Second Football League (Croatia)

The Druga nogometna liga (English: Second football league),[1][2][3] commonly Druga NL or 2. NL) is the third tier of the Croatian football league system. The league was established in 1991 following the dissolution of the Yugoslav League. It is operated by the Croatian Football Federation.

Druga NL
Organising bodyHNS
Founded1991 (as Treća HNL)
Country Croatia
ConfederationUEFA
Number of teams16
Level on pyramid3
Promotion to1. NL
Relegation to3. NL
Domestic cup(s)Hrvatski kup
Most championshipsVinogradar (5 titles)
Current: 2023–24

It was previously known as the Third Football League, but was renamed with the other leagues for the start of the 2022–23 season.[4]

Rules

As of 2018, at least three players under 21 years of age must play in each match, and only two foreign nationals are permitted to play for each team.[5]

Format

Since its inception in 1992 the league changed formats several times. In its inaugural season the league had four divisions (North, Center, South and West). In the 1992–93 season, a fifth division was added (East). The five-group league continued until the 2006–07 season when the league was re-organised and reduced to three geographical divisions with 18 clubs in each group.

As of 2018, teams are promoted only if they have a valid license to the 2.HNL. For example, NK Vinogradar won the 2017, 2018 and 2019 west division, but were denied promotion since they did not apply for a license.[6]

From season 2022–23 onward, it is a unified league just as the top two tiers.

Champions

1998–2022

Key

† Club gained promotion to the unified 2. HNL
N Club gained promotion to 2. HNL North
S Club gained promotion to 2. HNL South
Season Division Center Division West Division East Division South Division North Also promoted
1998–99 PIK Vrbovec † Pomorac Kostrena † Marsonia † Mosor † Čazmatrans † -
1999–00 TŠK Topolovac † Žminj † Papuk † Hrvatski Vitez[1] Koprivnica † -
2000–01 Trnje S Uljanik Pula S Metalac Osijek N GOŠK Dubrovnik S Podravac N -
2001–02 Napredak VM Opatija Dilj N Primorac Stobreč Mladost Prelog -
2002–03 Segesta S Žminj Slavonija Požega N Mosor Virovitica N -
2003–04 Naftaš S Draga Višnjevac Mosor S Bjelovar N -
2004–05 Karlovac S Istra Pula Graničar N Konavljanin Mladost Molve N -
2005–06 Moslavina † Jadran Poreč Croatia Đakovo GOŠK Dubrovnik Suhopolje -
2006–07 - Vinogradar † Slavonac CO † Trogir † - Segesta
2007–08 - Karlovac † Suhopolje † Hrvace[2] - Lokomotiva, Međimurje, Junak Sinj
2008–09 - Rudeš † Grafičar Vodovod[3] RNK Split † - Lučko, Vukovar '91
2009–10 - Gorica † Lipik[4] Dugopolje † - HAŠK, MV Croatia
2010–11 - Radnik Sesvete † Podravina[5] Raštane[6] - -
2011–12 - Zelina † BSK Bijelo Brdo[7] Raštane[6] Mladost Ždralovi[8] Primorac 1929
2012–13 Segesta † Grobničan[10] Slavonija[11] Val[13] Mladost Ždralovi[12] -
2013–14 Maksimir[14] Opatija[14] BSK Bijelo Brdo[14] Imotski † Međimurje[14] Bistra †
2014–15 - Dinamo II † Slavija Šibenik † - -
2015–16 - Novigrad † Međimurje Solin † - -
2016–17 - Vinogradar[15] Međimurje[16] Hajduk II † - Varaždin †
Kustošija †
2017–18 - Vinogradar[17] Osijek II † Croatia Zmijavci[18] - BSK Bijelo Brdo †
Međimurje †
Zadar †
2018–19 - Vinogradar[19] Cibalia † Junak Sinj[20] - Dubrava †
Orijent 1919 †
Croatia Zmijavci †
2019–20 Vinogradar Opatija † Marsonia Junak Sinj † Mladost Ždralovi -
2020–21 Jarun Zagreb † Crikvenica Belišće Neretvanac Mladost Ždralovi -
2021–22 Zagorec Krapina Crikvenica Vukovar 1991 † Jadran LP Polet -

2022–present
Season Divisions Division winners Clubs promoted to 1. NL Top scorer Goals
2022–23 16 clubs Sesvete Sesvete
Zrinski Jurjevac		 Croatia Nikola Marić 22

Notes
1. a : Although Hrvatski Vitez of Posedarje finished top of the 1999–2000 South Division, they were demoted for unknown reasons and competed in the 4th league the following season. South Division runners-up Imotska Krajina were promoted to 2. HNL instead.
2. a : Although NK Hrvace finished top of the 2007–08 South Division, they did not applied for promotion so South Division runners-up Junak of Sinj were promoted to 2. HNL instead.
3. a : Although NK Grafičar Vodovod finished top of the 2008–09 East Division, they did not applied for promotion. As only fifth placed NK Vukovar '91 met the needed criteria they were promoted to 2. HNL instead.
4. a : Although NK Lipik finished top of the 2009–10 East Division, they did not applied for promotion so East Division runners-up MV Croatia of Slavonski Brod were promoted to 2. HNL instead.
5. a : Although NK Podravina Ludbreg finished top of the 2010–11 East Division and applied for promotion, they subsequently refused promotion for financial reasons. No one from East Division was promoted to 2. HNL instead.
6. a : Although NK Raštane finished top of the 2010–11 South Division, their application for 2. HNL was refused because of lack of appropriate infrastructure. No one from South Division was promoted to 2. HNL instead.
7. a : Although NK BSK Bijelo Brdo finished top of the 2011–12 East Division, they did not applied for promotion. No one from East Division was promoted to 2. HNL instead.
8. a : Although NK Mladost Ždralovi finished top of the 2011–12 North Division, they did not applied for promotion. No one from North Division was promoted to 2. HNL instead.
9. a : Although NK Raštane finished top of the 2011–12 South Division, they did not applied for promotion so South Division runners-up NK Primorac 1929 were promoted to 2. HNL instead.
10. a : Although Grobničan finished top of the 2012–13 West Division, they did not apply for promotion. No one from West Division was promoted to 2. HNL instead.
11. a : Although Slavonija finished top of the 2012–13 East Division, their application for 2. HNL was refused because of lack of appropriate infrastructure. No one from East Division was promoted to 2. HNL instead.
12. a : Although NK Mladost Ždralovi finished top of the 2012–13 North Division, they did not apply for promotion. No one from North Division was promoted to 2. HNL instead.
13. a : HNK Val lose against Segesta in play-off.
14. a : Although Maksimir, Opatija and BSK Bijelo Brdo finished top of their respective 2013–14 divisions, they did not apply for promotion. Međimurje, champion of 3. HNL North Division, applied for promotion but did not met necessary financial and infrastructural requirements.
15. a : Although NK Vinogradar finished top of the 2016–17 West Division, they did not apply for promotion so West Division runners-up NK Kustošija Zagreb gained promotion to 2. HNL.
16. a : Although NK Međimurje finished top of the 2016–17 East Division, they did not apply for promotion so East Division runners-up NK Varaždin gained promotion to 2. HNL.
17. a : Although NK Vinogradar and NK Opatija finished on top of the 2017–18 West Division, they were not promoted as they were not granted a licence for 2. HNL.
18. a : Although NK Croatia Zmijavci and HNK Primorac Biograd na Moru finished on top of the 2017–18 South Division, they were not promoted as they were not granted a licence for 2. HNL. Third placed NK Zadar gained promotion to 2. HNL.
19. a : Although NK Vinogradar finished on top of the 2018–19 West Division, they were not promoted as they were not granted a licence for 2. HNL. Second placed NK Dubrava and third placed HNK Orijent 1919 gained promotion to 2. HNL.
20. a : Although NK Junak Sinj and HNK Primorac Biograd na Moru finished on top of the 2018–19 South Division, they were not promoted as they were not granted a licence for 2. HNL. Third placed NK Croatia Zmijavci gained promotion to 2. HNL.

References
  1. "Savez promijenio imena liga: Druga HNL odsad će biti Prva liga, ali to nisu jedine promjene" [The association changed the names of the leagues: The second HNL will now be the First League, but these are not the only changes]. Večernji list (in Croatian). 6 June 2022. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
  2. "Od sezone 2024./25. Prva NL će imati deset klubova" [From the 2024/25 season, the First NL will have ten clubs]. HNTV (in Croatian). 29 June 2022. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
  3. Jozić, Mijo (17 May 2022). "Jedinstvena 3. HNL ostaje na 16 klubova sudionici će biti poznati 30. svibnja" [The unified 3 HNL remains at 16 clubs, the participants will be announced on May 30]. Sportalo (in Croatian). Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  4. Fabijan Hrnčić (6 June 2022). "HNL still remains, and the second league is now the first". 24 Sata. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  5. "3. HNL Zapad". Retrieved 9 January 2019.
  6. "NK Vinogradar: Najbolja smo momčad trećih liga, ali grad nam ne želi dati novac za 2.HNL". germanijak.hr. 10 June 2017. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
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