Lega Pro

The Lega Pro ( up to season 2007/ 08 Serie C ) is the third highest Italian professional football league. She is in the two classes Prima Divisione (1st Division, formerly Serie C1 ) and Seconda Divisione (2nd Division, formerly Serie C2 ) divided the hierarchy yield the third and fourth league. Each of these leagues is further subdivided into two (1st Division ) or three groups (2nd Division ).

Basics

In each group, basically play each of 18 teams; in fact, the club number but often results in new, such as Lizenzentzüge and forced descents and in the Lega Pro.

The formal name of the leagues is Professionisti Lega Serie C1 and Serie C2 Lega Professionisti, each with the additions " Girone A", " B" or " C" for the respective groups. Host of the series C Championships Lega Italiana Calcio is the Professionistico, a sub-organization of the Italian Football Federation FIGC.

The allocation in the five groups are, by the Lega Italiana Calcio Professionistico. Usually, geographical criteria take precedence, so that the groups a North American, Central ( in C2) and a southern Italian league can be roughly classified. Sometimes there is the not so clear, so that this principle is also sometimes broken.

Season starts in early September, the end of season in early May. The first round ends, as in Italy, before Christmas and the second round starts usually on the first Sunday after January 6. Game day each Sunday afternoon.

As in all Italian leagues, it is also in the Lega Pro at an annual rate climbs and descents. From the 1 Division climb a total of four clubs to two each from the two groups A and B. The winner rises directly in the B series, which clubs in places two to five play in promotion playoffs for the climb. The second case strikes the fifth, the third to the fourth. In a direct duel determine them in two games a promoted. The respective winners of the duels in the second phase meet and determine in a direct duel the second climber of the respective Division. In case of a tie after two games accumulated a half-hour extension is first played. Stand firm still no winner, the end of the season better placed club rises. The last three clubs in the respective groups, however, will be relegated to the second division. The six losers are then classified into one of three groups of the 2nd Division.

From the three series groups the 2nd Division therefore rise to two clubs. This same mode as in the 1st division is applied. The group winner advances right, clubs, places two to five show, play in the play-offs the second climber from.

The Lega Pro always comes back this week, if the license is revoked clubs in higher leagues. Usually these clubs then begin new in these leagues. Almost every year have to start over ( SSC Napoli, FC Messina, Torino, Fiorentina) traditional clubs here. These associations, however, are mostly arrived very quickly in Serie A.

Title

Unlike in other European leagues, the Lega Pro teams identify their own Cup and Supercup winner. The ten best Lega Pro 1 -division clubs usually take part in the regular Cup tournament, the other teams play their Coppa Italia Lega Pro winner. Since 2000, in addition, a Supercup game takes place in Serie C / Lega Pro. The master of the two groups of Lega Pro Prima Divisione determine a finalist here and this plays with the Coppa Italia Lega Pro winner at the Italian Super Cup Lega Pro.

See also: Italian Cup competitions, Supercoppa di Lega di Prima Divisione, Coppa Italia Lega Pro