Latvian Second League Explained

Altero.lv LIIGA
Pixels:210
Founded:1992
Teams:16
Promotion:Optibet Nākotnes Līga
Relegation:Dali Dali 3.līga
Levels:3
Domest Cup:Latvian Cup
Website:Latvian Football Federation

The Latvian Second League (Latvian: 2. līga or Otrā līga), currently known for sponsorship reasons as Altero.lv LIIGA, is the third tier of football in Latvia and is organised by the Latvian Football Federation.

Competition format

Regional stage

There are 16 clubs in the Second League. There are 2 regions, West and East, with both divisions containing 8 teams which must play home and away games against their regional opponents. From each region, 4 teams advance to the promotion round, whereas the other 4 teams advance to the relegation round. This stage of the league is typically contested from April to August.

Promotion/relegation stage

The promotion round involves additional matches between the best 8 teams in the league, allowing two of the best teams to be promoted to the First League at the conclusion of the season. Additionally, the third-finishing team contests a two-legged playoff against the third-from-bottom-team in the First League, with the winner of the playoff securing an additional First League berth for the next season.

The relegation round, contested between the bottom 4 teams of each of the two divisions, sees the bottom 4 of those total 8 teams relegated to the Third League.

Past Second League winners

SeasonWinnerRunner-up
Smiltene
Cerība PreiļiLokomotīve
Dialogs Jelgava
Nafta Ventspils
FK Ilūkste
Auda
FK Lode
Robežsardze
Viola
Auda-Neo
Nafta Ventspils
Fortūna Ogre
Saldus/Brocēni
FK Abuls
FK Ilūkste
Jēkabpils SC
Preiļu BJSS
FK Ilūkste
OSC/FK-33
SK Upesciems
FK Jēkabpils/JSC
JFK Saldus
FK Staiceles Bebri
2015FC CarambaFC Nikers
2016Grobiņas SCSK Cēsis
2017LDZ Cargo/DFAMonarhs/Flaminko
FC Betlanes[1] FK Krāslava
Ghetto FC
FK Salaspils
Skanstes SK[2] SK Spēks
FK Beitar[3] FK Ventspils

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Video: FC "Betlanes" kļūst par 2.līgas čempioniem. sportacentrs.com. 4 November 2018.
  2. Web site: LĪGU APSKATS: PRIEKŠLAICĪGAIS KOPSAVILKUMS. lff.lv. 26 October 2021.
  3. Web site: FK BEITAR KĻŪST PAR 2. LĪGAS ČEMPIONVIENĪBU. lff.lv. 12 November 2022.