2022–23 Third Football League (Croatia) Explained

Competition:Treća NL
Season:2022–23
Dates:20 August 2022 – 3 June 2023
Winners:Karlovac 1919, Krk, Radnik Križevci, Slavonija Požega, Zagora Unešić
Promoted:Karlovac 1919, Krk, Radnik Križevci
Relegated:Urania (BV), Podravac, Omladinac (GV), Darda, Vrbovec, Ravnice, Papuk
Nextseason:2023–24

The 2022–23 Croatian Third Football League (also known as Treća Nogometna Liga and 3. NL) was the 32nd edition of the fourth tier of Croatian football league and 1st season of the restructured Treća nogometna liga.

2022-23 season was the first season where fourth tier competition is named Third Football League, and the first season where fourth tier competition was the highest competition divided in groups (traditionally it being third tier competition).[1]

Winner of every group qualified for the promotion qualifications, as well as the 14th placed team in Second Football League. Those six teams battled for 3 open spots in next seasons' Second Football League.[2]

Teams

The league was contested in 5 groups, based on geographic locations, by between 10 and 18 teams. Groups are based on centers: Varaždin (North),[3] Rijeka (West),[4] Zagreb (Center),[5] Osijek (East)[6] and Split (South).[7]

League tables

North

West

Center

East

South

Promotion play-offs

|}

5 group winners were joined by Zagorec Krapina, who had placed 14th in the 2.NL. 3 winners of these matches qualified to 2023-24 Second Football League.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: JEDINSTVENA 3. HNL OD 2022./2023. . hrnk-zmaj.hr . 26 August 2022.
  2. Web site: O NATJECANJU . hns-cff.hr . 30 August 2022.
  3. Web site: 3. NL SJEVER . hns-cff.hr . 26 August 2022.
  4. Web site: 3. NL ZAPAD . hns-cff.hr . 26 August 2022.
  5. Web site: 3. NL CENTAR . hns-cff.hr . 26 August 2022.
  6. Web site: 3. NL ISTOK . hns-cff.hr . 26 August 2022.
  7. Web site: 3. NL JUG . hns-cff.hr . 26 August 2022.