Last updated : Saturday, 29 June 2024
Lega Pro
Lega Pro (Italian: Lega Italiana Calcio Professionistico) is the third tier of the Italian football league system. It is a semi-professional league, with clubs that are not as wealthy as those in Serie A or Serie B.
History
The Lega Pro was formed in 1978, when the semi-professional sector of Italian football was abolished. The league was originally called Lega Professionisti Serie C, and it consisted of two divisions: Serie C1 and Serie C2.
In 2008, the league was renamed Lega Italiana Calcio Professionistico. In 2014, the two divisions of the Lega Pro were merged into a single division, called the Lega Pro Divisione Unica.
Current formatThe Lega Pro currently consists of 60 clubs, divided into three groups of 20 teams. The top two teams in each group are promoted to Serie B, while the bottom four teams in each group are relegated to Serie D.
The Lega Pro also has a cup competition, called the Coppa Italia Serie C. The cup is contested by all 60 clubs in the league, and the winner qualifies for the Coppa Italia.