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Borussia Dortmund U23s promoted and ready – A closer look at the 3. Liga challenge that lies ahead

By Benjamin McFadyean

Borussia Dortmund II will play in the 3. Liga next season (Photo by Mario Hommes/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
Borussia Dortmund II will play in the 3. Liga next season (Photo by Mario Hommes/DeFodi Images via Getty Images) /
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Hansa Rostock fans celebrate victory over VfB Lübeck in the 3. Liga on May 22, 2021 in Rostock, Germany. (Photo by Martin Rose/Getty Images)
Hansa Rostock fans celebrate victory over VfB Lübeck in the 3. Liga on May 22, 2021 in Rostock, Germany. (Photo by Martin Rose/Getty Images) /

A league of clubs with cult appeal

The third tier is not only the highest league an academy team can be promoted to in Germany, it is also one of the most challenging and competitive leagues in Europe made up of some of the most historical football clubs in Bundesliga history who play at famous stadiums. So where better to start BVB’s great journey than by taking a quick look at the league and its history.

Formed in 2008, the 3. Liga 3, or die Dritte Liga in German which is Germany’s third division was originally supposed to be called 3. Bundesliga. But because the competition is directly administered by the DFB, the German football association, rather than the DFL, the body that runs Bundesliga 1 and 2, league officials quickly settled for 3. Liga rather than 3. Bundesliga.

Previously, Germany’s third division had been subdivided into regional divisions or Regionalligen. The fourth tier is now divided into 5 regional divisions or Regionalligen; Nord, Nordost, West, Bayern and Südwest make up the fourth division of German football.

The 3. Liga was not universally loved when it was first introduced in season 2008/09 and with the clubs being so spread out over all of Germany, many struggled after promotion with the extra travel cost. The league operated at a net loss until finally making a profit in 2013/14. The Covid-19 pandemic has worsened the outlook due to most matches this season being played behind closed doors, pushing most clubs into a loss for the 20/21 season.

The challenges have mounted in the third tier but the prospects are good, the league is popular with fans and the average attendance across the third tier in 2019-20 was an impressive 8,696, double that of its equivalent League One in England, across the 20 clubs.

The passion of the supporters was on full display when fans returned to stadiums at some clubs in May. As the picture above shows, 3. Liga teams have some of Europe’s most passionate supporters. And the BVB II ultras will no doubt offer great support to the team next season as they look to avoid relegation.