Treća HNL

Treća HNL

Countries	Croatia
Confederation	UEFA
Founded	1991
Number of teams	68 in total (2 x 18 + 2 x 16)
Levels on pyramid	3
Feeder to	Druga HNL
Relegation to	Četvrta HNL
Domestic cup(s)	Croatian Cup
Current champions	Podravina (East) Radnik Sesvete (West) Raštane (South)
Most championships	Mosor (3 titles)

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 league is divided into four divisions: West, East, South and North. There are 18 teams in divisions West and South and 16 teams in divisions East and North, 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;
Yellow – 3.HNL West,
Maroon – 3.HNL East,
Blue – 3.HNL South,
Green – 3.HNL North

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

• Treća HNL West
  • City of Zagreb (Grad Zagreb)
  • Istria County (Istarska županija)
  • Karlovac County (Karlovačka županija)
  • Krapina-Zagorje County (Krapinsko-zagorska županija)
  • Lika-Senj County (Ličko-senjska županija)
  • Primorje-Gorski Kotar County (Primorsko-goranska županija)
  • Sisak-Moslavina County (Sisačko-moslavačka županija)
  • Zagreb County (Zagrebačka županija)

• Treća HNL East
  • Brod-Posavina County (Brodsko-posavska županija)
  • Osijek-Baranja County (Osječko-baranjska županija)
  • Požega-Slavonia County (Požeško-slavonska županija)
  • Vukovar-Syrmia County (Vukovarsko-srijemska županija)

• Treća HNL South
  • Zadar County (Zadarska županija)
  • Šibenik-Knin County (Šibensko-kninska županija)
  • Split-Dalmatia County (Splitsko-dalmatinska županija)
  • Dubrovnik-Neretva County (Dubrovačko-neretvanska županija)

• Treća HNL North
  • Bjelovar-Bilogora County (Bjelovarsko-bilogorska županija)
  • Koprivnica-Križevci County (Koprivničko-križevačka županija)
  • Međimurje County (Međimurska županija)
  • Varaždin County (Varaždinska županija)
  • Virovitica-Podravina County (Virovitičko-podravska županija)

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 back to a single nationwide league format.

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–present

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]

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.

2011–12 Clubs

The 2011–12 season is the first season under current format. Former three divisions are divided into four – West, South, East and North for the 2011–12 season .

Division West Club City / Town Buje Buje Crikvenica Crikvenica Dubrava Dubrava Dugo Selo Dugo Selo Grobničan Čavle Jadran Poreč Krk Krk Nehaj Senj Novalja Novalja Opatija Opatija Orijent Rijeka Rovinj Rovinj Segesta Sisak Stupnik Stupnik Vinodol Novi Vinodolski Vrapče Zagreb Vrbovec Vrbovec Zelina Sveti Ivan Zelina

Division East Club City / Town Belišće Belišće BSK Bijelo Brdo Croatia Đakovo Đakovo Đakovo Đakovo Graničar Županja Lipik Lipik Mladost Antin Antin Mladost Cernik Cernik NAŠK Našice Olimpija Osijek Oriolik Oriovac Otok Otok Slavija Pleternica Pleternica Slobodnica Slobodnica Višnjevac Višnjevac Vukovar '91 Vukovar

Division South Club City / Town BŠK Zmaj Blato Dinara Knin GOŠK Dubrovnik Hrvace Hrvace Jadran KS Kaštel Sućurac Jadran LP Ploče Konavljanin Čilipi Neretva Metković Neretvanac Opuzen Omiš Omiš Primorac Biograd na Moru Primorac 1929 Stobreč Raštane Gornje Raštane Uskok Klis HNK Val Kaštel Stari Velebit Benkovac Zagora Unešić Zmaj Makarska

Division North Club City / Town Bjelovar Bjelovar Croatia Grabrovnica Grabrovnica Čakovec Čakovec Graničar Kotoriba Ivančica Ivanec Koprivnica Koprivnica Križevci Križevci Mladost Prelog Prelog Mladost Ždralovi Ždralovi Nedelišće Nedelišće Nedeljanec Nedeljanec Papuk Orahovica Podravac Virje Podravina Ludbreg Polet Pribislavec Slatina Slatina