Football League (Greece)
Football League, former Beta Ethniki (Greek: Β΄ Εθνική, II National Category), is the second highest professional football league in Greece, being a feeder-league to the top-level Superleague Greece.
2015-16 Member Clubs
Location of teams in 2015–16 Football League (Greece)
| Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity | Last season |
| Acharnaikos | Menidi | Acharnes Stadium | 4,450 | j !South Group, 7th & South Group Relegation Play-offs, 1st |
| Agrotikos Asteras | Evosmos | Agrotikos Asteras Ground | 2,267 | j !North Group, 9th & North Group Relegation Play-offs, 1st |
| Anagennisi Karditsa | Karditsa | Karditsa Stadium | 9,500 | j !North Group, 6th & North Group Relegation Play-offs, 3rd |
| Apollon Smyrni | Athens | Georgios Kamaras Stadium | 14,856 | j !South Group, 3rd & Promotion Play-offs, 3rd |
| A.O. Chania | Chania | Perivolia Municipal Stadium | 2,800 | j !South Group, 4th |
| Ergotelis | Heraklion | Pankritio Stadium | 26,000 | j !SL, 15th |
| Kallithea | Kallithea | Grigoris Lambrakis Stadium | 4,250 | j !South Group, 8th & South Group Relegation Play-offs, 3rd |
| A.O. Kassiopi | Corfu | Kerkyra Stadium | 2,191 | j !SL, 18th ( Kerkyra relegated for illegal transfer of shares and was given the last position of the league table.) |
| Kissamikos | Kissamos | Maleme Stadium | 700 | j !Gamma Ethniki, Group 4 , 1st |
| Lamia 1964 | Lamia | Lamia Stadium | 6,000 | j !North Group, 4th |
| AEL | Larissa | AEL FC Arena | 16,118 | j !North Group, 2nd & Promotion Play-offs, 4th |
| Olympiakos Volou | Volos | Volos Municipal Stadium | 9,000 | j !North Group, 3rd & Promotion Play-offs, 5th |
| Panachaiki | Patras | Kostas Davourlis Stadium | 11,321 | j !South Group, 2nd & Promotion Play-offs, 6th |
| Panegialios | Aigio | Aigio Stadium | 4,500 | j !South Group, 6th & South Group Relegation Play-offs, 2nd |
| Panelefsiniakos | Eleusina | Municipal Stadium of Eleusina | 1,800 | j !Gamma Ethniki, Group 3 , 1st |
| Panserraikos | Serres | Serres Municipal Stadium | 9,500 | j !Gamma Ethniki, Group 1 , 1st |
| A.O. Trikala | Trikala | Trikala Municipal Stadium | 14,000 | j !Gamma Ethniki, Group 2 , 1st |
| Zakynthos | Zakynthos | Zakynthians Olympic Champions Ground | 2,000 | j !North Group, 5th & North Group Relegation Play-offs, 2nd |
History
It began in 1954 as regional championship, separated in two groups, North and South. Then, the participating teams were the champions of each Greek football clubs association. Every year the participating teams were different. In 1960, the Division took its name and some teams were permanent. From 1960 to 1984, there existed multiple groups, peaking in 1962 with ten groups. In 1962, the Division was made permanent, something that had as an essential condition the disengagement of the teams from their local championships. This change has led many statisticians to begin statistics from this period (1962–63). For 21 periods, from 1962–63 to 1982–83, championship was carried out in groups. The subordinate system was introduced for first time in 1983–84 season.
On August 3, 2010, the change of division's name to Football League was announced.[1]
Structure
At present, there are eighteen clubs that compete in the Football League, playing each other in a home and away series. At the end of the season, the bottom four teams are relegated to the Football League 2. The top two teams gain automatic promotion. Unlike the Superleague, clubs in the Football League do not get relegated if the club fails to obtain a license. All teams in the Football League take part in the Greek Football Cup.
Winners
From 1960 to 1962
| Season |
Winner |
| 1959–60 | Fostiras, Atromitos Piraeus, Panelefsiniakos, Thermaikos |
| 1960–61 | Panelefsiniakos, Niki Volou, Aspida Xanthi, Egaleo |
| 1961–62 | Pankorinthiakos, Panegialios, Iraklis Kavala,
Iraklis Serres, Achilleas Trikala, Larissa,
Olympiakos Volos, Pierikos, Vyzas,
Rodiakos, OFI |
From 1963 to 1982
| Season |
Winner |
| 1962–63 | Edessaikos, Doxa Drama,
Olympiakos Chalkida, Pankorinthiakos |
| 1963–64 | Panachaiki, Proodeftiki, Philippi Kavala |
| 1964–65 | Panserraikos, Edessaikos, Egaleo, Vyzas |
| 1965–66 | Veria, OFI, Vyzas |
| 1966–67 | Panelefsiniakos, Kavala, Olympiakos Volou |
| 1967–68 | Chalkida, Trikala |
| 1968–69 | Panachaiki, Kavala |
| 1969–70 | Apollon Athens, Veria, Fostiras |
| 1970–71 | Panachaiki, Trikala, Ethnikos Olympiakos Volou |
| 1971–72 | Panserraikos, Kalamata, Atromitos |
| 1972–73 | Apollon Athens, Apollon Kalamarias, AEL |
| 1973–74 | PAS Giannina, Kastoria, Kalamata |
| 1974–75 | Apollon Athens, Panetolikos, Pierikos |
| 1975–76 | Kavala, OFI |
| 1976–77 | Egaleo, Veria |
| 1977–78 | Rodos, AEL |
| 1978–79 | Doxa Dramas, Korinthos |
| 1979–80 | Panserraikos, Atromitos |
| 1980–81 | Rodos, Iraklis |
| 1981–82 | Panachaiki, Makedonikos |
| 1982–83 | Egaleo, Apollon Kalamarias |
From 1983
References
External links
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| | 2015–16 teams |
*withdrew during the season
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| | Seasons |
- 1959–60
- 1960–61
- 1961–62
- 1962–63
- 1963–64
- 1964–65
- 1965–66
- 1966–67
- 1967–68
- 1968–69
- 1969–70
- 1970–71
- 1971–72
- 1972–73
- 1973–74
- 1974–75
- 1975–76
- 1976–77
- 1977–78
- 1978–79
- 1979–80
- 1980–81
- 1981–82
- 1982–83
- 1983–84
- 1984–85
- 1985–86
- 1986–87
- 1987–88
- 1988–89
- 1989–90
- 1990–91
- 1991–92
- 1992–93
- 1993–94
- 1994–95
- 1995–96
- 1996–97
- 1997–98
- 1998–99
- 1999–00
- 2000–01
- 2001–02
- 2002–03
- 2003–04
- 2004–05
- 2005–06
- 2006–07
- 2007–08
- 2008–09
- 2009–10
- 2010–11
- 2011–12
- 2012–13
- 2013–14
- 2014–15
- 2015–16
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| | Overview | |
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| | National teams | |
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| | League competitions | |
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| | Cup competitions | |
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| | Miscellaneous | |
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Greece
2015–16 Football League
