Lega Pro
| Country | Italy |
|---|---|
| Confederation | UEFA |
| Founded | 1959 (as Lega Nazionale Semiprofessionisti) |
| Divisions |
3 geographical divisions: North & Sardinia, Central, South |
| Number of teams | 60 |
| Level on pyramid | 3 |
| Promotion to | Serie B |
| Relegation to | Serie D |
| Domestic cup(s) |
Coppa Italia Supercoppa di Lega Pro |
| League cup(s) | Coppa Italia Lega Pro |
| International cup(s) |
UEFA Europa League (via winning Coppa Italia) |
| Current champions |
Cittadella (Group A) SPAL (Group B) Benevento (Group C) (2015–16 Lega Pro) |
| Most championships | Prato (5 titles) |
| TV partners | Rai Sport 1 |
| Website | Lega-pro.com |
 2016–17 Lega Pro
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The Lega Italiana Calcio Professionistico (Italian for: Italian Professional Football League), commonly known as Lega Pro (Pro League, Italian pronunciation: [ˈleːɡa ˈprɔ]), is the governing body that runs the eponymous third highest football division in Italy. It also included the sole professional club of San Marino until the club were relegated in 2015. Its headquarters are in Florence.
In the last edition (2013–14), Prima Divisione consisted of two groups: Girone A and Girone B, respectively of 17 and 16 teams. At the end of the season (until 2013), four teams (two from each group) go up to Serie B and six teams (three from each group) go down to Lega Pro Seconda Divisione; In the last edition no relegation but promotion to Serie B or qualification to Lega Pro.
Also Seconda Divisione consisted of two groups: Girone A and Girone B, but both of 18 teams. At the end of the season, six teams (three from each group) go up to Lega Pro Prima Divisione and nine teams (four from each group plus the loser play-out from each division) go down to Serie D. In both the Seconda Divisione, teams are split by geographical criteria, with the exception of the Sicilian team Milazzo that plays in group A.
The Seconda Divisione, until the summer of 2010 consisted of 54 teams, but in the season 2010–11 the teams were only 49 divided geographically into three divisions of 17, 16 and 16 teams each. At the end of the season, six teams (two from each group) went up to the Prima Divisione and four: two for the group A and one for each of the other two groups, went down to Serie D.
On 21 November 2012, it was announced that the two levels would be merged into a unique league composed by three groups of 20 teams each starting from the 2014–15 season. The merger became effective with the 2014–15 Lega Pro season.
A third division above the regional leagues was first created in Italy in 1926, when fascist authorities decided to reform the major championships on a national basis, increasing the number of teams participating by promoting many regional teams from the Third Division (Terza Divisione) to the Second Division (Seconda Divisione).
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