Tercera División () was the fourth tier of the Spanish football league system. Until 1977, it was the third tier of the Spanish football league system. Founded in 1929, it was below the Primera División (also known as La Liga), the Segunda División, and the semi-professional Segunda División B.
For the 2021–22 season, Tercera División was replaced by Tercera División RFEF, which became the fifth tier due to the creation of a new, semi-professional third division by the Spanish federation (RFEF) called the Primera División RFEF.
Format Tercera División featured 360 teams divided into 18 regional groups, corresponding to the autonomous communities of Spain (due to its size, Andalusia is divided into two groups, East and West; Ceuta is allocated to West Andalusia, while Melilla is allocated to the East). Each group was administered by a regional football federation. At the end of the season the first four teams in each group qualified for promotion play-offs to decide which teams were promoted to Segunda División B. At least the three teams finishing bottom of each group were relegated to the Divisiones Regionales de Fútbol. However the number of relegated teams often varied. The eighteen group champions also qualified for the following season's Copa del Rey, of which reserve teams were ineligible. Along with teams from Segunda División B, the remaining teams from the division competed in the Copa Federación.
Until the 2018–19 season, the 18 group winners had the opportunity of direct promotion to the Segunda División B. The group winners are drawn into a two-legged series, after which the nine winners are promoted to the Segunda División B. The nine losing clubs enter the play-off round for the last nine promotion spots.
The 18 runners-up were drawn against one of the 17 fourth-placed clubs outside their group and the 18 third-placed clubs were drawn against one another in a two-legged series. The 27 winners advanced with the nine losing clubs from the champions' series to determine the 18 teams that entered the final two-legged series for the last nine promotion spots. In all the play-off series, the lower-ranked club played at home first. Whenever there was a tie in position (like the group winners in the champions' series 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 play-off rules were altered by an RFEF resolution after that season was suspended and later curtailed due to the coronavirus disease pandemic in Spain. Thus, the top four teams in each group at the time of suspension were deemed to qualify for the play-offs, which will be contested on a regional basis at neutral venues. The 18 group winners were drawn against the fourth-place clubs while the 18 runners-up were drawn against the third-place clubs within their groups, all in two-legged series. The 36 first-round winners played single knock-out games in each of their regions, from which 18 were promoted to the Segunda División B. The 18 losing clubs will be able to play additional play-off rounds if possible for the remaining two spots in the third-tier division, which initially expanded to 100 teams divided into five groups of 20 and subdivided into 10 subgroups of 10 teams each, only for 2020–21. However, two more clubs were promoted after the RFEF cancelled the Tercera División repechages without replaying them, thus there are now four groups of 20 and one group of 22, subdivided into eight subgroups of 10 and two subgroups of 11.
GroupRegionRelegation1GaliciaPreferente de Galicia2AsturiasPreferente de Asturias3CantabriaPreferente de Cantabria4Basque CountryBasque lower levels5Catalonia and AndorraPrimera Catalana6Valencian CommunityPreferente Comunidad Valenciana7Community of MadridPreferente de Madrid8Castile and LeónPreferente de Castilla y León9Eastern Andalusia and MelillaPrimera Eastern Andaluza10Western Andalusia and CeutaPrimera Western Andaluza11Balearic IslandsPreferente12Canary IslandsInterinsular Preferente13MurciaPreferente de Murcia14ExtremaduraPreferente de Extremadura15NavarrePreferente de Navarra16La RiojaPreferente de La Rioja17AragonPreferente de Aragón18Castile-La ManchaPreferente de Castilla-La Mancha
History During the inaugural La Liga season of 1928–29 a third level of teams known as Segunda División B was also organised. This division featured 10 teams and at the end of the season Cultural y Deportiva Leonesa were crowned champions. However the 1929–30 season saw the first of many reorganisations of the Spanish football league system and the Tercera Division was born. During its first season the division featured 33 teams divided into eight groups. The eight group winners qualified for a play-off and CD Castellón eventually beat Barakaldo CF 3–2 to be declared champions. The most significant reorganisation came at the start of the 1977–78 season with the revival of Segunda División B which replaced the Tercera División as the third level.
On 6 May 2020, the RFEF announced the creation of a new, two-group, 40-team third division called Primera División RFEF, which made the former third and fourth divisions, Segunda División B and Tercera División, respectively, drop down a level and change into Segunda División RFEF and Tercera División RFEF; the changes were made effective for the 2021–22 campaign.
Evolution of the Tercera División
Tier\Years 1928–501950–551955–681968–701970–77 1977–79 1979–80 1980–83 1983–86 1986–87 1987–89 1989–92 1992–04 2004–06 2006–202020–21 3 4 to 10 groups6 groups14 groups8 groups 4 groups 4 6 groups 8 groups13 groups14 groups16 groups17 groups17 groups+2 subgroups17 groups17 groups18groups18 groups 5
Historical classification
Latest group champions and promoted teams In bold, group champions are promoted to Segunda División B. Administrative promotions not included in this table. Season IX IIXI IIIXII IVXIII VXIV VIXV VIIXVI VIIIXVII IXXVIII Deportivo B Caudal Noja Zalla Reus Dénia RSD Alcalá Mirandés Granada Atlético Algeciras Eivissa Las Palmas B Murcia B Jerez Valle de Egüés Haro Zaragoza B ConquenseOther promoted teams: Girona (V), Sabadell (V), Gavà (V), Villarreal B (VI), Ontinyent (VI), Betis B (X), Lucena (X), San Isidro (XII), Villa de Santa Brígida (XII), Fuerteventura (XII), Mazarrón (XIII), Peña Sport (XIV), Guadalajara (XVIII) Ciudad de Santiago Oviedo Gimn. Torrelavega Portugalete Barcelona B Alzira Ciempozuelos Mirandés Roquetas CD San Fernando Atlético Baleares Atlético Granadilla Ciudad de Lorquí Don Benito Izarra Alfaro Ejea ToledoOther promoted teams: Sporting Gijón B (II), Racing Santander B (III), Sant Andreu (V), Valencia Mestalla (VI), Navalcarnero (VII), Antequera (IX), Linense (X), Peña Deportiva (XI), Las Palmas Atlético (XII), Sangonera (XIII), Murcia B (XIII)2008–09 Compostela Oviedo Gimn. Torrelavega Lagun Onak Espanyol B Villajoyosa RSD Alcalá CF Palencia Unión Estepona San Roque de Lepe Mallorca B Tenerife B Caravaca Cerro Reyes Izarra Varea Atlético Monzón ToledoOther promoted teams: Mirandés (VIII), Sporting Mahonés (XI), Cacereño (XIV)2009–10 Deportivo B Caudal Noja Real Sociedad B L'Hospitalet Gandía Rayo Vallecano B Burgos At. Mancha Real Alcalá Atlético Baleares Corralejo Jumilla CF Badajoz Tudelano Oyonesa Teruel La RodaOther promoted teams: Coruxo (I), Santboià (V), Alzira (VI), Getafe B (VII), Yeclano (XIII), Extremadura (XIV), Peña Sport (XV), La Muela (XVII)2010–11 Cerceda Marino Luanco Noja Amorebieta Llagostera Valencia Mestalla Alcobendas Sport Burgos Comarca de Níjar Linense Manacor Lanzarote Costa Cálida Villanovense Tudelano Náxara Andorra ToledoOther promoted teams: Sestao River (IV), Reus (V), Olímpic (VI), SS Reyes (VII), Gimnástica Segoviana (VIII), Arandina (VIII), Sporting Villanueva (XIV), La Roda (XVIII)2011–12 Ourense Caudal Noja Laudio Prat Catarroja Fuenlabrada Valladolid B Loja At. Sanluqueño Constància Marino Yeclano Arroyo Peña Sport SD Logroñés Ejea VillarrobledoOther promoted teams: Barakaldo (IV), San Fernando (X), Binissalem (XI), Izarra (XV), Tudelano (XV)2012–13 Racing Ferrol Tuilla Tropezón Laudio Olot Elche Ilicitano Puerta Bonita Burgos El Palo Algeciras Peña Deportiva Las Palmas Atlético La Hoya Lorca Extremadura San Juan Haro Sariñena ToledoOther promoted teams: Celta Vigo B (I), Compostela (I), Granada B (IX), Conquense (XVIII)2013–14 Somozas Lealtad Gimn. Torrelavega Leioa Cornellà Eldense Trival Valderas Valladolid B Marbella Real Betis B Mallorca B Atlético Granadilla UCAM Murcia Villanovense Izarra Varea Zaragoza B PuertollanoPuertollano resigned to promotion due to financial difficulties.Other promoted teams: Langreo (II), Rayo Vallecano B (VII), Atlético Astorga (VIII), San Roque de Lepe (X), Socuéllamos (XVIII)2014–15 Pontevedra Condal Laredo Portugalete Ascó Castellón Rayo Majadahonda Arandina Linares Algeciras Formentera Mensajero Jumilla Mérida Peña Sport Varea Ebro Talavera de la ReinaOther promoted teams: Gernika (IV), Arenas (IV), Pobla de Mafumet (V), Atlético Levante (VI), Llosetense (XI), Izarra (XV)2015–16 Boiro Caudal Laredo Zamudio Prat Atlético Saguntino SS Reyes Zamora At. Mancha Real Córdoba B Mallorca B Villa de Santa Brígida Lorca Deportiva Extremadura Osasuna B Calahorra Deportivo Aragón ConquenseOther promoted teams: Gavà (V), Navalcarnero (VII), Palencia (VIII), El Ejido (IX), At. Sanluqueño (X), San Fernando (X), Mutilvera (XV)2016–17 Deportivo B Sporting B Gimn. Torrelavega Alavés B Olot Olímpic Atlético Madrid B Gimn. Segoviana Atlético Malagueño Real Betis B Formentera Las Palmas Atlético Lorca Deportiva Cacereño Peña Sport Calahorra Deportivo Aragón Talavera de la ReinaOther promoted teams: Rápido de Bouzas (I), Vitoria (IV), Ontinyent (VI), Unión Adarve (VII), Écija (X), Badajoz (XIV)2017–18 Compostela Oviedo B Gimn. Torrelavega Cultural Durango Espanyol B Atlético Levante Internacional Unionistas Atlético Malagueño Cádiz B Mallorca B Tenerife B Yeclano Don Benito Mutilvera Calahorra Teruel ConquenseOther promoted teams: Langreo (II), Castellón (VI), Salmantino (VIII), Almería B (IX), Atlético Sanluqueño (X), Ejea (XVII)2018–19 Racing Ferrol Lealtad Escobedo Portugalete Llagostera Orihuela Getafe B Zamora Jaén Cádiz B Peña Deportiva Tamaraceite Yeclano Mérida Osasuna B Haro Tarazona SocuéllamosOther promoted teams: Marino Luanco (II), Alavés B (IV), Prat (V), La Nucía (VI), Las Rozas (VII), Algeciras (X), Villarrubia (XVIII), Villarrobledo (XVIII)2019–20 Compostela Lealtad Laredo Portugalete L'Hospitalet Alcoyano Navalcarnero Zamora Linares Betis Deportivo Poblense Marino Lorca Deportiva Villanovense Mutilvera SD Logroñés Tarazona SocuéllamosOther promoted teams: Covadonga (II), Atzeneta (VI), El Ejido (IX), Tamaraceite (XII)2020–21 Arenteiro Ceares Cayón Gernika Europa Eldense Leganés B Gimn. Segoviana Vélez Xerez Deportivo Ibiza Pitiusas Mensajero Águilas FC Cacereño Peña Sport Racing Rioja Teruel MarchamaloOther promoted teams: Bergantiños, Arosa (I) Llanera, Avilés (II) Rayo Cantabria, Tropezón (III) Real Sociedad C, Sestao River (IV) Terrassa, Cerdanyola del Vallès (V) Alzira, Intercity (VI) Unión Adarve, Móstoles URJC (VII) Cristo Atlético, Burgos Promesas (VIII) Atlético Mancha Real, Antequera (IX) San Roque de Lepe, Ceuta (X) Andratx, Formentera (XI) Panadería Pulido, San Fernando (XII) Atlético Pulpileño, Mar Menor (XIII) Montijo, Coria (XIV) San Juan, Ardoi (XV) Náxara, UD Logroñés B (XVI) Brea, Huesca B (XVII) Calvo Sotelo, Toledo (XVIII)
Records Most seasons 68 – Murcia Imperial 61 – Arenas Getxo 59 – Constància Most points 2,955 – Constància (1.43 per game) 2,876 – Murcia Imperial (1.28 per game) 2,747 – Don Benito (1.48 per game) Most games played 2,205 – Murcia Imperial (32.42 per season) 2,110 – Arenas Getxo (34.60 per season) 2,093 – Europa (36.72 per season) Most wins 1080 – Cacereño (57.53%) 1035 – Constància (50.07%) 947 – Don Benito (51.00%) Most draws 591 – Arenas Getxo (28.01%) 514 – Murcia Imperial (23.31%)