The Regionalliga Süd () was the fourth tier of the German football league system from 2008 to 2012. Until the introduction of the 3. Liga in 2008, it was the third tier. It was the highest regional league for the southern part of Germany. It covered the states of Bavaria, Hesse and Baden-Württemberg and was one of three leagues at this level, together with the Regionalliga Nord and the Regionalliga West. The league was disbanded at the end of the 2011–12 season, with the Bavarian clubs joining the new Regionalliga Bayern while the others joined the clubs from the southwest of Germany to form the new Regionalliga Südwest. From 1963 to 1974, a Regionalliga Süd existed as the second tier of the German football league system, but this league is not directly related to the current one. Overview The Regionalliga Süd was introduced in 1994 along with three other Regionalligas, those being: Regionalliga Nord Regionalliga Nordost Regionalliga West/Südwest The reason for its introduction was to create a highest regional league for the south of Germany and to allow its champions, and some years the runners-up too, to be directly promoted to the 2. Bundesliga. Previous to the introduction of the four Regionalligas, below the second division were ten Oberligas. Those ten Oberliga champions had to go through a promotion play-off rather than being directly promoted. The Regionalliga Süd originally was made up from clubs from the three southern states of Bavaria, Hesse and Baden-Württemberg. In 2000, with the reduction of the number of Regionalligas to two, the league also covered the states of Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland and Thuringia. It also incorporated one club from Northrhine-Westphalia, the Sportfreunde Siegen. From 2008, with re-expansion to three Regionalligas, the league again only contained clubs from the three original states. However, in 2010–11, the Wormatia Worms, a club from Rhineland-Palatinate, competed in the league. League history Foundation of the Regionalliga Süd The Regionalliga Süd was formed in 1994 with 18 clubs, originally with six from each of the three Oberligas. However, Baden-Württemberg lost one spot due to the Stuttgarter Kickers being relegated from the 2. Bundesliga. The founding members were: From 2. Bundesliga: Stuttgarter Kickers (Baden-Württemberg) From the Oberliga Bayern: FC Augsburg SpVgg Unterhaching SpVgg Fürth TSV Vestenbergsgreuth FC Bayern Munich II SV Lohhof From the Oberliga Baden-Württemberg: SSV Ulm 1846 SpVgg Ludwigsburg TSF Ditzingen SSV Reutlingen VfR Mannheim From the Oberliga Hessen: Hessen Kassel