Lega Pro Seconda Divisione

Lega Pro Seconda Divisione
Country Italy
Confederation FIGC
Founded 1978 as Serie C2
2008 as Lega Pro Seconda Divisione
Folded 2014
Number of teams 36 (18 for each group)
Level on pyramid 4
Promotion to Lega Pro Prima Divisione
Relegation to Serie D
Domestic cup(s) Coppa Italia Lega Pro
Supercoppa di Lega di Seconda Divisione
Last champions Bassano Virtus (group A)
Messina (group B)
(2013–14)
Most championships Mantova, Messina, Prato, Siena, Varese
(3 each)
Website www.lega-pro.com

Lega Pro Seconda Divisione was the fourth highest football league in Italy, the lowest with a professional status. Usually it consisted of 36 teams, but in the season 2011–12 the teams were 41 divided geographically into two divisions of 20, 21. Group A covers northern and north central Italy, Group B south central and southern Italy.

Until the season 2007–08 the league was known as Serie C2.

Before the 1978–79 season there were only three professional football leagues in Italy, the third being Serie C. In 1978, it was decided to split Serie C into Serie C1 (the third highest league) and Serie C2. Upon its inception in 1978–79, Serie C2 consisted of four divisions, however, that number was reduced to three from the start of the 1991–92 season. The reform, already decided by the FIGC lead to the reunification with the first division starting from 2014-2015 and with the subsequent rebirth of the third tier championship organized by the pro league with 60 teams divided into three groups of 20 in Lega Pro.

During the regular season, teams only played the other teams in their division. Each opponent was played twice, once at home and once away, for a total of 34 matches. Games were scheduled such that in the first 17 matches, every opponent was played once. In the last 17 matches, the same opponents were played in the same order with the only difference being that the venue changed.

Promotion and relegation

To the season 2009–10

In each division, two teams are promoted to Lega Pro Prima Divisione, and three teams are relegated to Serie D. In total, the league promotes 6 teams to Prima Divisione and relegates 9 teams to Serie D.

The team finishing first in the regular season was directly promoted to Prima Divisione, while teams placing 2nd to 5th were entered into a play-off semi-final for the chance of gaining the second promotional spot for that particular division.

In the play-off phase that took place after the regular season was completed, in each division the team placed 2nd played the team placed 5th, and the team placed 3rd played the team placed 4th in two double-leg promotional semi-final series with the higher classified team having home field advantage in the second leg. In case of an aggregate tie score, the away goals rule was not used, and the higher classified team was declared the winner without extra time being played nor penalty kicks being taken. The winning teams advanced to the final in another double-leg series with similar rules. The only difference being that if an aggregate tie existed at the end of the second match, extra time was played. If the tie persisted, again the higher classified team was declared the winner and no penalty kicks were taken. The winner became the second team promoted for that particular division to Prima Divisione.

The team finishing last in the regular season was directly relegated to Serie D, while teams placing 14th to 17th were entered into a play-out. There was only one round in the play-outs. In each division the team placed 14th played the team placed 17th, and the team placed 15th played the team placed 16th in a double-leg series with the higher classified team having home field advantage in the second leg. In case of an aggregate tie score, the rules were exactly the same as those for the promotional semi-finals. The two winning teams remained in Seconda Divisione while the two losing teams became the second and third teams relegated for that particular division.

The season 2010–11

The promotions in Lega Pro Prima Divisione were in all six: two for each group, as the previous seasons.

Instead the relegations in Serie D were in all four: two for the group A and one for each of the other two groups.

In the group A of 17 teams were relegated the 17th and the 15th after the loser in the relegation playout between the 16th place.

In the group B and C of 16 teams, were relegated the 16th, with only one team being relegated from each of those divisions.

Seasons 2011–12 to 2013–14

In those seasons there were two groups instead of three in the previous.

The promotions in Lega Pro Prima Divisione were in all six: three for each group. The relegations in Serie D were in all nine: the last three teams in the regular season, plus one relegation play-out loser from each division and the loser of the final play-out between the two winners of the semifinals, were relegated to Serie D.

In the 2013–14 season eighteen teams (the top eight and the relegation playout winner in each division) were promoted. No promotion playoffs were played. Eighteen teams (the bottom six plus three playout losers in each division) were relegated.

Past champions

Serie C2

Seasons from 1978–79 to 1990–91

Season Group A Winner Group B Winner Group C Winner Group D Winner
1978–79 Sanremese Cremapergo Fano Rende
1979–80 Prato Modena Giulianova Cosenza
1980–81 Rhodense Padova Casertana Campania
1981–82 Carrarese Ancona Siena Barletta
1982–83 Prato Legnano Francavilla Messina
1983–84 Livorno Pavia Jesi Reggina
1984–85 Siena Virescit Boccaleone Brindisi Licata
1985–86 Lucchese Centese Teramo Nocerina
1986–87 Torres Ospitaletto Vis Pesaro Frosinone
1987–88 Carrarese Mantova Perugia Palermo
1988–89 Casale Chievo Fidelis Andria Puteolana
1989–90 Siena Varese Fano Battipagliese
1990–91 Alessandria Palazzolo Chieti Ischia

Seasons from 1991–92 to 2007–08

Season Group A Winner Group B Winner Group C Winner
1991–92 Ravenna Vis Pesaro Potenza
1992–93 Mantova Pistoiese Juve Stabia
1993–94 Crevalcore Gualdo Trapani
1994–95 Brescello Montevarchi Nocerina
1995–96 Novara Treviso Avezzano
1996–97 Lumezzane Ternana Battipagliese
1997–98 Varese SPAL Marsala
1998–99 Pisa Viterbese Catania
1999-00 Spezia Torres Messina
2000–01 Padova Lanciano Taranto
2001–02 Prato Teramo Martina
2002–03 Pavia Florentia Viola Foggia
2003–04 Mantova Grosseto Frosinone
2004–05 Pro Sesto Massese Manfredonia
2005–06 Venezia Cavese Gallipoli
2006–07 Legnano Foligno Sorrento
2007–08 Pergocrema Reggiana Benevento

Lega Pro Seconda Divisione

Seasons from 2008–09 to 2010–11

Season Group A Winner Group A Playoff Winner Group B Winner Group B Playoff Winner Group C Winner Group C Playoff Winner
2008–09 Varese Como Figline Giulianova Cosenza Pescina V.d.G.
2009–10 Südtirol Spezia Lucchese Gubbio Juve Stabia Cisco Roma
2010–11 Tritium FeralpiSalò Carpi Carrarese Latina Trapani

Seasons from 2011–12 to 2013–14 season

Season Group A Winner Group A Playoff Winner Group B Winner Group B Playoff Winner
2011–12 Treviso Cuneo Perugia Paganese
2012–13 Pro Patria Venezia Salernitana L'Aquila
2013–14 Bassano Virtus Alessandria Messina Casertana

See also

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