Verbandsliga Mittelrhein
 |
|
| Country |
 Germany
|
|---|---|
| State |
 Nordrhein-Westfalen
|
| Region | Middle Rhine |
| Confederation | Football Association of the Middle Rhine |
| Founded | 1956 |
| Number of teams | 16 |
| Level on pyramid | Level 5 |
| Promotion to | Regionalliga West |
| Relegation to |
Landesliga Mittelrhein (2 divisions) |
| Current champions |
Bonner SC (2015–16) |
 2015–16 Mittelrheinliga
|
|
The Mittelrheinliga (English: Middle Rhine League), sometimes also referred to as Oberliga Mittelrhein after its elevation to Oberliga status in 2012, is a German amateur football division administered by the Football association of the Middle Rhine, one of the 21 German state football associations. Being the top flight of the Middle Rhine state association, the league is currently a level 5 division of the German football league system.
Until 1956, a total of ten Landesliga divisions, among them two divisions of Landesliga Mittelrhein were the highest amateur level in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. After the regular season, the ten Landesliga champions had to play-off for two promotion spots to 2. Oberliga West. Upon decision of the superior Western German football association, in 1956 four divisions of Verbandsliga were introduced, one of them being the Verbandsliga Mittelrhein. These four divisions of Verbandsliga still exist today, with the Verbandsliga Mittelrhein in 2008 renamed to Mittelrheinliga and later in 2012 renamed to Mittelrheinliga.
The Verbandsliga Mittelrhein was upon its interception the third tier of the German football league system. The league champion had to play-off the winners of the Verbandsliga Niederrhein and the two divisions of Verbandsliga Westfalen for two promotion spots to the 2. Oberliga West. Upon introduction of the Bundesliga in 1963, the league was set below the new Regionalliga West but remained as the third tier. With the exception of 1963 and 1974, when the league systems were changed, the champion continued to have the opportunity to win promotion. The clubs from the Verbandsliga Mittelrhein remained mostly unsuccessful as that, only achieving promotion in 1966, 67, 68, 73, 75, 76 and 78.
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