Montenegrin Third League Explained

Confed:UEFA
Founded:2006
Teams:30
(3 regional leagues)
Levels:3
Domest Cup:Montenegrin Regional Cups, Montenegrin Cup
Champions:Ibar, Zeta, Budva
Most Successful Club:Pljevlja, Cetinje, Ibar (4 titles)
Website:Centre North South
Current:2023–24 Montenegrin Third League
Promotion:Montenegrin Second League

The Montenegrin Third League (Montenegrin: Treća crnogorska liga / Трећа црногорска лига) is the third and lowest-tier football league in Montenegro. It is headed by the regional unions of the Football Association of Montenegro (Union of the clubs - North,[1] Union of the clubs - Center,[2] Union of the clubs - South[3]), under the Football Association of Montenegro. In the 2020-21 season, 30 teams participated, divided into three regions. The top team from each region qualifies for the playoff from which the top team qualify for the Second League of Montenegro.

Current season

For the 2023-24 season, Third league is divided in three geographical regions. Nine teams compete in the North, fourteen in the Center, and eight in the South.

North

The Third League - North is organised by Union of the clubs - North (covering municipalities of Pljevlja, Bijelo Polje, Berane, Rožaje, Plav, Gusinje, Mojkovac, Andrijevica, Žabljak, Šavnik and Plužine). For the 2023-24 season, there are nine teams competing in the North Region.

Team Location Stadium Capacity
Gradski 4,000
Gradski 2,000
Gradski 1,500
Bandžovo brdo 3,000
Prljanije 300
Gradski 1,500
Gusare 1,000
Pod Golubinjom 5,140
Gradski 300

Center

The Third League - Center is organised by Union of the clubs - Center (Montenegrin: Udruženje klubova - Centar - FSCG).[4] The Central region includes the municipalities of Podgorica (capital city), Nikšić, Danilovgrad, Šavnik, Plužine, Kolašin and Tuzi.

There are 14 clubs competing in Montenegrin Third League - Center for the 2023-24 season.

Team Location Stadium Capacity
Stari ribnjak 1,500
Tološi 1,000
Stadion Željezare 2,000
Stadion Drezge 100
DG Arena 4,300
Kamp FSCG 1,050
Ilarion Field 100
Kamp FSCG 1,050
Trešnjica 4,000
Sutjeska pitch 500
Kamp FSCG 1,050
Stadion Zabjela 750
Trešnjica 4,000
Spuž City Stadium 1,700

South

The Third League - South is organised by Union of the clubs - South (Montenegrin: Udruženje klubova - Jug - FSCG). The municipalities within Southern region include: Cetinje, Kotor, Herceg Novi, Tivat, Budva, Bar and Ulcinj.

For the 2023-24 season, there are seven teams competing in the South region.

Team Location Stadium Capacity
Velika Plaža 2,000
Lugovi 2,500
Obilića poljana 2,000
SRC Topolica 2,500 *
Opačica 650
Topolica 2,500
Radovići 300

History

See main article: Montenegrin clubs in Yugoslav football competitions (1946-2006). Regional leagues as a lowest-tier competition in Montenegro, were founded in 1968. The format and system of competition has not changed. From 1968 to 2006, it was the fourth or fifth level of competition in SFR Yugoslavia, FR Yugoslavia and Serbia and Montenegro. Following Montenegrin independence (2006), regional leagues became the third tier in the organisation of domestic football competitions.
From 1968 until now, the league is divided on three regions - North (clubs from territories of Berane, Bijelo Polje, Gusinje, Mojkovac, Petnjica, Plav, Pljevlja, Rožaje and Žabljak) Center (Podgorica with Golubovci and Tuzi, Danilovgrad, Kolašin, Nikšić, Plužine and Šavnik) and South (Bar, Budva, Cetinje, Herceg Novi, Kotor, Tivat and Ulcinj).
At period 1961–2006, winners of three regional leagues were promoted to Montenegrin Republic League (3rd tier) or played Montenegrin football playoffs.

Champions (2006-)

See also: Montenegrin Regional Cups. After independence of Montenegro, regional leagues, with the same format and divisions, became Third League, and also a lowest tier of competition.
At the end of season, champions of each region qualifies for the playoff. Every season, two top teams from playoff are qualified for the Second League.
Below is the list of Montenegrin Third League champions.

Key

Promoted to 2.CFL via playoffs
SeasonNorthCenterSouth
2006-07TekstilacIskraOtrant
2007-08PolimljeRibnicaMornar
2008-09GusinjeZoraOFK Bar
2009-10PljevljaIskraCetinje
2010-11PetnjicaBlue StarIgalo
2011-12PljevljaZoraArsenal
2012-13PljevljaKomCetinje
2013-14RadničkiIskraFederal
2014-15BrskovoGrafičarSloga Radovići
2015-16PolimljeČelikOtrant
2016-17PljevljaPodgoricaArsenal
2017-18BrskovoBratstvoArsenal
2018-19IbarDrezgaCetinje
2019-20BeraneMladost DGIgalo
2020-21PetnjicaMladost DGCetinje
2021-22IbarNikšićOtrant
2022-23IbarInternacionalLovćen
2023-24IbarZetaBudva
Full list of champions of regional leagues before 2006, is available on the page Montenegrin clubs in Yugoslav football competitions (1946-2006).

Complete team list

From 2006, 60 different teams played in Montenegrin Third League. This is the complete list of the clubs that took part in 17 seasons played from 2006-07 to 2022-23, ranked by champion titles won in the Third League.

ClubTownRegionSsnFirstLast1st2nd3rd
PljevljaPljevljaNorth172006–072022–23462
CetinjeCetinjeSouth122006–072023–24421
IbarRožajeNorth42018–192023–24400
ArsenalTivatSouth62009–102017–18330
OtrantUlcinjSouth62006–072021–22310
IskraDanilovgradCenter52006–072013–14301
BrskovoMojkovacNorth172006–072023–24253
ZoraSpužCenter102007–082023–24221
PolimljeMurinoNorth182006–072023–24213
PetnjicaPetnjicaNorth172006–072023–24223
IgaloIgaloSouth62006–072019–20203
Mladost DGPodgoricaCenter22019–202020–21200
DrezgaPiperiCenter142006–072023–24130
Blue StarPodgoricaCenter62006–072011–12121
SlogaRadovićiSouth152009–102023–24123
BarBarSouth32006–072008–09110
ČelikNikšićCenter52014–152023–24112
NikšićNikšićCenter42010–112021–22110
InternacionalPodgoricaCenter22021–222022–23110
RibnicaPodgoricaCenter162006–072023–24104
TekstilacBijelo PoljeNorth72006–072013–14102
GusinjeGusinjeNorth152008–092023–24101
GrafičarPodgoricaCenter92006–072014–15100
BratstvoCijevnaCenter52017–182021–22100
LovćenCetinjeSouth32020–212022–23100
PodgoricaPodgoricaCenter22015–162016–17100
RadničkiBeraneNorth22013–142017–18100
MornarBarSouth12007–082007–08100
KomPodgoricaCenter12012–132012–13100
BeraneBeraneNorth12019–202019–20100
FederalUlcinjSouth12013–142013–14100
ZetaGolubovciCenter12023–242023–24104
PartizanBarSouth132010–112022–23044
Crvena StijenaPodgoricaCenter142010–112023–24043
BoracBijelo PoljeNorth82016–172023–24042
PoletNikšićCenter102009–102022–23021
BudvaBudvaSouth42020–212023–24121
ObilićSutorinaSouth42012–132021–22021
OrjenZelenikaSouth82008–092023–24012
GorštakKolašinCenter132006–072018–19011
AkademijaUlcinjSouth22022–232023–24011
ZabjeloPodgoricaCenter82015–162023–24010
OFK TitogradPodgoricaCenter22022–232023–24010
KomoviAndrijevicaNorth182006–072023–24002
SlogaBarSouth182006–072023–24002
BijelaBijelaSouth32006–072008–09001
AdriaPodgoricaCenter52018–192022–23001
NapredakBeraneNorth122006–072018–19000
PrvijenacBijelo PoljeNorth82006–072013–14000
Fair PlayBijelo PoljeNorth62013–142018–19000
E-RomaBijelo PoljeNorth42009–102012–13000
TiteksPodgoricaCenter42007–082010–11000
KariokePodgoricaCenter72016–172023–24000
MogrenBudvaSouth22015–162016–17000
DurmitorŽabljakNorth22009–102010–11000
Gornja ZetaZetaCenter22009–102010–11000
IlarionZetaCenter52019–202023–24000
OlympicoGolubovciCenter52020–212023–24000
Sjeverna ZvijezdaBijelo PoljeNorth12015–162015–16000
SpužSpužCenter22020–212021–22000
OFK GusinjeGusinjeNorth22022–232023–24000
Fans UnitedPodgoricaCenter12023–242023–24000
BalkanBarSouth12023–242023–24000
  • Note: As of the end of 2023–24 season
League or status for 2022-23 season
2022–23 Montenegrin First League
2022–23 Montenegrin Second League
2022–23 Montenegrin Third League
No longer exists

Ssn = Number of seasons; First = First season in Third League; Last = Last season in Third League; 1st = finishing as a champion of region; 2nd = finishing as a runner-up; 3rd = finishing as a third-placed team

Final placement by season

North

Since its establishing, in Montenegrin Third League - North participated overall 18 different teams. Most successful participants are FK Pljevlja, who won four titles. Except that, FK Pljevlja made the biggest win in some Montenegrin official men football competition - on season 2012-13, they defeated FK E-Roma 26-1 (14-0).[6] During the same game, FK Pljevlja player Alen Pajević scored seven goals, which is an all-time record in Montenegrin Third League.
Among the other title winners in Third League - North are FK Ibar (3), FK Brskovo (2), FK Polimlje (2), FK Petnjica (2), FK Berane (1), FK Gusinje (1), FK Tekstilac (1) and FK Radnički (1).
Two teams, FK Komovi and FK Polimlje, participated in all the seasons of Third League - North.

Club07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Berane - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1 - - - -
Borac - - - - - - - - - - 3 2 4 2 2 5 3 2
Brskovo 7 3 6 8 2 2 2 3 1 - 2 1 3 4 6 2 5 4
Durmitor - - - 7 6 - - - - - - - - - - - - -
E-Roma - - - 10 10 9 10 - - - - - - - - - - -
Fair Play - - - - - - - 11 8 8 9 8 10 - - - - -
Gusinje - - 1 - 3 4 4 9 7 4 5 7 8 8 5 7 8 9
OFK Gusinje - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 7 6
Ibar - - - - - - - - - - - - 1 - - 1 1 1
Komovi 6 6 5 9 9 8 7 4 4 5 4 3 6 5 7 3 4 5
Napredak 8 5 8 6 5 7 8 8 5 7 8 9 9 - - - - -
Petnjica 5 4 7 2 1 - 5 5 3 3 6 5 2 3 1 8 6 7
Pljevlja 3 2 2 1 - 1 1 2 2 2 1 4 5 7 4 4 2 3
Polimlje 2 1 4 3 4 3 9 7 6 1 7 6 7 6 3 6 9 8
Prvijenac 4 7 9 5 7 5 6 10 - - - - - - - - - -
Radnički - - - - - - - 1 - - - 10 - - - - - -
Sjeverna Zvijezda - - - - - - - - - 6 - - - - - - - -
Tekstilac 1 - 3 4 8 6 3 6 - - - - - - - - - -
07 = season 2006/07

Center

Overall 25 different clubs played in Montenegrin Third League - Central region since its establishing (2006–07). Most trophies won FK Iskra with three titles. Except them, among the champions were FK Zora (2), OFK Mladost DG (2) FK Kom (1), FK Ribnica (1), FK Podgorica (1), FK Grafičar (1), FK Bratstvo (1), FK Drezga (1), FK Internacional (1)' and FK Blue Star (1).
Owner of the biggest wins in the history of Montenegrin Third League - Center is FK Zabjelo, who defeated FK Ribnica away with result
20-0 (season 2019-20).[7] Player with most scored goals on one game is Aleksandar Krstović (9 goals) who made a record on match Zora - Olympico 18-0 (season 2022-23)[8]

Club07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Adria - - - - - - - - - - - - 3 5 7 10 12 -
Blue Star 4 2 2 3 1 4 - - - - - - - - - - - -
Bratstvo - - - - - - - - - - - 1 7 7 8 13 - -
Crvena Stijena - - - - 5 3 5 2 2 7 5 2 4 6 3 3 2 7
Čelik - - - - - - - - 2 1 - - 10 - - - 3 3
Drezga 2 3 4 5 2 2 6 4 - - 6 4 1 - - 9 9 8
Fans United - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 6
Gornja Zeta - - - 7 8 - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Gorštak 5 7 6 6 9 7 4 5 5 3 2 5 9 - - - - -
Grafičar 6 6 7 8 7 8 7 6 1 - - - - - - - - -
Ilarion - - - - - - - - - - - - - 8 5 5 10 5
Internacional - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2 1 -
Iskra 1 4 3 1 - - - 1 - - - - - - - - - -
Karioke - - - - - - - - - - 6 - 6 4 10 8 11 10
Kom - - - - - - 1 - - - - - - - - - - -
Mladost DG - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1 1 - - -
Podgorica - - - - - - - - - 5 1 - - - - - - -
Nikšić - - - - 6 9 - - - - - - - - 2 1 - -
Olympico - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 12 11 13 12
Polet - - - 9 10 5 2 7 - - - - 2 3 6 6 7 -
Ribnica 3 1 - 4 4 6 3 3 - 6 4 3 8 9 11 12 8 11
Spuž - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 9 14 - -
Titeks - 8 5 10 11 - - - - - - - - - - - - -
OFK Titograd - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 6 2
Zabjelo - - - - - - - - - 4 3 - 5 2 4 4 4 4
Zeta - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1
Zora - 5 1 2 3 1 - - 4 2 - - - - - 7 5 9
07 = season 2006/07

South

Since establishing, 17 different teams played in Montenegrin Third League - South region. Among them, most successes have FK Cetinje with four titles and FK Arsenal with three. Except them, winners of competition were also FK Otrant (2), FK Igalo (2), FK Mornar (1), FK Lovćen (1) OFK Bar (1), OFK Federal (1) and FK Sloga Radovići (1).
Since 2006, biggest win in Montenegrin Third League - South made FK Cetinje, who defeated FK Bijela with score 12-0 on season 2007-08.[9]
FK Sloga Bar is the only team which played every single season of Montenegrin Third League - South Region.

Club07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Akademija - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3 2
Arsenal - - - 2 2 1 - - - 2 1 1 - - -- - -
Balkan - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 7
Bar 6 2 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Bijela 5 4 6 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Budva - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3 2 2 1
Cetinje 2 5 2 1 5 3 1 - - - - - 1 4 1 - 8 6
Federal - - - - - - - 1 - - - - - - - - - -
Partizan - - - - 4 5 2 2 2 3 2 3 3 3 6 5 4 -
Igalo 3 3 4 3 1 - - - - - - - - 1 - - - -
Lovćen - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 8 4 1 -
Mogren - - - - - - - - - 6 5 - - - - - - -
Mornar - 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Obilić - - - - - - 2 - - - - - - 2 5 3 - -
Orjen - - 3 - - - - 4 3 - - - - 6 2 6 5 4
Otrant 1 - - - - 2 4 - - 1 - - - - 4 1 - -
Sloga Bar 4 6 5 5 6 6 5 5 4 5 3 4 4 7 9 8 6 3
Sloga R - - - 4 3 4 3 3 1 4 4 2 2 5 7 7 7 5
07 = season 2006/07

Promotion playoffs

Following the Montenegrin independence, from the season 2006/07, champions of three regional leagues are participating in the playoffs for Montenegrin Second League promotion. Until 2020, every team is played four matches, and at the end, best-placed are promoted to a higher rank. From 2020, every team is playing two games, and if there is no winner after 90 minutes, penalties are deciding about it. Two teams are gaining promotion to the Second League.
Playoffs are playing after the regular season, at the end of May and start of June every year.

Promotions by season

Until now, most promotions to Montenegrin Second League through playoffs gained FK Iskra (2), FK Arsenal (2), FK Otrant (2) and FK Igalo (2).

Promoted to Montenegrin Second League.
Season1st2nd3rdResults
2007FK OtrantFK TekstilacOTR - TEK 2-1, 1-2; OTR - ISK 6-0, 2-0; TEK - ISK 2-0, 2-0
2008FK MornarFK RibnicaMOR - RIB 1-0, 2-1; MOR - POL 3-2, 2-2; RIB - POL 2-2, 2-0
2009OFK BarFK GusinjeBAR - GUS 3-0, 3-3; BAR - ZOR 3-2, 4-1; GUS - ZOR 1-0, 2-2
2010FK PljevljaFK IskraPLJ - ISK 0-0, 0-0; PLJ - CET 0-0, 2-1; ISK - CET 1-1, 0-0
2011FK IgaloFK PetnjicaIGA - PET 0-0, 1-1; IGA - BLU 3-0, 2-1; PET - BLU 1-0, 1-1
2012FK ArsenalFK ZoraARS - PLJ 3-2, 3-0; ARS - ZOR 1-0, 0-2; ZOR - PLJ 3-0, 0-2
2013FK KomFK CetinjeKOM - CET 3-0, 1-0; KOM - PLJ 0-1, 1-2; CET - PLJ 3-1, 2-1
2014FK RadničkiFK IskraRAD - ISK 2-1, 1-2; RAD - FED 2-0, 1-0; ISK - FED 2-0, 0-1
2015FK BrskovoFK GrafičarFK Sloga RBRS - GRA 2-0, 1-2; BRS - SLO 7-1, 0-0; GRA - SLO 2-0, 0-1
2016FK ČelikFK OtrantFK PolimljeČEL - OTR 3-0, 0-1; ČEL - POL 7-0, 2-0; OTR - POL 2-2, 3-2
2017FK PodgoricaFK ArsenalFK PljevljaPOD - ARS 1-2, 2-1; POD - PLJ 4-0, 1-3; ARS - PLJ 1-0, 0-1
2018FK ArsenalFK BrskovoFK BratstvoARS - BRS 1-0, 1-1; ARS - BRA 1-1, 2-0; BRS - BRA 1-0, 3-4
2019FK IbarFK DrezgaFK CetinjeCET - IBA 1-0, 1-3; DRE - CET 0-0, 0-0; IBA - DRE 2-0, 1-4
2020FK IgaloFK BeraneOFK Mladost DGMLA - BER 0-0 (3-4); IGA - MLA 2-0; BER - IGA 1-2
2021OFK Mladost DGFK CetinjeFK PetnjicaPET - MLA 0-2; MLA - CET 6-0; CET - PET 2-0
2022OFK NikšićFK OtrantFK IbarOTR - IBA 2-0; IBA - NIK 0-3; NIK - OTR 3-1
2023FK LovćenFK InternacionalFK IbarINT - IBA 4-1; IBA - LOV 0-4; LOV - INT 2-1

Promotions by region

During the history, most promotions to Montenegrin Second League gained teams from Central and South region. Representatives of that regions gained promotions via playoffs 12 times. Clubs from North region gained 8 promotions through playoffs.

Third League regionPromotions
North8
Center12
South12

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Udruženje klubova - Sjever. Udruženje klubova - Sjever. en-US. 2016-09-06.
  2. Web site: Udruženje klubova - Centar. Udruženje klubova - Centar. en-US. 2016-09-06.
  3. Web site: Udruženje klubova - Jug..
  4. Web site: Union of the clubs - Center. Udruženje klubova - Centar.
  5. Web site: Kreće takmičenje u Ligi Udruženja klubova FSCG "Jug" . 27 September 2023 .
  6. Web site: Rafalna paljba Pljevalja | - Najnovije vijesti iz Pljevalja. 18 October 2012.
  7. Web site: Ribnica - Zabjelo - Udruženje klubova Centar.
  8. Web site: Zora Spuž - Adria - Udruženje klubova Centar .
  9. Web site: Montenegro 2007/08.