The Bahraini Second Division is the second-tier domestic football competition in the kingdom of Bahrain. The first season was held in 2002 for the 2002–03 season,[1][2] however it was rebranded to the modern-day Second Division for the 2009–10 season.[3] The champion and the second-placed team of the domestic league are directly promoted to the Bahraini Premier League, and promotion play-offs are held between the teams of both leagues to decide the two other promoted teams. The championship is currently contested by 12 clubs.
| Founded | 2002 |
|---|---|
| Country | Bahrain |
| Confederation | AFC |
| Number of teams | 12 |
| Level on pyramid | 2 |
| Promotion to | Bahraini Premier League |
| Domestic cup(s) | King's Cup |
| League cup(s) | FA Cup |
| International cup(s) | AFC Champions League Two (via King's Cup) |
| Current champions | Bahrain SC (2nd title) (2023–24) |
| Most championships | Al-Hidd Al-Shabab (3 titles) |
| TV partners | Bahrain Sports TV |
| Current: 2024–25 Bahraini Second Division | |
Structure
editCurrent structure
editTwelve clubs currently play two round robin set of fixtures totaling twenty-two home and away games in order to determine the league champions. The first and second-placed clubs are promoted with the third and fourth entering the promotion play-offs.[4]
Clubs (2024–25)
edit- Al-Hala
- Al-Hidd
- Al-Ittifaq Maqaba
- Al-Ittihad
- Al-Tadamun
- Budaiya
- Buri
- Busaiteen
- Etehad Al-Reef
- Isa Town
- Qalali
- Umm Al-Hassam
List of champions
editChampions are:[5]
| Years | Champions |
| 2002–03 | Al-Sahel (now Al-Hidd) (1) |
| 2003–04 | Manama (1) |
| 2004–05 | Sitra (1) |
| 2005–06 | Al-Hala (1) |
| 2006–07 | Al-Hidd (2) |
| 2007–08 | Malkiya (1) |
| 2008–09 | Not held (expansion) |
| 2009–10 | Al-Hidd (3) |
| 2010–11 | East Riffa (1) |
| 2011–12 | Al-Shabab (1) |
| 2012–13 | Sitra (2) |
| 2013–14 | East Riffa (2) |
| 2014–15 | Al-Ahli (1) |
| 2015–16 | Bahrain SC (1) |
| 2016–17 | Al-Shabab (2) |
| 2017–18 | Budaiya (1) |
| 2018–19 | Al-Ahli (2) |
| 2019–20 | Malkiya (2) |
| 2020–21 | Al-Hala (2) |
| 2021–22 | Al-Shabab (3) |
| 2022–23 | Al-Najma (1) |
| 2023–24 | Bahrain SC (2) |
Total championships
editThe number of Second Division championships that clubs in Bahrain have attained.
| Club |
Number of Championships |
|---|---|
| Al-Hidd (includes Al-Sahel) | 3 |
| Al-Shabab | 3 |
| Al-Ahli | 2 |
| Al-Hala | 2 |
| Bahrain SC | 2 |
| East Riffa | 2 |
| Malkiya | 2 |
| Sitra | 2 |
| Al-Najma | 1 |
| Budaiya | 1 |
| Manama | 1 |
References
edit- ^ "Bahrain 2002". RSSSF. 16 January 2003. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ "Bahrain 2003". RSSSF. 17 January 2004. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ "Bahrain 2010". RSSSF. 31 August 2012. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ Mukherjee, Soham (15 March 2022). "What does the domestic structure of India's next opponents - Bahrain & Belarus - look like?". GOAL. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ "Bahrain - List of Champions". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 18 February 2012. Retrieved 3 March 2012.