2. Liga (Slovakia)
Football league
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The Slovak Second Football League (Slovak: 2. slovenská futbalová liga), officially known as MONACObet LIGA for sponsorship reasons, is the annual second tier football competition in Slovakia. Currently, the competition consists of 16 teams.[1]
| Founded | 1993 |
|---|---|
| Country | Slovakia |
| Confederation | UEFA |
| Number of clubs | 16 |
| Level on pyramid | 2 |
| Promotion to | Niké liga |
| Relegation to | 3. liga |
| Domestic cup | Slovnaft Cup |
| Current champions | Tatran Prešov (3rd title) (2024–25) |
| Most championships | Nitra Tatran Prešov (3 titles) |
| Broadcaster(s) | STVR |
| Website | monacobetliga.sk |
| Current: 2025–26 2. Liga | |
Each season, the first-placed team in the 2. Liga is automatically promoted to the First League, subject to meeting league requirements. The team that finishes in second place enters a two-legged play-off against the second-to-last placed team from the First League, with the winner taking their place in the following season's First League. The two lowest-finishing teams in the 2. Liga are relegated to the 3. Liga.
History
The league was formed as a second-tier league in Czechoslovakia. Before the dissolution of Czechoslovakia it consisted of 16 teams. Upon dissolution, six teams were promoted to the then newly formed Slovak First League. The league was expanded to 18 teams in 1996/97 season, but returned back to 16 in 2001/02 and reduced to 12 in 2006–07. The number of teams expanded to 16 from the 2017–18 season.[2]
In June 2014 the league signed a two-year sponsorship agreement with a gambling firm, taking the name of DOXXbet liga as part of the deal.[3]
External events prompted adaptive measures, notably during the COVID-19 pandemic, when all Slovak football leagues, including the 2. Liga, were suspended in March 2020 following government directives to curb virus spread; the 2019–20 season resumed in June without fans, while the 2020–21 campaign featured postponed matches and enhanced health protocols under SFZ oversight.[4]
In February 2024, the league was renamed as MONACObet LIGA as a part of a two-and-half year partnership deal with an option to extend. The deal included a further undisclosed club grant worth over €1 million, allegedly exceeding any previous partnerships.[5]
Current teams (2025–26)
Ahead of the 2025–26 season, the 2nd league and the 3rd league were reorganized by the Slovak Football Association.[6]
Participants in the 2025-26 season:[7]
- FC ViOn Zlaté Moravce
- FC Petržalka
- MFK Dukla Banská Bystrica
- MŠK Považská Bystrica
- MFK Tatran Liptovský Mikuláš
- MŠK Žilina B
- FK Pohronie
- FC ŠTK 1914 Šamorín
- ŠK Slovan Bratislava B
- MŠK Púchov
- OFK Dynamo Malženice
- MFK Zvolen
- Redfox FC Stará Ľubovňa
- Slávia TU Košice
- OFK Baník Lehota pod Vtáčnikom
- FK Inter Bratislava
Winners
Source:[8]
- Bold denotes team earned promotion.
1FC VSS Košice did not meet club license rules and they went into bankruptcy.[2]
Performance by club
| Club | Winners | Promoted | Promoting Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| FC Nitra | 3 | 4 | 1994–95, 1997–98, 2004–05, 2016–17 |
| Tatran Prešov | 3 | 3 | 2007–08, 2015–16, 2024–25 |
| ZTS Dubnica | 2 | 3 | 1995–96, 1997–98, 2000–01 |
| ViOn Zlaté Moravce | 2 | 2 | 2006–07, 2009–10 |
| DAC Dunajská Streda | 2 | 2 | 1998–99, 2012–13 |
| Podbrezová | 2 | 2 | 2013–14, 2021–22 |
| FC VSS Košice | 2 | 12 | 2005–06 |
| Dukla Banská Bystrica | 1 | 2 | 2002–03, 2021–22 |
| FK AS Trenčín | 1 | 2 | 1996–97, 2010–11 |
| Rimavská Sobota | 1 | 2 | 1995–96, 2003–04 |
| Koba Senec | 0 | 2 | 1998–99, 2005–06 |
| Zemplín Michalovce | 1 | 1 | 2014–15 |
| Artmedia Petržalka | 1 | 1 | 1995–96 |
| BSC JAS Bardejov | 1 | 1 | 1993–94 |
| MŠK Ružomberok | 1 | 1 | 1996–97 |
| Matador Púchov | 1 | 1 | 1999–00 |
| Spartak Myjava | 1 | 1 | 2011–12 |
| Spartak Trnava | 1 | 1 | 2001–02 |
| ŠKF Sereď | 1 | 1 | 2017–18 |
| FK Pohronie | 1 | 1 | 2018–19 |
| Liptovský Mikuláš | 1 | 1 | 2020–21 |
| FC Košice | 1 | 1 | 2022–23 |
| KFC Komárno | 1 | 1 | 2023–24 |
| MFK Skalica | 0 | 2 | 2014–15, 2021–22 |
| MŠK Žilina | 0 | 1 | 1995–96 |
| Slovan Bratislava | 0 | 1 | 2005–06 |
| Inter Bratislava | 1 | 0 1 | |
1- Inter Bratislava won league in 2008–09, but license was sold to FK Senica.[9]
2- FC VSS Košice won league in 2016–17, but did not meet club license rules and they went into bankruptcy.[2]