Republikaliga

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Republikaliga
Country Siovanija and Teusland
Confederation AOCAF
Founded 2018
Number of teams 20
Levels on pyramid 1
Relegation to 2. Republikaliga
Domestic cup(s) President's Cup
International cup(s) Champions' League
Challengers' Cup
AOCL
Current champions FC Teussen Stelburg (3rd title)
(Season 7)
Most championships FC Teussen Stelburg (3 titles)

The Republikaliga is the top division of professional football in Siovanija and Teusland, made up of 20 clubs. The Republikaliga, founded in 2018, has completed 7 seasons since its foundation, and in that time 28 clubs have played in the top division. The bottom 2 clubs in the league are relegated to the 2. Republikaliga, while a third team plays in a playoff match for their spot in the league. 5 teams have been champions of the top division in that time, Energija Chernovets winning the inaugural title while FC Teussen Stelburg are the most successful club in league history with 3 titles.

Republikaliga clubs compete internationally on behalf of the STFA in the IFCF Champions' League and Challengers' Cup, as well as Atlantian Oceania regional competition. The league was, for its first 5 seasons, also affiliated with the UICA and its associated tournaments.

History

Football has been played in Siovanija & Teusland for many years, as it quickly rose in popularity in the 19th century alongside ice hockey, the ease of access to the sport taking it above cricket, which had once been the number 1 sport in Teusland. Football lagged a bit behind hockey in popularity - the cold winters providing Siovanijans and Teus alike the opportunity to skate and play the game which would eventually become the national sport. Football also grew, however, and football clubs sprouted up through the nation - the first being 1828 Pomen in 1828 - throughout the mid-1800s. The Teusliga was founded as the premier competition in the Teus Empire at the time, while in Siovanija it was the 1. Division. After unification in 1896, things changed in the country - many clubs founded with imperial patronage refounded, and there is as a result a significant number of clubs with founding dates in that year or the years afterwards.

Regionalligas

In 1896, the new STFA announced the founding of the 'Regionalliga' system. Under this system, clubs would play amongst teams within their own regions - for example, Regionalliga Stelburg contained teams from that state, Regionalliga Nordflachland, Regionalliga Borograd and so on. There were 4 Regionalligas in Teusland, and 4 in Siovanija. At the end of the season, the winners of the Teus regional leagues would be seeded 1 through 4 and play play-off matches to determine a Teus champion, the same system was practiced in Siovanija. It was not considered necessary for there to be a national championship as the STFA President's Cup served that purpose, with all teams in the country involved in the Cup.

The Regionalliga quickly led to domination by some teams. For example, FC Teussen Stelburg won the Regionalliga Stelburg 34 seasons in a row between 1940 and 1974. FC St. Jakob were similarly dominant in the Regionalliga Draikuste, while at the same time, some rivalries that would come to define the eventual Republikaliga grew. In Borograd, Olympia Borograd and FK Metropola Borograd fought for league titles. In the Nordflachland, it was FC Felsenkirchen 1879 and FC Rotmunde 1932. By far the biggest, however, was in the Korjava, with FK Pomorie and TSV Marzig going head to head each year, creating a rivalry based in competition as well as ethnic, religious and political conflict.

For most of this period, the same 4-5 clubs held a monopoly over the championships in each Republic. In Teusland, FC Teussen Stelburg, FC St. Jakob, and in later years 1912 Stelburg were the dominant clubs, while in Siovanija it was Olympia Borograd and FK Metropola Borograd, with TSV Marzig sneaking a few titles of their own. Emphasis for many clubs was thus placed on the President's Cup, which gave more of an opportunity for clubs to participate. It also helped to build interleague rivalries, such as the National Derby between FC Teussen Stelburg and Olympia Borograd.

Republikaliga

By 2018, however, there was a great demand within the country to create a single top-tier division. The STFA agreed with these demands, and created the new 'Republikaliga' system which would contain the top 20 teams in the entire country, with two tiers below it. The top 64 clubs in the country were selected to the league, while the remaining clubs continued to play in the non-sanctioned Regionalligas. There was great support for this decision, as now all clubs could compete for the national title together. Some clubs did oppose the decision, however: FK Pomorie and TSV Marzig arguing it took away opportunity for glory for small clubs.

The first season of the Republikaliga saw Energija Chernovets take home the league title, while FC Teussen Stelburg, led by the dynamic presence of Thorsten Kramer would stake their claim and capture the throne in the second season. The next season, Olympia Borograd would set a league points record in a stunning title victory. SW Stahlberg, led by talismanic forward Michael Ribbeck, would take the win in season 4, while 1912 Stelburg, who brought in Mytanar midfielder Jasno Odonelec to join their strong roster would win it on the final day in season 5. FC Teussen Stelburg were back, however, the next season and in season 6 captured the first-ever league and cup Double in the Republikaliga and President's Cup. Teussen would also win the season 7 title, and just nearly missed out on a 'double-double' after an extra time Cup Final loss.

Current Clubs

All clubs are participants in the league ahead of the league's 8th season.

Club Location Stadium Capacity
1912 Stelburg Stelburg, Teusland 1912-Stadion 31,000
Energija Chernovets Chernovets, Siovanija Energija-Arena 34,000
FC Einheit Marnau Marnau, Teusland Marnaustadion 28,000
FC Felsenkirchen 1879 Felsenkirchen, Teusland Felsenkirchen-Arena 45,000
FC Kaiserhaven Kaiserhaven, Teusland Kaiserhaven-Stadion 40,000
FC Rotmunde 1932 Rotmunde, Teusland Veisel 37,000
FC St. Jakob St. Jakob, Teusland Draistadion 60,000
FC Teussen Stelburg Stelburg, Teusland Teussens-Arena 44,000
FK Metropola Borograd Borograd, Siovanija Metropola-Stadion 49,000
FK Pomorie Pomorie/Marzig, Siovanija Pomorie-Arena 32,000
FK Raketa Bukovets Bukovets, Siovanija Raketa-Arena 29,000
FK Venkovets Borograd, Siovanija Venkovets-Stadion 24,000
FK Vlaikograd 1896 Vlaikograd, Siovanija Jezera-Stadion 34,000
Marlesee 97 Marlesee, Teusland Marlebucht-Energie Arena 30,000
Olympia Borograd Borograd, Siovanija Olimpski-Stadion 60,000
SV Preisfeld Preisfeld, Teusland SV-Arena 31,000
SW Stahlberg Stahlberg, Teusland Stahlarbeiter-Union-Arena 35,000
TSV Marzig Pomorie/Marzig, Siovanija Vest-Marlebucht-Stadion 29,000
Vrnovo Mesto Vrnovo, Siovanija Ostrovi-Arena 26,000
Zvezda Vlaikograd Vlaikograd, Siovanija Ivo-Balikov-Arena 34,000

Honours

Season Champion President's Cup Winner Golden Ball Winner Golden Boot Winner
1 Energija Chernovets VfL Bamerntal Miroslav Dinev (Energija) Siovanija and Teusland Miroslav Dinev (Energija, 25) Siovanija and Teusland
2 FC Teussen Stelburg Olympia Borograd Thorsten Kramer (Teussen) Siovanija and Teusland Krasimir Kynev (Olympia, 26) Siovanija and Teusland
3 Olympia Borograd SW Stahlberg Ivo Romanov (Olympia) Siovanija and Teusland Anton Dimitrov (Metropola, 31) Siovanija and Teusland
4 SW Stahlberg TSV Marzig Michael Ribbeck (Stahlberg) Siovanija and Teusland Michael Ribbeck (Stahlberg, 30) Siovanija and Teusland
5 1912 Stelburg FC Teussen Stelburg Karl-Heinz Jager (Teussen) Siovanija and Teusland Michael Ribbeck (Stahlberg, 30) Siovanija and Teusland
6 FC Teussen Stelburg (2) FC Teussen Stelburg Karl-Heinz Jager (Teussen) Siovanija and Teusland Michael Ribbeck (Stahlberg, 28) Siovanija and Teusland
7 FC Teussen Stelburg (3) 1912 Stelburg Lukas Tauscher (Teussen) Siovanija and Teusland Ragnar Targaryen (Stahlberg, 31) Cosumar

Records

  • Most Wins (Season): Olympia Borograd (25, season 3)
  • Most Points (Season): Olympia Borograd (82, season 3)
  • Most Goals (Season): Energija Chernovets (119, season 7)
  • Most Goals Against (Season): 1828 Pomen (110, season 7)
  • Most Goals (1 Game, Player): Ragnar Targaryen (5 goals, season 7 Matchday 14)
  • Fewest Wins (Season): Rudar Trkev (3, season 7)
  • Fewest Points (Season): Rudar Trkev (21, season 7)
  • Fewest Goals Against (Season): Vrnovo Mesto (40, season 2 and 3)
  • Most Points (Overall): FC Teussen Stelburg (578)