Croatian Third Football League

Croatian Third Football League
Country  Croatia
Confederation UEFA
Founded 1991
Level on pyramid 3
Feeder to Druga HNL
Relegation to First County Football League (Croatia)
Domestic cup(s) Croatian Cup
Current champions GNK Dinamo II (West)
Šibenik (South)
Slavija Pleternica (East)
Most championships Mosor (3 titles)
2015–16 season

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.

Subdivisions

The teams are divided into three divisions: West, East and South, 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.

Geographic areas covered by the three 3.HNL divisions;
Orange - 3.HNL West,
Blue – 3.HNL South,
Green – 3.HNL East

Subdivisions are organized geographically and composed of the following Croatian counties:

Winning clubs

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 to a single nationwide league format. From season 2014-15 winners of division west, south and east are directly promoted into 2.HNL, while last three team from 2.HNL are relegated without play-off matches.

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

1998–2006

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

2006–2011

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]

2011-2012

Season Division West Division East Division North Division South Also promoted
2011–12 Zelina † BSK Bijelo Brdo[7] Mladost Ždralovi[8] Raštane[9] Primorac 1929

2012-2014

Season Division Center Division West Division East Division South Division North Also promoted
2012–13 Segesta † Grobničan[10] Slavonija[11] Val[13] Mladost Ždralovi[12]
2013–14 Maksimir[14] Opatija[14] BSK Bijelo Brdo[14] Imotski † Međimurje[14] Bistra †

2014-

Season Division West Division East Division South
2014–15 Slavija GNK Dinamo II † Šibenik †
2015–16

Notes

1. a : Although Hrvatski Vitez of Posedarje finished top of the 1999–2000 South Division, they were demoted for unknown reasons and competed in the 4th league the following season. South Division runners-up Imotska Krajina were promoted to 2. HNL instead.
2. a : Although NK Hrvace finished top of the 2007–2008 South Division, they did not applied for promotion so South Division runners-up Junak of Sinj were promoted to 2. HNL instead.
3. a : Although NK Grafičar Vodovod finished top of the 2008–2009 East Division, they did not applied for promotion. As only fifth placed NK Vukovar '91 met the needed criteria they were promoted to 2. HNL instead.
4. a : Although NK Lipik finished top of the 2009–2010 East Division, they did not applied for promotion so East Division runners-up MV Croatia of Slavonski Brod were promoted to 2. HNL instead.
5. a : Although NK Podravina Ludbreg finished top of the 2010–2011 East Division and applied for promotion, they subsequently refused promotion for financial reasons. No one from East Division was promoted to 2. HNL instead.
6. a : Although NK Raštane finished top of the 2010–2011 South Division, their application for 2. HNL was refused because of lack of appropriate infrastructure. No one from South Division was promoted to 2. HNL instead.
7. a : Although NK BSK Bijelo Brdo finished top of the 2011–2012 East Division, they did not applied for promotion. No one from East Division was promoted to 2. HNL instead.
8. a : Although NK Mladost Ždralovi finished top of the 2011–2012 North Division, they did not applied for promotion. No one from North Division was promoted to 2. HNL instead.
9. a : Although NK Raštane finished top of the 2011–2012 South Division, they did not applied for promotion so South Division runners-up NK Primorac 1929 of Stobreč were promoted to 2. HNL instead.
10. a : Although Grobničan finished top of the 2012–2013 West Division, they did not applied for promotion. No one from West Division was promoted to 2. HNL instead.
11. a : Although Slavonija finished top of the 2012–2013 East Division, their application for 2. HNL was refused because of lack of appropriate infrastructure. No one from East Division was promoted to 2. HNL instead.
12. a : Although NK Mladost Ždralovi finished top of the 2012–2013 North Division, they did not applied for promotion. No one from North Division was promoted to 2. HNL instead.
13. a : HNK Val lose against Segesta in play-off.
14. a : Although Maksimir, Opatija and BSK Bijelo Brdo finished top of their respective 2013–2014 divisions, they have not applied for promotion. Međimurje, champion of 3. HNL North Division, applied for promotion but did not met necessary financial and infrastructural requirements.

2015–16 Clubs

The 2015–16 season is the second season under current format.

 
Division West
Club City / Town
Dubrava Zagreb
Dugo Selo Dugo Selo
HAŠK Zagreb
Krk Krk
Maksimir Zagreb
Novigrad Novigrad
Rijeka II Rijeka
Opatija Opatija
Samobor Samobor
Stupnik Zagreb
Špansko Zagreb
Trnje Zagreb
Vinogradar Jastrebarsko
Vrapče Zagreb
Vrbovec Vrbovec
Zagorec Krapina
 
Division East
Club City / Town
Belišće Belišće
Bjelovar Bjelovar
BSK Bijelo Brdo
Đakovo Croatia Đakovo
Koprivnica Koprivnica
Marsonia Slavonski Brod
Međimurje Čakovec
Mladost Antin
Mladost Ždralovi
Oriolik Oriovac
Podravina Ludbreg
Slavija Pleternica
Slavonija Požega
Varaždin Varaždin
Višnjevac Višnjevac
Vukovar 1991 Vukovar
 
Division South
Club City / Town
BŠK Zmaj Blato
Croatia Zmijavci
OŠK Otok
Hajduk II Split
Hrvace Hrvace
Jadran Ploče
Junak Sinj
Kamen Ivanbegovina
Mosor Žrnovnica
Neretva Metković
Neretvanac Opuzen
Omiš Omiš
Primorac 1929 Stobreč
Solin Solin
Primorac Biograd Biograd na Moru
Val Kaštel Stari
Zagora Unešić
Zmaj Makarska
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