Tercera Federación (women)

The Tercera Federación FUTFEM[1] is the fourth tier of league competition for Spanish women's football. It is the female equivalent of the men's Segunda División RFEF and is run by the Real Federación Española de Fútbol.

Tercera Federación
Founded2001 (as Segunda División, second tier)
2019 (as Primera Nacional, became third tier)
2022 (became fourth tier)
CountrySpain
ConfederationUEFA
Number of teams6 groups of 14 teams
Level on pyramid4
Promotion toSegunda Federación
Relegation toRegional leagues
Current: 2023–24

History

edit

The league was created in 2001, with the inception of the new Superliga Femenina, composed by only group instead of the four of the previous seasons.

Since 2011, teams were divided in seven groups by geographical criteria.

The league was renamed as the Primera Nacional de Fútbol in 2019 after the RFEF renamed the new division between it and the first tier as Segunda División Pro, after initially naming it Primera División B.

In early 2022, it was confirmed that the league structure would be altered again, after only three seasons: the existing Primera División would be a standalone professional league of 16 teams, a single nationwide 16-team division known as the Primera Federación would be created as the second tier, the existing Segunda División Pro of 32 teams (two regionalised 16-team groups) would become the third tier and be named the Segunda Federación, and the existing Primera Nacional division of 96 teams (six regionalised 16-team groups) would become the fourth tier. These levels would be administered by the RFEF and more closely resemble the men's post-2021 structure, albeit only one professional league and six fourth-tier groups rather than five.[2] The fourth level was renamed the Tercera Federación FUTFEM prior to the 2023–24 season.

2022–23 teams

edit
edit

This table shows the group winners and the promoted teams.[3]

As second tier

edit
Season Group I Group II Group III Group IV Group V Group VI Group VII Best runner-up
2001–02 Leioa Amigos del Duero Barcelona Rayo Vallecano Atlético Jiennense Rayco
2002–03 Lagunak Gijón Barcelona Rayo Vallecano Atlético Jiennense Rayco
2003–04 Oiartzun Gijón Barcelona Atlético Madrid Andalucía Rayco
2004–05 Transportes Alcaine Gijón L'Estartit Sporting Plaza de Argel Nuestra Señora de la Antigua Rayco
2005–06 Real Sociedad[a] Atlético Arousana L'Estartit Atlético Madrid Sporting Huelva Rayco
2006–07 Mariño Reocín L'Estartit Colegio Alemán Atlético Málaga Rayco
2007–08 Lagunak El Olivo Barcelona Pozuelo de Alarcón Atlético Málaga Arguineguín
2008–09[b] Oiartzun Oviedo Moderno Collerense Fundación Albacete[c] Atlético Jiennense[b] Tacuense
2009–10 Oiartzun[d] Reocín Sant Gabriel Fundación Albacete Extremadura Femenino Charco del Pino
2010–11 Abanto El Olivo Girona[e] Fundación Albacete[f] Llanos de Olivenza Tacuense
2011–12 Oviedo Moderno Oiartzun[d] Levante Las Planas Sevilla Torrejón Tacuense Fundación Albacete Femarguín
2012–13 Oviedo Moderno[g] Añorga Girona Granada Torrejón[g] Charco del Pino Fundación Albacete El Olivo[h]
2013–14 El Olivo Oiartzun[d] Lleida[e] Santa Teresa La Solana[f] Granadilla Fundación Albacete Sporting Plaza de Argel[h]
2014–15 El Olivo Oiartzun Levante Las Planas Real Betis Madrid CFF Femarguín Sporting Plaza de Argel Granadilla
2015–16 El Olivo Logroño Seagull[i] Real Betis Madrid CFF[c] Tacuense Lorca FAD[j] Femarguín
2016–17 Oviedo Moderno San Ignacio[d] Seagull[i] Sevilla Madrid CFF Femarguín Sporting Plaza de Argel[k]
2017–18 Oviedo Logroño Seagull[i] Málaga Tacón Femarguín Sporting Plaza de Argel
2018–19 Deportivo La Coruña Osasuna Zaragoza CFF Santa Teresa Tacón Femarguín Alhama[j] Juan Grande
  1. ^ Real Sociedad was promoted after the dissolution of Estudiantes.
  2. ^ a b As the Superliga was expanded to 22 teams, several professional men's football clubs were invited to the league by promoting or directly creating women's football teams. These teams were Eibar, Gimnàstic, Jaén (Atlético Jiennense), Las Palmas, Sevilla and Valladolid.
  3. ^ a b Winners Atlético Madrid B could not be promoted as they are a reserve team, runners-up played the promotion playoffs.
  4. ^ a b c d Winners Athletic Bilbao B could not be promoted as they are a reserve team, runners-up played the promotion playoffs.
  5. ^ a b Winners Espanyol B could not be promoted as they are a reserve team, runners-up played the promotion playoffs.
  6. ^ a b Winners Rayo Vallecano B could not be promoted as they are a reserve team, runners-up played the promotion playoffs.
  7. ^ a b Oviedo Moderno promoted as Torrejón resigned after the end of the season.
  8. ^ a b Runner-up of Group 6 was not allowed to play the promotion playoffs.
  9. ^ a b c Winners Barcelona B could not be promoted as they are a reserve team, runners-up played the promotion playoffs.
  10. ^ a b Winners Valencia B could not be promoted as they are a reserve team, runners-up played the promotion playoffs.
  11. ^ Winners and runners-up Levante B and Valencia B could not be promoted as they are reserve teams, third-placed team played the promotion playoffs.

As third tier

edit
Season Group I Group II Group III Group IV Group V Group VI Group VII Best runner-up
2019–20 Monte Añorga Espanyol B Real Betis B La Solana Unión Viera Aldaia Joventut Almassora
2020–21[a] Viajes Interrías F. F. Real Oviedo B[b] Pradejón Real Sociedad B Levante Las Planas Real Betis B Getafe La Garita Geneto del Teide Elche
2021–22[c] Mixta Friol Bizkerre Europa Málaga Real Madrid B Tenerife Valencia B 13 teams[c]
  1. ^ Includes winners of 'mini groups' in Groups I, II and VI during temporary reconstruction due to COVID-19 pandemic travel restrictions.
  2. ^ Real Oviedo B could not be promoted as they are a reserve team of a club in the division above (Real Oviedo).
  3. ^ a b All seven group winners and runners-up – Viajes InterRías, Osasuna B, Atlético Baleares, Torrelodones, Unión Viera and Levante B – along with the six best ranked other teams – Sárdoma, Athletic Club C, Almería, Cáceres Atlético, CD Getafe and CFF Albacete – were promoted to the Segunda Federación division as part of league reconstruction.

References

edit
  1. ^ Distribución de los grupos de Tercera Federación FUTFEM
  2. ^ Nuevo estructura de ligas de fútbol femenino a patir de 2022-2023 [New structure of women's football leagues from 2022-2023], Manel Expósito, Fútboleras, 10 February 2022 (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 April 2022
  3. ^ "Resultados históricos de las ligas españolas de fútbol en categorías femeninas nacionales" [Historic results of Spanish football leagues in national women's categories] (in Spanish). Arquero Arba (Antonio Valencia Ruiz). Retrieved 24 January 2019.
edit