TFF 3. Lig (Turkish Football Federation Third League) is the fourth level in the

Turkish football league system The Turkish football system is divided into the following leagues. Men Süper Lig Süper Lig is the highest level in the Turkish football league system and is operated by the TFF. Other professional divisions TFF 1. Lig, is the second highes ...

. It was founded in 2001–02 season as a continuation of then third level division Turkish Third Football League.Turkish Third Football League (in Turkish: Türkiye Üçüncü Futbol Ligi or shortly Üçüncü Lig or 3. Lig) is a defunct football league in Turkey. It was the third level division in Turkish football since its foundation in 1967–68 until the formation of new league system in 2001-02. Turkish Third Football League continued as TFF Third League in the new league system after 2001, but this time in the fourth layer. Third level of Turkish League was renamed first TFF Second League Category A, later TFF Second League. A comparison of new and old league systems can be seen in "see also" section of this article.

League format

Since 2010–11 season status of the league has been changed. The league is played with 55 teams in three groups. The winners of each group directly promotes to

TFF Second League TFF 2. Lig (Turkish Football Federation Second League), is the third level in the Turkish football league system. It was founded in the 2001–02 season with the name of ''Turkish Second League Category B'' as a continuation of the then second lev ...

. In each group 2nd through 5th teams play promotion play-offs to determine second team to be promoted. Bottom three teams in each group are relegated to

Turkish Regional Amateur League The Turkish Regional Amateur League ( tr, Bölgesel Amatör Ligi) is the fifth tier of the Turkish football league system. The tier comprises a number (usually 11-13, varies by season) of groups across Turkey, each consisting of teams grouped ac ...

Seasons

1967–68 season

League was founded in 1967–68. In the first year 17 teams attended. Two teams relegated from

Turkish Second Football League TFF 2. Lig (Turkish Football Federation Second League), is the third level in the Turkish football league system. It was founded in the 2001–02 season with the name of ''Turkish Second League Category B'' as a continuation of the then second lev ...

: Beyoğluspor, Davutpaşa.

Tekirdağspor Tekirdağspor is a Turkish sports club based in Tekirdağ, mainly concentrated on football. Tekirdağspor were crowned champions of Turkish Regional Amateur League Group 11 during the 2014–15 season. They play in yellow and black kits. Histor ...

, Çanakkalespor, Çorumspor,

Elazığspor Elazığspor is a Turkish professional football club located in Elazığ and currently competes in the TFF Third League. They previously played their home games at Elazığ Atatürk Stadium in Elazığ, which had a maximum capacity of 13,923. T ...

Muğlaspor Muğlaspor is a sports club in located in Muğla, Turkey. The football club plays in the Turkish Regional Amateur League The Turkish Regional Amateur League ( tr, Bölgesel Amatör Ligi) is the fifth tier of the Turkish football league syst ...

Düzcespor Düzcespor is a Turkish football club located in Düzce, Turkey. They play their home games at 18 Temmuz Stadı in Düzce. The club colors are red-navy blue. Former Fenerbahce Chairman Aziz Yıldırım was a player of youth teams of Duzcespor. ...

Eskişehir Demirspor Eskişehir Demirspor is a Turkish sports club from Eskişehir, Turkey. They are the oldest football club in Eskişehir. The club has many departments including football, basketball, volleyball, athletic, swimming, fencing, wrestling, and karate. ...

, Kırıkkalespor,

Nazillispor Nazilli Belediyespor is the local football team for city of Nazilli in Turkey. They are currently playing in the TFF Second League TFF 2. Lig (Turkish Football Federation Second League), is the third level in the Turkish football league system. ...

Konya İdman Yurdu Konya İdman Yurdu were a Turkish sports club based in Konya, Turkey. The club were founded on 3 July 1923 and dissolved in 1981, when they merged with Konyaspor. The colours of Konya İdman Yurdu were green and white. History Konya İdman Yurdu ...

Tarsus İdman Yurdu Tarsus İdman Yurdu is a Turkish sports club based in Tarsus, Mersin, Tarsus. Founded in 1923, the Association football, football team plays at the Tarsus Şehir Stadium, which has a capacity of 4,189. They were named as "Tarsus İdman Yurdu Erk ...

, Ceyhanspor, Lüleburgazspor,

, İskenderunspor, and

Hatayspor Hatayspor Kulübü, known as Atakaş Hatayspor due to sponsorship reasons, is a Turkish professional football club located in Antakya, Hatay Province. History Hatayspor was founded on 23 July 1967. In July 2020, the team achieved promotion to t ...

were other teams whose applications were accepted by TFF. At the end of the season winner promoted to

, no team relegated. Promotion and relegation: Promotion from amateur leagues:

1968–69 season

In 1968–69 new clubs joined: Amasyaspor, Burdurspor, Diyarbakırspor, Ispartaspor, Rizespor, Ankara Sanayi Barbaros. Two groups were formed on geographical basis: Red Group for East and White Group for West. Each group contained 14 teams and one best promoted and one worst relegated in each group. Promotion and relegation: Promotion from amateur leagues:

1969–70 season

Promotion and relegation: Promotion from amateur leagues:

1970–71 season

Promotion and relegation:

1971–72 season

Promotion and relegation:

1972–73 season

Promotion and relegation:

1973–74 season

Promotion and relegation:

1974–75 season

Promotion and relegation:

1975–76 season

Promotion and relegation:

1976–77 season

Promotion and relegation:

1977–78 season

Promotion and relegation:

1978–79 season

Promotion and relegation:

1979–80 season

League was abandoned after the season. All of the teams promoted to 1980-81 Turkish Second Football League Promotion and relegation:

1984–85 season

League was not played in 1980–81, 1981–82, 1982–83 and 1983–84 seasons. League was refounded after four seasons. Promotion and relegation:

1985–86 season

Promotion and relegation:

1986–87 season

Promotion and relegation:

1987–88 season

Promotion and relegation:

1988–89 season

Promotion and relegation:

1989–90 season

TFF declared no relegation but announced that professional clubs will be represented only one team in all professional leagues. Promotion and relegation:

1990–91 season

Promotion and relegation:

1991–92 season

Promotion and relegation:

1992–93 season

Promotion and relegation:

1993–94 season

Promotion and relegation:

1994–95 season

Promotion and relegation:

1995–96 season

Promotion and relegation:

1996–97 season

Promotion and relegation:

1997–98 season

Promotion and relegation:

1998–99 season

Promotion and relegation:

1999–2000 season

Promotion and relegation:

2000–01 season

Promotion and relegation: Source: TFF. Turkish-Soccer archives and mackolik.com.

2001–02 season

Promotion and relegation:

2002–03 season

Promotion and relegation:

2003–04 season

Promotion from amateur leagues: Promotion and relegation:

2004–05 season

Promotion from amateur leagues: İskenderun DÇ, Nevşehirspor, Hatay Köy Hizmetleri, Arsinspor, Karsspor, Mecidiyeköy, Yeni Burdur Gençlik, Aroma Akseki. Promotion and relegation:

2005–06 season

Promotion from amateur leagues: Değirmenderespor, Gazi Belediyespor, Hopaspor, Afyonkarahisarspor, Nilüfer Belediyespor, Konya Şekerspor, Orhangazispor, Küçükçekmecespor. Promotion and relegation:

2006–07 season

Promotion from amateur leagues: Belediye Vanspor, Bağlum Belediyespor, Sürmenespor, Bozüyükspor,

Balıkesirspor Balıkesirspor is a Turkish club based in Balıkesir. Established in 1966, the football team played in the Süper Lig after achieving promotion having finished as runners-up of the TFF First League in 2013–14. The team's previous promotion was ...

, Tepecik Belediyespor, Orhangazi Gençlerbirliği. Promotion and relegation:

2007–08 season

Promotion from amateur leagues: Körfez Belediyespor, Konya Şekerspor, Tavşanlı B TKİ Linyit, Torbalıspor, Bafra Belediyespor, Malatya Belediyespor, Bingöl Belediyespor. Promotion and relegation:

2008–09 season

In 2008–09 season the league contained 51 clubs spread out over 5 groups with 10 or 11 clubs. The groups were determined in regions. The top two clubs from each group qualified to the ''Promotion Group''. The remaining groups with other teams were called ''Classification Groups''. Top four teams in ''Promotion Group'' are directly promoted to

. The three teams classified 5th to 7th in ''Promotion Group'' join the extra ''play-offs'' with the top teams from each of the 5 ''Classifying Groups''. These 8 teams play a knockout competition (in neutral venue) to determine the last two teams to be promoted. The bottom two teams of ''Classifying Groups'' are relegated to the ''Amateur Leagues''. Promotion from amateur leagues: Menemen Belediyespor, Bandırmaspor, Keçiören Belediyespor, TKİ Tavşanlı Linyitspor, Bağlar Vuralspor. Promotion and relegation:

2009–10 season

In 2009–10 season league was played by 53 teams, 11 teams in groups 1–4 and 9 teams in group 5. Top two teams of ranking groups again promoted to promotion group. Top two teams of promotion group directly promoted to 2010–11 TFF Second League. The Third team was determined by extra play-offs between 3rd–5th teams of promotion group and winners of classification groups. Last three teams in groups 1–4 and last team in group 5 were relegated to Regional Amateur League. Promotion from amateur leagues: Kırıkhanspor, Bayrampaşaspor, Çerkezköy Belediyespor, Tekirova Belediyespor, Muğlaspor, Trabzon Yalıspor. Promotion and relegation:

2010–11 season

In 2010–11 season status of the league has been changed. League is played with 54 teams in three groups, 18 in each. The groups were determined by casting lots on a non-regional basis. The winners of each group directly promotes to

. In each group 2nd through 5th teams play promotion play-offs to determine second team to be promoted to

. Bottom three teams in each group were relegated to

. Promotion from amateur leagues: Sivas Dört Eylül Belediyespor,

Kırklarelispor Kırklarelispor is a Turkish sports club founded in 1968 is currently playing in the TFF Second League TFF 2. Lig (Turkish Football Federation Second League), is the third level in the Turkish football league system. It was founded in the 2001� ...

, İskenderunspor 1967, Kepez Belediyespor,

Sancaktepe Belediyespor is a Turkish football club located in Sancaktepe, Turkey. History The club was founded in 2008 under the name , and changed its name to the following season as they were promoted to the TFF Third League. In the 2016–17 season, under the n ...

. Promotion and relegation: Source: Turkish Soccer and TFF league page

2011–12 season

In 2011–12 season status of the league has been changed. League is played with 57 teams in three groups, 19 in each. The groups were determined by casting lots on a non-regional basis. The winners of each group directly promotes to

. In each group 2nd through 5th teams play promotion play-offs to determine second team to be promoted to

. Bottom four teams in each group were relegated to

. Promotion from amateur leagues:

Erzurum Büyükşehir Belediyespor Erzurumspor Futbol Kulübü, is a Turkish professional football club located in Erzurum who plays in the Süper Lig, the top tier of Turkish football. Founded in 2005, the colours of club are blue and white. The club started to play football c ...

, Erganispor, Beşikdüzüspor, Çarşambaspor, Elazığ Belediyespor, Manavgat Evrensekispor, Kilimli Belediyespor, Aydınspor 1923, Yeni Sandıklı Belediyespor,

Maltepespor İstanbul Maltepespor, often known as just Maltepespor, is a Turkish football club from the Istanbul district of Maltepe, Istanbul Maltepe is a district in Istanbul, Turkey, on the northern shore of the Sea of Marmara. It touches Kadıköy ...

Ümraniyespor Ümraniyespor is a Turkish professional football club located in Ümraniye, Istanbul. The club plays in red and white kits, and have done so since their formation in 1938. They have secured promotion to Süper Lig for their first time 3 weeks b ...

, Küçükçekmecespor Promotion and relegation:

2012–13 season

In 2012–13 season status of the league has been changed. League is played with 54 teams in three groups, 18 in each. The groups were determined by casting lots on a non-regional basis. The winners of each group directly promotes to TFF Second League. In each group 2nd through 5th teams play promotion play-offs to determine second team to be promoted to TFF Second League. Bottom three teams in each group are relegated to

. Promotion from

: Bergama Belediyespor, Silivrispor, Kahramanmaraş Belediyespor, Kayseri

Şekerspor Turanspor is a sports club in located in Ankara Ankara ( , ; ), historically known as Ancyra and Angora, is the capital of Turkey. Located in the central part of Anatolia, the city has a population of 5.1 million in its urban center ...

, Çorum Belediyespor, Isparta Emrespor,

Fatih Karagümrük SK Fatih () is a district of and a municipality (''belediye'') in Istanbul, Turkey, and home to almost all of the provincial authorities (including the governor's office, police headquarters, metropolitan municipality and tax office) but not the co ...

, Derince Belediyespor and Refahiyespor Promotion and relegation:

2013–14 season

In 2013–14 season league is played with 54 teams in three groups, 18 in each. 4 teams relegated from 2012–13 TFF Second League: Denizli Belediyespor, Çamlıdere Şekerspor, Ünyespor, Sakaryaspor. Eleven teams promoted from 2012–13 Turkish Regional Amateur League. The groups were determined by casting lots on a non-regional basis. The winners of each group directly promotes to TFF Second League. In each group 2nd through 5th teams play promotion play-offs to determine second team to be promoted to TFF Second League. Bottom three teams in each group are relegated to

. Promotion from

: Trabzon Düzyurtspor, Yeni Diyarbakırspor, 1930 Bafraspor,

Payas Belediyespor 1975 Payasspor, formerly Payas Belediyespor 1975, is a football club located in Payas near Hatay Province, Hatay, southern Turkey. League participations *TFF Third League: 2013–present *Turkish Regional Amateur League: 2011–2013 League performanc ...

, 68 Yeni Aksarayspor, Adliyespor, Kızılcabölükspor, Balçova Belediyespor, Ayvalıkgücü Belediyespor, Çıksalınspor and

Tuzlaspor Tuzlaspor is a Turkish professional Association football, football club based in Tuzla, Istanbul. They play in the TFF First League. The club plays in white and blue kits, and have done so since their formation in 1954. League participations ...

Promotion and relegation: Source: TFF Third League archive.

2014–15 season

In 2014–15 season league is played with 54 teams in three groups, 18 in each. 6 teams relegated from 2012–13 TFF Second League: Çanakkale Dardanelspor, Gaziosmanpaşaspor, Çankırıspor, Eyüpspor, İstanbul Güngörenspor and Bozüyükspor. Nine teams promoted from 2013–14 Turkish Regional Amateur League. The groups were determined by casting lots on a non-regional basis. The winners of each group directly promotes to TFF Second League. In each group 2nd through 5th teams play promotion play-offs to determine second team to be promoted to TFF Second League. Bottom three teams in each group are relegated to

. Promotion from

: Bayburt İl Özel İdarespor, Erzin Belediyespor, Niğde Belediyespor,

Etimesgut Belediyespor Etimesgut Belediyespor is a Turkish professional Association football, football club located in Ankara Province, Ankara. The team currently competes in the TFF Second League. League participations *TFF Third League: 2000–2001, 2014–present ...

, Çine Madranspor, Tire 1922 Spor,

Zonguldak Kömürspor Zonguldak Kömürspor is a Turkish professional football club based in Zonguldak. The club is also known as Kara Elmas (Dark Diamond). History Previous names * Demir Madencilik Dilaverspor (1986–2011) * Zonguldak Kömürspor (2011–present) ...

Çatalcaspor Çatalcaspor is a Turkish football club from Istanbul that plays in the TFF Third League. League Participations * TFF Third League: 2014–present * Turkish Regional Amateur League: 2011–2014 * Amatör Futbol Ligleri The Super Amateur Leagu ...

and Halide Edip Adıvar SK Promotion and relegation:

2015–16 season

In 2015–16 season league is played with 57 teams in three groups, 18 in each. 6 teams relegated from 2012–13 TFF Second League: Çanakkale Dardanelspor, Gaziosmanpaşaspor, Çankırıspor, Eyüpspor, İstanbul Güngörenspor and Bozüyükspor. Nine teams promoted from 2013–14 Turkish Regional Amateur League. The groups were determined by casting lots on a non-regional basis. The winners of each group directly promotes to TFF Second League. In each group 2nd through 5th teams play promotion play-offs to determine second team to be promoted to TFF Second League. Bottom four teams in each group are relegated to

. However,

Cizrespor Cizrespor is a sports club located in Cizre, a Kurdish populated city in the province of Şırnak, Turkey. Cizrespor was founded in 1972 and closed in 2010. Cizre Basraspor was founded in 2010 and adopted the name Cizrespor later on. After it ...

didn't field on second half matched due to operations against

PKK The Kurdistan Workers' Party or PKK is a Kurdish militant political organization and armed guerrilla movement, which historically operated throughout Kurdistan, but is now primarily based in the mountainous Kurdish-majority regions of sout ...

terrorists in

Cizre Cizre (; ar, جَزِيْرَة ٱبْن عُمَر, Jazīrat Ibn ʿUmar, or ''Madinat al-Jazira'', he, גזירא, Gzira, ku, Cizîr, ''Cizîra Botan'', or ''Cizîre'', syr, ܓܙܪܬܐ ܕܒܪ ܥܘܡܪ, Gāzartā,) is a city in the Cizre Di ...

. For this reason,

wasn't relegated from 3rd League. Promotion from

, Yomraspor, Dersimspor, Kozan Belediyespor, Kastamonuspor 1966, Zara Belediyespor, Bodrum Belediye Bodrumspor, Manisa Büyükşehir Belediyespor, Sultanbeyli Belediyespor,

and

Bölgesel Amatör Lig'den TFF 3. Lig'e çıkan 11 takım belli oldu. http://www.tff.org/default.aspx?pageID=1325 TFF league page] Promotion and relegation:

Notes

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tff Third League Sports leagues established in 2001 2001 establishments in Turkey 4 Turk Professional sports leagues in Turkey

League format

Seasons

1967–68 season

1968–69 season

1969–70 season

1970–71 season

1971–72 season

1972–73 season

1973–74 season

1974–75 season

1975–76 season

1976–77 season

1977–78 season

1978–79 season

1979–80 season

1984–85 season

1985–86 season

1986–87 season

1987–88 season

1988–89 season

1989–90 season

1990–91 season

1991–92 season

1992–93 season

1993–94 season

1994–95 season

1995–96 season

1996–97 season

1997–98 season

1998–99 season

1999–2000 season

2000–01 season

2001–02 season

2002–03 season

2003–04 season

2004–05 season

2005–06 season

2006–07 season

2007–08 season

2008–09 season

2009–10 season

2010–11 season

2011–12 season

2012–13 season

2013–14 season

2014–15 season

2015–16 season

See also

Notes

References