Regionalliga Nordost - Overview

Overview

The Regionalliga Nordost was formed in 1994 to form a regional third level of play between the 2nd Bundesliga and the NOFV-Oberligas Nord, Mitte and Süd. The league was made up of 18 clubs, with two coming from the 2nd Bundesliga and six each from Mitte and Nord while the south only sent four. It was formed alongside three other Regionalligas, the Regionalliga Nord, West/Südwest and Süd. With the introduction of the Regionalliga also went the disbanding of the central division of the NOFV-Oberligas. Its clubs were spread between the remaining two.

The founding members of the Regionalliga Nordost were:

From the 2nd Bundesliga:

• FC Carl Zeiss Jena (Süd)
• Tennis Borussia Berlin (Mitte)

From the NOFV-Oberliga Nord:

• BSV Brandenburg
• FC Stahl Eisenhüttenstadt
• Reinickendorfer Füchse
• FC Berlin
• Spandauer SV
• FSV Optik Rathenow

From the NOFV-Oberliga Mitte:

• 1. FC Union Berlin
• Energie Cottbus
• Türkiyemspor Berlin
• Lok Altmark Stendal
• Hertha BSC Berlin II
• Hertha Zehlendorf

From the NOFV-Oberliga Süd:

• Rot-Weiß Erfurt
• Erzgebirge Aue
• Sachsen Leipzig
• Bischofswerdaer FV 08

The league always contained 18 teams throughout its six year existence..

The league winner was not always promoted to the 2nd Bundesliga. The champions of the Regionalligas Nord and Nordost had to play-off for a spot in the 2nd Bundesliga from 1996 to 2000. The winner of this contest was promoted, the loser faced the runners-ups of the Regionalligas Süd and West/Südwest for another spot in the second division.

In 1997, Energie Cottbus became the first club from the Regionalliga to reach a German Cup final, losing 2-0 to VfB Stuttgart.

The league only existed for six seasons. In 2000, the number of Regionalligas was reduced from four to two. Most clubs from the league went to the Regionalliga Nord, some clubs from the south went to the Regionalliga Süd.

With the changes in the German league system in 2008, the number of Regionalligas was extended to three, with the formation of the Regionalliga West, a league which essentially is a reformation of the Regionalliga West/Südwest. The Regionalliga Nordost was not recreated, however. Instead, its clubs remained in the Regionalliga Nord. Teams from its region playing in the Regionalliga Süd moved to the northern group as well, unless they qualified for the 2nd or 3rd Bundesliga.