2016–17 Slovenian Third League


The 2016–17 Slovenian Third League began on 20 August 2016 and ended on 28 May 2017.

Competition format and rules

The 2016–17 Slovenian Third League was divided into four regional groups with a total of 52 participating clubs. Three groups were composed of 14 clubs, while the West group had only 10 clubs participating in the competition.
On 29 June 2016, the Football Association of Slovenia decided to expand the Slovenian Second League in the 2017–18 season from 10 teams to 16 teams, meaning that in the 2016–17 Slovenian Third League season the top two teams from each group got promoted to the Second League. Also, unlike previous seasons, reserve teams were now able to earn a promotion to the Second League.
The number of relegated teams from each group was determined by the number of regional MNZ's from which the clubs in all four groups were part of. There were nine MNZ's governing bodies in Slovenian football:
This meant that three teams from 3. SNL North were relegated at the end of the season and replaced by the winners of the fourth tier competitions held separately in MNZ Celje, MNZ Maribor and MNZ Ptuj. The number of relegated teams from 3. SNL Centre and 3. SNL East was two, while only the bottom team was relegated from 3. SNL West as MNZ Koper and MNZ Nova Gorica managed a combined fourth tier competition.

The number of relegated teams was also influenced by the location of teams which relegated from the second division. Each of the bottom placed second division teams could only relegate to the one 3. SNL group that was managed by the MNZ they were a part of.

3. SNL Centre

Clubs

ClubLocationStadium2015–16 position
BledBledBled Sports Centre9th
BravoLjubljanaŽŠD Stadium2nd
Brinje GrosupljeGrosupljeBrinje Stadium8th
IlirijaLjubljanaIlirija Sports Park1st
Ivančna GoricaIvančna GoricaIvančna Gorica Stadium3rd
JevnicaJevnicaŠRC Jevnica1st in MNZ Ljubljana
KolpaPodzemeljPodzemelj Sports Park7th
KomendaKomendaKomenda Hipodrom4th
LesceLesceNa Žagi Stadium11th
RudarTrbovljeRudar Stadium10th
SavaKranjStražišče Sports Park5th
ŠenčurŠenčurŠenčur Sports Park10th in 2. SNL
VelesovoVelesovoSports Park Velesovo1st in MNZG-Kranj
ZagorjeZagorje ob SaviZagorje City Stadium6th

League table

3. SNL East

Clubs

ClubLocationStadium2015–16 position
BeltinciBeltinciBeltinci Sports Park1st
BogojinaBogojinaŠRC Bogojina1st in MNZ Murska Sobota
ČardaMartjanciŠRC Martjanci11th
GradGradIgrišče Pod gradom9th
HotizaHotizaHotiza Sports Park1st in MNZ Lendava
KriževciKriževciKriževci Sports Park10th
LjutomerLjutomerLjutomer Sports Park6th
MuraMurska SobotaFazanerija2nd
Nafta 1903LendavaLendava Sports Park7th
OdranciOdranciŠRC Odranci3rd
PolanaVelika PolanaPC Poljana5th
RakičanRakičanGrajski Park Stadium12th
TromejnikKuzmaKuzma Football Stadium4th
TurniščeTurniščeTurnišče Stadium8th

League table

3. SNL North

Clubs

ClubLocationStadium2015–16 position
BrunšvikBrunšvikBrunšvik Sports park2nd in MNZ Maribor
DobrovceDobrovceDobrovce Sports Park10th
DravinjaSlovenske KonjiceDobrava Stadium11th
DravogradDravogradDravograd Sports Centre8th
FužinarRavne na KoroškemCity Stadium6th
Korotan PrevaljePrevaljePrevalje Stadium1st in MNZ Maribor
LenartLenartŠRC Polena9th
Maribor BMariborTabor Sports Park2nd
Mons ClaudiusRogatecRogatec Sports Centre7th
RogaškaRogaška SlatinaRogaška Slatina Sports Centre1st in MNZ Celje
ŠampionCeljeOlimp3rd
ŠmarjeŠmarje pri JelšahSports Park5th
ŠmartnoŠmartno ob PakiŠmartno Stadium12th
VidemVidem pri PtujuVidem Sports Park4th

League table

3. SNL West

Clubs

ClubLocationStadium2015–16 position
AdriaMirenPri Štantu Stadium4th
AjdovščinaAjdovščinaAjdovščina Stadium2nd
BiljeBiljeStadion V dolinci6th
Ilirska BistricaIlirska BistricaTrnovo Sports Centre9th
IzolaIzolaIzola City Stadium8th
Jadran DekaniDekaniDekani Sports Park3rd
PostojnaPostojnaPostojna Sports Park1st in MNZ Koper
TaborSežanaRajko Štolfa Stadium7th
TolminTolminBrajda Sports Park9th in 2. SNL
VipavaVipavaOb Beli Stadium5th

League table