Terza Categoria

Terza Categoria is the lowest level of "amateur" football in Italy. It is the ninth and lowest level in the Italian football league system. Each individual league winner within the Terza Categoria level progresses to their closest regional league in the Seconda Categoria level. Unlike all the levels above the Terza Categoria, there is no relegation.

This level of Italian football is completely amateur and is run on a provincial level from the Local and Provincial Committees.^[1] It is also the only Italian football division where head coaches are not requested to own any license released by the federation.

In theory, this is the final league in Italy from which a team can go all the way and become Serie A champions.

Birth of Terza Categoria

Because of the birth of the Lega Nazionale Dilettanti (Amateur League) in 1959, the Second Division (in Italian = Seconda Divisione) was converted into the Third Category (in Italian = Terza Categoria).

With the reform of the Pro League before the 2014-2015 season in which the Lega Pro Prima Divisione and Lega Pro Seconda Divisione were unified restoring Serie C as the new third national level, the championship became the ninth national level, but remained the fifth and lowest regional competition.

References