Lega Pro Seconda Divisione
| Country | Italy |
|---|---|
| Confederation | FIGC |
| Founded | 1978 as Serie C2 2008 as Lega Pro Seconda Divisione |
| Folded | 2014 |
| Number of teams | 36 (18 for each group) |
| Level on pyramid | 4 |
| Promotion to | Lega Pro Prima Divisione |
| Relegation to | Serie D |
| Domestic cup(s) |
Coppa Italia Lega Pro Supercoppa di Lega di Seconda Divisione |
| Last champions |
Bassano Virtus (group A) Messina (group B) (2013–14) |
| Most championships |
Mantova, Messina, Prato, Siena, Varese (3 each) |
| Website | www.lega-pro.com |
Lega Pro Seconda Divisione was the fourth highest football league in Italy, the lowest with a professional status. Usually it consisted of 36 teams, but in the season 2011–12 the teams were 41 divided geographically into two divisions of 20, 21. Group A covers northern and north central Italy, Group B south central and southern Italy.
Until the season 2007–08 the league was known as Serie C2.
Before the 1978–79 season there were only three professional football leagues in Italy, the third being Serie C. In 1978, it was decided to split Serie C into Serie C1 (the third highest league) and Serie C2. Upon its inception in 1978–79, Serie C2 consisted of four divisions, however, that number was reduced to three from the start of the 1991–92 season. The reform, already decided by the FIGC lead to the reunification with the first division starting from 2014-2015 and with the subsequent rebirth of the third tier championship organized by the pro league with 60 teams divided into three groups of 20 in Lega Pro.
During the regular season, teams only played the other teams in their division. Each opponent was played twice, once at home and once away, for a total of 34 matches. Games were scheduled such that in the first 17 matches, every opponent was played once. In the last 17 matches, the same opponents were played in the same order with the only difference being that the venue changed.
In each division, two teams are promoted to Lega Pro Prima Divisione, and three teams are relegated to Serie D. In total, the league promotes 6 teams to Prima Divisione and relegates 9 teams to Serie D.
The team finishing first in the regular season was directly promoted to Prima Divisione, while teams placing 2nd to 5th were entered into a play-off semi-final for the chance of gaining the second promotional spot for that particular division.
In the play-off phase that took place after the regular season was completed, in each division the team placed 2nd played the team placed 5th, and the team placed 3rd played the team placed 4th in two double-leg promotional semi-final series with the higher classified team having home field advantage in the second leg. In case of an aggregate tie score, the away goals rule was not used, and the higher classified team was declared the winner without extra time being played nor penalty kicks being taken. The winning teams advanced to the final in another double-leg series with similar rules. The only difference being that if an aggregate tie existed at the end of the second match, extra time was played. If the tie persisted, again the higher classified team was declared the winner and no penalty kicks were taken. The winner became the second team promoted for that particular division to Prima Divisione.
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