Under 19 Bundesliga (football)

The Under 19 Bundesliga (also called "A-Jugend-Bundesliga") is the highest level in German Under 19 football. It was created in 2003 and is divided in three divisions (Nord/Nordost, West und Süd/Südwest) with 14 teams each. The winner of each divisions and the second-placed team from the Süd/Südwest division join the play-offs for the German U19 champions.

The forerunner of the Under 19 Bundesliga was the "A-Jugend-Regionalliga". In the summer of 2003 the divisions North and Northeast as well as South and Southwest were merged, the division West was simply renamed. The intent was to make youth football more competitive.

Mode

Every team plays the other teams twice; once at home and once away. A win is rewarded with three points, a draw with one point. The play-offs see two-legged semifinals and one final match. The teams that finish in the bottom three spots in each division are relegated.

Teams competing in the 2008-09 season

|(N) = Newly promoted

Finals

* 2004: FC Bayern Munich – VfL Bochum 3:0
* 2005: VfB Stuttgart – VfL Bochum 1:0
* 2006: FC Schalke 04 - FC Bayern Munich 2:1
* 2007: Bayer Leverkusen – FC Bayern Munich 2:1 n. V. (1:1;0:1)
* 2008: SC Freiburg - VfL Wolfsburg 2:0 (1:0)

Division champions

Geography, promotion and relegation

North/Northeast division

The North/Northeast division comprises teams from the NOFV (North-East German Football Association) and NFV (North German Football Association). Below the Bundesliga are Regionalliga North and Regionalliga Northeast. The two Regionalliga champions are promoted directly, the vice-champions play each other over two legs to decide the third promoted team.

West division

The West division contains teams from the FLWV (West German Football and Athletics Association). Below the West division are the Verbandsliga divisions Westfalen, Niederrhein und Mittelrhein. Their respective champions are promoted to the Bundesliga.

South/Southwest division

In the South/Southwest division teams from the FRVS (Regional Football Association Southwest) and the SFV (Southern Football Association). Below the Bundesliga division there are the Oberliga divisions Hessen and Baden-Württemberg, the Bayernliga and the Regionalliga Southwest. The Bayernliga and Oberliga Baden-Württemberg are promoted directly. The Oberliga Hessen and Regionalliga Südwest play each other over two legs to determine the third promoted team.

External links

* [http://www.dfb.de/index.php?id=501966 Official Information from DFB (German)]