Division 1 (Sweden)

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Division 1
Association Svenska Fotbollförbundet
First edition 2006
Teams 2 × 16
master North: IK Brage
South: Landskrona BoIS
Website ettanfotboll.se
↑ Superettan (II)
↓ Division 2 (IV)

Division 1 , often also called Ettan , has been the third-highest division in Swedish football since 2006 . The name Division 1 appeared before in Swedish football and once referred to the first-class Allsvenskan and later for several years the second division .

Third division history

When the Allsvenskan was introduced in 1924, it was called Division 1. At that time there was still no official substructure under the Elite Series, even if there was promotion and relegation within a tiered league pyramid. It was not until 1928 that the lower leagues received their official status within the league system. This also created the third division, called Division 3 . In eight seasons with a different number of teams, the season winners were played, two of which met each other in a subsequent round of promotion in a round trip to determine the four promoted to the second division. The north of Sweden was not included in the league system and the clubs of northern Sweden had to wait until 1952 to participate in higher-class football.

When the second division was reformed in 1932 by increasing the number of squadrons to four groups, the two first division rose and in the following years the season winners were automatically placed in the second division. Sometimes the individual regional third leagues split into two seasons, so that the respective season winners had to compete against each other in playoffs.

In 1947 there was a big cut when, as part of a reform of the league system, the second leagues were combined into two seasons and at the same time the third division was reduced from 17 third division seasons, which were created during the Second World War , to four groups with ten teams each. The promotion was regulated in such a way that the respective season winners came to the second division, while the last three teams each had to relegate to the fourth division. Five years later, the number of seasons was increased to nine, as northern Sweden was included in the league system. Since the second division was expanded in parallel, the promotion and relegation mode continued to apply. As early as 1955, the mode was reconsidered, as southern Sweden was treated the same as the north of the country, although the number of clubs differed significantly. Therefore, the number of squadrons was increased to twelve in order to do justice to this unequal distribution. The four season winners in the north played two promoted players after the end of the regular season, while the respective champions rose directly in the remaining third division seasons.

In the 1957/58 season, the season was changed to playing within the calendar year. Therefore, due to the extended season, the teams did not meet only twice as usual, but played an additional third game.

Since the second division was again reduced in the early 1970s, there was a change in promotion mode. In 1971, eight promoted teams were determined in four regional promotion groups; from 1972 there were only six teams in three groups. This mode was retained until 1980, before the groups were abolished in the 1981 season and the twelve season winners with the four teams placed in the respective second division relegation places played four places in the second division in two rounds, each in two rounds. After two years there was another change, the twelve teams from now on played six promoted teams among themselves.

In 1986 there was another league reform in Sweden. In addition to a new division into individual league levels, this was particularly noticeable in the name: The first league was still called Allsvenskan, but the name Division 1 was transferred to the second highest level. All other lower-class leagues were downgraded in parallel in the name of one, so that, for example, the third division from then on operated under the name Division 2 . At the same time, the number of relays was reduced to four groups with 14 teams each. As in the late 1940s, the respective season winners rose directly to the second division, while the three worst-placed clubs were relegated to the fourth division.

Four years later, however, the concentration was partially reduced again and the league was divided into eight seasons with eight teams. In a spring championship a first round was played, the winner of which took part in the autumn championship of the second division, while the runner-up in the third division autumn championship played with the relegated members of the second division spring championship for participation in the second division spring season. This half-year mode was held for two years and, from the 1993 season onwards, was played again over the entire year in a uniform league. In six seasons with twelve teams each, the champions qualified directly for the second division, while the six runners-up played in two rounds with the two teams placed on the relegation places in the second division for two more places in the second division.

In 1999 there was a further concentration in the higher Swedish football. The two seasons of the second division Division 1 have been combined. Of the 28 teams, twelve had to be relegated directly, while two other teams competed in relegation games against the two best relay winners, which had previously been played in two group stages of three clubs each. The newly created single-track second highest division was named Superettan . Since the lower leagues kept their names at the same time, the name Division 1 disappeared from the Swedish league pyramid. From then on, the six season winners played back and forth between three promoted players in the second division.

In the 2006 season there was also a concentration in the third division. At that time a reform took place in the Swedish football league pyramid, in which the previously six regional third leagues were merged into two seasons. While the champions of the 2005 season continued to play for promotion, the three clubs placed behind in the individual seasons qualified directly for the new third division. The six fifth placed played in two groups from four other teams that could compete in the third division in the following season. The two last-placed teams of the individual third division relays were hit particularly hard as they were relegated from the third division to the fifth division.

For the new third division, the name Division 1 was reintroduced. For the sub-leagues below, the further numbering applies, so that, for example, Division 2 designates the fourth league.

For the 2018 season, Division 1 was increased to 16 teams each.

mode

In Division 1 , introduced in 2006 , 32 teams compete, which are divided into two groups called Division 1 Norra and Division 1 Södra , each with 16 teams. The clubs compete against each other in the classic league mode in a home and away match.

The two champions of the two Division 1 leagues go straight to the Superettan , while the two teams that come second in the two Division 1 leagues, in a relegation round against the clubs that are 13th and 14th in the Superettan compete. The six teams that reach places 14 to 16 in the Division 1 leagues are relegated to the respective Division 2 league and are replaced by their champions.

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