- Ukrainian Second League
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Ukrainian Second League 
Countries 
UkraineFounded 1992 Number of teams 24 Levels on pyramid 3 Promotion to Ukrainian First League Relegation to None[1] Domestic cup(s) Ukrainian Cup
League CupCurrent champions MFK Mykolaiv (Group A)
Olimpik Donetsk (Group B)
(2010–11)Website Official site 
2011–12 Ukrainian Second LeagueThe Ukrainian Second League (Ukrainian: Друга ліга, Druha Liha) is a professional football league in Ukraine which is part of the Professional Football League of Ukraine. The league is lower than the Ukrainian First League (Persha Liha) and the lowest level of professional football competitions in the country. Druha Liha is the third level of the football national competitions in Ukraine. The league's relegated teams loose their professional status and return to their regional associations.
Contents
Quick overview
The third division of the Ukrainian championship originally was organized as the Transitional League due to numerous amateur clubs competing in it, while the regular amateur competition of fitness clubs (KFK) was taking place as well. For the second season (1992-93) the league was officially organized as the Second League, while the name of transitional league was passed to the newly formed fourth division. Thus, between seasons '93 and '95, there existed a fourth professional level (the Third League) of the football championship in Ukraine and lower than the Second League. From 1993 season to 1995 the Second League had a single group competition of over 20 clubs.
In 1996 the Ukrainian football witnessed major changes in its organization as the Professional Football League of Ukraine was established. The new organization took control of the competition of former non-amateur clubs that were given attestation of professional clubs and included all the leagues of the Ukrainian championship. Concurrently with this the Third League was disbanded and all clubs that were not in the "relegation zone" were invited to join the Second League. The Second League in its turn was split into two groups. Only in the very first season the teams in this league were divided somewhat randomly, while later becoming more of regional sub-leagues. From 1997 the league was divided into three groups (Druha Liha A (west), B (south), and C (east)).
In 1998 unlike other seasons the winners of the groups were not promoted automatically, instead a promotion-relegation tournament was organized involving four teams, three group winners and one of the weaker clubs of the First League. In 2006, the Ukrainian Professional Football League consolidated Druha Liha due to a shortage of teams and now the 3rd level of football professional competition is divided into 2 groups once again (A - West and B - East).
Throughout its history the Second League has had some supplementary tournaments which include the Second League Cup as well as the Ukrainian Cup qualification tournament called the 2009–10 Ukrainian League Cup.
- Team withdrawals and critical situation
The league suffers from a chronic club withdrawals during almost every season since 1994 when on May 5 FC Elektron Romny became the first club that officially withdrew from the Third League just a few games short of the end setting the well established precedent of today. The 1994-95 season was the first one with multiple withdrawals (four teams). The reorganization of the competition in 1996 also increased the number of clubs that discontinued their participation. For a couple of years after that there was relative stabilization, but for the 1998-99 season 10 teams (!) quit the league before the season started. During the 2002-03 season Ukrainian football saw the withdrawal of a Top League club for the first time (Polihraftekhnika Oleksandriya). Due to those withdrawals the Second League has suspended relegation of clubs since 2006-07, while there were some talks for the league to be discontinued.[2] An idea surfaced during the 2009-10 season to merge the league with the First League breaking the last into several groups, but it was abandoned. During the same season a new tournament was organized to add some games to the calendar of the Second League clubs which had thinned away substantially, this was called the 2009–10 Ukrainian League Cup.
Druha Liha 2010-11 Teams
Druha Liha A
- Bastion Illichivsk
- Chornomorets-2 Odesa
- Desna Chernihiv
- Dynamo Khmelnytskyi
- Enerhiya Nova Kakhovka
- MFK Mykolaiv
- Nyva Ternopil
- Ros Bila Tserkva
- Skala Morshyn
- Veres Rivne
- Yednist' Plysky
- FC Sumy
Druha Liha B
HirnykLocations of teams in the 2009–10 Second League Group BDruha Liha Winners
Top 10 clubs
Only the top 10 clubs that placed most often among the top three in every season are listed.
Club Winner Runners-Up 3rd Position Seasons Won Desna Chernihiv 2 3 1 1996-97, 2005-06 Obolon Kyiv 2 1 0 1998-99, 2000-01 Spartak Sumy 2 0 2 1994-95, 2001-02 Dnipro Cherkasy 2 0 1 1992-93, 2005-06 Bukovyna Chernivtsi 2 0 0 1999-00, 2009-10 MFC Mykolaiv 2 0 0 2005-06, 2010-11 Tytan Armyansk 1 3 1 2009-10 Krystal Kherson 1 3 0 1997-98 Dynamo Khmelnytskyi 1 2 2 1997-98 Zorya Luhansk 1 1 1 2002-03 Ihroservice Simferopol 1 1 1 2003-04 The following clubs have won the league at some point in time and were runner-ups in another season: FC Nyva Ternopil, FC Lviv, FC Boryspil, FC Nafkom Brovary, FC Systema-Borex, FC Polissya Zhytomyr, FC Borysfen Boryspil, FC Shakhtar Makiivka, FC Krasyliv.
List of former professional clubs by region
The following list is of the clubs that are no longer professional yet participated in the competitions of the League.
- Crimea
- FC Dynamo Saky (Frunzenets Saky Raion)
- FC Ihroservice Simferopol (Dynamo Simferopol)
- FC Khimik Krasnoperekopsk
- FC More Feodosia
- FC Okean Kerch (Voykovets Kerch, Metalurh Kerch)
- FC Surozh Sudak
- FC Yalos Yalta
- PFC Sevastopol-2
- Cherkasy Oblast
- FC Cherkasy-2
- FC Dnipro Cherkasy (FC Cherkasy)
- FC Lokomotyv Smila
- Chernihiv Oblast
- FC Desna-2 Chernihiv
- FC Fakel Varva
- Chernivtsi Oblast
- FC Lada Chernivtsi
- Dnipropetrovsk Oblast
- FC Dnipro-2 Dnipropetrovsk
- FC Dnipro-3 Dnipropetrovsk
- FC Kryvbas-2 Kryvyi Rih
- FC Metalurh Komsomolske
- FC Metalurh Nikopol (Elektrometalurh Nikopol)
- FC Metalurh Novomoskovsk
- FC Prometey Dniprodzerzhynsk
- FC Shakhtar Pavlohrad (Kosmos Pavlohrad, Hirnyk Pavlohrad)
- FC Sirius Kryvyi Rih (Sirius Zhovti Vody merged with Sportinvest)
- FC Sportinvest Kryvyi Rih
- Donetsk Oblast
- Bazhanovets Makiivka
- FC Hirnyk Khartsyzk
- FC Mashynobudivnyk Druzhkivka
- FC Metalurh-2 Donetsk
- FC Pivdenstal Yenakiyeve
- FC Shakhtar Horlivka
- FC Shakhtar-2 Donetsk (Metalurh Kostiantynivka, Garant Donetsk)
- FC Silur Shakhtarsk (Prometey Shakhtarsk)
- FC Tytan Donetsk
- FC VPS Kramatorsk
- FC Vuhlyk Dymytrov
- Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast
- FC Beskyd Nadvirna
- FC Chornohora Ivano-Frankivsk
- FC Kalush (Khimik Kalush, LUKOR Kalush, merged with Spartak Ivano-Frankivsk)
- FC Khutrovyk Tysmenytsia (FC Tysmenytsia)
- FC Naftovyk Dolyna
- FC Pokuttia Kolomyia
- FC Prykarpattia-2 Ivano-Frankivsk
- FC Spartak Ivano-Frankivsk (Prykarpattia Ivano-Frankivsk)
- FC Tekhno-Centre Rohatyn
- Kharkiv Oblast
- FC Arsenal Kharkiv
- FC Avanhard Merefa (Avanhard-Metalist Kharkiv merged with Metalist)
- FC Hazovyk Kharkiv
- FC Kharkiv-2
- FC Olympik Kharkiv (Mayak Kharkiv)
- FC Oskil Kupyansk
- Kherson Oblast
- FC Kakhovka (Meliorator Kakhovka)
- FC Krystal Kherson (Tavria Kherson, FC Kherson, Vodnyk Kherson)
- FC Tavriya Novotroitsk
- Khmelnytsky Oblast
- FC Advis Khmelnytsky (merged with Temp Shepetivka)
- FC Krasyliv
- FC Temp Shepetivka (later as Ratusha Kamyanets-Podilsky)
- Kirovohrad Oblast
- FC Olympik Kirovohrad
- MFC Oleksandria
- Zirka-2 Kirovohrad
- Kyiv City
- FC Arsenal-2 Kyiv
- FC CSKA Kyiv (ZS-Oriana Kyiv, CSK ZSU Kyiv)
- FC Dynamo-3 Kyiv
- FC Obolon-2 Kyiv
- Kyiv Oblast
- FC Borysfen Boryspil
- FC Borysfen-2 Boryspil
- FC Inter Boyarka (Hart Borodianka, Systema-Borex Borodianka, Osvita Borodianka, Boyarka-2006)
- FC Knyazha Schaslyve
- FC Knyazha-2 Schaslyve
- FC Nafkom Brovary (Akademiya Irpin, Naftovyk-Akademia Irpin)
- FC Nyva Myronivka
- FC Nyva-Kosmos Myronivka
- FC Skhid Slavutych (Nerefa Slavutych, Transimpeks Vyshneve, Transimpeks Terezine was merged to Ros Bila Tserkva then moved to Slavutych, Slavutych-ChAES)
- Lviv Oblast
- FC Avanhard Zhydachiv
- FC Dynamo Lviv
- FC Halychyna Drohobych
- FC Halychyna Lviv (first as Karpaty-3 Lviv, then Karpaty-Halychyna Lviv, Karpaty Kamianka-Buzka)
- FC Haray Zhovkva
- FC Lviv (1992-2001 merged with Karpaty)
- FC Medyk Morshyn
- FC Promin Sambir (Promin Volia Baranetska)
- FC Rava Rava-Ruska
- FC SKA-Orbita Lviv
- FC Skala Stryi
- FC Skify Lviv (LAZ Lviv)
- FC Sokil Zolochiv
- FC Tsementnyk-Khorda Mykolaiv
- Luhansk Oblast
- FC Avanhard Rovenky (Avanhard-Industriya Rovenky)
- FC Dynamo Luhansk
- FC Dynamo Sloviansk
- FC Khimik Sieverodonetsk
- FC Komunalnyk Luhansk
- FC Molniya Sieverodonetsk
- FC Shakhtar Stakhanov (Vahanobudivnyk Stakhanov)
- FC Stal-2 Alchevsk
- Mykolaiv Oblast
- FC Enerhiya Yuzhnoukrainsk (Artania Ochakiv, Olimpiya Yuzhnoukrainsk)
- FC Vodnyk Mykolaiv
- Odessa Oblast
- FC Chornomorets-2 Odessa (later played as Dynamo Odessa, Dynamo-Flesh Odessa)
- FC Dnistrovets Bilhorod-Dnistrovsky
- FC Palmira Odessa
- FC Portovyk Illichivsk
- FC Real Odessa
- FC SKA-Lotto Odessa
- SK Odessa (later merged with Chornomorets as Chornomorets-2)
- Poltava Oblast
- FC Adoms Kremenchuk
- FC Lokomotyv Dvorichna
- FC Myrhorod (FC Petrivtsi)
- FC Naftokhimik Kremenchuk
- FC Sula Lubny
- FC Vorskla-2 Poltava
- Rivne Oblast
- FC Ikva Mlyniv
- Sumy Oblast
- FC Avtomobilist Sumy (Avtotekhservis Sumy, SBTS Sumy, FC Sumy)
- FC Elektron Romny
- FC Frunzenets Sumy (merged with FC Sumy as FC Frunzenets-Liha 99 Sumy)
- FC Slovianets Konotop
- FC Yavir Krasnopillia
- Ternopil Oblast
- FC Dnister Zalishchyky
- FC Krystal Chortkiv
- FC Lysonia Berezhany
- FC Ternopil (Ternopil-Nyva-2)
- Vinnytsia Oblast
- FC Fortuna Sharhorod
- FC Nyva Bershad (later as Nyva Vinnytsia - farm club of FC Vinnytsia, then Nyva-2 Vinnytsia, FC Bershad)
- Volyn Oblast
- FC Kovel-Volyn-2 Kovel
- Zakarpattia Oblast
- FC Berkut Bedevlia
- FC Fetrovyk Khust (Andezyt Khust)
- FC Karpaty Mukacheve
- FC Zakarpattia-2 Uzhhorod
- Zaporizhia Oblast
- FC Druzhba Berdiansk (Druzhba Osypenko)
- FC Torpedo Zaporizhia
- FC Viktor Zaporizhia
- Metalurh Sport School
- Zhytomyr Oblast
- FC Keramik Baranivka
- FC Korosten
- FC Papirnyk Malyn
- FC Polissya Zhytomyr (Khimik Zhytomyr, Zhytychi Zhytomyr)
- FC Systema-KKhP Cherniakhiv
- MFC Zhytomyr
External links
- (Ukrainian) Druha Liha at Official Site of the Professional Football league of Ukraine
- (Ukrainian) Interaction site for Druha liha
- (Russian) Variety of championships
References
- ^ Currently the Professional Football League of Ukraine does not relegate teams, as a lot of them withdraw from the league on their own due to financial difficulties. Normally the clubs placing last are subject to loss of professional status and relegation to their Regional (Oblast) competitions.
- ^ Фек: Підтримую Данілова і Бальчоса - хай це саме зробить Суркіс
- ^ Four teams were promoted to the Ukrainian First League. The fourth place team in the competition was Naftokhimik Kremenchuk.
- ^ Krystal Kherson failed to win the playoffs for promotion to the Ukrainian First League
- ^ After reviewing Rava Ruska's solvency and facilities the PFL decided not to promote them. 2nd placed Enerhetyk Burshtyn were promoted instead.
- ^ PFC Oleksandria were promoted to the Ukrainian First League since they were best 2nd placed team in all Druha Liha competitions
- ^ FC Arsenal Bila Tserkva were promoted to the Ukrainian First League since FC Ihroservice Simferopol as the member of the First League withdrew from competitions. Arsenal and Poltava were allowed to compete for the extra promotion due to that in the play-off game in Cherkasy. Arsenal won the game 1-0, gaining promotion.
Ukrainian Second League seasons 1992 · 1992–93 · 1993–94 · 1994–95 · 1995–96 · 1996–97 · 1997–98 · 1998–99 · 1999–2000 · 2000–01 · 2001–02 · 2002–03 · 2003–04 · 2004–05 · 2005–06 · 2006–07 · 2007–08 · 2008–09 · 2009–10 · 2010–11Football in Ukraine National teams MenWomenLeague system MenPremier League (Championship) · Persha Liha (First League) · Druha Liha (Second League) (Group A · Group B) · Tretia Liha (Third League) (defunct) · Amatory (Amateur Level)WomenZhinocha Liha (Women's league)YouthDomestic cups MenWomenWomen's CupInternationalValeri Lobanovsky Memorial Tournament · Viktor Bannikov Memorial TournamentAwards Ukrainian Footballer of the Year · Topscorers · The best 33 (Ukraine) · Vyscha Liha Player of the Year · Oleksandr Chizhevskiy club · Serhiy Rebrov club · Timerlan Huseinov club · Oleh Blokhin club · Maksim Shatskikh club · Yevhen Rudakov clubLists Men's clubs · Women's clubs · Men's players · Women's players · Expatriate players · Managers · Referees · Venues · Seasons · RecordsThird level football leagues of Europe (UEFA) Albania · Austria · Belarus · Belgium · Bosnia and Herzegovina (Federation · Republika Srpska) · Bulgaria · Croatia · Cyprus · Czech Republic (Bohemia · Moravia-Silesia) · Denmark · England · Estonia · Faroe Islands · Finland · France · Georgia · Germany · Greece · Hungary · Iceland · Rep of Ireland · Israel · Italy · Latvia · Lithuania · Luxembourg · Rep of Macedonia · Malta · Montenegro · Netherlands · Northern Ireland · Norway · Poland · Portugal · Romania · Russia · Scotland · Serbia · Slovakia · Slovenia · Spain · Sweden (North · South) · Switzerland · Turkey · Ukraine · Wales (North · Mid · South · Wrexham)Categories:- Ukrainian Second League
- Football competitions in Ukraine
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