Serie D
Encyclopedia
Serie D is the top level of the Italian
non-professional football
association called Lega Nazionale Dilettanti. The association represents over a million football players and thousands of football teams across Italy. Serie D ranks just below Lega Pro Seconda Divisione (the 4th and last professional league), and is thus considered the 5th ranked league in the country. It is organized by the Roman
Comitato Interregionale (Interregional Committee), a "league in the league" inside the LND.
From 1959 each player attending the Serie D championships had to opt for semi-professional status by signing a specially issued status attribution form. The championship was so included in the Lega Nazionale Semiprofessionisti, today known as Lega Pro. Serie D had to be re-organized in 1981 when championships had to be reduced so that league name changed too into the new name Interregionale and players lost semi-pro status and converted to amateurs. The championship consequently passed into the Lega Nazionale Dilettanti
. From 1992 to 1999 had the name changed into Campionato Nazionale Dilettanti before eventually returning to the current Serie D name.
But for the 2010-11 season, the teams are 167 and two groups (A and F) are formed of 20 and the I of 19 teams. Their distribution by region is as follows:
If a newly promoted Serie D team fails to meet the requirements, Seconda Divisione asks the second-placed team in that Serie D team's division to fill the vacancy. Failing that, even the third-placed team may fill the vacancy, and so on.
In most years, one or more teams from the senior leagues from Serie A down to Lega Pro Seconda Divisione fail to meet the regulatory or financial requirements to remain there. These vacancies are usually announced in the summer rest period as the new season is being organized. As teams move up to fill the void created by these failed teams, spaces are created in Lega Pro Seconda Divisione that need to be filled.
For example, in the 2007-08 season there were nine such failures, and thus, nine Lega Pro Seconda Divisione spaces were created. Four of those spaces were filled by calling back teams that had played in Seconda Divisione but were relegated to Serie D for the next season. The other five vacancies were filled by Serie D teams that had participated in the Serie D playoffs.
In round one, for each division, the 5th-placed team is matched against the 2nd-placed team, and the 4th-placed team is matched against the 3rd-placed team. Round 2 matches the two winners. At the end of round 2, one team from each division survives. The nine winners are grouped into 3 groups of three and play each team in their own group once (one at home and one away). The three group winners qualify for the play-off semi-finals. New for 2007-08, the Coppa Italia Serie D
winner qualifies for the 4th semi-final spot. The semi-finals are a two-legged tie, with the winners qualifying for a one-game final match played at a neutral site.
The playoff results provide the league with a list from which it may choose teams to fill vacancies in Seconda Divisione. In 2007-08, the top 5 placed play-off teams were selected to fill vacancies, however, in 2006-07, no team was needed to fill vacancies.
the following season and the two losers are also relegated to Eccellenza
, a regional amateur league below this, for a total of 4 relegations in each division, 36 in total for the league.
There are no play-out if the difference between 6th-last vs 3rd-last and that between 5th-last vs 4th-last is bigger than eight points.
Head-to-head results are used in all other situations, such as when all the teams involved are qualified in the promotional playoffs, or all teams are participating in the relegation playoffs.
Round one divides the nine teams into three groups of three teams each where each team plays a single game against each of its other two opponents. The three group winners and best second-placed team advance to the semifinals.
The first scudetto dilettanti was assigned in 1952-1953, when the Serie D was still called IV Serie (fourth division). Its assignation was suspended from 1958-1959 to 1991-1992.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
non-professional football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
association called Lega Nazionale Dilettanti. The association represents over a million football players and thousands of football teams across Italy. Serie D ranks just below Lega Pro Seconda Divisione (the 4th and last professional league), and is thus considered the 5th ranked league in the country. It is organized by the Roman
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
Comitato Interregionale (Interregional Committee), a "league in the league" inside the LND.
History
When in 1948 the three leagues running Division 3 (Italian Serie C) had to be reorganized due to an ever growing number of regional teams joining, FIGC decided not to relegate the exceeding teams to regional championships. It choose the winners and a few runners-up from the 36 Serie C championships to be added to the new third division setted up into 4 groups. The rest of the teams attended the new Promozione Interregionale which changed name in 1952 into Quarta Serie (Fourth Division) and then in 1959 into Serie D.From 1959 each player attending the Serie D championships had to opt for semi-professional status by signing a specially issued status attribution form. The championship was so included in the Lega Nazionale Semiprofessionisti, today known as Lega Pro. Serie D had to be re-organized in 1981 when championships had to be reduced so that league name changed too into the new name Interregionale and players lost semi-pro status and converted to amateurs. The championship consequently passed into the Lega Nazionale Dilettanti
Lega Nazionale Dilettanti
The Lega Nazionale Dilettanti is the giant league which rules the amatorial football of FIGC in Italy.Founded in 1959 in Rome, it has many leagues inside: a national league, the Interregional Commettee, which organizes the Serie D championship from 1981, nineteen regional leagues called Regional...
. From 1992 to 1999 had the name changed into Campionato Nazionale Dilettanti before eventually returning to the current Serie D name.
Structure
Since the early 1990s, Serie D has consisted of 162 teams split into 9 regional divisions (Gironi), usually formed of 18 teams each divided geographically.But for the 2010-11 season, the teams are 167 and two groups (A and F) are formed of 20 and the I of 19 teams. Their distribution by region is as follows:
- Girone A - teams from PiedmontPiedmontPiedmont is one of the 20 regions of Italy. It has an area of 25,402 square kilometres and a population of about 4.4 million. The capital of Piedmont is Turin. The main local language is Piedmontese. Occitan is also spoken by a minority in the Occitan Valleys situated in the Provinces of...
, LiguriaLiguriaLiguria is a coastal region of north-western Italy, the third smallest of the Italian regions. Its capital is Genoa. It is a popular region with tourists for its beautiful beaches, picturesque little towns, and good food.-Geography:...
& Aosta ValleyFor 2010-11 season, Girone A includes two teams from LombardyLombardyLombardy is one of the 20 regions of Italy. The capital is Milan. One-sixth of Italy's population lives in Lombardy and about one fifth of Italy's GDP is produced in this region, making it the most populous and richest region in the country and one of the richest in the whole of Europe...
, to avoid a surplus in the Girone B. - Girone B - teams from LombardyLombardyLombardy is one of the 20 regions of Italy. The capital is Milan. One-sixth of Italy's population lives in Lombardy and about one fifth of Italy's GDP is produced in this region, making it the most populous and richest region in the country and one of the richest in the whole of Europe...
, VenetoVenetoVeneto is one of the 20 regions of Italy. Its population is about 5 million, ranking 5th in Italy.Veneto had been for more than a millennium an independent state, the Republic of Venice, until it was eventually annexed by Italy in 1866 after brief Austrian and French rule...
& Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol - Girone C - teams from VenetoVenetoVeneto is one of the 20 regions of Italy. Its population is about 5 million, ranking 5th in Italy.Veneto had been for more than a millennium an independent state, the Republic of Venice, until it was eventually annexed by Italy in 1866 after brief Austrian and French rule...
& Friuli-Venezia GiuliaFriuli-Venezia GiuliaFriuli–Venezia Giulia is one of the twenty regions of Italy, and one of five autonomous regions with special statute. The capital is Trieste. It has an area of 7,858 km² and about 1.2 million inhabitants. A natural opening to the sea for many Central European countries, the region is... - Girone D - teams from LombardyLombardyLombardy is one of the 20 regions of Italy. The capital is Milan. One-sixth of Italy's population lives in Lombardy and about one fifth of Italy's GDP is produced in this region, making it the most populous and richest region in the country and one of the richest in the whole of Europe...
, Emilia-RomagnaEmilia-RomagnaEmilia–Romagna is an administrative region of Northern Italy comprising the two historic regions of Emilia and Romagna. The capital is Bologna; it has an area of and about 4.4 million inhabitants....
& TuscanyTuscanyTuscany is a region in Italy. It has an area of about 23,000 square kilometres and a population of about 3.75 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence .... - Girone E - teams from TuscanyTuscanyTuscany is a region in Italy. It has an area of about 23,000 square kilometres and a population of about 3.75 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence ....
& UmbriaUmbriaUmbria is a region of modern central Italy. It is one of the smallest Italian regions and the only peninsular region that is landlocked.Its capital is Perugia.Assisi and Norcia are historical towns associated with St. Francis of Assisi, and St...
For 2010-11 season, Girone E includes a team from Lazio, to avoid a surplus in the Girone G. - Girone F - teams from Emilia-RomagnaEmilia-RomagnaEmilia–Romagna is an administrative region of Northern Italy comprising the two historic regions of Emilia and Romagna. The capital is Bologna; it has an area of and about 4.4 million inhabitants....
, MarcheMarcheThe population density in the region is below the national average. In 2008, it was 161.5 inhabitants per km2, compared to the national figure of 198.8. It is highest in the province of Ancona , and lowest in the province of Macerata...
, AbruzzoAbruzzoAbruzzo is a region in Italy, its western border lying less than due east of Rome. Abruzzo borders the region of Marche to the north, Lazio to the west and south-west, Molise to the south-east, and the Adriatic Sea to the east...
& MoliseMoliseMolise is a region of Southern Italy, the second smallest of the regions. It was formerly part of the region of Abruzzi e Molise and now a separate entity... - Girone G - teams from Lazio & SardiniaSardiniaSardinia is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea . It is an autonomous region of Italy, and the nearest land masses are the French island of Corsica, the Italian Peninsula, Sicily, Tunisia and the Spanish Balearic Islands.The name Sardinia is from the pre-Roman noun *sard[],...
For 2010-11 season, Girone G includes two teams from CampaniaCampaniaCampania is a region in southern Italy. The region has a population of around 5.8 million people, making it the second-most-populous region of Italy; its total area of 13,590 km² makes it the most densely populated region in the country...
, to avoid a surplus in the Girone H and I. - Girone H - teams from CampaniaCampaniaCampania is a region in southern Italy. The region has a population of around 5.8 million people, making it the second-most-populous region of Italy; its total area of 13,590 km² makes it the most densely populated region in the country...
, ApuliaApuliaApulia is a region in Southern Italy bordering the Adriatic Sea in the east, the Ionian Sea to the southeast, and the Strait of Òtranto and Gulf of Taranto in the south. Its most southern portion, known as Salento peninsula, forms a high heel on the "boot" of Italy. The region comprises , and...
& BasilicataBasilicataBasilicata , also known as Lucania, is a region in the south of Italy, bordering on Campania to the west, Apulia to the north and east, and Calabria to the south, having one short southwestern coastline on the Tyrrhenian Sea between Campania in the northwest and Calabria in the southwest, and a...
For 2010-11 season, Girone H includes a team from Lazio, to avoid a surplus in the Girone G. - Girone I - teams from CampaniaCampaniaCampania is a region in southern Italy. The region has a population of around 5.8 million people, making it the second-most-populous region of Italy; its total area of 13,590 km² makes it the most densely populated region in the country...
, CalabriaCalabriaCalabria , in antiquity known as Bruttium, is a region in southern Italy, south of Naples, located at the "toe" of the Italian Peninsula. The capital city of Calabria is Catanzaro....
& SicilySicilySicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
Promotions
The first-placed team from each division is promoted to Lega Pro Seconda Divisione each year, and replaces one of the 9 teams from Lega Pro Seconda Divisione that is relegated down to Serie D.If a newly promoted Serie D team fails to meet the requirements, Seconda Divisione asks the second-placed team in that Serie D team's division to fill the vacancy. Failing that, even the third-placed team may fill the vacancy, and so on.
In most years, one or more teams from the senior leagues from Serie A down to Lega Pro Seconda Divisione fail to meet the regulatory or financial requirements to remain there. These vacancies are usually announced in the summer rest period as the new season is being organized. As teams move up to fill the void created by these failed teams, spaces are created in Lega Pro Seconda Divisione that need to be filled.
For example, in the 2007-08 season there were nine such failures, and thus, nine Lega Pro Seconda Divisione spaces were created. Four of those spaces were filled by calling back teams that had played in Seconda Divisione but were relegated to Serie D for the next season. The other five vacancies were filled by Serie D teams that had participated in the Serie D playoffs.
Playoffs
Playoffs are held after the regular season is over and involve teams placed second through fifth in each division. The first two rounds are single game elimination matches played at the home of the higher-classified team. Games ending in ties are extended to extra time. New for 2007-08, if games are still tied after extra time, the higher classified team is declared the winner. No penalty kicks are taken.In round one, for each division, the 5th-placed team is matched against the 2nd-placed team, and the 4th-placed team is matched against the 3rd-placed team. Round 2 matches the two winners. At the end of round 2, one team from each division survives. The nine winners are grouped into 3 groups of three and play each team in their own group once (one at home and one away). The three group winners qualify for the play-off semi-finals. New for 2007-08, the Coppa Italia Serie D
Coppa Italia Serie D
Coppa Italia Serie D is a straight knock-out based competition involving teams from Serie D in Italian football. All games, including the final, are on a home/away basis...
winner qualifies for the 4th semi-final spot. The semi-finals are a two-legged tie, with the winners qualifying for a one-game final match played at a neutral site.
The playoff results provide the league with a list from which it may choose teams to fill vacancies in Seconda Divisione. In 2007-08, the top 5 placed play-off teams were selected to fill vacancies, however, in 2006-07, no team was needed to fill vacancies.
Relegations Playout
After the regular season is complete, teams placed 6th-last through to 3rd-last in each division play a double-leg series (6th-last vs 3rd-last, 5th-last vs 4th-last) where the winners remain in Serie DSerie D
Serie D is the top level of the Italian non-professional football association called Lega Nazionale Dilettanti. The association represents over a million football players and thousands of football teams across Italy. Serie D ranks just below Lega Pro Seconda Divisione , and is thus considered the...
the following season and the two losers are also relegated to Eccellenza
Eccellenza
Eccellenza is the sixth level of Italian football. It is a regional league, composed of 28 divisions divided geographically. All 20 regions are represented by at least one division except for Piedmont and Aosta Valley which share 2 divisions...
, a regional amateur league below this, for a total of 4 relegations in each division, 36 in total for the league.
There are no play-out if the difference between 6th-last vs 3rd-last and that between 5th-last vs 4th-last is bigger than eight points.
Tie-Breakers
Serie D does not use head-to-head results to order teams that are tied in points in certain situations, single-game tie-breakers are held at neutral sites instead. Those situations are the following:- a tie between 1st and 2nd place, where the winner would get a direct promotion to Seconda Divisione and loser qualifies for the play-offs
- a tie between 5th and 6th place, where only the winner would qualify to participate in the play-offs.
- a tie between 7th-last and 6th-last, where the winner avoids participating in the relegation play-out.
- a tie between 3rd-last and 2nd-last, where the winner qualifies for the relegation play-out and the loser is directly relegated.
Head-to-head results are used in all other situations, such as when all the teams involved are qualified in the promotional playoffs, or all teams are participating in the relegation playoffs.
Scudetto Dilettanti
Each year, after the end of the regular season, the winners of the nine Serie D divisions qualify for a championship tournament in order to assign the so-called Scudetto Dilettanti (amateur champions' title).Round one divides the nine teams into three groups of three teams each where each team plays a single game against each of its other two opponents. The three group winners and best second-placed team advance to the semifinals.
The first scudetto dilettanti was assigned in 1952-1953, when the Serie D was still called IV Serie (fourth division). Its assignation was suspended from 1958-1959 to 1991-1992.
Champions
- 1952-53 - CatanzaroF.C. CatanzaroCatanzaro Calcio 2011 is an Italian football club based in Catanzaro, Calabria.The club were founded in 1929 as Catanzarese, then changed their denomnation to Unione Sportiva Catanzaro in 1946, shortly after the end of the World War II and in 2006 to Football Club Catanzaro...
- 1953-54 - BariA.S. BariAssociazione Sportiva Bari is an Italian football club founded in 1908, they are based in Bari, Apulia and plays in Serie B. The club have spent many seasons bouncing between the top two divisions in Italian football, Serie A and Serie B....
- 1954-55 - ColleferroColleferro Calcio 1937TheSports Association Football Colleferro is an Italian football club in the city of Colleferro , which currently plays in championship Eccellenza.- History :...
- 1955-56 - SienaA.C. SienaAssociazione Calcio Siena is an Italian football club based in Siena.The club currently plays in Serie A, having gained promotion from Serie B at the end of the 2010-2011 season....
- 1956-57 - Sarom RavennaRavenna CalcioRavenna Calcio is an Italian association football club, based in Ravenna, Emilia-Romagna. The club was founded in 1913 and refounded in 2001....
- 1957-58 - CosenzaA.S. Cosenza CalcioNuova Cosenza Calcio is an Italian football club, based in Cosenza, Calabria. The team's official colours are red and blue.-Early times and Serie B:...
, Ozo Mantova & SpeziaSpezia Calcio 1906Spezia Calcio 1906 is an Italian football club, based in La Spezia, Liguria. Founded in 1906, the team's colors are black and white. The club's home ground is Stadio Alberto Picco.-1944 scudetto:...
(ex-aequo) - 1958-59 - CascinaA.S.D. Cascina CalcioAssociazione Sportiva Dilettante Cascina Calcio is an Italian association football club located in Cascina, Tuscany. It currently plays in Serie D. Its colors are black and blue.-External links: *...
- 1959-60 to 1961-62 - Title assigned to the winning groups of Prima CategoriaPrima CategoriaPrima Categoria is the name of a level of football in Italy. It is considered to be the eighth level in the Italian football league system and is organized by the National Amateur League by the Regional Committees. Each individual league winner within the Prima Categoria level progresses to their...
- 1962-63 to 1991-92 - Title not assigned
- 1992-93 - Eurobuilding Crevalcore
- 1993-94 - Pro Vercelli
- 1994-95 - TarantoTaranto SportA.S. Taranto Calcio is an Italian association football club, based in Taranto, Apulia. The club was founded in 1904. Taranto currently plays in Lega Pro Prima Divisione, having last been in Serie B in 1993. The team's colors are red and blue.-History:...
- 1995-96 - Castel San PietroCastel San Pietro Terme CalcioS.S.D. Castel San Pietro Terme Calcio is an Italian association football club, based in Castel San Pietro Terme.In the season 2010-11 it was relegated from Serie D group D to Eccellenza Emilia–Romagna.-History:The club was founded in 1934....
Successively not admitted to Serie C2. - 1996-97 - BielleseA.S. Biellese 1902Associazione Sportiva Dilettantistica Junior Biellese Libertas is an Italian football club, based in Biella, Piedmont that currently plays in Eccellenza Piedmont and Aosta Valley.-From U.S. Biellese to A.S. Biellese:...
- 1997-98 - GiuglianoS.S.C. GiuglianoSocietà Sportiva Calcio Giugliano is an Italian association football club, based in Giugliano in Campania, Campania. The club was founded in 1928. The team's colors are blue and yellow.-External links:*...
- 1998-99 - LancianoS.S. LancianoSocietà Sportiva Virtus Lanciano 1924 is an Italian association football club, based in Lanciano, Abruzzo. Lanciano currently plays in Lega Pro Prima Divisione.- History :The club was founded in 1920 and refounded in 2008 in the current one....
- 1999-00 - SangiovanneseA.C. Sangiovannese 1927Associazione Sportiva Dilettantistica SanGiovanniValdarno is an Italian association football, based in San Giovanni Valdarno, Tuscany.It currently plays in Eccellenza Tuscany....
- 2000-01 - PalmeseA.S. Palmese CalcioU.S.D. Palmese is an Italian association football club, based in Palma Campania, Campania.-History:The club was founded in the year 1914. In the season 2000–2001 was the champion of Serie D.-Stadium:...
- 2001-02 - OlbiaOlbia CalcioU.S. Olbia 1905 is an Italian association football club, based in Olbia, Sardinia. The club was founded in 1905. Olbia currently plays in Eccellenza...
- 2002-03 - CaveseS.S. Cavese 1919Società Sportiva Cavese 1919, commonly known as Cavese, is an Italian football club, based in Cava de' Tirreni, Campania. Currently it plays only in the youth championship of Juniores Regionale Campania....
- 2003-04 - MasseseU.S. Massese 1919Società Sportiva Dilettantistica Massese is an Italian football club, based in Massa, Tuscany. Massese currently plays in Eccellenza Tuscany, having last been in Serie B in 1969.- History :The club was founded in 1919 as Società Sportiva Juventus Massa....
- 2004-05 - Bassano VirtusBassano Virtus 55 S.T.Bassano Virtus 55 Soccer Team is an Italian association football club, based in Bassano del Grappa, Veneto.The club currently plays in Lega Pro Prima Divisione...
- 2005-06 - PaganesePaganese Calcio 1926Paganese Calcio 1926 is an Italian association football club from Pagani, Campania.It currently plays in Lega Pro Seconda Divisione.-History:The club was founded in 1926....
- 2006-07 - TempioU.S. TempioUnione Sportiva Tempio is an Italian association football club located in Tempio Pausania, Sardinia. Its colors are all-blue.The club played the 2006–07 season in Serie D/Division B, placing first and gaining promotion to Serie C2...
Successively not admitted to Serie C2. - 2007-08 - Aversa NormannaA.S.D. Aversa NormannaSan Felice Aversa Normanna is an Italian association football club located in Aversa, Campania. The team's colours are all-dark red....
- 2008-09 - Pro VastoF.C. Pro VastoFootball Club Dilettantistico Vasto Marina is an Italian association football club based in Vasto, Abruzzo. The club was founded in 1902 and subsequently refounded in 1981, 1995, and 2010...
- 2009-10 - MontichiariA.C. MontichiariAssociazione Calcio Montichiari is an Italian association football club, based in Montichiari, Lombardy.The club currently plays in Lega Pro Seconda Divisione.-Recent events:...
- 2010-11 - CuneoA.C. Cuneo 1905Associazione Calcio Cuneo 1905 is an Italian football club, based in Cuneo, Piedmont.The club currently plays in Lega Pro Seconda Divisione.-History:The club was founded in 1905 as Unione Sportiva Alta Italia, taking its current name in 1998....