3. Liga

The "3. Liga" is a professional football league in Germany, recognized as the third tier in the German football league system. Established in 2008 by the German Football Association (Deutscher Fußball-Bund, DFB), it is positioned between the 2. Bundesliga and the semi-professional Regionalliga, which became the fourth division and initially consisted of three groups of 18 clubs playing separately.

The 3. Liga is the highest division that is administered by the DFB, with the Bundesliga and the 2. Bundesliga being organized by the professional German Football League (Deutsche Fußball Liga, DFL). The league comprises 20 teams, with the season running from July to May. The teams play each other twice over the course of the season, once at home and once away, totaling 38 matches.

Promotion from the 3. Liga works directly upwards into the 2. Bundesliga. The top two teams in the 3. Liga at the end of the season are automatically promoted. The third-place team enters a two-legged playoff against the team that finishes 16th in the 2. Bundesliga, with the winner securing a place in the 2. Bundesliga for the following season.

As for relegation, the bottom three teams in the 3. Liga are automatically demoted to the Regionalliga. They are replaced by the champions of the Regionalliga divisions, subject to the winners meeting the 3. Liga's licensing requirements.

The 3. Liga has been a launching pad for many young players who have gone on to have successful careers in higher divisions and even internationally. It is also a platform for clubs that have fallen from grace to regroup and aim for a return to the higher echelons of German football.

The league's inaugural season was won by 1. FC Union Berlin, and since then, several clubs, including RB Leipzig and SC Paderborn 07, have gained promotion from the 3. Liga and subsequently reached the Bundesliga. The league is known for its competitiveness and unpredictability, with new champions almost every season.

In terms of media coverage, selected games are broadcast on free-to-air television on the DFB's partners' channels. The 3. Liga also maintains a strong online presence, with live scores, news, and updates available on its official website and social media platforms.

The 3. Liga is not just a football league; it is a vital part of the German football pyramid, providing a platform for clubs and players to develop and progress. It is a league that encapsulates the passion, talent, and potential that exists within German football.