The Regionalliga () is the fourth tier in the German football league system. Until 1974, it was the second tier in Germany. In 1994, it was introduced as the third tier. Upon the creation of the new nationwide 3. Liga in 2008, it became the fourth tier. While all of the clubs in the top three divisions of German football are professional, the Regionalliga has a mixture of professional and semi-professional clubs. History of the Regionalligas 1963–1974 From the introduction of the Bundesliga in 1963 until the formation of the 2. Bundesliga in 1974, there were five Regionalligas, forming the second tier of German Football: Regionalliga Nord, (covering the states of Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, Bremen and Hamburg) Regionalliga West, (covering the state of North Rhine-Westphalia) Regionalliga Berlin, (covering West Berlin) Regionalliga Südwest, (covering the states of Rheinland-Palatinate and Saarland) Regionalliga Süd, (covering the states of Bavaria, Hesse and Baden-Württemberg) The champions and runners-up of the respective divisions played out two promotion spots to the Bundesliga in two groups after the end of the season. In 1974, the two 2. Bundesligas, Süd and Nord became the second tier of German Football and the Regionalligas ceased existing for the next 20 years. 1994–2000 In 1994, the Regionalligas were re-introduced, this time as the third tier of German Football. There were initially four Regionalligas: Regionalliga Süd, (covering the states of Bavaria, Hesse and Baden-Württemberg) Regionalliga West/Südwest, (covering the states of Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland and North Rhine-Westphalia) Regionalliga Nord, (covering the states of Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, Bremen and Hamburg) Regionalliga Nordost, (covering the states of Brandenburg, Berlin, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia and Saxony; i.e. the former GDR and the city of Berlin) Between 1994 and 2000, promotion to the 2. Bundesliga was regulated without much continuity. It was a problematic rule, as becoming champion of a division did not automatically mean promotion for that team. The champions of the South and West/Southwest divisions were automatically promoted, however, along with one of the two runners-up. The champions of the North and Northeast divisions had a play-off to decide who would get the fourth promotion spot. This rule was justified because there are more clubs in the southern part of Germany than the north. In 1998, the promotion rule was changed again: the winner of the play-off between the North and Northeast division champions was promoted, while the loser faced the runners-up from the West/Southwest and South divisions