2022–23 Second Football League (Croatia) Explained

Competition:Druga NL
Season:2022–23
Dates:19 August 2022 – 4 June 2023
Winners:Sesvete
Promoted:Sesvete, Zrinski Jurjevac
Relegated:Međimurje, Osijek II, Zagorec Krapina
League Topscorer:Nikola Marić (24 goals)
Prevseason:2021–22
Nextseason:2023–24
Updated:5 June 2023

The 2022–23 Croatian Second Football League (also known as Druga Nogometna Liga and 2. NL) was the 32nd edition of the third tier of Croatian football league and 1st season of the restructured Druga nogometna liga.

The league was contested by 16 teams and played in a double round robin format.

Teams

Changes

Vukovar 1991 was promoted to the 2022–23 Prva NL, while 14 eastern, 9 northern, 16 southern, 16 central and 12 western clubs were relegated to 2022–23 Treća NL due new leagues system.

New clubs are Croatia Zmijavci, Sesvete, Osijek II and Opatija which were relegated from 2021–22 Druga HNL and 10 best placed third tier teams with two playoff winners.

Due to the bankruptcy, Inter Zaprešić, who was scheduled to play in the Croatian second level, was dissolved before the season. Croatia Zmijavci was promoted back to Croatian first league to fill their spot.

Now opened spot was taken by the Trnje who beat Hrvatski Vitez Posedarje in the play-offs.

Stadia and locations

TeamCityStadium[1] Capacity[2] Last season
BelišćeBelišćeStadion Gradski 5,000 3rd in 3. HNL - east
Gradski stadion4,000 3rd in 3. HNL - north
Dugo SeloDugo SeloGradski stadion 2,000 2nd in 3. HNL - center
GrobničanČavleStadion Adelija Haramija Beba 3,000 2nd in 3. HNL - west
HrvaceHrvaceGradski stadion 3,075 3rd in 3. HNL - south
Jadran Luka PločePločeStadion NK Jadran 2,000 1st in 3. HNL - south
Jadran PorečPorečStadion Veli Jože 5,000 3rd in 3. HNL - west
Marsonia 1909Slavonski BrodGradski stadion uz Savu 6,000 4th in 3. HNL - east
MeđimurjeČakovec6,0005th in 3. HNL - north
Mladost ŽdraloviŽdraloviStadion NK Mladost 1,5002nd in 3. HNL - north
OpatijaOpatijaStadion Kantrida10,600 16th in 2. HNL
Osijek IIOsijekStadion Gradski vrt19,220 15th in 2. HNL
SesveteSesveteStadion Sveti Josip radnik 2,00014th in 2. HNL
TrnjeZagrebStadion ŠC Rudeš 2,0003rd in 3. HNL - center
ZagorecKrapinaŠRC Podgora 2,0001st in 3. HNL - center
Zrinski JurjevacPunitovciStadion Bara 1,0002nd in 3. HNL - east
RankCounties of CroatiaNumber of teamsClub(s)
1 Osijek-Baranja3Belišće, Osijek II, Zrinski
2 Bjelovar-Bilogora2Bjelovar, Mladost
Primorje-Gorski KotarOpatija, Grobničan
City of ZagrebSesvete, Trnje
3 Brod-Posavina1Marsonia 1909
Dubrovnik-NeretvaJadran Luka Ploče
IstriaJadran Poreč
Krapina-ZagorjeKrapina
MeđimurjeMeđimurje
Split-DalmatiaHrvace
ZagrebDugo Selo

League table

Promotion play-offs

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Relegation play-offs

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14th place Zagorec Krapina was joined by winners of 5 groups of Third Football League. 3 winners of these matches qualified to 2023-24 Second Football League.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 30 May 2022 . Završen središnji postupak licenciranja za sezonu 2022./23. . The central licensing procedure for the 2022/23 season has been completed. . 1 July 2022 . Hrvatski nogometni savez . hr.
  2. Web site: Venues - First NL . 1 July 2022 . Soccerway . en.