Segunda División B (English: Second Division B) was the third tier of the Spanish football league system containing 102 teams divided into five groups, until it was replaced by the new structure in 2021. It was administered by the Royal Spanish Football Federation. It was below the top two professional leagues, the Primera División (also known as La Liga) and the Segunda División, and above the Tercera División. The Segunda División B included the reserve teams of a number of La Liga and Segunda División teams. As of the 2023-24 season, its successors are the Primera Federación and the Segunda Federación.

Segunda División B
Founded1977
Folded2021
CountrySpain
Other club(s) fromAndorra (1 team)
Divisions4
Number of teams4 groups of 20 teams each (80)
3 groups of 20 teams and 2 group of 21, 8 subgroups of 10 teams each and 2 subgroups of 11 in 2020–21 (102)
Level on pyramid3
Promotion toSegunda División
Relegation toTercera División
Domestic cup(s)Copa del Rey
Copa Federación
International cup(s)UEFA Europa League
(via winning Copa del Rey)
Last championsBurgos (Group 1)
Real Sociedad B (Group 2)
UD Ibiza (Group 3)
Linares Deportivo (Group 4)
Badajoz (Group 5)
TV partnersFORTA: ETB 1, laOtra, tvG2, TPA
IB3, TV Melilla
Real Madrid TV, SFC TV
WebsiteOfficial website

The league’s last ever season was in 2020-21. For the 2021–22 season, Segunda División B was replaced by Segunda División RFEF, which became the fourth tier due to the creation of a new, semi-professional third division by the Spanish federation (RFEF) called the Primera División RFEF.

History edit

The term Segunda División B was first used in 1929. It was used to designate a third level of teams after the Primera División and a Segunda División A. This division featured 10 teams and at the end of the season Cultural Leonesa were crowned champions. However, the 1929–30 season saw the first of many reorganisations of the Spanish football league system and the original Segunda División B was replaced by the Tercera División. At the start of the 1977–78 season the Segunda División B was revived, replacing the Tercera División as the third level. Initially the division consisted of only two groups. The 1986–87 season was played as a single group of 22 teams. It was changed the next year, with 80 teams in four groups from the 1987–88 season.

The RFEF approved the expansion of the league initially to five groups of 20 teams each and recommended its further division into 10 subgroups of 10 teams each for ease of schedule, only for the 2020–21 season, due to promotion from the Tercera División groups in the curtailed 2019–20 season being applied. Also, the Segunda División B dropped down to the fourth level and changed its name to Segunda División RFEF on the creation of a new, two-group, 40-team third division called Primera División RFEF, which began to play in the 2021–22 season.[1][2] An additional two teams were promoted after the 2020 Tercera División play-offs were called off and could not be replayed.[3] In the 2020–21 season, the 102 qualified teams were divided into three groups of 20 and two groups of 21, subdivided into eight subgroups of 10 and two subgroups of 11.

Historical classification edit

Segunda División B currently features 80 teams divided into 4 groups of 20. The top four teams from each group, 16 teams in total, qualify for play-offs to determine which four teams will replace the four teams relegated from the Segunda División. However reserve teams are only eligible for promotion to the Segunda División if their senior team is in the Primera División. The top five teams from each group and best two teams regardless of group outside the previous twenty, excluding reserve teams, also qualify for the following seasons Copa del Rey. The bottom four teams in each league are relegated to the Tercera División. Also, the four 16th-placed teams enter into a relegation playoff to determine the two teams to be relegated. One team is paired with one of the others in home and away series. the two winners remain in the division while the losers are relegated. A reserve team can also be relegated if their senior team is relegated from the Segunda División. Along with teams from the Tercera División, teams from the division also compete in the Copa Federación.

Since the 2008–09 season, the four group winners had the opportunity to be promoted directly and be named the overall Segunda División B champion. The four group winners are drawn into a two-legged series where the two winners are promoted to the Segunda División and enter into the final for the Segunda División B championship. The two losing semifinalists enter the playoff round for the last two promotion spots.

Until 2019, the four group runners-up were drawn against one of the three fourth-placed teams outside their group while the four third-placed teams were also drawn against one another in a two-legged series. The six winners advanced with the two losing semifinalists to determine the four teams that will enter the last two-legged series for the last two promotion spots. In all the playoff series, the lower-ranked club played at home first. Whenever there was a tie in position (like the group winners in the semifinal round and final or the third-placed teams in the first round), a draw determined the club to play at home first.

In the 2019–20 season, the promotion playoff rules were altered by an RFEF resolution after that season was suspended and later curtailed during the coronavirus disease pandemic in Spain. Thus, the playoffs were contested differently at neutral venues. The four group runners-up were drawn against one of the three fourth-placed teams outside their group while the four third-placed teams were also drawn against one another in knockout matches. The six winners advanced with the two losing semifinalists to determine the four teams that entered the last single-match series for the two remaining promotion spots.[1]

Promotions by year edit

Starting in 2008–09 season, the four group winners get a spot in the Group Winners Promotion Playoff. The two semifinal winners get promoted to Segunda División and play the final to decide the season champions.

season champions season runner-ups other promoted teams
Season Group winners Other promoted teams
Group I Group II Group III Group IV
1977–78 Racing Ferrol Almería Algeciras, Castilla
1978–79 Palencia Levante Gimnàstic, Oviedo
1979–80 Barakaldo Linares Atlético Madrileño, Ceuta
1980–81 Celta Vigo Mallorca Córdoba, Deportivo La Coruña
1981–82 Barcelona B Xerez Cartagena, Palencia
1982–83 Athletic Bilbao B Granada Algeciras, Tenerife
1983–84 Sabadell Lorca Calvo Sotelo, Logroñés
1984–85 Sestao Rayo Vallecano Albacete, Deportivo Aragón
1985–86 Figueres Xerez
1986–87 Tenerife Granada, Lleida, Real Burgos
1987–88 Eibar Mollerussa Salamanca Alzira
1988–89 Athletic Bilbao B Palamós Atlético Madrid B Levante
1989–90 Avilés Lleida Albacete Orihuela
1990–91 Real Madrid B Racing Santander Badajoz Barcelona B[a] Compostela, Mérida
1991–92 Salamanca Sant Andreu Cartagena Marbella Badajoz, Lugo, Villarreal
1992–93 Leganés Alavés Murcia Las Palmas Hércules, Toledo
1993–94 Salamanca Alavés Gramenet CF Extremadura Getafe, Ourense
1994–95 Racing Ferrol Alavés Levante Córdoba Almería, Écija, Sestao
1995–96 Las Palmas Sporting Gijón B Levante Jaén Atlético Madrid B, Ourense
1996–97 Sporting Gijón B Aurrerá Vitoria Gimnàstic Córdoba Elche, Jaén, Numancia, Xerez
1997–98 Cacereño Barakaldo Barcelona B Málaga Mallorca B, Recreativo
1998–99 Getafe Cultural Leonesa Levante Melilla Córdoba, Elche
1999–00 Universidad LPGC Gimnástica Torrelavega Gandía Granada Jaén, Murcia, Racing Ferrol
2000–01 Atlético Madrid B Burgos Gramenet Cádiz Gimnàstic, Ejido, Xerez
2001–02 Barakaldo Barcelona B Real Madrid B Motril Almería, Compostela, Getafe, Terrassa
2002–03 Universidad LPGC Real Unión Castellón Algeciras Cádiz, Ciudad de Murcia, Málaga B
2003–04 Pontevedra Atlético Madrid B Lleida Lanzarote Gimnàstic, Racing Ferrol
2004–05 Real Madrid B Ponferradina Alicante Sevilla B Castellón, Hércules, Lorca
2005–06 Universidad LPGC Salamanca Badalona Cartagena Las Palmas, Ponferradina, Vecindario
2006–07 Pontevedra Eibar Alicante Sevilla Atlético Córdoba, Racing Ferrol
2007–08 Rayo Vallecano Ponferradina Girona Écija Alicante, Huesca
2008–09 Real Unión Cartagena Alcoyano Cádiz Villarreal B
2009–10 Ponferradina Alcorcón Sant Andreu Granada Barcelona B
2010–11 Lugo Eibar Sabadell Murcia Alcoyano, Guadalajara
2011–12 Real Madrid Castilla Mirandés Atlético Baleares Cádiz Lugo, Ponferradina
2012–13 Tenerife Alavés L'Hospitalet Jaén Eibar
2013–14 Racing Santander Sestao River Llagostera Albacete Leganés
2014–15 Oviedo Huesca Gimnàstic Cádiz Bilbao Athletic
2015–16 Racing Santander Real Madrid Castilla Reus Deportiu UCAM Murcia Cádiz, Sevilla Atlético
2016–17 Cultural Leonesa Albacete Barcelona B Lorca FC
2017–18 Rayo Majadahonda Mirandés Mallorca Cartagena Elche, Extremadura UD
2018–19 Fuenlabrada Racing Santander Atlético Baleares Recreativo Ponferradina, Mirandés
2019–20 Atlético Baleares UD Logroñés Castellón Cartagena Sabadell
Season Group winners Other promoted teams
Group I Group II Group III Group IV Group V
2020–21 Burgos Real Sociedad B UD Ibiza Linares Deportivo Badajoz Amorebieta
  1. ^ Promoted after the administrative relegation to Segunda B of Orihuela.

Top scorers edit

Goals in playoffs are not counted.

Season Top scorer Club Goals
1977–78   José Manuel Traba Compostela 23
  Gregorio Mollejo AD Almería
1978–79   Andoni Murúa Levante 23
1979–80   Marcelino Mateos Zamora 21
1980–81   Luis Alonso Lleida 21
1981–82   Luis Alonso (2) Barcelona B 20
  Francesc Valverde Andorra
1982–83   Ricardo Arrien Athletic Bilbao B 22
  Agustín Lasaosa Tenerife
1983–84   Pepe Mel Alcalá 30
1984–85   Ramón Masqué Gimnàstic 20
1985–86   Antonio Cuevas Figueres 25
1986–87   Manolo Muñoz Granada 30
1987–88   Xavier Escaich Gimnàstic 25
1988–89   Juan Carlos de Diego Atlético Madrileño 33
1989–90   Mariano Azcona Lleida 26
  Pedro Corbalán Albacete
1990–91   Juan Gómez Alcoyano 24
1991–92   Adriano García Villarreal 24
1992–93   Eduardo Rodríguez Hércules 32
1993–94   Julio Engonga Gimnástica Torrelavega 28
1994–95   Javi Prendes Avilés 24
  José Luis Garzón Sabadell
1995–96   Estefan Julià Sant Andreu 23
1996–97   Iván Rosado Recreativo 25
1997–98   Quini Talavera 26
1998–99   Changui Pontevedra 21
1999–2000   Chili Gimnástica 31
2000–01   Quico Rey Ourense 22
  Egoitz Sukia Beasain
2001–02   Haruna Babangida Barcelona B 23
  David Prats Mataró
2002–03   Kiko Lacasa Alavés B 22
2003–04   Paulino Martínez Cultural Leonesa 21
2004–05   Kepa Blanco Sevilla Atlético 23
2005–06   Iñigo Díaz de Cerio Real Sociedad B 24
2006–07   Yuri de Souza Pontevedra 24
  Javi Moreno Córdoba
2007–08   Luciano Becchio Mérida 22
2008–09   Tariq Spezie Puertollano 24
2009–10   Airam López Tenerife B 27
2010–11   Mikel Arruabarrena Leganés 21
2011–12   Jesús Perera Atlético Baleares 23
2012–13   Aridane Santana Tenerife 25
2013–14   Joselu Compostela 30
2014–15   Miguel Linares Oviedo 28
2015–16   Mariano Díaz Real Madrid B 25
2016–17   Borja Iglesias Celta Vigo B 32
2017–18   Enric Gallego Cornellà/Extremadura 27
2018–19   Asier Villalibre Athletic Bilbao B 23
2019–20   Rufo Sánchez Internacional de Madrid/Pontevedra CF 18
2020–21   Carlitos FC Andorra 15

Top goalkeepers edit

Season Player Club Games Goals Coefficient
1977–78   Nemesio Alonso Algeciras 38 27 0.71
1978–79   Vicente Amigó Gimnàstic Tarragona 35 18 0.51
1979–80   Millán Cultural Leonesa 35 26 0.74
1980–81   Joan Capó Celta Vigo 33 17 0.51
1981–82   Vicente Gómez Algeciras 37 22 0.59
1982–83   Vicente Gómez (2) Algeciras 29 13 0.44
1983–84   Luciano Casado CD Logroñés 29 19 0.65
1984–85   Juano Muñoz Algeciras 30 15 0.50
1985–86   Carlos Osma Xerez 38 24 0.63
1986–87   Miguel Bastón Real Burgos 42 20 0.47
1987–88   Ángel Lozano Salamanca 29 14 0.48
1988–89   Manolo López Ceuta 35 16 0.45
1989–90   José Luis Montes Melilla 35 17 0.48
1990–91   José Domínguez Lugo 38 21 0.55
1991–92   Luis Raudona Cartagena 37 14 0.37
1992–93   José Miguel Robayna Las Palmas 28 13 0.46
1993–94   Alfonso Núñez Alavés 35 12 0.34
1994–95   Laureano Echevarría Numancia 35 16 0.46
1995–96   Manolo López (2) Las Palmas 33 18 0.55
1996–97   Emilio Álvarez Jaén 36 23 0.63
1997–98   César Quesada Recreativo 35 20 0.57
1998–99   José Carlos Burgos Polideportivo Almería 30 11 0.37
1999–2000   Pedro Dorronsoro Gimnástica Torrelavega 32 12 0.38
2000–01   Armando Riveiro Cádiz 36 14 0.39
2001–02   Urko Macías Barakaldo 36 19 0.52
2002–03   Xavi Oliva Castellón 35 15 0.42
2003–04   Santi Lampón Vecindario 37 19 0.51
2004–05   Manu Herrera Levante B 35 17 0.48
2005–06   Moisés Trujillo Universidad Las Palmas 30 14 0.46
2006–07   Alberto Cifuentes Rayo Vallecano 34 21 0.61
2007–08   Roberto Pampín Sestao River 35 19 0.54
  Jesús Unanua Alicante
2008–09   José Bermúdez Cultural Leonesa 34 18 0.52
2009–10   David Rangel Ontinyent 38 25 0.65
2010–11   Alberto Cifuentes (2) Murcia 37 20 0.54
2011–12   Oinatz Aulestia Cádiz 35 22 0.62
2012–13   Francis Solar Olímpic Xàtiva 34 15 0.44
2013–14   Alberto Cifuentes (3) La Hoya Lorca 37 19 0.51
2014–15   Oinatz Aulestia (2) Cádiz 36 19 0.52
2015–16   Iván Crespo Lleida Esportiu 36 20 0.55
2016–17   Iván Crespo (2) Racing Santander 36 20 0.55
2017–18   Andoni Zubiaurre Real Sociedad B 29 15 0.52
2018–19   Miguel Martínez UD Logroñés 35 18 0.51
2019–20   Marc Martínez FC Cartagena 28 19 0.68
2020–21   Kike Royo CD Badajoz 23 9 0.39

Records edit

Most seasons
Most points
Most games played
Most wins
Most draws
Most losses
Most goals scored
Most goals conceded
Most group championships
Most promotion play-offs played
Most promotions to Segunda División
Highest attendance

Scorelines edit

Record win
Record away win

See also edit

References and notes edit

  1. ^ a b "Comunicado de la RFEF en relación con las competiciones no profesionales del fútbol español" (in Spanish). RFEF. 6 May 2020. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  2. ^ "La Federación desvela el misterio: La nueva Segunda B se denominará Primera División RFEF". ABC (in Spanish). 15 September 2020. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  3. ^ "Suben a 2ªB los cuatro equipos que no pudieron disputar la fase adicional de ascenso de 3ª División". RFEF (in Spanish). 10 August 2020.
  4. ^ "A Segunda con llenos de Primera" (in Spanish). ABC. 27 June 2005.

External links edit

Sporting positions
Preceded by Third tier of Spanish football
1977–2021
Succeeded by