N⭕S-ker Ledergerber

🇳🇱 The Dutch second tier is gaining attention right now due to its unusual promotion play-off system, where spots can be awarded to period champions. Since its introduction in the 1972/73 season, there have been multiple occasions where teams have reached the play-offs despite finishing in the bottom half of the table. The system has also gone through several changes over the years: 1972/73 – 1989/90 Only period champions qualified for the play-offs. 1990/91 – 1991/92 The top 2 teams not promoted were also given a play-off chance, even if they were not period champions. 1992/93 4 period champions competed in 2 groups alongside 16th and 17th from the Eredivisie to decide promotion. 1993/94 – 2004/05 2 best-placed teams and 4 period champions entered 2 groups of 4, including 2 Eredivisie sides. 2005/06 – 2008/09 8 teams competed, including 6 period champions, with 2 Eredivisie sides also involved. 2009/10 – Present The current format: 4 period champions, with 8 total play-off spots, alongside 2 Eredivisie teams. So what is a period champion today? The season is split into 4 periods: Period 1 - Matches 1–9 Period 2 - Matches 10–19 Period 3 - Matches 20–29 Period 4 - Matches 30–38 Each period acts like its own mini-league, and the team that performs best across that run of matches earns a play-off spot. This means a team can struggle across the full season, but a strong run in one period can still keep their promotion hopes alive. It ensures that no matter what stage of the season it is, and no matter your position in the table, there is always something to play for. It is a system that is unique across UEFA leagues, and one that continues to produce some unlikely promotion contenders. The image below highlights the 5 lowest-placed teams to ever qualify for the play-offs through this system.