Liga 3 (Georgia)
Founded | 1990 |
---|---|
Country | Georgia |
Confederation | UEFA |
Number of teams | 16 |
Level on pyramid | 3 |
Promotion to | Erovnuli Liga 2 |
Relegation to | Liga 4 |
Domestic cup(s) | Georgian Cup |
Current champions | Spaeri (2021) |
Website | liga.gff.ge |
Liga 3, organized by Georgian Football Federation since 1990, is the third division of professional football in Georgia.
Until 2017, when the current name was introduced, it was known as Meore Liga (the Second league).
Structure and league system[]
There were 20 teams competing in the league in 2017. In 2019, when Liga 4 was formed, their number was reduced to ten,[1] although after two seasons GFF decided to extend the league to 14 at the expense of two bottom teams from the previous season and two second-placed clubs from Liga 4 While and Red Groups.[2] From 2022 the number of clubs is due to be increased to 16.[3]
Seasons run based on Spring-Autumn system with each team playing an equal amount of home and away games against their league rivals.
The league operates based on a system of promotion and relegation. Starting from the 2022 season, champions and runners-up win automatic promotion to Erovnuli Liga 2, while the teams that finish in the third and fourth positions book a place in promotion play-off home and away games against respectively the 8th and 7th placed clubs of Liga 2. Three bottom teams are relegated to Liga 4.[4]
In case two or more clubs obtain the same number of points, their head-to-head records are next to be taken into consideration.
Number of teams each season[]
● 2017-18 = 20
● 2019-20 = 10
● 2021 = 14
● 2022 = 16
Current members[]
Sixteen teams will be competing in Liga 3 for the 2022 season. Six of them have previously played in the top division, namely Borjomi (2005-09), Chikhura Sachkhere (2012-20), Guria Lanchkhuti (1990–99, 2001–02 and 2013–16), Kolkheti-1913 Poti (1990-2006, 2010-2013 and 2014–18), Kolkheti Khobi (1990–92 and 1999–2000) and Zestafoni (2004-15) with the latter being the two-times champions.
In 2022 the league will be represented by the following clubs:
Clubs | Position last season | Location | Region |
---|---|---|---|
Aragvi | 5th | Dusheti | Mtskheta-Mtianeti |
Bakhmaro | 8th | Chokhatauri | Guria |
Borjomi | 3rd in Liga 4 | Borjomi | Samtskhe-Javakheti |
Chikhura | 10th in Liga 2 | Sachkhere | Imereti |
Dinamo-2 Tbilisi | 1st in Liga 4 | Tbilisi | Tbilisi |
Gori | 6th | Gori | Shida Kartli |
Guria | 11th | Lanchkhuti | Guria |
4th in Liga 4 | Tbilisi | Tbilisi | |
Kolkheti-1913 | 2nd | Poti | Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti |
Kolkheti Khobi | 9th | Khobi | Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti |
Merani-2 Tbilisi | 12th | Tbilisi | Tbilisi |
Meshakhte | 10th | Tkibuli | Imereti |
Saburtalo-2 | 7th | Tbilisi | Tbilisi |
3rd | Tbilisi | Tbilisi | |
4th | Tbilisi | Tbilisi | |
Zestafoni | 2nd in Liga 4 | Zestafoni | Imereti |
Results[]
Group Winners of Meore Liga[]
Season | West | East | Center |
---|---|---|---|
2011–12 | Chikhura Sachkhere II | Sasco Tbilisi | — |
2012–13 | Matchakhela Khelvachauri | — | |
2013–14 | Lazika Zugdidi | Borjomi | — |
2014–15 | Imereti Khoni | Tskhumi Sukhumi | |
2015–16 | Sulori Vani | Gardabani | |
2016 | Betlemi ● Margveti ● Samegrelo | Algeti ● N.Dinamo ● Shevardeni ● Telavi | Gori |
Note: Due to the season being transitional in 2016, none of the teams was promoted
Top three teams of Liga 3[]
Season | Winner | Runner-up | Third place |
---|---|---|---|
2017 | Shevardeni | Norchi Dinamo Tbilisi | Telavi |
2018 | Zugdidi | Bakhmaro Chokhatauri | Guria Lanchkhuti |
2019 | Merani Martvili | Samgurali Tskhaltubo | Aragvi Dusheti |
2020 | Gareji Sagarejo | Kolkheti-1913 Poti | Gori |
2021 | Spaeri Tbilisi | Kolkheti-1913 Poti |
Note: Apart from the champions who were automatically promoted to the second division, the teams indicated in bold gained promotion after winning the play-offs against their Liga-2 rivals.
Relegated teams[]
The number of relegated teams per each recent season varies due to the fact that the competition format is subject to frequent changes.
Season | Clubs |
---|---|
2017 | Odishi-1919 Zugdidi ● Chkherimela Kharagauli ● Liakhvi Tskhinvali ● Sapovnela Terjola |
2018 | Samegrelo Chkhorotsku ● Magaroeli Chiatura ● Varketili Tbilisi ● Algeti Marneuli ● Mark Stars Tbilisi ● Imereti Khoni ● Gardabani ● Sulori Vani ● Samgurali Tskaltubo-2 ● Machakhela Khelvachauri |
2019 | Borjomi ● Betlemi Keda |
2020 | NONE |
2021 | Magaroeli Chiatura ● |
Participation per club[]
Including the 2022 season there have been 41 teams in total competing in this league since 2017. Gori are topping the list with an overall seven-year continuous tenure in the third tier, including all the six seasons after its re-branding as Liga 3.
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As of 2022 their current status is:
Erovnuli Liga | 2 | |
Erovnuli Liga 2 | 6 | |
Liga 3 | 16 | |
Liga 4 | 11 | |
Regionuli Liga | 2 | |
Defunct | 4 |
References[]
- ^ "2019 regular season". soccerway.com.
- ^ "სფფ-ს აღმასკომი - ცვლილებები Crystalbet ეროვნულ ლიგაში". crystalsport.ge (in Georgian), 25 January 2021.
- ^ "2022 წლიდან ლიგა 2-ში და ლიგა 3-ში გუნდების რაოდენობა იზრდება". primesport.ge (in Georgian), 12 February 2021.
- ^ "სფფ-ში აღმასრულებელი კომიტეტის სხდომა გაიმართა". gff.ge (in Georgian), 22 February 2022.
External links[]
- Liga 3 (Georgia)
- Football leagues in Georgia (country)
- Third level football leagues in Europe