Tercera División
Encyclopedia
Tercera División is the fourth level of the Spanish football league system
. The top three are the Primera División
, often referred to as "La Liga" in English, the Segunda División
, and Segunda División B
.
(due to its huge size, Andalucia is divided into two different groups). Each Group is administered by a regional football federation. At the end of the season the first four teams in each group qualify for promotion play-offs to decide which teams are promoted to Segunda División B
. The three teams finishing bottom of each group may be relegated to the Divisiones Regionales de Fútbol
. However the number of teams relegated can vary. The eighteen group champions also qualify for the following season's Copa del Rey
. However reserve teams are ineligible. Along with teams from Segunda División B
, the remaining teams from the division compete in the Copa Federación
.
Beginning with the 2008-09 season, the eighteen group winners will have the opportunity to be promoted directly to the Segunda División B
. The 18 group winners will be drawn into a two-legged series where the nine winners will be promoted to the Segunda División B. The nine losing clubs enter the playoff round for the last nine promotion spots.
The 18 runners-up will be drawn against one of the seventeen fourth-place clubs outside their group and the 18 third-placed clubs are drawn against one another in a two-legged series. The twenty-seven winners advance with the nine losing clubs from the champions' series to determine the 18 teams that will enter the last two-legged series for the last nine promotion spots. In all the playoff series, the lower-ranked club plays at home first. Whenever there is a tie in position (e.g. like the group winners in the champions' series or the third-placed teams in the first round), a draw will determine the club to play at home first.
season of 1928/29 a third level of teams known as Segunda División B was also organised. This division featured 10 teams and at the end of the season Cultural y Deportiva Leonesa
were crowned champions. However the 1929/30 season saw the first of many reorganisations of the Spanish football league system
and the Tercera Division was born. During it first season the division featured 33 teams divided into eight groups. The eight group winners qualified for a play-off and CD Castellón
eventually beat Barakaldo CF
3-2 to be declared champions. The most significant reorganisation came at the start of the 1977/78 season with the revival of Segunda División B
which replaced the Tercera División as the third level.
class="wikitable">
Pos
Team
Seasons
11.
CD Turón
47
12.
Balompédica Linense
47
13.
Caudal Deportivo
47
14.
SD Ponferradina
46
15.
CD Guadalajara
46
16.
Arosa SC
46
17.
CE Europa
46
18.
Gimnástica Segoviana
45
19.
Club Siero
45
20.
Girona FC
44
class="wikitable">
Pos
Team
Seasons
21.
CD Tortosa
44
22.
CD Getxo
44
23.
Alicante CF
44
24.
CE Júpiter
44
25.
CE Alaior
44
26.
CD Don Benito
43
27.
Salamanca B
43
28.
CD Baskonia
43
29.
Gimnástica Torrelavega
43
30.
Tolosa CF
42
Spanish football league system
The Spanish football league system refers to the system in Spanish club football that consists of several football leagues bound together hierarchically by promotion and relegation.-Primera División:...
. The top three are the Primera División
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
, often referred to as "La Liga" in English, the Segunda División
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
, and Segunda División B
Segunda División B
Segunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division...
.
Current Format
The Tercera División currently features 361 teams divided into 18 regional groups, corresponding to the Autonomous communities of SpainAutonomous communities of Spain
An autonomous community In other languages of Spain:*Catalan/Valencian .*Galician .*Basque . The second article of the constitution recognizes the rights of "nationalities and regions" to self-government and declares the "indissoluble unity of the Spanish nation".Political power in Spain is...
(due to its huge size, Andalucia is divided into two different groups). Each Group is administered by a regional football federation. At the end of the season the first four teams in each group qualify for promotion play-offs to decide which teams are promoted to Segunda División B
Segunda División B
Segunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division...
. The three teams finishing bottom of each group may be relegated to the Divisiones Regionales de Fútbol
Divisiones Regionales de Fútbol
The Divisiones Regionales de Fútbol are the Spanish football lower divisions. They are administered by the Autonomous football federations. The level immediately above is the Tercera División. The autonomous regional divisions are:-External links:*...
. However the number of teams relegated can vary. The eighteen group champions also qualify for the following season's Copa del Rey
Copa del Rey
The Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
. However reserve teams are ineligible. Along with teams from Segunda División B
Segunda División B
Segunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division...
, the remaining teams from the division compete in the Copa Federación
Copa Federación de España
The Copa Real Federación Española de Fútbol, popularly known as the Copa Federación , is a Spanish football competition for teams from the Segunda División B, the Tercera División and sometimes from the Preferente Regional who have failed to qualify or have been eliminated in first round of the...
.
Beginning with the 2008-09 season, the eighteen group winners will have the opportunity to be promoted directly to the Segunda División B
Segunda División B
Segunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division...
. The 18 group winners will be drawn into a two-legged series where the nine winners will be promoted to the Segunda División B. The nine losing clubs enter the playoff round for the last nine promotion spots.
The 18 runners-up will be drawn against one of the seventeen fourth-place clubs outside their group and the 18 third-placed clubs are drawn against one another in a two-legged series. The twenty-seven winners advance with the nine losing clubs from the champions' series to determine the 18 teams that will enter the last two-legged series for the last nine promotion spots. In all the playoff series, the lower-ranked club plays at home first. Whenever there is a tie in position (e.g. like the group winners in the champions' series or the third-placed teams in the first round), a draw will determine the club to play at home first.
History
During the inaugural La LigaLa Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
season of 1928/29 a third level of teams known as Segunda División B was also organised. This division featured 10 teams and at the end of the season Cultural y Deportiva Leonesa
Cultural y Deportiva Leonesa
Cultural y Deportiva Leonesa, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in León, in the autonomous community of Castile and León. Founded in 1923, it currently plays in Tercera División – Group 8, holding home games at Estadio Reino de León, with a capacity of 13,451 seats.-Season to season:----*1...
were crowned champions. However the 1929/30 season saw the first of many reorganisations of the Spanish football league system
Spanish football league system
The Spanish football league system refers to the system in Spanish club football that consists of several football leagues bound together hierarchically by promotion and relegation.-Primera División:...
and the Tercera Division was born. During it first season the division featured 33 teams divided into eight groups. The eight group winners qualified for a play-off and CD Castellón
CD Castellón
Club Deportivo Castellón, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Castellón de la Plana, in the Valencian Community. Founded in 1922, it currently plays in Tercera División – Group 6, holding home games at Nou Estadi Castalia, which has a capacity of 16,000.-History:Football first appeared in...
eventually beat Barakaldo CF
Barakaldo CF
Barakaldo Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football team based in Barakaldo, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. Founded in 1917, it plays in Tercera División - Group 4, holding home matches at Estadio Nuevo Lasesarre, with a capacity of 7,960 seats.-Club names:*Baracaldo Football-Club —...
3-2 to be declared champions. The most significant reorganisation came at the start of the 1977/78 season with the revival of Segunda División B
Segunda División B
Segunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division...
which replaced the Tercera División as the third level.
Historical classification
(The classification is updated until 2008-09 season)| class="wikitable"> | ||
| Pos | Team | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Real Murcia Imperial | 57 |
| 2. | Arenas Getxo Arenas Club de Getxo Arenas Club de Getxo is a Spanish football club based in the town of Getxo, near Bilbao, in the autonomous community of Basque Country. Founded in 1914, it currently plays in Tercera División, holding home games at Campo Municipal de Gobela, with a 1,200-seat capacity.It was among the pioneering... |
55 |
| 3. | Atlético Baleares CD Atlético Baleares Club Deportivo Atlético Baleares is a Spanish football team based in Palma, Majorca, in the autonomous community of the Balearic Islands. Founded on 27 May 1942, it currently plays in Segunda División B - Group 3.-History:... |
52 |
| 4. | CD Tudelano CD Tudelano Club Deportivo Tudelano is a Spanish football team based in Tudela, in the autonomous community of Navarre. Founded in 1935, it plays in Tercera División - Group 15, holding home matches at Estadio José Antonio Elola, with a capacity of 11,000 seats.... |
52 |
| 5. | Club Lemos Club Lemos Club Lemos is a Spanish football team based in Monforte de Lemos, in the autonomous community of Galicia. Founded in 1924, it plays in Preferente Autonómica, holding home matches at Estadio A Pinguela.- Season to season:----... |
51 |
| 6. | CP Cacereño CP Cacereño Club Polideportivo Cacereño is a Spanish football team based in Cáceres, in the autonomous community of Extremadura. Founded in 1919, it plays in Segunda División B, holding home games at Estadio Príncipe Felipe, with a capacity of 6,500 seats.... |
51 |
| 7. | CD Eldense CD Eldense Club Deportivo Eldense is a Spanish football team based in Elda, in the autonomous community of Valencia. Founded in 1921, it plays in Tercera División - Group 6, holding home matches at Estadio Pepico Amat, which has a capacity of 8,000.... |
50 |
| 8. | CD Mirandés CD Mirandés Club Deportivo Mirandés is a Spanish football team based in Miranda de Ebro, Province of Burgos, in the autonomous community of Castile and León... |
50 |
| 9. | CD Constancia CD Constancia Club Deportivo Constancia is a Spanish football team based in Inca, Majorca, in the autonomous community of the Balearic Islands. Founded in 1922, it plays in Tercera División, holding home games at Nou Camp d'Inca, with a capacity of 10,000 seats.... |
49 |
| 10. | CD Manacor CD Manacor Club Deportivo Manacor is a Spanish football team based in Manacor, in the autonomous community of Balearic Islands. Founded on June 23, 1923, it plays in Segunda División B – Group 3, holding home games at Estadi Na Capellera, with a capacity of 4,000 seats.-Season to season:----*4 seasons in... |
48 |
Real Balompédica Linense
Real Balompédica Linense is a Spanish football team based in La Línea de la Concepción, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded in 1912, it plays in Segunda División B – Group 4, holding home matches at Estadio Municipal de La Línea de la Concepción, with a capacity of 20,000...
Caudal Deportivo
Caudal Deportivo is a Spanish football team based in Mieres, in the autonomous community of Asturias. Founded in 1918, it plays in Tercera División – Group 2, holding home matches at Estadio Hermanos Antuña , with a capacity of 7,500 spectators .-History:In 1914, Sporting de Mieres was founded,...
SD Ponferradina
Sociedad Deportiva Ponferradina, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Ponferrada, in the El Bierzo region, León, in the autonomous community of Castile and León...
Arosa SC
Arosa Sociedad Cultural is a Spanish football team based in Vilagarcía de Arousa, in the autonomous community of Galicia. Founded in 1945, it plays in Preferente Autonómica, holding home games at Estadio A Lomba, with a capacity of 5,000 seats....
CE Europa
Club Esportiu Europa is a Spanish/Catalan sports club, based in the Gràcia district of Barcelona. The club is best known for its football team who in 1928, along with city neighbours FC Barcelona and RCD Espanyol, were founder members of La Liga. During the late 1990s they won the Copa Catalunya...
Gimnástica Segoviana CF
Gimnástica Segoviana Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football team based in Segovia, the capital of the namesake province, in the autonomous community of Castile and León...
Club Siero
Club Siero is a Spanish football team based in Pola de Siero, in the autonomous community of Asturias. Founded in 1916, it plays in Regional Preferente, holding home matches at Estadio El Bayu, with a capacity of 5,000 seats.-Season to season:----...
Girona FC
Girona Futbol Club, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Girona, in the autonomous community of Catalonia. Founded in 1930, it plays in Segunda División, holding home games at Estadi Montilivi, which has a capacity of 10,000....
CD Tortosa
Club Deportiu Tortosa is a Spanish football team based in Tortosa, Catalonia. Founded in 1921, it plays in Primera Catalana, holding home matches at Estadio Municipal de Tortosa, with a 6,000-seat capacity.-Season to season:----...
CD Getxo
Club Deportivo Getxo is a Spanish football team based in Getxo, Biscay, in the autonomous community of Basque Country. Founded in 1927, it plays in División de Honor de Vizcaya, holding home matches at Estadio Fadura, with a 3,500-seat capacity....
Alicante CF
Alicante Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football team based in Alicante, in the autonomous community of Valencia. Founded in 1918, it plays in Tercera División – Group 6, holding home matches at Ciudad Deportiva Villafranqueza.-History:...
CE Júpiter
Club Esportiu Júpiter is a football team based in Barcelona in the autonomous community of Catalonia. Founded in 1909, it plays in the Preferent Territorial of Catalonia. Its stadium is La Verneda with a capacity of 6,000 seats.- Season to season :----...
CE Alaior
Club Esportiu Alaior is a Spanish football team based in Alaior, Minorca, in the autonomous community of Balearic Islands. Founded in 1934, it plays in the Tercera División - Group 11, holding home games at Estadio Los Pinos, with a capacity of 4,500 seats.-History:Alaior is one of 25 teams that...
CD Don Benito
Club Deportivo Don Benito is a Spanish football team based in Don Benito, in the autonomous community of Extremadura. Founded in 1928, it plays in Tercera División - Group 14, holding home matches at Estadio Municipal de Don Benito, with a capacity of 6,000 seats.-Season to season:----*3 seasons...
CD Salmantino
Club Deportivo Salmantino is a Spanish football team based in Salamanca, in the autonomous community of Castile and León. Founded in 1952, it is the reserve team of UD Salamanca, and currently plays in Tercera División – Group 8, holding home games at Pistas del Helmántico, which seats 5,500...
CD Baskonia
Club Deportivo Baskonia is a Spanish football club based in Basauri, Biscay, in the autonomous community of Basque Country. Founded in 1913, it currently plays in Tercera División, holding home games at Estadio de López Cortázar, with a 8,500-seat capacity.-History:Founded in 1913 as CD Basconia,...
Tolosa CF
Tolosa Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football team based in Tolosa, in the autonomous community of Basque Country. Founded in 1922, it plays in División de Honor de Guipúzcoa, holding home games at Estadio Beratzubi, with a capacity of 3,000 seats....