Football League (Greece)

The Football League (Greek: Φούτμπολ Λιγκ) was the second highest professional football league in Greece since its inception in 1962 as Beta Ethniki and until 2019. It then served as a third tier after the creation of the Super League 2 as the new second tier and it was eventually abolished in 2021 when the 2021–22 Super League 2 went from a 12 team to a 36 team league, absorbing most of the clubs from the Football League.

Football League Greece
Founded1962 (as Beta Ethniki)
2010 (as Football League)
Folded2021
CountryGreece
Number of teams20
Level on pyramid2 (1962–2019)
3 (2019–2021)
Promotion toSuper League 2
Relegation toGamma Ethniki
Domestic cup(s)Greek Cup
Last championsKalamata (1st title) Veria (1st title)
(2020–21)
Most championshipsPanachaiki (6 titles)
Top goalscorerIlias Chatzieleftheriou (152 goals)
Websitesl2fl.gr

History

As the Second National Division (1962–2019)

As the second tier of the Greek football league system, the Beta Ethniki was formally established in the fall of 1962, replacing the informal Greek FCA Winners' Championship, which at the time had tried various experimental formats towards establishing a second national football Division. All participating clubs had to disengage from their local football clubs associations' championships as a prerequisite for eligibility.

In its early years, the competition format was frequently altered each season. The competition was originally held in four groups of 14 clubs each until 1968–69, when the competition was reformatted to contain two groups. The following six years (1969–70 up to 1974–75), the competition was held with three Groups, whereas from 1975 to 1976 up to 1982–83 the league was again contested in two Groups, North and South. In the autumn of 1983, a single, pan-Hellenic League Table was established, a format that has been applied continuously until the 2012–13 season. When football in Greece became professional, the Hellenic Football Federation handed over the responsibility for the competition's organization to the Greek Professional Football Clubs Association (Greek: ΕΠΑΕ). In 2006, the Professional Football Association of the Second and Third National Divisions (Greek: ΕΕΠ Β΄ & Γ΄ Εθνικής) was set up, which replaced the Greek Professional Football Clubs Association as the governing authority of the Second and Third National Divisions.

In August 2010, the division's governing body decided to change its own, as well as the competition's distinctive title to Football League.[1] The competition was contested as the Second National Division until 2019, when the Greek football league system was restructured and the Super League 2 was established as the new feeder league to the Super League.

As the Third National Division (2019–2021)

As of 2019, the Football League Greece replaced the Gamma Ethniki as the third tier of the Greek football league system. It was finally abolished in 2021 with most clubs being absorbed into the second tier Super League 2.

Structure of the league

There were 20 clubs that competed in the Football League until 2021, playing each other in a home and away series. At the end of the season, the bottom four teams were relegated to the Gamma Ethniki. The top two teams gained automatic promotion. Unlike the Super League, clubs in the Football League did not get relegated if the club failed to obtain a license. All teams in the Football League took part in the Greek Cup.

Seasons in second division (1959-60 — present)

This is the complete list of the clubs that have taken part in the second division played from the 1959–60 season until the 2021–22 season of Super League 2. The teams in bold compete in Super League 2 in the 2022–23 season.

Seasons Clubs
36 Anagennisi Karditsas
35 Olympiacos Volou , Levadiakos
34 Kallithea, Apollon Pontou
32 Atromitos, Panetolikos, A.O. Trikala , Niki Volou
31 G.A.S. Veria
30 Proodeftiki , Panachaiki
29 Panelefsiniakos, Pierikos
28 Makedonikos
27 Edessaikos, Ethnikos Asteras, PAS Giannina , Panserraikos
26 Kastoria, Doxa Drama
25 Korinthos, Ionikos , Diagoras Rodou
24 Naoussa, Kavala, AEL ,
23 Xanthi
22 Anagennisi Giannitson , Kalamata
21 Fostiras
20 Atromitos Piraeus, Panegialios, Acharnaikos
19 Egaleo
18 Vyzas, OFI
17 Agrotikos Asteras, Ilisiakos, Kilkisiakos, Lamia
16 Panargiakos, AO Chania, Panthrakikos, Rodos
15 Chalkida , Ergotelis , Apollon Smyrnis , Irodotos
14 Panarkadikos
13 Paniliakos , Almopos Arideas
12 Athinaikos, Argonaftis Piraeus, Aris Ptolemaidas, A.O. Kerkyra, Anagennisi Epanomis
11 Pannafpliakos, Aias Salaminas, Kozani, Anagennisi Artas
10 Ethnikos Piraeus, Pandramaikos, APS Patrae
9 Charavgiakos, E.A.R.
8 Doxa Vyrona, Koropi , Kissamikos
7 Olympiakos Chalkidas, Ikaros Athens, M.E.N.T., Aspida Xanthis, Olympiakos Neon Liosion, A.O. Karditsa, Eordaikos, Thrasyvoulos , Apollon Larissas, Iraklis
6 Apollon Kalamata, Olympiakos Kozanis, Thermaikos Thessalonikis, Rodiakos, Foinikas Polichnis, Florina
5 Orfeas Xanthis, Apollon Serron, PAS Averof, AE Chania, Larisaikos, Iraklis Kavalas, Thyella Patras, Pagkorinthiakos, Olympiakos Loutrakiou, Orchomenos, Elpis Dramas, Filippi Kavalas, Aiginiakos, Ialysos, Panaspropyrgiakos, A.E. Karaiskakis, P.A.O. Rouf
4 Aris Peraeus, Pallamiaki, Chalkidona, Iraklis Serron, Asteras Athens, Megas Alexandros Irakleias, Evripos Chalkidas, Megas Alexandros Thessalonikis, Phoebus Kremastis, Nikiforos Florinas, A.P.O. Orfeas, A.O. Agios Nikolaos, Iraklis Psachnon, Fokikos, GS Alexandroupolis, Aris, AOK Kerkyra , Zakynthos , Episkopi
3 Olympiakos Patras,Olympiakos Lamias, Asteras Tripolis, Saframpoli, Kadmos Thivas, Panchaniakos, GS Iraklis Larissas, Patraikos OF, Patraikos AO, Kalogreza, Apollon Mytilinis, Thiva, Apollon Krya Vrysis, AO Petralona, Dorieus Rodou, Moudania, Makedonikos Siatistas, Agios Dimitrios, Aiolikos, Pontioi Verias, ASK Olympiakos, Haidari, AEL Kallonis, Ethnikos Gazorou, Ethnikos Alexandroupolis, A.E. Sparti , Platanias , O.F. Ierapetras, GS Ilioupolis,
2 Olympos Katerinis, Omilos Kalamatas, Aris Kastorias, Aris Korinthou, Aris Mytilinis, Mikrasiatiki Chiou, Preveza, Aris Dramas, Achilleas Trikalon, Amfissaikos, Anaplasis Tyrnavou, Spartiatikos, Talos Chanion, AE Komotinis, AE Nikeas, Eleftheroupoli, Dimitra Trikalon, AE Chalandriou, AE Tyrnavou, PGS Mytilinis, Leonidas Spartis, Orestis Orestiadas, AE Kavalas, Pyrsos Grevenon, AO Syrou, Achilleas Farsalon, Nestos Chrysoupolis, Aris Agiou Konstantinou, Ethnikos Sidirokastrou, Kampaniakos, P.O. Elassonas, Achaiki, Panionios, Anagennisi Kolindrou, Poseidon Neon Poron, ILTEX Lykoi, Akratitos, Kassandra Tyrnavos 2005 , Thesprotos Igoumenitsas, A.E. Kifisia, Veria NFC, PAOK B, Panathinaikos B, Olympiacos B, AEK Athens B
1 Meliteas Thessalonikis, Prasina Poulia, Pallevadiaki, Atromitos Ioanninon, AE Trikala, AE Chalkida, Aetos Chiou, Aris Tripolis, Pallesviakos, Achilleas Mytilinis, Aris Protis, Atlantis Chanion, Parrodiakos, Megas Alexandros Katerinis, Aris Larisas, AE Mytilinis, Panchiakos, P.O. Atsaleniou, Lamiakos, Iraklis Volou, Orfeas Komotinis, AO Alexandroupolis, Achilleas Triandrias, Doxa Neapolis, AEK Kalamatas, AO Tripoli, AO Spartis, Rethymniakos, Aris Chiou, Doxa Piraeus, Atromitos Serron , Elpida Nigritas, Xirokrini, AO Ioanninon, Bizani, Asteras Amaliadas, Pannemeatikos, Niki Polygyrou, Amfiali, Moschato, Akrites Sykeon, Rigas Feraios Velestinou, Thyella Serron, A.E. Messolonghi, Drapetsona, Pelopas Kiatou, Odysseas Kordeliou, Toxotis Volou, APE Langada, AO Pyrgos, Nafpaktiakos Asteras, Messiniakos, Asteras Magoulas, Vataniakos, A.O. Glyfada, AEK Athens, A.E. Ermionida, Trachones Alimou, Volos, Aittitos Spaton, Asteras Vlachioti, A.E. Iraklis Larissas

Results

From 1962 to 1983
Season Winner
1962–63Edessaikos (1), Doxa Drama (1),
Olympiacos Chalkida (1), Pagkorinthiakos (1)
1963–64Panachaiki (1), Proodeftiki (1), Philippi Kavala (1)
1964–65Panserraikos (1), Edessaikos (2), Egaleo (1), Vyzas Megara (1)
1965–66Veria (1), OFI (1), Vyzas Megara (2)
1966–67Panelefsiniakos (1), Kavala (1), Olympiacos Volos (1)
1967–68Chalkida (1), Trikala (1)
1968–69Panachaiki (2), Kavala (2)
1969–70Apollon Smyrnis (1), Veria (2), Fostiras (1)
1970–71Panachaiki (3), Trikala (2), Olympiacos Volos (2)
1971–72Panserraikos (2), Kalamata (1), Atromitos (1)
1972–73Apollon Smyrnis (2), Apollon Kalamaria (1), AEL (1)
1973–74PAS Giannina (1), Kastoria (1), Kalamata (2)
1974–75Apollon Smyrnis (3), Panetolikos (1), Pierikos (1)
1975–76Kavala (3), OFI (2)
1976–77Egaleo (2), Veria (3)
1977–78Rodos (1), AEL (2)
1978–79Doxa Drama (2), Korinthos (1)
1979–80Panserraikos (3), Atromitos (2)
1980–81Rodos (2), Iraklis (1)
1981–82Panachaiki (4), Makedonikos (1)
1982–83Egaleo (3), Apollon Kalamaria (2)

From 1983 to 2019
Season Winner
1983–84Panachaiki (5)
1984–85PAS Giannina (2)
1985–86Diagoras (1)
1986–87Panachaiki (6)
1987–88Doxa Drama (3)
1988–89Xanthi (1)
1989–90Athinaikos (1)
1990–91Ethnikos Piraeus (1)
1991–92Apollon Kalamaria (3)
1992–93Naoussa (1)
1993–94Ionikos (1)
1994–95Paniliakos (1)
Season Winner
1995–96Kavala (4)
1996–97Panionios (1)
1997–98Aris (1)
1998–99Trikala (4)
1999–00Athinaikos (2)
2000–01Egaleo (4)
2001–02PAS Giannina (3)
2002–03Chalkidona (1)
2003–04Kerkyra (1)
2004–05AEL (3)
2005–06Ergotelis (1)
2006–07Asteras Tripolis (1)
Season Winner
2007–08Panserraikos (4)
2008–09Atromitos (3)
2009–10Olympiacos Volos (3)
2010–11Panetolikos (2)
2011–12Panthrakikos (1)
2012–13Apollon Smyrnis (4)
2013–14Niki Volos (1)
2014–15AEK Athens (1)
2015–16AEL (4)
2016–17Apollon Smyrnis (5)
2017–18OFI (3)
2018–19Volos (1)

From 2019 to 2021
Season Winner
2019–20Trikala (1)[2]
2020–21Kalamata (1), Veria (5)

See also

References
  1. "Football League - Football League 2". Archived from the original on 30 March 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
  2. "Πρωταθλητής ο ΑΟ Τρίκαλα – Οριστικό τέλος στο πρωτάθλημα της Football League". www.trikalanews.gr (in Greek). 2 June 2020. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
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