| Countries | Croatia |
|---|---|
| Confederation | UEFA |
| Founded | 1991 |
| Number of teams | 68 in total (2 x 18 + 2 x 16) |
| Levels on pyramid | 3 |
| Feeder to | Druga HNL |
| Relegation to | Četvrta HNL |
| Domestic cup(s) | Croatian Cup |
| Current champions | Podravina (East) Radnik Sesvete (West) Raštane (South) |
| Most championships | Mosor (3 titles) |
The Croatian Third Football League (Croatian: Treća hrvatska nogometna liga, or commonly Treća HNL or 3.HNL) is the third tier of the football league system in Croatia. The league was established in 1991 following the dissolution of the Yugoslav League. It is operated by the Croatian Football Federation.
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The league is divided into four divisions: West, East, South and North. There are 18 teams in divisions West and South and 16 teams in divisions East and North, competing in a double round-robin format. At the end of each season, the bottom teams are relegated to the regional leagues while the winners of each league are either promoted directly to Druga HNL or enter a two-legged playoff to gain promotion.
Subdivisions are organized geographically and composed of the following Croatian counties:
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 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. Official tables for the period between 1992 to 1998 are incomplete.
As for promotion to 2. HNL, at first it was automatic with all five winners entering next season's 2.HNL. A playoff system was later introduced, along with the requirement that 2.HNL hopefuls must meet second level competition standards. Therefore some clubs finished top of their groups but then declined promotion as they were unable to provide suitable ground for home matches, while others were knocked out in inter-division playoffs. Furthermore, the 2. HNL format also changed several times: from 1998–99 to 2000–01 seasons 2.HNL was played as a single nationwide league; from 2001–02 to 2005–06 the league was organised in two geographical groups (North and South); from 2006–07 onwards the league reverted back to a single nationwide league format.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | PIK Vrbovec † | Pomorac Kostrena † | Marsonia † | Mosor † | Čazmatrans † |
| 1999–2000 | 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 |
| Season | Division West | Division East | Division South | Also promoted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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] |
The 2011–12 season is the first season under current format. Former three divisions are divided into four – West, South, East and North for the 2011–12 season .
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