Ukrainian Second League

Ukrainian Second League
Founded 1992 (as Transitional League)
Country  Ukraine
Number of teams 23
Level on pyramid 3
Promotion to Ukrainian First League
Relegation to None (2007–2016)[note 1]
Amateurs (1995–2007)
Ukrainian Third League (1992–1994)
Domestic cup(s) Ukrainian Cup
Second League Cup (defunct)
League Cup (defunct)
Current champions FC Ahrobiznes Volochysk
(2017–18)
Most championships 3 – Desna and Cherkaskyi Dnipro
Website Official site
2018–19 Ukrainian Second League

The 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. Football Federation of Ukraine, however, has an exclusive right on general administration and control over the organizing and conducting competitions in the league. In 1992 the league was also known as the Transitional League.

The league is lower than the Ukrainian First League (Persha Liha) and the lowest level of professional football competitions in the country. The Ukrainian Second League is the third level of professional football in Ukraine. The league's relegated teams lose their professional status and return to their regional associations.

In summer of 2017 it was announced that the Second League is planned to be discontinued after the 2017-18 season.[1][2]

Quick overview

First seasons

The third division of the Ukrainian championship originally was organized as the Transitional League due to numerous amateur clubs competing in it 15 out of 18. Out of the 1992 Transitional League the top clubs qualified for the 1992-93 Second League, while the bottom - the 1992-93 Transitional League, thus, creating an extra tier. Basically in the first seasons there was no promotion.

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. Between seasons 1993 and 1995, there existed an auxiliary level (the Third League in 1994-95) of the football championship in Ukraine, lower than the Second League. From 1993 season to 1995 the Second League had a single group competition of over 20 clubs. During the 1996 reorganization, the auxiliary league was merged back to the Second League.

Creation of PFL

In 1996 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)).

Further developments

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 the Druha Liha due to a shortage of teams, and now the third level of professional football is divided into two 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 / critical situation

The league has suffered from chronic club withdrawals since its reorganization when the Ukrainian Third League was liquidated in 1995. The first club that withdrew in the middle of a season from Ukrainian championship was FC Elektron Romny which on 5 May 1994 withdrew from the Transitional League (Third League).

The reorganization of the competition in 1995 (merging Third and Second leagues) saw a number of clubs that discontinued their participation. At the start of season withdrew Temp Shepetivka which prior to that merged with Advis as well as Kosmos Pavlohrad, and five more clubs withdrew at winter break. Withdrawal of Temp led to a major disruption in competitions when Football Federation of Ukraine allowed to enter a quickly assembled team of amateur players for the First League to replace withdrawn Shepetivka club.

For a couple of years after that, there was relative stabilization, but not perfect with at least one club being withdrawn in a middle of ongoing season. In 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 suspended relegation of clubs since 2006-07, while there were some talks for the league to be discontinued.[3] 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.

Organization

The calendar of competitions is adopted by the Central Council of PFL and the Executive Committee of FFU. The Bureau (Administration) of PFL regulates the league's operations and forms the Second League. All clubs of the PFL are obligated to own or sponsor a Children-Youth Sports School. All clubs of PFL are obligated to participate in the National Cup competition. A club of the Second League is also obligated to finance at least two junior teams from under the age of 10 to under the age of 19. The junior teams must participate either in regional competitions of the Children-Youth Football League of Ukraine.

All stadiums must have a certificate of the State Commission in control of sports structures conditions. A club cannot play matches at its training sites nor stadiums not registered with PFL. Promotions of tobacco products at stadiums are prohibited. All stadiums must fly the flags of Ukraine, FFU, and PFL. Only accredited photo-correspondents and junior footballers who collect balls are allowed behind goalposts.

The games are allowed to start not earlier than 12:00 and not later than 20:30. There must be at least a 48-hour break between two official games. Games can only be rescheduled if the following three criteria exist: a) unforeseen circumstances occur, b) delegation of four or more footballers to any national teams, or c) organization of direct tele-broadcasting.

Results by season

SeasonGroupChampionRunner-upThird place
1992 A Dnister Zalishchyky Hazovyk Komarno Yavir Krasnopilya
B Bazhanovets' Makiyivka Tytan Armyansk Meliorator Kakhovka
1992–93 – Dnipro Cherkasy Khimik Zhytomyr Yavir Krasnopilya
1993–94[note 2] – FC Borispil Bazhanovets' Makiyivka Zirka-NIBAS Kirovohrad
1994–95 – Yavir Krasnopilya FC Lviv Dynamo Luhansk
1995–96 A CSCA Kyiv Krystal Kherson Khutrovyk Tysmenytsya
B Metalurh Mariupol Metalurh Donetsk Metalurh Novomoskovsk
1996–97 A Desna Chernihiv Fakel Varva FK Tysmenytsya
B Avanhard-Industria Rovenky Tytan Armyansk Oskil Kupyansk
1997–98 A Podillya Khmelnytskyi Dynamo-3 Kyiv Karpaty-2 Lviv
B Krystal Kherson[note 3] SCA-Lotto Odesa SC Odesa
C Shakhtar-2 Donetsk Fakel Varva Elektron Romny
1998–99 A Zakarpattia Uzhhorod Borysfen Boryspil Tsymentnyk-Khorda Mykolaiv
B SC Odesa Krystal Kherson Kryvbas-2 Kryvyj Rih
C Obolon-PPO Kyiv Zorya Luhansk Oskil Kupyansk
1999–00 A Bukovyna Chernivtsi Podillya Khmelnytskyi Enerhetyk Burshtyn
B Borysfen Boryspil Obolon-PPO-2 Kyiv Kryvbas-2 Kryvyj Rih
C Dnipro-2 Dnipropetrovsk ADOMS Kremenchuk Zorya Luhansk
2000–01 A Polissya Zhytomyr Sokil Zolochiv FC Krasyliv
B Obolon Kyiv Systema-Boreks Borodianka Dnipro-3 Dnipropetrovsk
C FC Naftovyk Okhtyrka Desna Chernihiv Oskil Kupyansk
2001–02 A FC Krasyliv Sokil Zolochiv Podillya Khmelnytskyi
B Systema-Boreks Borodianka Nafkom-Akademia Irpen Dynamo Simferopol
C FC Sumy Arsenal Kharkiv Metalurh-2 Donetsk
2002–03 A FC LUKOR Kalush Enerhetyk Burshtyn Podillya Khmelnytskyi
B Nafkom Irpin Dynamo Simferopol Elektrometalurh-NZF Nikopol
C Zorya Luhansk Shakhtar Luhansk Desna Chernihiv
2003–04 A FC Hazovyk-Skala Stryj Podillya Khmelnytskyi Rava Rava-Ruska
B Dynamo-IhroServis Simferopol Elektrometalurh-NZF Nikopol Krymteplitsia Molodizhne
C Stal Dniprodzerzhynsk Desna Chernihiv Metalurh-2 Zaporizhya
2004–05 A Rava Rava-Ruska[note 4] Enerhetyk Burshtyn Karpaty-2 Lviv
B Krymteplitsia Molodizhne Krystal Kherson FC Oleksandria
C Helios Kharkiv Desna Chernihiv Dnipro Cherkasy
2005–06 A Desna Chernihiv Fakel Ivano-Frankivsk Rava Rava-Ruska
B MFK Mykolaiv PFC Oleksandria[note 5] PFC Sevastopol
C Dnipro Cherkasy Illichivets-2 Mariupol Metalurh-2 Zaporizhya
2006–07 A Dnister Ovidiopol Fakel Ivano-Frankivsk Yednist Plysky
B PFC Sevastopol Feniks-Illichivets Kalinine Tytan Armyansk
2007–08 A Knyazha Schaslyve Nyva Ternopil Podillya-Khmelnytskyi
B Komunalnyk Luhansk Tytan Armyansk Arsenal Kharkiv
2008–09 A Nyva Ternopil Arsenal Bila Tserkva[note 6] Nyva Vinnytsia
B Zirka Kirovohrad FC Poltava Stal Dniprodzerzhynsk
2009–10 A Bukovyna Chernivtsi Nyva Vinnytsia Bastion Illichivsk
B Tytan Armyansk Kremin Kremenchuk FC Poltava
2010–11 A MFK Mykolaiv FC Sumy Enerhiya Nova Kakhovka
B Olimpik Donetsk FC Poltava Kremin Kremenchuk
2011–12 A FC Sumy Desna Chernihiv Slavutych Cherkasy
B FC Poltava Avanhard Kramatorsk Shakhtar Sverdlovsk
2012–13 A Desna Chernihiv Nyva Ternopil Slavutych Cherkasy
B UkrAhroKom Holovkivka Shakhtar Sverdlovsk Shakhtar-3 Donetsk
2013–14[note 7] – Hirnyk-Sport Komsomolsk Stal Dniprodzerzhynsk FC Ternopil
2014–15 – Cherkaskyi Dnipro Obolon-Brovar Kyiv Kremin Kremenchuk
2015–16[note 8] – Kolos Kovalivka Veres Rivne Inhulets Petrove
2016–17[note 9] – Zhemchuzhyna Odesa Rukh Vynnyky Kremin Kremenchuk
2017–18 A Ahrobiznes Volochysk Prykarpattia Ivano-Frankivsk Nyva-V Vinnytsia
B SC Dnipro-1 Metalist 1925 Kharkiv Enerhiya Nova Kakhovka

Post-season play-offs

Post-season play-offs are not common feature of the Second League competition. Over the years there were several instances when clubs contested promotion or relegation berths. The first post-season feature consisted of a promotion mini-tournament that took place in July 1998 in Kiev and Boryspil. It involved three group winners of the Second League and Bukovyna that placed 18th place in the First League. The tournament identified clubs which would qualify for the 1998–99 Ukrainian First League.

Championship game

SeasonGroup A teamScoreGroup B teamPlace
2011–12 FC Sumy 2–0 FC Poltava in Poltava
2012–13 FC Desna Chernihiv 2–0, 1–3 (a) FC UkrAhroKom Holovkivka home/away
2017–18 FC Ahrobiznes Volochysk 1–0 SC Dnipro-1 in Kyiv

Third place play-offs

SeasonGroup A teamScoreGroup B teamPlace
1995–96 FC Krystal Kherson 1–3 FC Metalurh Donetsk in Kyiv
2008–09 FC Arsenal Bila Tserkva 1–0 FC Poltava in Cherkasy
2009–10 FC Nyva Vinnytsia 2–0 FC Kremin Kremenchuk in Makariv
2010–11 FC Sumy 2–0 FC Poltava in Uman
2011–12 FC Desna Chernihiv 0–1 FC Avanhard Kramatorsk in Khmelnytskyi

Promotion tournament

Relegation play-offs

  • 1997–98: Tysmenytsia – Promin Sambir, Zirka-2 Kirovohrad – Kharchovyk Popivka, Hirnyk Pavlohrad – Shakhtar Horlivka (series)

Promotion play-offs

Statistics

Performance by club

The table includes the league's winners that also placed at least one 2nd and one 3rd places as well as the league's winners that were runners-up at least twice.

Club Winner Runners-Up 3rd Position Seasons Won Notes
Desna Chernihiv 3 4 1 1996–97, 2005–06, 2012–13
Cherkaskyi Dnipro 3 0 2 1992–93, 2005–06, 2014–15 Dnipro Cherkasy, Slavutych Cherkasy
Obolon-Brovar Kyiv 2 2 0 1998–99, 2000–01 Obolon Kyiv, Obolon-PPO Kyiv
Sumy (1982—2006) 2 0 2 1994–95, 2001–02 Yavir Krasnopillia
Bukovyna Chernivtsi 2 0 0 1999–00, 2009–10
Mykolaiv 2 0 0 2005–06, 2010–11
Tytan Armyansk 1 3 1 2009–10
Krystal Kherson 1 3 0 1997–98
Podillia Khmelnytskyi 1 2 1 1997–98
Poltava 1 2 1 2011–12
Nyva Ternopil 1 2 0 2008–09
Zorya Luhansk 1 1 1 2002–03
Stal Dniprodzerzhynsk 1 1 1 2003–04
Ihroservice Simferopol 1 1 1 2003–04 Dynamo-Ihroservice Simferopol

Notes:

  indicates that the club either defunct or lost its professional status.
  indicates that the club currently plays in the league.

League winners by region

Region CoA Wins Winners
Kiev Oblast6FC Borysfen Boryspil, FC Systema-Boreks Borodyanka, FC Nafkom Irpin, FC Boryspil, FC Knyazha Schaslyve, FC Kolos Kovalivka
Donetsk Oblast4FC Shakhtar Makiivka, FC Illichivets Mariupol, FC Shakhtar-2 Donetsk, FC Olimpik Donetsk
Sumy Oblast4FC Sumy, FC Sumy (Spartak) (twice), FC Naftovyk Okhtyrka
Chernihiv Oblast3FC Desna Chernihiv (thrice)
Cherkasy Oblast3FC Cherkaskyi Dnipro (thrice)
Luhansk Oblast3FC Zorya Luhansk, FC Avanhard-Industria Rovenky, FC Komunalnyk Luhansk
Crimea3FC Tytan Armyansk, FC Dynamo-Ihroservice Simferopol, FC Krymteplitsia Molodizhne
Kiev3FC Obolon-Brovar Kyiv (twice), FC CSKA Kyiv
Odessa Oblast3SC Odesa, FC Zhemchuzhyna Odesa, FC Dnister Ovidiopol
Khmelnytsky Oblast3FC Podillya Khmelnytskyi, FC Krasyliv, FC Ahrobiznes Volochysk
Dnipropetrovsk Oblast3FC Stal Dniprodzerzhynsk, FC Dnipro-2 Dnipropetrovsk, SC Dnipro-1
Chernivtsi Oblast2FC Bukovyna Chernivtsi (twice)
Mykolaiv Oblast2MFC Mykolaiv (twice)
Poltava Oblast2FC Poltava, FC Hirnyk-Sport Komsomolsk
Ternopil Oblast2FC Nyva Ternopil, FC Dnister Zalishchyky
Lviv Oblast2FC Hazovyk-Skala Stryi, FC Rava Rava-Ruska
Kirovohrad Oblast2FC Zirka Kirovohrad, FC UkrAhroKom Holovkivka
Kherson Oblast1FC Krystal Kherson
Zhytomyr Oblast1FC Polissya Zhytomyr
Sevastopol1PFC Sevastopol
Zakarpattia Oblast1FC Zakarpattia Uzhhorod
Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast1FC LUKOR Kalush
Kharkiv Oblast1FC Helios Kharkiv

All-time table

Top-20. All figures are correct through the 2016–17 season.[4]

PLTeamSeasonsGPWDLGSGAPtsAchievement
1 Tytan Armyansk 19 586 262 138 186 818 637 924 champion
2 Krystal Kherson 20 624 256 118 250 800 718 886 champion
3 Desna Chernihiv 13 397 243 68 86 670 347 797 champion
4 Shakhtar-3 Donetsk 15 440 194 71 175 683 622 653 champion
5 Hirnyk-Sport Horishni Plavni 19 566 182 105 279 613 826 651 champion
6 Podillya Khmelnytskyi 15 426 195 62 169 566 481 647 champion
7 Ros Bila Tserkva 18 546 174 102 270 504 784 624 5th
8 Olkom Melitopol 16 474 169 116 189 536 571 623 4th
9 Kremin Kremenchuk 13 376 174 84 118 543 421 606 vice-champion
10 Cherkaskyi Dnipro 10 301 170 60 71 468 255 570 champion
11 Bukovyna Chernivtsi 12 333 148 77 108 406 348 521 champion
12 Stal Kamianske 9 268 149 52 67 427 246 499 champion
13 Veres Rivne 15 430 136 88 206 416 605 496 vice-champion
14 Halychyna Drohobych 11 374 137 80 157 403 435 491 5th
15 Nyva Ternopil 11 299 132 75 92 359 324 471 champion
16 Illichivets-2 Mariupol 13 375 135 59 181 451 561 464 vice-champion
17 Hazovyk Komarno 10 326 130 74 122 380 354 464 vice-champion
18 Dynamo-3 Kyiv 11 328 125 89 114 364 311 464 vice-champion
19 Enerhiya Yuzhnoukrainsk 13 390 117 90 183 351 516 441 5th
20 Metalurh-2 Zaporizhia 14 396 121 76 199 449 625 439 3rd

Stadiums

Most of the most attended games in the league (1992-2017) recorded at Zirka Stadium (Kropyvnytskyi), however after creation of a Metalist phoenix club and its participation in the Druha Liha, it broke the record of Zirka Kropyvnytskyi.[5]

  1. 2017-18 Metalist 1925 Kharkiv - SC Dnipro-1 1:1 (14,521)
  2. 1993-94 Zirka-NIBAS Kirovohrad - FC Boryspil 2:0 (14,000)
  3. 2008-09 Zirka Kirovohrad - Stal Dniprodzerzhynsk 2:1 (12,100)
  4. 1993-94 Zirka-NIBAS Kirovohrad - Shakhtar Pavlohrad 5:0 (12,000)
  5. 1993-94 Zirka-NIBAS Kirovohrad - Dnister Zalishchyky 1:0 (12,000)

The most attended seasons were in the beginning of 1990s and the beginning of 2000s.[5]

Notes

  1. ↑ 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 competitions.
  2. ↑ In 1993–94 four teams were promoted to the Ukrainian First League. The fourth place team in the competition was Naftokhimik Kremenchuk.
  3. ↑ Krystal Kherson failed to win the play-offs for promotion to the Ukrainian First League.
  4. ↑ After reviewing Rava Ruska's solvency and facilities the PFL decided not to promote them. 2nd placed Enerhetyk Burshtyn were promoted instead.
  5. ↑ PFC Oleksandria were promoted to the Ukrainian First League since they were best 2nd placed team in all Druha Liha competitions
  6. ↑ 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.
  7. ↑ In the 2013–14 season, four teams were promoted to the Ukrainian First League. The fourth place team in the competition was Hirnyk Kryvyi Rih.
  8. ↑ In the 2015–16 season, a record of six teams were promoted to the Ukrainian First League inluding Bukovyna Chernivtsi, Skala Stryi, and Arsenal-Kyiv.
  9. ↑ In the 2016–17 season, four teams were promoted to the Ukrainian First League, the fourth team being Balkany Zorya.

References

  1. ↑ Valerko, A. Velvet revolution. How, why and wherefore FFU reloads the Ukrainian championship (Оксамитова революція. Як, чому і навіщо ФФУ перезавантажує чемпіонат України). Sport Arena. 22 June 2017.
  2. ↑ Valerko, A. C:\format or C:\reload. By whom, how and why is being formatted the Ukrainian championship (C:\format или C:\reload. Кем, как и почему реформируется чемпионат Украины). Sport Arena. 22 August 2017
  3. ↑ Фек: Підтримую Данілова і Бальчоса - хай це саме зробить Суркіс
  4. ↑ http://wildstat.ru/p/2105/cht/214/stat/summary Чемпионат Украины, первая лига (Суммарная таблица за все годы)
  5. 1 2 Valerko, A. Which game is the most attended in history of the Druha Liha? (Який матч – найвідвідуваніший в історії Другої ліги?). Sport Arena. 25 August 2016 (first ed.)
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