Montenegrin Third League

The Third League of Montenegro (Montenegrin: Treća Crnogorska Liga / Трећа црногорска лига) is the third and lowest-tier football league in Montenegro. It is headed by the regional unions of the Football Association of Montenegro (Union of the clubs - North,[1] Union of the clubs - Center,[2] Union of the clubs - South[3]), under the Football Association of Montenegro. In the 2020-21 season, 30 teams participated, divided into three regions. The top team from each region qualifies for the playoff from which the top team qualify for the Second League of Montenegro.

Montenegrin Third League
Founded2006
Country Montenegro
ConfederationUEFA
Number of teams30
(3 regional leagues)
Level on pyramid3
Promotion toMontenegrin Second League
Domestic cup(s)Montenegrin Regional Cups, Montenegrin Cup
Current championsIbar, Nikšić, Otrant
Most championshipsPljevlja, Cetinje (4 titles)
Websitehttp://centar.fscg.me http://sjever.fscg.me http://jug.fscg.me
Current: 2023–24 Montenegrin Third League

Current season

For the 2023-24 season, Third league is divided in three geographical regions. Nine teams compete in the North, fourteen in the Center, and eight in the South.

North
Third league - North 2020/21

The Third League - North is organised by Union of the clubs - North (covering municipalities of Pljevlja, Bijelo Polje, Berane, Rožaje, Plav, Gusinje, Mojkovac, Andrijevica, Žabljak, Šavnik and Plužine). For the 2023-24 season, there are nine teams competing in the North Region.

TeamLocationStadiumCapacity
BoracBijelo PoljeGradski4,000
BrskovoMojkovacGradski2,000
GusinjeGusinjeGradski1,500
IbarRožajeBandžovo brdo3,000
KomoviAndrijevicaPrljanije300
OFK GusinjeGusinjeGradski1,500
PetnjicaPetnjicaGusare1,000
PljevljaPljevljaPod Golubinjom5,140
PolimljeMurinoGradski300

Center
Montenegrin Third League is located in Montenegro
ZabjeloCrvena StijenaRibnicaAdriaKariokeFans United
Zabjelo
Crvena Stijena
Ribnica
Adria
Karioke
Fans United
Zora
Drezga
IlarionOlympico
Ilarion
Olympico
ČelikPolet Stars
Čelik
Polet Stars
Third league - Center 2023-24

The Third League - Center is organised by Union of the clubs - Center (Montenegrin: Udruženje klubova - Centar - FSCG).[4] The Central region includes the municipalities of Podgorica (capital city), Nikšić, Danilovgrad, Šavnik, Plužine, Kolašin and Tuzi.

There are 14 clubs competing in Montenegrin Third League - Center for the 2023-24 season.

TeamLocationStadiumCapacity
AdriaPodgoricaStari ribnjak1,500
Crvena StijenaPodgoricaTološi1,000
ČelikNikšićStadion Željezare2,000
DrezgaPiperiStadion Drezge100
Fans UnitedPodgoricaDG Arena4,300
KariokePodgoricaKamp FSCG1,050
IlarionGolubovciIlarion Field100
OFK TitogradLjajkovićiKamp FSCG1,050
OlympicoGolubovciTrešnjica4,000
Polet StarsNikšićSutjeska pitch500
RibnicaPodgoricaKamp FSCG1,050
ZabjeloPodgoricaStadion Zabjela750
ZetaGolubovciTrešnjica4,000
ZoraSpužSpuž City Stadium1,700

South
Third league - South 2020/21

The Third League - South is organised by Union of the clubs - South (Montenegrin: Udruženje klubova - Jug - FSCG). The municipalities within Southern region include: Cetinje, Kotor, Herceg Novi, Tivat, Budva, Bar and Ulcinj.

For the 2023-24 season, there are seven teams competing in the South region.

TeamLocationStadiumCapacity
AkademijaUlcinjVelika Plaža2,000
BudvaBudvaLugovi2,500
CetinjeCetinjeObilića poljana2,000
BalkanBarSRC Topolica2,500 *
OrjenZelenikaOpačica650
Sloga BarBarTopolica2,500
Sloga RadovićiRadovićiRadovići300
  • FK Balkan Bar replaced FK Partizan Bar (formerly Hajduk Bar) which withdrew prior to the start of the competition.[5]

History
Main article: Montenegrin clubs in Yugoslav football competitions (1946-2006)

Regional leagues as a lowest-tier competition in Montenegro, were founded in 1968. The format and system of competition has not changed. From 1968 to 2006, it was the fourth or fifth level of competition in SFR Yugoslavia, FR Yugoslavia and Serbia and Montenegro. Following Montenegrin independence (2006), regional leagues became the third tier in the organisation of domestic football competitions.
From 1968 until now, the league is divided on three regions - North (clubs from territories of Berane, Bijelo Polje, Gusinje, Mojkovac, Petnjica, Plav, Pljevlja, Rožaje and Žabljak) Center (Podgorica with Golubovci and Tuzi, Danilovgrad, Kolašin, Nikšić, Plužine and Šavnik) and South (Bar, Budva, Cetinje, Herceg Novi, Kotor, Tivat and Ulcinj).
At period 1961–2006, winners of three regional leagues were promoted to Montenegrin Republic League (3rd tier) or played Montenegrin football playoffs.

Champions (2006-)
See also: Montenegrin Regional Cups

After independence of Montenegro, regional leagues, with the same format and divisions, became Third League, and also a lowest tier of competition.
At the end of season, champions of each region qualifies for the playoff. Every season, two top teams from playoff are qualified for the Second League.
Below is the list of Montenegrin Third League champions.

Key

Promoted to 2.CFL via playoffs
Season North Center South
2006-07TekstilacIskraOtrant
2007-08PolimljeRibnicaMornar
2008-09GusinjeZoraOFK Bar
2009-10PljevljaIskraCetinje
2010-11PetnjicaBlue StarIgalo
2011-12PljevljaZoraArsenal
2012-13PljevljaKomCetinje
2013-14RadničkiIskraFederal
2014-15BrskovoGrafičarSloga Radovići
2015-16PolimljeČelikOtrant
2016-17PljevljaPodgoricaArsenal
2017-18BrskovoBratstvoArsenal
2018-19IbarDrezgaCetinje
2019-20BeraneMladost DGIgalo
2020-21PetnjicaMladost DGCetinje
2021-22IbarNikšićOtrant
2022-23IbarInternacionalLovćen

Full list of champions of regional leagues before 2006, is available on the page Montenegrin clubs in Yugoslav football competitions (1946-2006).

Complete team list

From 2006, 60 different teams played in Montenegrin Third League. This is the complete list of the clubs that took part in 17 seasons played from 2006-07 to 2022-23, ranked by champion titles won in the Third League.

Club Town Region Ssn First Last 1st 2nd 3rd
PljevljaPljevljaNorth162006–072022–23461
CetinjeCetinjeSouth112006–072022–23421
ArsenalTivatSouth62009–102017–18330
OtrantUlcinjSouth62006–072021–22310
IskraDanilovgradCenter52006–072013–14301
IbarRožajeNorth32018–192022–23300
BrskovoMojkovacNorth162006–072022–23253
ZoraSpužCenter92007–082022–23221
PolimljeMurinoNorth172006–072022–23213
PetnjicaPetnjicaNorth162006–072022–23223
IgaloIgaloSouth62006–072019–20203
Mladost DGPodgoricaCenter22019–202020–21200
DrezgaPiperiCenter132006–072022–23130
Blue StarPodgoricaCenter62006–072011–12121
SlogaRadovićiSouth142009–102022–23114
BarBarSouth32006–072008–09110
ČelikNikšićCenter42014–152022–23111
NikšićNikšićCenter42010–112021–22110
InternacionalPodgoricaCenter22021–222022–23110
RibnicaPodgoricaCenter162006–072022–23104
TekstilacBijelo PoljeNorth72006–072013–14102
GusinjeGusinjeNorth142008–092022–23101
GrafičarPodgoricaCenter92006–072014–15100
BratstvoCijevnaCenter52017–182021–22100
LovćenCetinjeSouth32020–212022–23100
PodgoricaPodgoricaCenter22015–162016–17100
RadničkiBeraneNorth22013–142017–18100
MornarBarSouth12007–082007–08100
KomPodgoricaCenter12012–132012–13100
BeraneBeraneNorth12019–202019–20100
FederalUlcinjSouth12013–142013–14100
PartizanBarSouth132010–112022–23034
Crvena StijenaPodgoricaCenter132010–112022–23043
BoracBijelo PoljeNorth72016–172022–23032
PoletNikšićCenter102009–102022–23021
BudvaBudvaSouth32020–212022–23021
ObilićSutorinaSouth42012–132021–22021
OrjenZelenikaSouth72008–092022–23012
GorštakKolašinCenter132006–072018–19011
ZabjeloPodgoricaCenter72015–162022–23010
KomoviAndrijevicaNorth172006–072022–23002
SlogaBarSouth172006–072022–23001
BijelaBijelaSouth32006–072008–09001
AkademijaUlcinjSouth12022–232022–23001
AdriaPodgoricaCenter52018–192022–23001
NapredakBeraneNorth122006–072018–19000
PrvijenacBijelo PoljeNorth82006–072013–14000
Fair PlayBijelo PoljeNorth62013–142018–19000
E-RomaBijelo PoljeNorth42009–102012–13000
TiteksPodgoricaCenter42007–082010–11000
KariokePodgoricaCenter62016–172022–23000
MogrenBudvaSouth22015–162016–17000
DurmitorŽabljakNorth22009–102010–11000
Gornja ZetaZetaCenter22009–102010–11000
IlarionZetaCenter42019–202022–23000
OlympicoGolubovciCenter42020–212022–23000
Sjeverna ZvijezdaBijelo PoljeNorth12015–162015–16000
SpužSpužCenter22020–212021–22000
OFK TitogradPodgoricaCenter12022–232022–23000
OFK GusinjeGusinjeNorth12022–232022–23000
  • Note: As of the end of 2022–23 season
League or status for 2022-23 season
2022–23 Montenegrin First League
2022–23 Montenegrin Second League
2022–23 Montenegrin Third League
No longer exists

Ssn = Number of seasons; First = First season in Third League; Last = Last season in Third League; 1st = finishing as a champion of region; 2nd = finishing as a runner-up; 3rd = finishing as a third-placed team

North

Since its establishing, in Montenegrin Third League - North participated overall 18 different teams. Most successful participants are FK Pljevlja, who won four titles. Except that, FK Pljevlja made the biggest win in some Montenegrin official men football competition - on season 2012-13, they defeated FK E-Roma 26-1 (14-0).[6] During the same game, FK Pljevlja player Alen Pajević scored seven goals, which is an all-time record in Montenegrin Third League.
Among the other title winners in Third League - North are FK Ibar (3), FK Brskovo (2), FK Polimlje (2), FK Petnjica (2), FK Berane (1), FK Gusinje (1), FK Tekstilac (1) and FK Radnički (1).
Two teams, FK Komovi and FK Polimlje, participated in all the seasons of Third League - North.

Club0708091011121314151617181920212223
Berane -------------1---
Borac ----------3242253
Brskovo 736822231-2134625
Durmitor ---76------------
E-Roma ---1010910----------
Fair Play -------11889810----
Gusinje --1-3449745788578
OFK Gusinje ----------------7
Ibar ------------1--11
Komovi 66599874454365734
Napredak 8586578857899----
Petnjica 54721-55336523186
Pljevlja 3221-112221457442
Polimlje 21434397617676369
Prvijenac 479575610---------
Radnički -------1---10-----
Sjeverna Zvijezda ---------6-------
Tekstilac 1-348636---------

07 = season 2006/07

Center

Overall 25 different clubs played in Montenegrin Third League - Central region since its establishing (2006–07). Most trophies won FK Iskra with three titles. Except them, among the champions were FK Zora (2), OFK Mladost DG (2) FK Kom (1), FK Ribnica (1), FK Podgorica (1), FK Grafičar (1), FK Bratstvo (1), FK Drezga (1), FK Internacional (1)' and FK Blue Star (1).
 Owner of the biggest wins in the history of Montenegrin Third League - Center is FK Zabjelo, who defeated FK Ribnica away with result 20-0 (season 2019-20).[7] Player with most scored goals on one game is Aleksandar Krstović (9 goals) who made a record on match Zora - Olympico 18-0 (season 2022-23)[8]

Club0708091011121314151617181920212223
Adria ------------3571012
Blue Star 422314-----------
Bratstvo -----------177813-
Crvena Stijena ----5352275246332
Čelik --------21--10---3
Drezga 23452264--641--99
Gornja Zeta ---78------------
Gorštak 5766974553259----
Grafičar 667878761--------
Ilarion -------------85510
Internacional ---------------21
Iskra 1431---1---------
Karioke ----------6-6410811
Kom ------1----------
Mladost DG -------------11--
Podgorica ---------51------
Nikšić ----69--------21-
Olympico --------------121113
Polet ---910527----23667
Ribnica 31-44633-6438911128
Spuž --------------914-
Titeks -851011------------
OFK Titograd ----------------6
Zabjelo ---------43-52444
Zora -51231--42-----75

07 = season 2006/07

South

Since establishing, 17 different teams played in Montenegrin Third League - South region. Among them, most successes have FK Cetinje with four titles and FK Arsenal with three. Except them, winners of competition were also FK Otrant (2), FK Igalo (2), FK Mornar (1), FK Lovćen (1) OFK Bar (1), OFK Federal (1) and FK Sloga Radovići (1).
Since 2006, biggest win in Montenegrin Third League - South made FK Cetinje, who defeated FK Bijela with score 12-0 on season 2007-08.[9]
FK Sloga Bar is the only team which played every single season of Montenegrin Third League - South Region.

Club0708091011121314151617181920212223
Akademija ----------------3
Arsenal ---221---211-----
Bar 621--------------
Bijela 546--------------
Budva --------------322
Cetinje 2521531-----141-8
Federal -------1---------
Partizan ----4522234333654
Igalo 33431--------1---
Lovćen --------------841
Mogren ---------65------
Mornar -1---------------
Obilić ------2------253-
Orjen --3----43----6265
Otrant 1----24--1----41-
Sloga Bar 46556655453447986
Sloga R ---43433144325777

07 = season 2006/07

Promotion playoffs

Following the Montenegrin independence, from the season 2006/07, champions of three regional leagues are participating in the playoffs for Montenegrin Second League promotion. Until 2020, every team is played four matches, and at the end, best-placed are promoted to a higher rank. From 2020, every team is playing two games, and if there is no winner after 90 minutes, penalties are deciding about it. Two teams are gaining promotion to the Second League.
Playoffs are playing after the regular season, at the end of May and start of June every year.

Promotions by season

Until now, most promotions to Montenegrin Second League through playoffs gained FK Iskra (2), FK Arsenal (2), FK Otrant (2) and FK Igalo (2).

0†0 Promoted to Montenegrin Second League.
Season 1st 2nd 3rd Results
2007 FK Otrant FK Tekstilac FK Iskra OTR - TEK 2-1, 1-2; OTR - ISK 6-0, 2-0; TEK - ISK 2-0, 2-0
2008 FK Mornar FK Ribnica FK Polimlje MOR - RIB 1-0, 2-1; MOR - POL 3-2, 2-2; RIB - POL 2-2, 2-0
2009 OFK Bar FK Gusinje FK Zora BAR - GUS 3-0, 3-3; BAR - ZOR 3-2, 4-1; GUS - ZOR 1-0, 2-2
2010 FK Pljevlja FK Iskra FK Cetinje PLJ - ISK 0-0, 0-0; PLJ - CET 0-0, 2-1; ISK - CET 1-1, 0-0
2011 FK Igalo FK Petnjica FK Blue Star IGA - PET 0-0, 1-1; IGA - BLU 3-0, 2-1; PET - BLU 1-0, 1-1
2012 FK Arsenal FK Zora FK Pljevlja ARS - PLJ 3-2, 3-0; ARS - ZOR 1-0, 0-2; ZOR - PLJ 3-0, 0-2
2013 FK Kom FK Cetinje FK Pljevlja KOM - CET 3-0, 1-0; KOM - PLJ 0-1, 1-2; CET - PLJ 3-1, 2-1
2014 FK Radnički FK Iskra OFK Federal RAD - ISK 2-1, 1-2; RAD - FED 2-0, 1-0; ISK - FED 2-0, 0-1
2015 FK Brskovo FK Grafičar FK Sloga R BRS - GRA 2-0, 1-2; BRS - SLO 7-1, 0-0; GRA - SLO 2-0, 0-1
2016 FK Čelik FK Otrant FK Polimlje ČEL - OTR 3-0, 0-1; ČEL - POL 7-0, 2-0; OTR - POL 2-2, 3-2
2017 FK Podgorica FK Arsenal FK Pljevlja POD - ARS 1-2, 2-1; POD - PLJ 4-0, 1-3; ARS - PLJ 1-0, 0-1
2018 FK Arsenal FK Brskovo FK Bratstvo ARS - BRS 1-0, 1-1; ARS - BRA 1-1, 2-0; BRS - BRA 1-0, 3-4
2019 FK Ibar FK Drezga FK Cetinje CET - IBA 1-0, 1-3; DRE - CET 0-0, 0-0; IBA - DRE 2-0, 1-4
2020 FK Igalo FK Berane OFK Mladost DG MLA - BER 0-0 (3-4); IGA - MLA 2-0; BER - IGA 1-2
2021 OFK Mladost DG FK Cetinje FK Petnjica PET - MLA 0-2; MLA - CET 6-0; CET - PET 2-0
2022 OFK Nikšić FK Otrant FK Ibar OTR - IBA 2-0; IBA - NIK 0-3; NIK - OTR 3-1
2023 FK Lovćen FK Internacional FK Ibar INT - IBA 4-1; IBA - LOV 0-4; LOV - INT 2-1

Promotions by region

During the history, most promotions to Montenegrin Second League gained teams from Central and South region. Representatives of that regions gained promotions via playoffs 12 times. Clubs from North region gained 8 promotions through playoffs.

Third League region Promotions
North 8
Center 12
South 12

See also

References
  1. "Udruženje klubova - Sjever". Udruženje klubova - Sjever. Retrieved 2016-09-06.
  2. "Udruženje klubova - Centar". Udruženje klubova - Centar. Retrieved 2016-09-06.
  3. "Udruženje klubova - Jug".
  4. "Union of the clubs - Center". Udruženje klubova - Centar.
  5. https://sport.barinfo.me/53150-2/
  6. "Rafalna paljba Pljevalja | - Najnovije vijesti iz Pljevalja". 18 October 2012.
  7. "Ribnica - Zabjelo - Udruženje klubova Centar".
  8. "Zora Spuž - Adria - Udruženje klubova Centar".
  9. "Montenegro 2007/08".
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