxony,...
- Verbandsliga Sachsen-AnhaltVerbandsliga Sachsen-AnhaltThe Verbandsliga Sachsen-Anhalt is the sixth tier of the German football league system and the highest league in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt,...
- Landesliga ThüringenLandesliga ThüringenThe Thüringenliga is the sixth tier of the German football league system and the highest league in the German state of Thuringia . Until the introduction of the 3...
New Oberligas since the 2008-09 season
The NRW-Liga started operating from 2008 as the highest level of play in the state of Nordrhein-Westfalen. It is a merger of the Oberligas Nordrhein and Westfalen.Feeder leagues to the NRW-Liga
- Verbandsliga NiederrheinVerbandsliga NiederrheinThe Niederrheinliga, formerly the Verbandsliga Niederrhein, is the highest football league in the region of Niederrhein which is part of the state of Nordrhein-Westfalen. It is the 6th tier of the German football league system...
- Verbandsliga MittelrheinVerbandsliga MittelrheinThe Mittelrheinliga, formerly the Verbandsliga Mittelrhein, is the highest Football League in the region of Mittelrhein which is part of the state of Nordrhein-Westfalen. It is the 6th tier of the German football league system...
- Verbandsliga Westfalen 1
- Verbandsliga Westfalen 2
Due to the Oberliga Nord being dissolved in 2008, the former Verbandsligas below it archived Oberliga status from the 2008-09 season and some have actually officially adopted the name:
The Oberliga Hamburg
Oberliga Hamburg
The Oberliga Hamburg, sometimes referred to as Hamburg-Liga, is in the fifth tier of the German football league system and the highest league in the German state of Hamburg, incorporating some of its surrounding districts...
Feeder leagues to the Oberliga Hamburg
- Landesliga Hamburg-HammoniaLandesliga Hamburg-HammoniaThe Landesliga Hamburg-Hammonia is the sixth tier of the German football league system and the second-highest league in the German state of Hamburg, together with the Landesliga Hamburg-Hansa...
- Landesliga Hamburg-HansaLandesliga Hamburg-HansaThe Landesliga Hamburg-Hansa is the sixth tier of the German football league system and the second-highest league in the German state of Hamburg, together with the Landesliga Hamburg-Hammonia...
The Bremen-Liga
Bremen-Liga
The Bremen-Liga, sometimes also referred to as Oberliga Bremen, is the fifth tier of the German football league system and the highest league in the German state of Bremen...
Feeder league to the Bremen-Liga
- Landesliga BremenLandesliga BremenThe Landesliga Bremen is the sixth tier of the German football league system and the second-highest league in the German state of Bremen, below the Oberliga Bremen.-Overview:...
The Schleswig-Holstein-Liga
Schleswig-Holstein-Liga
The Schleswig-Holstein-Liga, sometimes also referred to as Oberliga Schleswig-Holstein, is the fifth tier of the German football league system and the highest league in the German state of Schleswig-Holstein...
Feeder leagues to the Schleswig-Holstein-Liga
- Verbandsliga Schleswig-Holstein-Nord-WestVerbandsliga Schleswig-Holstein-Nord-WestThe Verbandsliga Schleswig-Holstein-Nord-West is the sixth tier of the German football league system and the second-highest league in the German state of Schleswig-Holstein, together with three other leagues at this level in the state...
- Verbandsliga Schleswig-Holstein-Nord-OstVerbandsliga Schleswig-Holstein-Nord-OstThe Verbandsliga Schleswig-Holstein-Nord-Ost is the sixth tier of the German football league system and the second-highest league in the German state of Schleswig-Holstein, together with three other leagues at this level in the state...
- Verbandsliga Schleswig-Holstein-Süd-WestVerbandsliga Schleswig-Holstein-Süd-WestThe Verbandsliga Schleswig-Holstein-Süd-West is the sixth tier of the German football league system and the second-highest league in the German state of Schleswig-Holstein, together with three other leagues at this level in the state...
- Verbandsliga Schleswig-Holstein-Süd-OstVerbandsliga Schleswig-Holstein-Süd-OstThe Verbandsliga Schleswig-Holstein-Süd-Ost is the sixth tier of the German football league system and the second-highest league in the German state of Schleswig-Holstein, together with three other leagues at this level in the state...
The Niedersachsenliga
Feeder leagues to the Niedersachsenliga
- Bezirksoberliga HannoverBezirksoberliga HannoverThe Landesliga Hannover, called the Bezirksoberliga Hannover until 2010, is the sixth tier of the German football league system and the second highest league in the German state of Lower Saxony...
- Bezirksoberliga Weser-EmsBezirksoberliga Weser-EmsThe Landesliga Weser-Ems, called the Bezirksoberliga Weser-Ems until 2010, is the sixth tier of the German football league system and the second highest league in the German state of Lower Saxony...
- Bezirksoberliga BraunschweigBezirksoberliga BraunschweigThe Landesliga Braunschweig, called the Bezirksoberliga Braunschweig until 2010, is the sixth tier of the German football league system and the second highest league in the German state of Lower Saxony...
- Bezirksoberliga LüneburgBezirksoberliga LüneburgThe Landesliga Lüneburg, called the Bezirksoberliga Lüneburg until 2010, is the sixth tier of the German football league system and the second highest league in the German state of Lower Saxony...
Defunct Oberligas
The Amateur-Oberliga Berlin was established in 1974 to accommodate the majority of clubs of the Regionalliga BerlinRegionalliga Berlin (1963-74)
The Regionalliga Berlin was the second-highest level of the German football league system in the city of West-Berlin in Germany from 1963 until the formation of the 2. Bundesliga in 1974. It was by far the smallest of the five Regionalligen.-Overview:...
when this league ceased to exist. With the German reunion in 1991 the Oberliga Berlin ceased to exist and its clubs were spread between the NOFV-Oberligas Nord and Mitte. The highest level of league play in Berlin is now the Verbandsliga Berlin.
The NOFV-Oberliga Mitte
NOFV-Oberliga Mitte
The NOFV-Oberliga Mitte was the third tier of the German football league system in the central states of former East Germany and West-Berlin. The league existed from 1991 to 1994...
existed from the German reunion in 1991 till its dissolution in 1994.
Its clubs were moved to the NOFV Oberligas Nord and Süd.
The Oberliga Niedersachsen/Bremen
Oberliga Niedersachsen/Bremen
The Oberliga Niedersachsen/Bremen was the fourth tier of the German football league system in the north of Germany, existing from 1994 to 2004. It covered the states of Lower Saxony and Bremen...
existed from 1994 till 2004 as a replacement for the Oberliga Nord. With the reestablishment of the Oberliga Nord, the Oberliga Niedersachsen/Bremen ceased to exist.
The Oberliga Hamburg/Schleswig-Holstein
Oberliga Hamburg/Schleswig-Holstein
The Oberliga Hamburg/Schleswig-Holstein was the fourth tier of the German football league system in the north of Germany, existing from 1994 to 2004. It covered the states of Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein...
existed from 1994 till 2004 as a replacement for the Oberliga Nord. With the reestablishment of the Oberliga Nord, the Oberliga Schleswig-Holstein/Hamburg ceased to exist.
The Oberliga Nordrhein
Oberliga Nordrhein
The Oberliga Nordrhein was the highest Football League in the region of Nordrhein which is part of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia from 1978 to 2008. In its last season, it was one of nine Oberligas in German Football, the 4th tier of the German football league system...
was formed in 1978 as a merger of the Amateurligas Niederrhein and Mittelrhein. It was replaced by the Oberliga Nordrhein-Westfalen
Oberliga Nordrhein-Westfalen
The NRW-Liga, or Nordrhein-Westfalen-Liga, is the highest football League in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It is one of the eleven Oberliga groups in German football, the 5th tier of the German football league system....
, which is a merger of the Oberligas Nordrhein and Westfalen.
The Oberliga Westfalen
Oberliga Westfalen
From 1978 to 2008, the Oberliga Westfalen was the highest Football League in the region of Westphalia which is part of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. In its last season, it was one of nine Oberligas in German Football, the 4th tier of the German football league system...
was formed in 1945. Until 1978 it was split into two separate groups, but has since operated as a single division. It wasreplaced by the Oberliga Nordrhein-Westfalen, which is a merger of the Oberligas Nordrhein and Westfalen.
The Oberliga Nord
Oberliga Nord
The Oberliga Nord was the fourth tier of the German football league system in the north of Germany. It covered the states of Niedersachsen, Bremen, Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein...
was formed in 1974 to form a highest playing level for the states of Niedersachsen, Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein is the northernmost of the sixteen states of Germany, comprising most of the historical duchy of Holstein and the southern part of the former Duchy of Schleswig...
, Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
and Bremen
Bremen
The City Municipality of Bremen is a Hanseatic city in northwestern Germany. A commercial and industrial city with a major port on the river Weser, Bremen is part of the Bremen-Oldenburg metropolitan area . Bremen is the second most populous city in North Germany and tenth in Germany.Bremen is...
. As such it was a continuation of the old Regionalliga Nord
Regionalliga Nord (1963-74)
The Regionalliga Nord was the second-highest level of the German football league system in the north of Germany from 1963 until the formation of the 2nd Bundesliga in 1974...
which was superseded by the 2nd Bundesliga Nord in 1974. It stopped operating in 1994 when the Regionalliga Nord was reformed, now as the third tier of the German football league system. It was replaced by the Oberligas Schleswig-Holstein/Hamburg and Niedersachsen/Bremen. In 2004 the Oberliga Nord re-established to replace these two leagues. To add to the confusion, the Oberliga Nord again ceased to exist after the 2007/08 season with the establishment of the 3rd Liga and the introduction of a third Regionalliga (IV).
Oberliga Timeline
Source:Sources
- Die Bayernliga 1945 - 1997, published by the DSFSDeutscher Sportclub für FußballstatistikenThe Deutscher Sportclub für Fußballstatistiken e.V., short DSFS is an association dedicated to collecting and publishing German football statistics, similar to the RSSSF, and is a member of the German Olympic Society.The club used to be best known for its annual publication, the Deutschlands...
, 1998 - Deutschlands Fußball in Zahlen, An annual publication with tables and results from the Bundesliga to Verbandsliga/Landesliga, publisher: DSFSDeutscher Sportclub für FußballstatistikenThe Deutscher Sportclub für Fußballstatistiken e.V., short DSFS is an association dedicated to collecting and publishing German football statistics, similar to the RSSSF, and is a member of the German Olympic Society.The club used to be best known for its annual publication, the Deutschlands...
- Kicker Almanach, The yearbook on German football from Bundesliga to Oberliga, since 1937, published by the Kicker Sports MagazineKicker (sports magazine)kicker Sportmagazin is Germany's leading sports magazine and is focused primarily on football. The magazine was founded in 1920 by German football pioneer Walther Bensemann and is published twice a week, usually Monday and Thursday, in Nuremberg...
- Süddeutschlands Fussballgeschichte in Tabellenform 1897-1988 History of Southern German football in tables, publisher & author: Ludolf Hyll
- Die Deutsche Liga-Chronik 1945-2005 History of German football from 1945 to 2005 in tables, publisher: DSFS, published: 2006