Ukrainian Second League
Founded | 1992 (as Transitional League) |
---|---|
Country | Ukraine |
Number of teams | 23 |
Level on pyramid | 3 |
Promotion to | Ukrainian First League |
Relegation to | None (2007–2016)[note 1] Amateurs (1995–2007) Ukrainian Third League (1992–1994) |
Domestic cup(s) | Ukrainian Cup Second League Cup (defunct) League Cup (defunct) |
Current champions | FC Ahrobiznes Volochysk (2017–18) |
Most championships | 3 – Desna and Cherkaskyi Dnipro |
Website | Official site |
2018–19 Ukrainian Second League |
The Ukrainian Second League (Ukrainian: Друга ліга, Druha Liha) is a professional football league in Ukraine which is part of the Professional Football League of Ukraine. Football Federation of Ukraine, however, has an exclusive right on general administration and control over the organizing and conducting competitions in the league. In 1992 the league was also known as the Transitional League.
The league is lower than the Ukrainian First League (Persha Liha) and the lowest level of professional football competitions in the country. The Ukrainian Second League is the third level of professional football in Ukraine. The league's relegated teams lose their professional status and return to their regional associations.
In summer of 2017 it was announced that the Second League is planned to be discontinued after the 2017-18 season.[1][2]
Contents
1 Quick overview
1.1 First seasons
1.2 Creation of PFL
1.3 Further developments
1.4 Team withdrawals / critical situation
2 Organization
3 Results by season
4 Post-season play-offs
4.1 Championship game
4.2 Third place play-offs
4.3 Promotion tournament
4.4 Relegation play-offs
4.5 Promotion play-offs
5 Statistics
5.1 Performance by club
5.2 League winners by region
5.3 All-time table
6 Stadiums
7 External links
8 Notes
9 References
Quick overview
First seasons
The third division of the Ukrainian championship originally was organized as the Transitional League due to numerous amateur clubs competing in it 15 out of 18. Out of the 1992 Transitional League the top clubs qualified for the 1992-93 Second League, while the bottom - the 1992-93 Transitional League, thus, creating an extra tier. Basically in the first seasons there was no promotion.
For the second season (1992-93) the league was officially organized as the Second League, while the name of transitional league was passed to the newly formed fourth division. Between seasons 1993 and 1995, there existed an auxiliary level (the Third League in 1994-95) of the football championship in Ukraine, lower than the Second League. From 1993 season to 1995 the Second League had a single group competition of over 20 clubs. During the 1996 reorganization, the auxiliary league was merged back to the Second League.
Creation of PFL
In 1996 Ukrainian football witnessed major changes in its organization as the Professional Football League of Ukraine was established. The new organization took control of the competition of former non-amateur clubs that were given attestation of professional clubs and included all the leagues of the Ukrainian championship. Concurrently with this the Third League was disbanded and all clubs that were not in the "relegation zone" were invited to join the Second League. The Second League in its turn was split into two groups. Only in the very first season the teams in this league were divided somewhat randomly, while later becoming more of regional sub-leagues. From 1997 the league was divided into three groups (Druha Liha A (west), B (south), and C (east)).
Further developments
In 1998 unlike other seasons the winners of the groups were not promoted automatically; instead a promotion-relegation tournament was organized involving four teams, three group winners and one of the weaker clubs of the First League. In 2006, the Ukrainian Professional Football League consolidated the Druha Liha due to a shortage of teams, and now the third level of professional football is divided into two groups once again (A - West and B - East).
Throughout its history the Second League has had some supplementary tournaments which include the Second League Cup as well as the Ukrainian Cup qualification tournament called the 2009–10 Ukrainian League Cup.
Team withdrawals / critical situation
The league has suffered from chronic club withdrawals since its reorganization when the Ukrainian Third League was liquidated in 1995. The first club that withdrew in the middle of a season from Ukrainian championship was FC Elektron Romny which on 5 May 1994 withdrew from the Transitional League (Third League).
The reorganization of the competition in 1995 (merging Third and Second leagues) saw a number of clubs that discontinued their participation. At the start of season withdrew Temp Shepetivka which prior to that merged with Advis as well as Kosmos Pavlohrad, and five more clubs withdrew at winter break. Withdrawal of Temp led to a major disruption in competitions when Football Federation of Ukraine allowed to enter a quickly assembled team of amateur players for the First League to replace withdrawn Shepetivka club.
For a couple of years after that, there was relative stabilization, but not perfect with at least one club being withdrawn in a middle of ongoing season. In the 1998-99 season 10 teams quit the league before the season started. During the 2002-03 season Ukrainian football saw the withdrawal of a Top League club for the first time (Polihraftekhnika Oleksandriya). Due to those withdrawals the Second League suspended relegation of clubs since 2006-07, while there were some talks for the league to be discontinued.[3] An idea surfaced during the 2009-10 season to merge the league with the First League breaking the last into several groups, but it was abandoned. During the same season a new tournament was organized to add some games to the calendar of the Second League clubs which had thinned away substantially, this was called the 2009–10 Ukrainian League Cup.
Organization
The calendar of competitions is adopted by the Central Council of PFL and the Executive Committee of FFU. The Bureau (Administration) of PFL regulates the league's operations and forms the Second League. All clubs of the PFL are obligated to own or sponsor a Children-Youth Sports School. All clubs of PFL are obligated to participate in the National Cup competition. A club of the Second League is also obligated to finance at least two junior teams from under the age of 10 to under the age of 19. The junior teams must participate either in regional competitions of the Children-Youth Football League of Ukraine.
All stadiums must have a certificate of the State Commission in control of sports structures conditions. A club cannot play matches at its training sites nor stadiums not registered with PFL. Promotions of tobacco products at stadiums are prohibited. All stadiums must fly the flags of Ukraine, FFU, and PFL. Only accredited photo-correspondents and junior footballers who collect balls are allowed behind goalposts.
The games are allowed to start not earlier than 12:00 and not later than 20:30. There must be at least a 48-hour break between two official games. Games can only be rescheduled if the following three criteria exist: a) unforeseen circumstances occur, b) delegation of four or more footballers to any national teams, or c) organization of direct tele-broadcasting.
Results by season
Season | Group | Champion | Runner-up | Third place |
---|---|---|---|---|
1992 | A | Dnister Zalishchyky | Hazovyk Komarno | Yavir Krasnopilya |
B | Bazhanovets' Makiyivka | Tytan Armyansk | Meliorator Kakhovka | |
1992–93 | – | Dnipro Cherkasy | Khimik Zhytomyr | Yavir Krasnopilya |
1993–94[note 2] | – | FC Borispil | Bazhanovets' Makiyivka | Zirka-NIBAS Kirovohrad |
1994–95 | – | Yavir Krasnopilya | FC Lviv | Dynamo Luhansk |
1995–96 | A | CSCA Kyiv | Krystal Kherson | Khutrovyk Tysmenytsya |
B | Metalurh Mariupol | Metalurh Donetsk | Metalurh Novomoskovsk | |
1996–97 | A | Desna Chernihiv | Fakel Varva | FK Tysmenytsya |
B | Avanhard-Industria Rovenky | Tytan Armyansk | Oskil Kupyansk | |
1997–98 | A | Podillya Khmelnytskyi | Dynamo-3 Kyiv | Karpaty-2 Lviv |
B | Krystal Kherson[note 3] | SCA-Lotto Odesa | SC Odesa | |
C | Shakhtar-2 Donetsk | Fakel Varva | Elektron Romny | |
1998–99 | A | Zakarpattia Uzhhorod | Borysfen Boryspil | Tsymentnyk-Khorda Mykolaiv |
B | SC Odesa | Krystal Kherson | Kryvbas-2 Kryvyj Rih | |
C | Obolon-PPO Kyiv | Zorya Luhansk | Oskil Kupyansk | |
1999–00 | A | Bukovyna Chernivtsi | Podillya Khmelnytskyi | Enerhetyk Burshtyn |
B | Borysfen Boryspil | Obolon-PPO-2 Kyiv | Kryvbas-2 Kryvyj Rih | |
C | Dnipro-2 Dnipropetrovsk | ADOMS Kremenchuk | Zorya Luhansk | |
2000–01 | A | Polissya Zhytomyr | Sokil Zolochiv | FC Krasyliv |
B | Obolon Kyiv | Systema-Boreks Borodianka | Dnipro-3 Dnipropetrovsk | |
C | FC Naftovyk Okhtyrka | Desna Chernihiv | Oskil Kupyansk | |
2001–02 | A | FC Krasyliv | Sokil Zolochiv | Podillya Khmelnytskyi |
B | Systema-Boreks Borodianka | Nafkom-Akademia Irpen | Dynamo Simferopol | |
C | FC Sumy | Arsenal Kharkiv | Metalurh-2 Donetsk | |
2002–03 | A | FC LUKOR Kalush | Enerhetyk Burshtyn | Podillya Khmelnytskyi |
B | Nafkom Irpin | Dynamo Simferopol | Elektrometalurh-NZF Nikopol | |
C | Zorya Luhansk | Shakhtar Luhansk | Desna Chernihiv | |
2003–04 | A | FC Hazovyk-Skala Stryj | Podillya Khmelnytskyi | Rava Rava-Ruska |
B | Dynamo-IhroServis Simferopol | Elektrometalurh-NZF Nikopol | Krymteplitsia Molodizhne | |
C | Stal Dniprodzerzhynsk | Desna Chernihiv | Metalurh-2 Zaporizhya | |
2004–05 | A | Rava Rava-Ruska[note 4] | Enerhetyk Burshtyn | Karpaty-2 Lviv |
B | Krymteplitsia Molodizhne | Krystal Kherson | FC Oleksandria | |
C | Helios Kharkiv | Desna Chernihiv | Dnipro Cherkasy | |
2005–06 | A | Desna Chernihiv | Fakel Ivano-Frankivsk | Rava Rava-Ruska |
B | MFK Mykolaiv | PFC Oleksandria[note 5] | PFC Sevastopol | |
C | Dnipro Cherkasy | Illichivets-2 Mariupol | Metalurh-2 Zaporizhya | |
2006–07 | A | Dnister Ovidiopol | Fakel Ivano-Frankivsk | Yednist Plysky |
B | PFC Sevastopol | Feniks-Illichivets Kalinine | Tytan Armyansk | |
2007–08 | A | Knyazha Schaslyve | Nyva Ternopil | Podillya-Khmelnytskyi |
B | Komunalnyk Luhansk | Tytan Armyansk | Arsenal Kharkiv | |
2008–09 | A | Nyva Ternopil | Arsenal Bila Tserkva[note 6] | Nyva Vinnytsia |
B | Zirka Kirovohrad | FC Poltava | Stal Dniprodzerzhynsk | |
2009–10 | A | Bukovyna Chernivtsi | Nyva Vinnytsia | Bastion Illichivsk |
B | Tytan Armyansk | Kremin Kremenchuk | FC Poltava | |
2010–11 | A | MFK Mykolaiv | FC Sumy | Enerhiya Nova Kakhovka |
B | Olimpik Donetsk | FC Poltava | Kremin Kremenchuk | |
2011–12 | A | FC Sumy | Desna Chernihiv | Slavutych Cherkasy |
B | FC Poltava | Avanhard Kramatorsk | Shakhtar Sverdlovsk | |
2012–13 | A | Desna Chernihiv | Nyva Ternopil | Slavutych Cherkasy |
B | UkrAhroKom Holovkivka | Shakhtar Sverdlovsk | Shakhtar-3 Donetsk | |
2013–14[note 7] | – | Hirnyk-Sport Komsomolsk | Stal Dniprodzerzhynsk | FC Ternopil |
2014–15 | – | Cherkaskyi Dnipro | Obolon-Brovar Kyiv | Kremin Kremenchuk |
2015–16[note 8] | – | Kolos Kovalivka | Veres Rivne | Inhulets Petrove |
2016–17[note 9] | – | Zhemchuzhyna Odesa | Rukh Vynnyky | Kremin Kremenchuk |
2017–18 | A | Ahrobiznes Volochysk | Prykarpattia Ivano-Frankivsk | Nyva-V Vinnytsia |
B | SC Dnipro-1 | Metalist 1925 Kharkiv | Enerhiya Nova Kakhovka |
Post-season play-offs
Post-season play-offs are not common feature of the Second League competition. Over the years there were several instances when clubs contested promotion or relegation berths. The first post-season feature consisted of a promotion mini-tournament that took place in July 1998 in Kiev and Boryspil. It involved three group winners of the Second League and Bukovyna that placed 18th place in the First League. The tournament identified clubs which would qualify for the 1998–99 Ukrainian First League.
Championship game
Season | Group A team | Score | Group B team | Place |
---|---|---|---|---|
2011–12 | FC Sumy | 2–0 | FC Poltava | in Poltava |
2012–13 | FC Desna Chernihiv | 2–0, 1–3 (a) | FC UkrAhroKom Holovkivka | home/away |
2017–18 | FC Ahrobiznes Volochysk | 1–0 | SC Dnipro-1 | in Kyiv |
Third place play-offs
Season | Group A team | Score | Group B team | Place |
---|---|---|---|---|
1995–96 | FC Krystal Kherson | 1–3 | FC Metalurh Donetsk | in Kyiv |
2008–09 | FC Arsenal Bila Tserkva | 1–0 | FC Poltava | in Cherkasy |
2009–10 | FC Nyva Vinnytsia | 2–0 | FC Kremin Kremenchuk | in Makariv |
2010–11 | FC Sumy | 2–0 | FC Poltava | in Uman |
2011–12 | FC Desna Chernihiv | 0–1 | FC Avanhard Kramatorsk | in Khmelnytskyi |
Promotion tournament
1997–98: single round-robin tournament (FC Podillya Khmelnytskyi, FC Bukovyna Chernivtsi, FC Shakhtar-2 Donetsk, FC Krystal Kherson)
Relegation play-offs
1997–98: Tysmenytsia – Promin Sambir, Zirka-2 Kirovohrad – Kharchovyk Popivka, Hirnyk Pavlohrad – Shakhtar Horlivka (series)
Promotion play-offs
Statistics
Performance by club
The table includes the league's winners that also placed at least one 2nd and one 3rd places as well as the league's winners that were runners-up at least twice.
Club | Winner | Runners-Up | 3rd Position | Seasons Won | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Desna Chernihiv | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1996–97, 2005–06, 2012–13 | |
Cherkashchyna-Akademiya | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1992–93, 2005–06, 2014–15 | Dnipro Cherkasy, Cherkaskyi Dnipro |
Obolon-Brovar Kyiv | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1998–99, 2000–01 | Obolon Kyiv, Obolon-PPO Kyiv |
Sumy (1982—2006) | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1994–95, 2001–02 | Yavir Krasnopillia |
Bukovyna Chernivtsi | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1999–00, 2009–10 | |
Mykolaiv | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2005–06, 2010–11 | |
Tytan Armyansk | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2009–10 | |
Krystal Kherson | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1997–98 | |
Podillia Khmelnytskyi | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1997–98 | |
Poltava | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2011–12 | |
Nyva Ternopil | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2008–09 | |
Zorya Luhansk | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2002–03 | |
Stal Dniprodzerzhynsk | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2003–04 | |
Ihroservice Simferopol | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2003–04 | Dynamo-Ihroservice Simferopol |
Notes:
indicates that the club either defunct or lost its professional status.
indicates that the club currently plays in the league.
League winners by region
Region | CoA | Wins | Winners |
---|---|---|---|
Kiev Oblast | 6 | FC Borysfen Boryspil, FC Systema-Boreks Borodyanka, FC Nafkom Irpin, FC Boryspil, FC Knyazha Schaslyve, FC Kolos Kovalivka | |
Donetsk Oblast | 4 | FC Shakhtar Makiivka, FC Illichivets Mariupol, FC Shakhtar-2 Donetsk, FC Olimpik Donetsk | |
Sumy Oblast | 4 | FC Sumy, FC Sumy (Spartak) (twice), FC Naftovyk Okhtyrka | |
Chernihiv Oblast | 3 | FC Desna Chernihiv (thrice) | |
Cherkasy Oblast | 3 | FC Cherkaskyi Dnipro (thrice) | |
Luhansk Oblast | 3 | FC Zorya Luhansk, FC Avanhard-Industria Rovenky, FC Komunalnyk Luhansk | |
Crimea | 3 | FC Tytan Armyansk, FC Dynamo-Ihroservice Simferopol, FC Krymteplitsia Molodizhne | |
Kiev | 3 | FC Obolon-Brovar Kyiv (twice), FC CSKA Kyiv | |
Odessa Oblast | 3 | SC Odesa, FC Zhemchuzhyna Odesa, FC Dnister Ovidiopol | |
Khmelnytsky Oblast | 3 | FC Podillya Khmelnytskyi, FC Krasyliv, FC Ahrobiznes Volochysk | |
Dnipropetrovsk Oblast | 3 | FC Stal Dniprodzerzhynsk, FC Dnipro-2 Dnipropetrovsk, SC Dnipro-1 | |
Chernivtsi Oblast | 2 | FC Bukovyna Chernivtsi (twice) | |
Mykolaiv Oblast | 2 | MFC Mykolaiv (twice) | |
Poltava Oblast | 2 | FC Poltava, FC Hirnyk-Sport Komsomolsk | |
Ternopil Oblast | 2 | FC Nyva Ternopil, FC Dnister Zalishchyky | |
Lviv Oblast | 2 | FC Hazovyk-Skala Stryi, FC Rava Rava-Ruska | |
Kirovohrad Oblast | 2 | FC Zirka Kirovohrad, FC UkrAhroKom Holovkivka | |
Kherson Oblast | 1 | FC Krystal Kherson | |
Zhytomyr Oblast | 1 | FC Polissya Zhytomyr | |
Sevastopol | 1 | PFC Sevastopol | |
Zakarpattia Oblast | 1 | FC Zakarpattia Uzhhorod | |
Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast | 1 | FC LUKOR Kalush | |
Kharkiv Oblast | 1 | FC Helios Kharkiv |
All-time table
Top-20. All figures are correct through the first half of 2018–19 season.[4]
PL | Team | Seasons | GP | W | D | L | GS | GA | Pts | Achievement | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Tytan Armyansk | 19 | 586 | 262 | 138 | 186 | 818 | 637 | 924 | champion | Russian aggression |
2 | Krystal Kherson | 21 | 640 | 266 | 119 | 255 | 827 | 736 | 917 | champion | includes Vodnyk, Tavria, SC Kherson |
3 | Podillya Khmelnytskyi | 15 | 617 | 256 | 93 | 268 | 746 | 729 | 861 | champion | includes Dynamo |
4 | Desna Chernihiv | 13 | 397 | 243 | 68 | 86 | 670 | 347 | 797 | champion | |
5 | Shakhtar-3 Donetsk | 15 | 440 | 194 | 71 | 175 | 683 | 622 | 653 | champion | |
6 | Hirnyk-Sport Komsomolsk | 19 | 566 | 182 | 105 | 279 | 613 | 826 | 651 | champion | |
7 | Kremin Kremenchuk | 14 | 392 | 184 | 89 | 119 | 568 | 427 | 641 | vice-champion | |
8 | Ros Bila Tserkva | 18 | 546 | 174 | 102 | 270 | 504 | 784 | 624 | 5th | includes Ryhonda |
9 | Olkom Melitopol | 16 | 474 | 169 | 116 | 189 | 536 | 571 | 623 | 4th | includes Torpedo |
10 | Cherkashchyna-Akademiya | 10 | 317 | 176 | 65 | 76 | 485 | 269 | 593 | champion | includes Dnipro, Slavutych |
11 | Bukovyna Chernivtsi | 12 | 359 | 156 | 82 | 121 | 429 | 389 | 550 | champion | |
12 | Veres Rivne | 15 | 447 | 143 | 92 | 212 | 428 | 618 | 521 | vice-champion | |
13 | Stal Dniprodzerzhynsk | 9 | 268 | 149 | 52 | 67 | 427 | 246 | 499 | champion | includes Metalurh |
14 | Nyva Ternopil | 11 | 325 | 139 | 80 | 106 | 378 | 352 | 497 | champion | |
15 | Halychyna Drohobych | 11 | 374 | 137 | 80 | 157 | 403 | 435 | 491 | 5th | |
16 | Illichivets-2 Mariupol | 13 | 375 | 135 | 59 | 181 | 451 | 561 | 464 | vice-champion | includes Metalurh-2 |
17 | Hazovyk Komarno | 10 | 326 | 130 | 74 | 122 | 380 | 354 | 464 | vice-champion | |
18 | Dynamo-3 Kyiv | 11 | 328 | 125 | 89 | 114 | 364 | 311 | 464 | vice-champion | |
19 | Hirnyk Kryvyi Rih | 11 | 309 | 127 | 73 | 109 | 416 | 395 | 454 | 4th | |
20 | Enerhiya Yuzhnoukrainsk | 13 | 390 | 117 | 90 | 183 | 351 | 516 | 441 | 5th | includes Olimpiya AES |
Stadiums
Most of the most attended games in the league (1992-2017) recorded at Zirka Stadium (Kropyvnytskyi), however after creation of a Metalist phoenix club and its participation in the Druha Liha, it broke the record of Zirka Kropyvnytskyi.[5]
- 2017-18 Metalist 1925 Kharkiv - SC Dnipro-1 1:1 (14,521)
- 1993-94 Zirka-NIBAS Kirovohrad - FC Boryspil 2:0 (14,000)
- 2008-09 Zirka Kirovohrad - Stal Dniprodzerzhynsk 2:1 (12,100)
- 1993-94 Zirka-NIBAS Kirovohrad - Shakhtar Pavlohrad 5:0 (12,000)
- 1993-94 Zirka-NIBAS Kirovohrad - Dnister Zalishchyky 1:0 (12,000)
The most attended seasons were in the beginning of 1990s and the beginning of 2000s.[5]
External links
(in Ukrainian) Druha Liha at Official Site of the Professional Football league of Ukraine
(in Ukrainian) Interaction site for Druha liha
(in Russian) Variety of championships
Notes
^ Currently the Professional Football League of Ukraine does not relegate teams, as a lot of them withdraw from the league on their own due to financial difficulties. Normally the clubs placing last are subject to loss of professional status and relegation to their regional competitions.
^ In 1993–94 four teams were promoted to the Ukrainian First League. The fourth place team in the competition was Naftokhimik Kremenchuk.
^ Krystal Kherson failed to win the play-offs for promotion to the Ukrainian First League.
^ After reviewing Rava Ruska's solvency and facilities the PFL decided not to promote them. 2nd placed Enerhetyk Burshtyn were promoted instead.
^ PFC Oleksandria were promoted to the Ukrainian First League since they were best 2nd placed team in all Druha Liha competitions
^ FC Arsenal Bila Tserkva were promoted to the Ukrainian First League since FC Ihroservice Simferopol as the member of the First League withdrew from competitions. Arsenal and Poltava were allowed to compete for the extra promotion due to that in the play-off game in Cherkasy. Arsenal won the game 1–0, gaining promotion.
^ In the 2013–14 season, four teams were promoted to the Ukrainian First League. The fourth place team in the competition was Hirnyk Kryvyi Rih.
^ In the 2015–16 season, a record of six teams were promoted to the Ukrainian First League including Bukovyna Chernivtsi, Skala Stryi, and Arsenal-Kyiv.
^ In the 2016–17 season, four teams were promoted to the Ukrainian First League, the fourth team being Balkany Zorya.
References
^ Valerko, A. Velvet revolution. How, why and wherefore FFU reloads the Ukrainian championship (Оксамитова революція. Як, чому і навіщо ФФУ перезавантажує чемпіонат України). Sport Arena. 22 June 2017.
^ Valerko, A. C:format or C:reload. By whom, how and why is being formatted the Ukrainian championship (C:format или C:reload. Кем, как и почему реформируется чемпионат Украины). Sport Arena. 22 August 2017
^ Фек: Підтримую Данілова і Бальчоса - хай це саме зробить Суркіс
^ http://wildstat.ru/p/2105/cht/214/stat/summary Чемпионат Украины, первая лига (Суммарная таблица за все годы)
^ ab Valerko, A. Which game is the most attended in history of the Druha Liha? (Який матч – найвідвідуваніший в історії Другої ліги?). Sport Arena. 25 August 2016 (first ed.)