The Regionalliga Südwest () is the fourth tier of the German football league system in the states of Hesse, Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland. It is one of five leagues at this level, together with the Regionalliga Bayern, Regionalliga Nordost, Regionalliga Nord and the Regionalliga West. The league was formed at the end of the 2011–12 season, when the clubs from the Regionalliga Süd, except those from Bavaria, were joined by the clubs of the Regionalliga West from Saarland and Rhineland-Palatinate. Teams The following teams played in the 2019–20 season of the Regionalliga Südwest: Relegated team of the Südwest area from the 2019–20 3. Liga: SG Sonnenhof Großaspach Remaining teams from the 2019–20 Regionalliga Südwest: TSV Steinbach Haiger SV Elversberg FC 08 Homburg FC Astoria Walldorf 1. FSV Mainz 05 II SSV Ulm 1846 Kickers Offenbach TSG 1899 Hoffenheim II FC Bayern Alzenau Bahlinger SC FSV Frankfurt SC Freiburg II VfR Aalen FC Gießen FK Pirmasens TSG Balingen Rot-Weiß Koblenz Champion of the 2019–20 Oberliga Rheinland-Pfalz/Saar: TSV Schott Mainz the champion of the 2019–20 Oberliga Baden-Württemberg: VfB Stuttgart II Champion of the 2019–20 Hessenliga: KSV Hessen Kassel Owners and shareholders The Regionalliga Südwest is owned by the Regionalliga Südwest GbR. The shareholders are a total of nine Football association. These are the seven DFB-German Football Association involved Baden Football Association Hessian Football Association Rhineland Football Association Saarland Football Association South Baden Football Association Southwest German Football Association Württemberg Football Association as well as two DFB-Regionalverbände Southern German Football Association Southwestern Regional Football Association History The German league system had been reformed in 2008, when the 3rd Liga was established and the number of regional leagues increased from two to three. A further alteration was made in 2011. This was prompted by the large number of insolvencies in the fourth tier, caused by high costs and infrastructure requirements while, at the same time, the clubs at this level complained about low incomes and lack of interest from TV broadcasters. Regionalliga stadiums had to have at least 1,000 seats and a separate stand with separate entrance for away spectators; and such requirements were seen as causing excessive financial strain on amateur clubs. Many clubs also struggled to cope with the 400-page long licence application, as they had to rely on volunteers rather than being able to draw on permanent staff. This led to Oberliga champions sometimes even declining their right to promotion to