# Promotion to the Bayernliga

The Bayernliga, the fifth tier of the German football league system and highest football league in the state of Bavaria, has had four teams annually promoted to the league, the champions of the three Landesligas, and a fourth club, determined by an annual promotion round. It involved the runners-up from the three Landesligas and the team in the Oberliga placed right above the relegation ranks.
The Bavarian football federation decided on drastic changes to the league system from 2012 onwards. With the introduction of the Regionalliga Bayern from 2012 to 2013, it placed two Bayernligas, north and south, below the new league as the new fifth tier of the German league system. Below those, five Landesligas instead of the existing three were set, which would be geographically divided to limit travel and increase the number of local derbies.

## History and modus

In 1963, alongside the establishment of the Bundesliga, a single-division, highest league for the state of Bavaria, the Amateurliga Bayern was established, too. Below this league, three regional Landesligas were formed to replace the previously existing 2. Amateurligas:
* Landesliga Bayern-Nord, covering the Regierungsbezirke of Upper Franconia and Lower Franconia
* Landesliga Bayern-Mitte, covering Middle Franconia, Upper Palatinate and Lower Bavaria
* Landesliga Bayern-Süd, covering Upper Bavaria and Swabia
From the 1963–64 season onwards, the champions of each of these three leagues were directly promoted to the Amateurliga Bayern, or, as it is commonly called, the Bayernliga. In turn, the bottom three teams in the Bayernliga were relegated to the Landesliga, according to their region of origin.
In 1978, the Amateurliga Bayern was renamed Amateur Oberliga Bayern.
In 1981, this modus changed as the Bavarian football association wanted each runners-up team in the Bavarian leagues to have a chance for promotion, too. Nowadays, the statutes of the BFV actually specify that every runners-up in Bavaria has the right to take part in promotion round, providing the league it can earn promotion to is part of the Bavarian football league system.
A system was established whereby the three Landesliga runners-up and the Bayernliga team placed right above the relegation ranks determined one more team to enter the league for the next season. A draw would establish which two teams met each other in the first round in an on-off game, with all games to be played on neutral grounds, preferably at a location half-way between the two clubs. The winners of those two games would then advance to a final to determine the team that would play in the Bayernliga next season.
Exceptions existed in regards to the number of teams promoted. If the Bayernliga champion managed to win promotion to the 2. Bundesliga and no team from that league was relegated to the Bayernliga, an extra team was promoted from the Landesliga. Also, in 1994, due to the formation of the Regionalligas, eight teams from the Landesligas earned promotion to the Bayernliga with the promotion round being played between the third placed teams. A similar situation existed in 2008, when the 3. Liga was established. Generally, after 1994 in a most seasons more than one club was promoted.
In 1994, the Amateur Oberliga Bayern was renamed Oberliga Bayern.
Because of the establishment of the Regionalliga Bayern in 2012 and the expansion of the Bayernliga from one to two regional divisions a large number of clubs earned promotion to the league in 2012. Additionally, the number of Landesligas was expanded from three to five.
As the 2019–20 season was interrupted by the coronavirus disease pandemic in Germany that broke out in March 2020, it was later suspended until 31 August, forcing a cancellation of the 2020–21 season as the Bavarian Football Association approved a resumption of the preceding one, which concludes in mid-2021, thus postponing the play-offs.

## Clubs directly promoted

The champions of the three Landesligas who earned direct promotion to the Bayernliga where:

### Three divisions: from 1963 to 2012

| Season | Landesliga Süd | Landesliga Mitte | Landesliga Nord |
| 1963–64 | TSG Augsburg | SpVgg Weiden | FV Würzburg 04 |
| 1964–65 | SpVgg Kaufbeuren | 1. FC Nürnberg II | FC Bayreuth |
| 1965–66 | MTV Ingolstadt | SSV Jahn Regensburg | SpVgg Hof |
| 1966–67 | FC Bayern Munich II | ESV Nürnberg-West | VfB Coburg |
| 1967–68 | SpVgg Kaufbeuren | FC Passau | FC Münchberg |
| 1968–69 | MTV Ingolstadt | SpVgg Vohenstrauss | FC Bayreuth |
| 1969–70 | FC Memmingen | FC Herzogenaurach | FV Würzburg 04 |
| 1970–71 | SC Fürstenfeldbruck | ASV Neumarkt | FC Kronach |
| 1971–72 | BSC Sendling | ASV Herzogenaurach | FC Bayreuth |
| 1972–73 | FC Bayern Munich II | TSV Roth | VfB Coburg |
| 1973–74 | SpVgg Kaufbeuren | ASV Neumarkt | ATS Kulmbach |
| 1974–75 | VfR Neuburg | FC Amberg | 1. FC Bamberg |
| 1975–76 | TSV 1860 Rosenheim | SpVgg Plattling | 1. FC Haßfurt |
| 1976–77 | MTV Ingolstadt | FC Herzogenaurach | TSV Trebgast |
| 1977–78 | SB/DJK Rosenheim | FC Vilshofen | TSV Hirschaid |
| 1978–79 | TSV Ampfing | FC Herzogenaurach | VfB Helmbrechts |
| 1979–80 | SC Fürstenfeldbruck | 1. FC Nürnberg II | VfL Frohnlach |
| 1980–81 | SpVgg Unterhaching | FC Vilshofen | 1. FC Bamberg |
| 1981–82 | FC Wacker München | TSV Straubing | VfB Coburg |
| 1982–83 | TSV Eching | SSV Jahn Regensburg | FC Bayern Hof |
| 1983–84 | ESV Ingolstadt | 1. FC Nürnberg II | FC Schweinfurt 05 |
| 1984–85 | SC Fürstenfeldbruck | SpVgg Weiden | SV Heidingsfeld |
| 1985–86 | TSV Großhadern | FC Amberg | 1. FC Schweinfurt 05 |
| 1986–87 | FC Wacker München | TSV Vestenbergsgreuth | FC Kronach |
| 1987–88 | SV Türk Gücü München | SpVgg Weiden | FC Bayern Hof |
| 1988–89 | SpVgg Starnberg | SpVgg Plattling | VfB Helmbrechts |
| 1989–90 | TSV Eching | SSV Jahn Regensburg | Kickers Würzburg |
| 1990–91 | TSV Schwaben Augsburg | SpVgg Fürth | SC 08 Bamberg |
| 1991–92 | SpVgg Starnberg | FC Passau | VfL Frohnlach |
| 1992–93 | Wacker Burghausen | SpVgg Plattling | VfB Helmbrechts |
| 1993–94 | SV Türk Gücü München | Jahn Forchheim | FC Bayern Hof |
| 1994–95 | TSV 1860 Rosenheim | SG Quelle Fürth | SC Weismain |
| 1995–96 | TSV 1860 Munich II | SG Post/Süd Regensburg | SpVgg Stegaurach |
| 1996–97 | TSV 1860 Rosenheim | 1. SC Feucht | Kickers Würzburg |
| 1997–98 | TSV Schwaben Augsburg | SC 04 Schwabach | SpVgg Bayreuth |
| 1998–99 | FC Kempten | SSV Jahn Regensburg | FV Würzburg 04 |
| 1999–2000 | FC Ismaning | ASV Neumarkt | 1. FC Sand |
| 2000–01 | Falke Markt Schwaben | SpVgg Greuther Fürth II | SpVgg Bayreuth |
| 2001–02 | SC Fürstenfeldbruck | SG Post/Süd Regensburg | TSV Gerbrunn |
| 2002–03 | FC Memmingen | SpVgg Landshut | FV Würzburg 04 |
| 2003–04 | MTV Ingolstadt | 1. FC Bad Kötzting | VfL Frohnlach |
| 2004–05 | Wacker Burghausen II | SG Quelle Fürth | FV Würzburg 04 |
| 2005–06 | SV Heimstetten | SpVgg Weiden | SpVgg Bayern Hof |
| 2006–07 | FC Kempten | SpVgg Ansbach | 1. FC Schweinfurt 05 |
| 2007–08 | TSV Buchbach | FSV Erlangen-Bruck | VfL Frohnlach |
| 2008–09 | TSV 1860 Rosenheim | SV Schalding-Heining | SV Memmelsdorf |
| 2009–10 | SV Heimstetten | Freier TuS Regensburg | Würzburger FV |
| 2010–11 | SB/DJK Rosenheim | SC Eltersdorf | VfL Frohnlach |
| 2011–12 | Wacker Burghausen II | SpVgg Landshut | Kickers Würzburg |

### Five divisions: since 2012

| Season | Landesliga Nordost | Landesliga Nordwest | Landesliga Mitte | Landesliga Südost | Landesliga Südwest |
| 2012–13 | SpVgg SV Weiden | SV Erlenbach | TSV Bogen | SV Pullach | FC Pipinsried |
| 2013–14 | TSV Neudrossenfeld | SpVgg Ansbach | 1. FC Bad Kötzting | TSV Dachau | TSV Landsberg |
| 2014–15 | 1. SC Feucht | DJK Don Bosco Bamberg | SpVgg Ruhmannsfelden | SV Kirchanschöring | TSV Kottern |
| 2015–16 | ASV Neumarkt | SpVgg Ansbach | DJK Ammerthal | FC Ismaning | FC Gundelfingen |
| 2016–17 | TSV Kornburg | 1. FC Schweinfurt 05 II | DJK Gebenbach | TuS Holzkirchen | TSV Schwaben Augsburg |
| 2017–18 | ATSV Erlangen | TSV Abtswind | SSV Jahn Regensburg II | Türkgücü-Ataspor Munich | TSV 1861 Nördlingen |
| 2018–19 | FC Eintracht Bamberg | TSV Karlburg | SV Donaustauf | TSV 1880 Wasserburg | TSV Landsberg |
| 2019–21 | No champions. 2019–20 season suspended because of COVID-19 pandemic in Germany and later extended to 2021. 2020–21 cancelled. | No champions. 2019–20 season suspended because of COVID-19 pandemic in Germany and later extended to 2021. 2020–21 cancelled. | No champions. 2019–20 season suspended because of COVID-19 pandemic in Germany and later extended to 2021. 2020–21 cancelled. | No champions. 2019–20 season suspended because of COVID-19 pandemic in Germany and later extended to 2021. 2020–21 cancelled. | No champions. 2019–20 season suspended because of COVID-19 pandemic in Germany and later extended to 2021. 2020–21 cancelled. |
Source:"The Bavarian Landesligas" (in German). Das deutsche Fussball-Archiv. Retrieved 12 November 2008.

## Clubs taking part in the promotion round

The clubs having taken part in the promotion round were:

### Three divisions: from 1963 to 2012

| Season | Bayernliga | Landesliga Süd | Landesliga Mitte | Landesliga Nord |
| 1980–81 | TSV Trebgast | TSV Schwaben Augsburg | TSV Straubing | VfB Coburg |
| 1981–82 | SC Fürstenfeldbruck | SpVgg Kaufbeuren | SpVgg Landshut | FT Schweinfurt |
| 1982–83 | FC Memmingen | TSV Aindling | FC Amberg | SV Heidingsfeld |
| 1983–84 | TSV Ampfing | Wacker Burghausen | FSV Bad Windsheim | SV Heidingsfeld |
| 1984–85 | MTV Ingolstadt | TSV Eching | SpVgg Plattling | VfB Helmbrechts |
| 1985–86 | SV Heidingsfeld | FC Wacker München | FSV Bad Windsheim | VfB Helmbrechts |
| 1986–87 | FC Memmingen | MTV Ingolstadt | FSV Bad Windsheim | VfB Helmbrechts |
| 1987–88 | SSV Jahn Regensburg | TSV Schwaben Augsburg | FC Miltach | VfB Helmbrechts |
| 1988–89 | TSV Ampfing | FC Memmingen | SpVgg Fürth | SV Memmelsdorf |
| 1989–90 | SpVgg Starnberg | SV Lohhof | FC Passau | DJK Schweinfurt |
| 1990–91 | SpVgg Bayreuth | FC Gundelfingen | 1. FC Nürnberg II | VfL Frohnlach |
| 1991–92 | SV Türk Gücü München | FC Gundelfingen | SpVgg Landshut | SV Heidingsfeld |
| 1992–93 | TSV Eching | FC Gundelfingen | BSC Erlangen | FC Bayern Hof |
| 1993–94 | SSV Jahn Regensburg | FC Enikon Augsburg MTV Ingolstadt | FC Amberg SpVgg Weiden | SV Heidingsfeld VfL Frohnlach |
| 1994–95 | FC Enikon Augsburg | TSV Eching | SpVgg Weiden | Alemannia Haibach |
| 1995–96 | VfB Helmbrechts | TSV Aindling | TSV 04 Schwabach | Alemannia Haibach |
| 1996–97 | SpVgg Bayreuth | TSV Landsberg | SSV Jahn Regensburg | FV Würzburg 04 |
| 1997–98 | FC Memmingen | SV Türk Gücü München | 1. FC Nürnberg II | FV Würzburg 04 |
| 1998–99 | FC Bayern Hof | TSV Bobingen | SpVgg Ansbach | DJK Waldberg |
| 1999–2000 | SpVgg Landshut | MTV Ingolstadt | 1. FC Bad Kötzting | SpVgg Bayreuth |
| 2000–01 | FC Kempten | SpVgg Unterhaching II | FC Linde Schwandorf | TSV Großbardorf |
| 2001–02 | FV Würzburg 04 | TSV Schwaben Augsburg | SpVgg Landshut | VfL Frohnlach |
| 2002–03 | SG Quelle Fürth | SV Gendorf | FC Passau | TSV Grossbardorf |
| 2003–04 | FC Passau | BCF Wolfratshausen | SG Quelle Fürth | 1. FC Bamberg |
| 2004–05 | SpVgg Ansbach | FC Kempten | ASV Neumarkt | FC Bayern Hof |
| 2005–06 | FC Kempten | TSG Thannhausen | Freier TuS Regensburg | 1. FC Eintracht Bamberg |
| 2006–07 | TSV Großbardorf | TSG Thannhausen | SV Schalding-Heining | Alemannia Haibach |
| 2007–08 | FC Schweinfurt 05 | FC Ingolstadt 04 II TSV Rain am Lech | SV Seligenporten DJK Vilzing | Kickers Würzburg SV Friesen |
| 2008–09 | SV Seligenporten | FC Affing | SpVgg Landshut | 1. FC Sand |
| 2009–10 | SpVgg Ansbach | VfB Eichstätt | TSV Neustadt/Aisch | FC Schweinfurt 05 |
| 2010–11 | SpVgg Bayern Hof | TSV Gersthofen | SSV Jahn Regensburg II | SpVgg Selbitz |
| 2011–12 | see: 2011–12 Bayernliga#Play–offs | see: 2011–12 Bayernliga#Play–offs | see: 2011–12 Bayernliga#Play–offs | see: 2011–12 Bayernliga#Play–offs |

### Five divisions: since 2012

| Season | Bayernliga Nord | Bayernliga Süd | Landesliga Nordost | Landesliga Nordwest | Landesliga Mitte | Landesliga Südost | Landesliga Südwest |
| 2012–13 | 1. FC Trogen | TSV Aindling SpVgg GW Deggendorf | SV Friesen | SV Pettstadt | DJK Vilzing | VfR Garching | SV Raisting |
| 2013–14 | SpVgg Selbitz Alemania Haibach | BCF Wolfratshausen FC Affing FC Ismaning | FSV Stadeln | FC Viktoria Kahl | DJK Vilzing | TuS Holzkirchen | TSV Nördlingen |
| 2014–15 | DJK Ammerthal SpVgg Ansbach FSV Erlangen-Bruck TSV Neudrossenfeld | 1. FC Bad Kötzting SpVgg Landshut SV Raisting | SpVgg Selbitz | 1. FC Sand | ASV Burglengenfeld | SV Erlbach | FV Illertissen II |
| 2015–16 | ASV Burglengenfeld SpVgg Jahn Forchheim VfL Frohnlach | TSV Bogen SV Erlbach TSV Landsberg | TSV Kornburg | Würzburger Kickers II | SV Fortuna Regensburg | FC Deisenhofen | SV Mering |
| 2016–17 | SV Erlenbach 1. SC Feucht Alemannia Haibach | TSV Bogen TSV Landsberg Jahn Regensburg II BCF Wolfratshausen | FSV Erlangen-Brück | SpVgg Jahn Forchheim | SV Donaustauf | SB Cheimgau Traunstein | Türkspor Augsburg |
| 2017–18 | SV Erlenbach 1. FC Sand 1. FC Schweinfurt II SpVgg SV Weiden | SV Kirchanschöring SB Chiemgau Traunstein BCF Wolfratshausen | TSV Nürnberg-Buch | ASV Vach | TSV Waldkirchen | SC Eintracht Freising | FV Illertissen II |
| 2018–19 | FSV Erlangen-Brück SpVgg Jahn Forchheim 1. FC Sand ASV Vach | FC Ismaning 1. FC Sonthofen FC Unterföhring | 1. SC Feucht | FC Viktoria Kahl | ASV Cham | FC Deisenhofen | Türkspor Augsburg |
| 2019–21 | 2019–20 season suspended and later extended to 2021, delaying the play-offs. 2020–21 season cancelled as a result. | 2019–20 season suspended and later extended to 2021, delaying the play-offs. 2020–21 season cancelled as a result. | 2019–20 season suspended and later extended to 2021, delaying the play-offs. 2020–21 season cancelled as a result. | 2019–20 season suspended and later extended to 2021, delaying the play-offs. 2020–21 season cancelled as a result. | 2019–20 season suspended and later extended to 2021, delaying the play-offs. 2020–21 season cancelled as a result. | 2019–20 season suspended and later extended to 2021, delaying the play-offs. 2020–21 season cancelled as a result. | 2019–20 season suspended and later extended to 2021, delaying the play-offs. 2020–21 season cancelled as a result. |
* Die Deutsche Liga Chronik 1945 – 2006 (in German) DSFS, pp. I 72 – I 144.
* Bold denotes promoted team, or, in case of the participant from the Bayernliga, the club maintained its league status.