Football League (Greece)
 | |
| Founded | 2010–present 1962–2010 (as Beta Ethniki) |
|---|---|
| Country | Greece |
| Number of teams | 16 |
| Level on pyramid | 2 |
Promotion to | Super League |
Relegation to | Gamma Ethniki |
| Domestic cup(s) | Greek Cup |
| Current champions | OFI (3rd title) (2017–18) |
| Most championships | Panachaiki (6 titles) |
| Top goalscorer | Ilias Chatzieleftheriou (152 goals) |
| TV partners | ERT3 |
| Website | footballleague.gr |
 2018–19 Football League | |
The Football League, is the second highest professional football league in Greece, being a feeder-league to the top-level Super League.
Contents
1 History
1.1 Beta Ethniki
1.2 Football League
2 Structure of the league
3 Current members
4 Results
4.1 League champions
4.1.1 From 1962 to 1983
4.1.2 From 1983 to Present
5 See also
6 References
7 External links
History
It began in 1954 as regional championship, separated in two groups, North and South. Then, the participating teams were the champions of each Greek football clubs association. Every year the participating teams were different. In 1960, the Division took its name and some teams were permanent. From 1960 to 1984, there existed multiple groups, peaking in 1962 with ten groups. In 1962, the Division was made permanent, something that had as an essential condition the disengagement of the teams from their local championships. This change has led many statisticians to begin statistics from this period (1962–63). For 21 periods, from 1962–63 to 1982–83, championship was carried out in groups. The subordinate system was introduced for first time in 1983–84 season.
On August 3, 2010, the change of division's name to Football League was announced.[1]
Beta Ethniki
From the 1962–63 season it was decided to establish the category, which included as a prerequisite the "disengagement" of the teams from their local championships. This detail is decisive and today it is generally accepted to consider this period as the official starting point of the second national championship class.
In its first steps almost every year its system was changed. Started with 4 groups of 14 groups which are the years 1968–69 were reduced to two, then for six years (1969–70 up to 1974–75) the groups by three, whereas from 1975 to 1976 up to 1982; 83 were two, "North" and "South". In the autumn of 1983, the institution of the Pan-Hellenic Group was established, which was applied continuously until the 2012–13 season.
When the championship became professional, the Hellenic Football Federation (EPO) handed over the responsibility for the organization to the Association of Football Societe Anonyme Societies (EPAE). In 2006, the Professional Football Association B' and C' of the National Division (SPD B' & C' of the National) was set up, which replaced the EPAE.
Football League
From 2010–11 season it was decided to rename the category to the Football League. In the 2013–14 season, the NGO organizing authority B' & C' of the National Team was replaced by the National Football Class B' National Football Association (SPD B' National), henceforth the Football League.
Structure of the league
At present, there are sixteen clubs that compete in the Football League, playing each other in a home and away series. At the end of the season, the bottom four teams are relegated to the Gamma Ethniki. The top two teams gain automatic promotion. Unlike the Super League, clubs in the Football League do not get relegated if the club fails to obtain a license. All teams in the Football League take part in the Greek Cup.
Current members
Iraklis Thessaloniki
Apollon Pontus
Ergotelis
Irodotos
AO Chania−Kissamikos
Platanias
The following 16 clubs are competing in the Football League during the 2018–19 season.
| Club | Finishing position last season | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aiginiakos | 11th | Aiginio | Municipal Stadium of Aiginio | 1,000 |
| Aittitos Spata | 1st in Gamma Ethniki (promoted via play-offs) | Spata | Spata Municipal Stadium | 2,500 |
| AO Chania−Kissamikos | 4th | Chania | Perivolia Municipal Stadium | 4,527 |
| Apollon Larissa | 10th | Larissa | Apollon Ground | 5,000 |
| Apollon Pontus | 7th | Thessaloniki | Kalamaria Stadium | 6,500 |
| Doxa Drama | 5th | Drama | Doxa Drama Stadium | 9,000 |
| Ergotelis | 9th | Heraklion | Pankritio Stadium | 26,240 |
| Iraklis Thessaloniki | 1st in Gamma Ethniki (promoted via play-offs) | Thessaloniki | Kaftanzoglio Stadium | 27,770 |
| Irodotos | 2nd in Gamma Ethniki (promoted via play-offs) | Heraklion | Municipal Nea Alikarnassos Stadium | 3,000 |
| Karaiskakis | 8th | Arta | Municipal Agiοi Anargirοi Stadium | 1,900 |
| Kerkyra | 15th in Super League (relegated) | Corfu | Kerkyra Stadium | 3,000 |
| Panachaiki | 3rd | Patras | Kostas Davourlis Stadium | 11,321 |
| Platanias | 16th in Super League (relegated) | Chania | Perivolia Municipal Stadium | 4,527 |
| Sparti | 12th | Sparta | Sparta Municipal Stadium | 1,500 |
| Trikala | 6th | Trikala | Trikala Municipal Stadium | 15,000 |
| Volos | 2nd in Gamma Ethniki (promoted via play-offs) | Volos | Neapoli Municipal Stadium | 1,500 |
Acharnaikos, Anagennisi Karditsa, Kallithea, Panegialios, Panserraikos and Veria were relegated to the Gamma Ethniki for the 2018–19 season, while Aittitos Spata, Iraklis Thessaloniki, Irodotos and Volos were promoted via play-offs from the 2017–18 Gamma Ethniki season.
Kerkyra and Platanias were relegated from the 2017–18 Super League season.
Results
League champions
From 1962 to 1983
| Season | Winner |
|---|---|
| 1962–63 | Edessaikos (1), Doxa Drama (1), Olympiacos Chalkida (1), Pankorinthiakos (1) |
| 1963–64 | Panachaiki (1), Proodeftiki (1), Philippi Kavala (1) |
| 1964–65 | Panserraikos (1), Edessaikos (2), Egaleo (1), Vyzas Megara (1) |
| 1965–66 | Veria (1), OFI (1), Vyzas Megara (2) |
| 1966–67 | Panelefsiniakos (1), Kavala (1), Olympiacos Volos (1) |
| 1967–68 | Chalkida (1), Trikala (1) |
| 1968–69 | Panachaiki (2), Kavala (2) |
| 1969–70 | Apollon Smyrnis (1), Veria (2), Fostiras (1) |
| 1970–71 | Panachaiki (3), Trikala (2), Olympiacos Volos (2) |
| 1971–72 | Panserraikos (2), Kalamata (1), Atromitos (1) |
| 1972–73 | Apollon Smyrnis (2), Apollon Kalamaria (1), AEL (1) |
| 1973–74 | PAS Giannina (1), Kastoria (1), Kalamata (2) |
| 1974–75 | Apollon Smyrnis (3), Panetolikos (1), Pierikos (1) |
| 1975–76 | Kavala (3), OFI (2) |
| 1976–77 | Egaleo (2), Veria (3) |
| 1977–78 | Rodos (1), AEL (2) |
| 1978–79 | Doxa Drama (2), Korinthos (1) |
| 1979–80 | Panserraikos (3), Atromitos (2) |
| 1980–81 | Rodos (2), Iraklis Thessaloniki (1) |
| 1981–82 | Panachaiki (4), Makedonikos (1) |
| 1982–83 | Egaleo (3), Apollon Kalamaria (2) |
From 1983 to Present
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See also
- Greek football league system
- Greek Cup
References
^ http://www.epae.org/entry.fds?entryID=1067&pageCode=05.07&tablePageID=47&pageID=46&langid=1
External links
- Official website
Football League at Soccerway
Football League at footballleaguenews.gr
 Football in Greece | |
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| League competitions |
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| Cup competitions |
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| Miscellaneous |
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