Swiss Challenge League
The Swiss Challenge League (until August 2008 known simply as the Challenge League) is the second highest tier of the Swiss Football League. Sixteen teams play in the Challenge League. The winners of the league are promoted to the Super League, and the bottom two teams are relegated to the 1. Liga. The second placed team enters a two-legged playoff against the 9th placed team in the Super League, the winner playing in the higher division next season.
The league was named Nationalliga B until 2003 when it was changed to the "Challenge League."
Liechtenstein's FC Vaduz also play in the Challenge League as Liechtenstein does not have a league of its own.
History
1Sion were admitted to the league on October 29, 2003, after the season had already begun which brought the number of teams in the division to 17.
Only one club was relegated and two were promoted to extend the league to 18 clubs for the 2004–05 season.
2Baden were not relegated due to Servette being demoted to 1. Liga because of financial difficulties.
3Delémont and Kriens were also relegated to due the league being downsized to 16 teams for the 2008–09 season.
4Locarno and Gossau were not relegated due to Concordia and La Chaux-de-Fonds being denied professional licenses.
|
Participating Clubs 2011–12
See also
|
Swiss Challenge League seasons
|
|
|
1. Liga era, 1931–1944
|
|
| Seasons |
1931–32 · 1932–33 · 1933–34 · 1934–35 · 1935–36 · 1936–37 · 1937–38 · 1938–39 · 1939–40 · 1940–41 · 1941–42 · 1942–43 · 1943–44
|
|
|
|
Nationalliga B era, 1944–2003
|
|
| Seasons |
1944–45 · 1945–46 · 1946–47 · 1947–48 · 1948–49 · 1949–50 · 1950–51 · 1951–52 · 1952–53 · 1953–54 · 1954–55 · 1955–56 · 1956–57 · 1957–58 · 1958–59 · 1959–60 · 1960–61 · 1961–62 · 1962–63 · 1963–64 · 1964–65 · 1965–66 · 1966–67 · 1967–68 · 1968–69 · 1969–70 · 1970–71 · 1971–72 · 1972–73 · 1973–74 · 1974–75 · 1975–76 · 1976–77 · 1977–78 · 1978–79 · 1979–80 · 1980–81 · 1981–82 · 1982–83 · 1983–84 · 1984–85 · 1985–86 · 1986–87 · 1987–88 · 1988–89 · 1989–90 · 1990–91 · 1991–92 · 1992–93 · 1993–94 · 1994–95 · 1995–96 · 1996–97 · 1997–98 · 1998–99 · 1999–00 · 2000–01 · 2001–02 · 2002–03
|
|
|
|
Challenge League era, 2003–present
|
|
| Seasons |
|
|
|
|
2010–11 in Swiss football
|
|
|
|
|
| Domestic leagues |
|
|
| Domestic cups |
|
|
International club
competitions |
|
|
Related to
national teams |
|
|
|
Club seasons
|
|
| Super League |
Basel · Bellinzona · Grasshopper Club · Luzern · Neuchâtel Xamax · Sion · St. Gallen · Thun · Young Boys · Zürich
|
|
| Challenge League |
Aarau · Biel-Bienne · Chiasso · Delémont · Kriens · Lausanne-Sport · Locarno · Lugano · Schaffhausen · Servette · Stade Nyonnais · Vaduz · Wil · Winterthur · Wohlen · Yverdon-Sport
|
|