Sachsenliga Explained

Sachsenliga
Founded:1990
Country:Germany
Pixels:100px
State:Saxony
Promotion:NOFV-Oberliga Süd
Relegation:
  • Landesklasse Mitte
  • Landesklasse Nord
  • Landesklasse Ost
  • Landesklasse West
Teams:18
Level:Level 6
Domest Cup:Saxony Cup
Season:2022–23
Champions:SSV Markranstädt

The Sachsenliga, formerly referred to as Landesliga Sachsen, is the sixth tier of the German football league system and the highest league in the German state of Saxony (German: Sachsen). Until the introduction of the 3. Liga in 2008 it was the fifth tier of the league system, until the introduction of the Regionalligas in 1994 the fourth tier.

Overview

The Landesliga Sachsen was established in 1990 from twelve clubs as the highest league for the German state of Saxony, which was established after the league in October 1990,[1] and the Saxon Football Association, SFV (German:Sächsischer Fußball Verband). It compromised the area of the three Bezirksligen of Chemnitz, Dresden and Leipzig. Each of those three leagues contributed four clubs to the new league. The Sachsenliga was established within the East German football league system and incorporated in the league system of the united Germany at the end of its first season, in 1991.

The league has been a feeder league, together with the Thüringenliga and Verbandsliga Sachsen-Anhalt, to the NOFV-Oberliga Süd, which its champion is directly promoted to. As such, it was the fourth tier of the German league system.

After the first season, the number of clubs in the league was increased to fourteen; in 1996 the league was again enlarged, to sixteen.

In 1994, with the establishment of the Regionalliga Nordost as the new third tier of the league system, the Sachsenliga fell to tier five in the system but remained unchanged otherwise.

In 2008, the league was again demoted one level when the 3. Liga was established. However, this changed nothing in the league's status as a feeder league to the NOFV-Oberliga.

The league is sponsored by door and window maker WEKU and carries therefore the official name of WEKU Sachsenliga. This is an unusual fact in Germany as football leagues don't normally carry sponsorship names.

The league had, in the 2007–08 season, the unique distinction of having a former UEFA Cup Winners' Cup finalist in its ranks, the re-formed 1. FC Lok Leipzig, loser of the 1987 final.

The Landesligen of Thuringia and Saxony are unique in their naming as every other league in Germany of this standing carries the name Verbandsliga. This was done so simply by choice of the local football associations (German: Fußballverband) in Saxony and Thuringia and the name could be changed to Verbandsliga if they wish to do so.

Due to the changes to the German league system, the runner-up in 2007–08, Lok Leipzig was also promoted after winning a play-off round with the runner-up from the Verbandsliga Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, FC Schönberg 95.

League champions

The league champions:

SeasonChampions
1990–91VFC Plauen
1991–92Dresdner SC
1992–93Chemnitzer FC II
1993–94VFC Plauen
1994–95Dresdner SC
1995–96FV Dresden-Nord
1996–97SV 1919 Grimma
1997–98VfB Leipzig II
1998–99VfB Zittau
1999–00Stahl Riesa
2000–01FC Oberlausitz Neugersdorf
2001–02FV Dresden-Laubegast
2002–03VfB Auerbach
2003–04FC Eilenburg
2004–05FSV Budissa Bautzen
2005–06FSV Zwickau
2006–07SSV Markranstädt
2007–08FC Erzgebirge Aue II
2008–09Dynamo Dresden II
2009–10Chemnitzer FC II
2010–11VfB Fortuna Chemnitz
2011–12SSV Markranstädt
2012–13FC Oberlausitz Neugersdorf
2013–14RB Leipzig II
2014–15Bischofswerdaer FV
2015–16BSG Chemie Leipzig
2016–17FC Eilenburg
2017–18VfL 05 Hohenstein-Ernstthal
2019–20No champion
2020–21No champion (season annulled)
2021–22SC Freital

Founding members of the league

The league was established from twelve clubs from three leagues in 1990. Most of the East German clubs changed their names in the years after the reunion, some reverted to their old ones after a brief period, current names, when different from the one in 1990, are listed. The clubs are:

From the Bezirksliga Chemnitz:

From the Bezirksliga Dresden:

From the Bezirksliga Leipzig:

References

Sources

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Short history of the SFV. 10 February 2008. Saxon Football Association.