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, a collective member of the Ukrainian Association of Football. As the third tier it was established in 1992 as the Transitional League and changed its name the next season.
 | |
| Founded | 1992 (as Transitional League) |
|---|---|
| Country |  Ukraine |
| Number of teams | 15 |
| Level on pyramid | 3 |
| Promotion to | Ukrainian First League |
| Relegation to | None (2007–2016)[note 1] Amateurs (1995–present) Ukrainian Third League (1992–1994) |
| Domestic cup(s) | Ukrainian Cup PFL Cup Second League Cup (defunct) League Cup (defunct) |
| Current champions | Druzhba Myrivka (2023–24) |
| Most championships | 3 titles Desna Chernihiv |
| Top goalscorer | Oleksandr Kozhemyachenko (3 times) 2010–11, 2004–05, 2005–06 |
| Website | pfl |
| Current: 2024–25 Ukrainian Second League | |
The league is lower than the Ukrainian First League (Persha Liha) and the lowest level of professional football competitions in the country. Since 1996 the league, after being merged with its lower tier (in 1992–1995 there was the Third League), consists of two main regions roughly north-west and south-east. The league's relegated teams lose their professional status and return to their regional associations.
Quick overview
editFirst seasons
editThe 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
editIn 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
editIn 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.
In summer of 2017 it was announced that the Second League is planned to be discontinued after the 2017-18 season.[1][2]
Team withdrawals / critical situation
editThe 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.
Current composition
editThe following teams are competing in the 2024–25 season. Two teams were spared from relegation from previous season due to other teams' withdrawal. Note, in parentheses are shown the actual home cities and stadiums.
|
former Premier (Vyshcha) Liha clubs
|
recently relegated from First (Persha) Liha
|
recently promoted from AAFU
|
| Team | Home city | Stadium | Capacity | Position in 2023–24 |
First season in 2L |
Seasons in 2L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chaika | Petropavlivska Borshchahivka | Tsentralnyi imeni Brukvenka, Makariv | 3,100 | 4th | 2018-19 | 6 |
| Chernihiv | Chernihiv | Chernihiv Arena | 500 | 1L | 2020–21 | 2 |
| Hirnyk-Sport | Horishni Plavni | Yunist Stadium | 2,500 | 1L | 1995-96 | 19 |
| Kulykiv | Kulykiv | Arena Kulykiv | 700 | AAFU | 2024-25 | debut |
| Kolos-2 | Kovalivka | Stadion Yuvileinyi, Bucha | 1,028 | N/A | 2024-25 | debut |
| Lokomotyv | Kyiv | Bannikov Stadium | 1,678 | 10th | 2023-24 | 1 |
| Metalist 1925-2 | Kharkiv | Kolos Stadium, Boryspil | 5,654 | N/A | 2024-25 | debut |
| Nyva | Vinnytsia | Tsentralnyi Miskyi Stadion | 24,000 | 8th | 2007–08 | 11 |
| Nyva-2 | Ternopil | Stadion imeni Brovarskoho, Sambir | 1,918 | N/A | 2024-25 | debut |
| Oleksandriya-2 | Oleksandriya | Olimp Stadium | 2,640 | N/A | 2024-25 | debut |
| Polissya-2 | Zhytomyr | club's training field, Hlybochytsia | 266 | N/A | 2024-25 | debut |
| Probiy | Horodenka | Kolos Stadium | 2,500 | AAFU | 2024-25 | debut |
| Real Pharma | Odesa | Stadion Ivan | 1,200 | 6th | 2011–12 | 13 |
| Revera 1908 | Ivano-Frankivsk | Stadion imeni Hemby | 5,000 | AAFU | 2024-25 | debut |
| Rukh-2 | Lviv | Stadion imeni Bohdana Markevycha | 900 | 9th | 2023-24 | 1 |
| Skala 1911 | Stryi | Sokil Stadium | 1,789 | 6th | 2023-24 | 1 |
| Trostianets | Trostianets | Stadion imeni Kutsa | 1,129 | 11th | 2021–22 | 2 |
| Uzhhorod | Uzhhorod | Avanhard Stadium | 12,000 | missed | 2019–20 | 2 |
| Vilkhivtsi | Vilkhivtsi | Vilkhivtsi Arena | 1,500 | AAFU | 2024-25 | debut |
| Vorskla-2 | Poltava | Molodizhnyi Stadium | 680 | N/A | 1997-98 | 8 |
Location map and stadiums
edit.svg)
Organization
editThe 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.
Throughout history certain regions were represented only in certain groups, some competed in all groups. Among regions that were represented only in Group A are Lviv Oblast, Ternopil Oblast, Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, Rivne Oblast, Zhytomyr Oblast, Chernivtsi Oblast, Zakarpattia Oblast, Volyn Oblast, only in Group B is just Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Group C existed for short time and had no exclusive region representation.
Such regions like Kyiv Oblast and City, Cherkasy Oblast, Kirovohrad Oblast, Chernihiv Oblast, Sumy Oblast, and Kharkiv Oblast at some point were represented in all three groups.
Such regions like Donetsk Oblast, Luhansk Oblast, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, and Poltava Oblast were represented only in groups B and C.
Top three by season
editPromoted teams are indicated in bold.
Notes:
indicates a championship title won in play-off game(s) between winners of groups.
Post-season play-offs
editPost-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 Kyiv 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
edit| Season | Group A team | Score | Group B team | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 2013–17 | Single group competitions | – | ||
| 2017–18 | FC Ahrobiznes Volochysk | 1–0 | SC Dnipro-1 | in Kyiv |
| 2018–19 | FC Mynai | 0–1 | FC Kremin Kremenchuk | in Kropyvnytskyi |
| 2019–20 | PFC Nyva Ternopil | Cancelled | FC VPK-Ahro Shevchenkivka | – |
| 2020–21 | FC Podillya Khmelnytskyi | 0–1 | FC Metal Kharkiv | in Cherkasy |
| 2021–22 | FC Karpaty Lviv | Cancelled | FC Metalurh Zaporizhzhia | – |
| 2022–24 | Single group competitions | – | ||
| 2024–25 | ||||
Third-place play-offs
edit| Season | Group A team | Score | Group B team | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Relegation play-offs
edit| Season | Second League team | Score | Amateur League team | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997–98 | FC Tysmenytsia | 3–1, 1–1 | Promin Sambir | home/away |
| Hirnyk Pavlohrad | 1–2, –/+ | Shakhtar Horlivka | ||
| Zirka-2 Kirovohrad | w/o | Kharchovyk Popivka | ||
Promotion play-offs
editStatistics
editAll group winners in the League by region
editIn bold are shown still active professional clubs
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Conflict of succession
- In 1993–94 FC Boryspil won the title and was promoted, next season in the 1994–95 Ukrainian First League FC Boryspil changed its name to Borysfen Boryspil and in mid-season again to CSKA-Borysfen. As CSKA-Borysfen it won title again of the First League and was promoted again to the Premier League (Top League) for the 1995–96. At the same time in 1994–95 the original FC CSKA Kyiv won title of the Third League and after being promoted in 1995–96 title of the Second League. Upon conclusion of the 1995–96 in the Top League CSKA-Borysfen was swapped with the third tier CSKA Kyiv, while Borysfen Boryspil restarted from the Second League.
- Similar situation took place in 2018 when People's Club Veres from Premier League was swapped with FC Lviv that previously played at amateur level. FC Lviv never in its club history gained promotion to the Ukrainian First League, yet spent two stints in the Ukrainian Premier League (first time as a successor of Hazovyk-Skala, second – after the swap with Veres).
All-time table
editTop-20. All figures are correct through the 2022–23 season.[4] Club status is current of the 2024–25 season:
| 2024–25 Ukrainian Premier League | |
| 2024–25 Ukrainian First League | |
| 2024–25 Ukrainian Second League | |
| 2024–25 Ukrainian Football Amateur League | |
| 2024–25 Regional competitions | |
| Club is defunct |
| PL | Team | Seasons | GP | W | D | L | GS | GA | Pts | Achievement | Prom | First | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Krystal Kherson | 22 | 691 | 288 | 125 | 278 | 909 | 800 | 989 | Winner | 1 | 1992–93 | 2021–22 |
| 2 | Tytan Armyansk | 19 | 586 | 262 | 138 | 186 | 818 | 637 | 924 | Winner | 1 | 1992 | 2009–10 |
| 3 | Desna Chernihiv | 13 | 397 | 243 | 68 | 86 | 670 | 347 | 797 | Winner | 3 | 1994–95 | 2012–13 |
| 4 | Kremin Kremenchuk | 14 | 404 | 193 | 91 | 120 | 592 | 438 | 670 | Winner | 2 | 1999–00 | 2018–19 |
| 5 | Shakhtar-3 Donetsk | 15 | 440 | 194 | 71 | 175 | 683 | 622 | 653 | Winner | – | 2000–01 | 2014–15 |
| 6 | Hirnyk-Sport Komsomolsk | 19 | 566 | 182 | 105 | 279 | 613 | 826 | 651 | Winner | 1 | 1995–96 | 2013–14 |
| 7 | Bukovyna Chernivtsi | 14 | 431 | 179 | 97 | 155 | 508 | 488 | 634 | Winner | 4 | 1999–00 | 2021–22 |
| 8 | Ros Bila Tserkva | 18 | 546 | 174 | 102 | 270 | 504 | 784 | 624 | 5th | – | 1993–94 | 2010–11 |
| 9 | Olkom Melitopol | 16 | 474 | 169 | 116 | 189 | 536 | 571 | 623 | 4th | – | 1995–96 | 2010–11 |
| 10 | Veres Rivne | 16 | 477 | 159 | 96 | 222 | 474 | 653 | 573 | Runner-up | 1 | 1997–98 | 2019–20 |
| 11 | Nyva Ternopil | 12 | 355 | 156 | 86 | 113 | 420 | 377 | 554 | Winner | 3 | 2002–03 | 2019–20 |
| 12 | Podillya Khmelnytskyi | 10 | 317 | 167 | 50 | 100 | 482 | 327 | 551 | Winner | 2 | 1997–98 | 2020–21 |
| 13 | Stal Dniprodzerzhynsk | 9 | 268 | 149 | 52 | 67 | 427 | 246 | 499 | Winner | 2 | 2001–02 | 2013–14 |
| 14 | Halychyna Drohobych | 11 | 374 | 137 | 80 | 157 | 403 | 435 | 491 | 5th | – | 1992–93 | 2002–03 |
| 15 | FC Kalush | 12 | 361 | 136 | 64 | 161 | 414 | 428 | 472 | Winner | – | 1995–96 | 2019–20 |
| 16 | Metalurh-2 Zaporizhzhia | 15 | 440 | 130 | 80 | 230 | 489 | 706 | 470 | 3rd | – | 1998–99 | 2023–24 |
| 17 | Illichivets-2 Mariupol | 13 | 375 | 135 | 59 | 181 | 451 | 561 | 464 | Runner-up | – | 2000–01 | 2016–17 |
| 18 | Hazovyk Komarno | 10 | 326 | 130 | 74 | 122 | 380 | 354 | 464 | Runner-up | – | 1992 | 2000–01 |
| 19 | Dynamo-3 Kyiv | 11 | 328 | 125 | 89 | 114 | 364 | 311 | 464 | Runner-up | – | 1997–98 | 2007–08 |
| 20 | Enerhiya Yuzhnoukrainsk | 13 | 390 | 117 | 90 | 183 | 351 | 516 | 441 | 5th | – | 1995–96 | 2007–08 |
Players
editAmong notable players of the league are its top scorers.
| Player | Games | Years | |
| Oleksandr Kapusta
|
336 | 1996–2009 | |
| Andriy Nikiforov
|
309 | 1992–2003 | |
| Oleksandr Petrov
|
306 | 1992–2002 | |
| Roman Sanzhar
|
299 | 1995–2011 | |
| Yuriy Ponomarenko
|
296 | 1997–2009 | |
| Oleksiy Bondar
|
296 | 1997–2009 | |
| Yuriy Komyahin
|
296 | 2002–2016 | |
| Oleksandr Krasnyanskyi
|
296 | 1994–2010 | |
| Oleksandr Osmachko
|
295 | 1995–2016 | |
| Mykola Dudych
|
294 | 1993–2003 | |
| Players in bold are still playing in Second League Data as of 9 February 2021[5] | |||
| Player | Goals | Games | Years | |
| Oleksandr Kozhemyachenko
|
105 | 219 | 1999–2011 | |
| Oleksandr Kapusta
|
104 | 336 | 1996–2009 | |
| Ihor Bezdolnyi
|
102 | 272 | 1994–2011 | |
| Yevhen Arbuzov
|
98 | 255 | 1999–2009 | |
| Vasyl Karpyn
|
88 | 244 | 1992–2003 | |
| Stanislav Kulish
|
80 | 132 | 2008–2014 | |
| Vasyl Shved
|
78 | 205 | 1993–2005 | |
| Vladyslav Korobkin
|
73 | 215 | 2000–2013 | |
| Ihor Kiriyenko
|
71 | 189 | 2002–2014 | |
| Kostiantyn Pinchuk
|
68 | 142 | 1993–2007 | |
| Volodymyr Kryzhanivskyi
|
66 | 192 | 1995–2006 | |
| Players in bold are still playing in Second League Data accurate as of 19 January 2021[5] | ||||
Managers
edit
Stadiums
editMost attended games
editMost of the most attended games in the league since 1992 recorded at Zirka Stadium (Kropyvnytskyi), and since 1993–94 season FC Zirka Kropyvnytskyi all time attendance record on a single game until 2017–18 season, when Metalist Kharkiv phoenix club Metalist 1925 participated in the Druha Liha together with their original club rivals FC Dnipro and SC Dnipro-1. The record was set on in a Metalist 1925–Dnipro-1 match, which was attended by 14,521 people.[6]
| # | Season | Attendance | Home team | Score | Visiting team | Stadium | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2017–18 | 14,521 | Metalist 1925 Kharkiv | 1:1 | Dnipro-1 | OSC Metalist | [6] |
| 2 | 1993–94 | 14,000 | Zirka-NIBAS Kirovohrad | 2:0 | FC Boryspil | Zirka Stadium | [6] |
| 3 | 2008–09 | 12,100 | Zirka Kirovohrad | 2:1 | Stal Dniprodzerzhynsk | Zirka Stadium | [6] |
| 4 | 1993–94 | 12,000 | Zirka-NIBAS Kirovohrad | 5:0 | Shakhtar Pavlohrad | Zirka Stadium | [6] |
| 1993–94 | 12,000 | Zirka-NIBAS Kirovohrad | 1:0 | Dnister Zalishchyky | Zirka Stadium | [6] |
The most attended seasons were in the beginning of 1990s and the beginning of 2000s.[6]
External links
edit- (in Ukrainian) Druha Liha at Official Site of the Professional Football league of Ukraine
- (in Ukrainian) Interaction site for Druha liha
- (in Russian) Variety of championships
Notes
edit- ^ 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.
- ^ In 1993–94 four teams were promoted to the Ukrainian First League. The fourth place team in the competition was Naftokhimik Kremenchuk.
- ^ Krystal Kherson failed to win the play-offs for promotion to the Ukrainian First League.
- ^ In 1999 SC Odesa was merged with FC Chornomorets Odesa and its place in Ukrainian First League was fielded revived FC Chornomorets-2 Odesa.
- ^ LUKOR Kalush officially was not farm team of Prykarpattia Ivano-Frankivsk. After the season it was announced that both clubs "merged" with LUKOR Kalush being officially promoted as Spartak Ivano-Frankivsk and Prykarpattia Ivano-Frankivsk being officially relegated as Prykarpattia Kalush. In reality no real changes took place except for change of names. Rosters, coaching staff, clubs' structure were preserved with the Kalush team continued to be played in the Second League.
- ^ After reviewing Rava Ruska's solvency and facilities the PFL decided not to promote them. 2nd placed Enerhetyk Burshtyn were promoted instead.
- ^ PFC Oleksandria were promoted to the Ukrainian First League since they were best 2nd placed team in all Druha Liha competitions
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ In the 2015–16 season, a record of six teams were promoted to the Ukrainian First League including Bukovyna Chernivtsi, Skala Stryi, and Arsenal-Kyiv.
- ^ In the 2016–17 season, four teams were promoted to the Ukrainian First League, the fourth team being Balkany Zorya.
- ^ In the 2017–18 season, four teams were promoted to the Ukrainian First League and one team to the Ukrainian Premier League. This other team was FC Lviv (placed 5th, Group A).
- ^ In the 2021–22 season, ten teams were promoted to the Ukrainian First League, while Livyi Bereh was awarded promotion after skipping a season by honoring its second place.
- ^ In the 2023–24 season, two teams were promoted to the Ukrainian First League, the second team being FC Kudrivka (placed 7th).
References
edit- ^ 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.
- ^ 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
- ^ Фек: Підтримую Данілова і Бальчоса - хай це саме зробить Суркіс
- ^ http://wildstat.ru/p/2105/cht/214/stat/summary Чемпионат Украины, вторая лига (Суммарная таблица за все годы)
- ^ a b Чемпионат Украины D3. footballfacts.ru
- ^ a b c d e f g 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.)
External links
edit- Реформа Другої ліги: "Мы свой, мы новый мир построим!" www.ua-football.com. 29 January 2013