History of La Liga in Timeline

La Liga, officially LaLiga EA Sports, is the top professional football league in Spain. Organized by the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional, it features 20 teams competing over 38 matchdays. It represents the highest level of Spanish football. The league's champion qualifies for the Champions League, with other top finishers also securing spots in European competitions. La Liga is renowned for its history, star players, and global popularity.

April 1928: Proposal for a national league in Spain

In April 1928, José María Acha, a director at Arenas de Getxo, proposed the creation of a national league in Spain.

1929: Barcelona wins first Liga

In 1929, Barcelona won the first La Liga title.

1929: Formation of the first Primera División

In 1929, the Real Federación Española de Fútbol agreed on the ten teams that would form the first Primera División. These teams included Arenas, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Athletic Bilbao, Real Sociedad, Real Unión, Atlético Madrid, Espanyol, Europa, and Racing de Santander.

1930: Athletic Bilbao wins La Liga

In 1930, Athletic Bilbao won La Liga.

1931: Athletic Bilbao wins La Liga

In 1931, Athletic Bilbao won La Liga.

1932: Real Madrid wins first title

In 1932, Ricardo Zamora's Real Madrid won their first La Liga title.

1933: Real Madrid wins first title

In 1933, Real Madrid won La Liga for the first time.

1934: Athletic Bilbao wins La Liga

In 1934, Athletic Bilbao won La Liga.

1935: Real Betis wins La Liga

In 1935, Real Betis, then known as Betis Balompié, won their only La Liga title to date.

1936: Athletic Bilbao wins La Liga

In 1936, Athletic Bilbao won La Liga.

1937: Barcelona emerges as champions of the Mediterranean League

In 1937, the teams in the Republican area of Spain, with the exception of the two Madrid clubs, competed in the Mediterranean League, with Barcelona emerging as champions.

1939: Atlético Aviación awarded place in Primera División

During the 1939-40 season, Atlético Aviación (nowadays Atlético Madrid) was awarded a place in the Primera División as a replacement for Real Oviedo, whose ground had been damaged during the Spanish Civil War.

1940: Sevilla finishes as runners-up

In 1940, Sevilla finished as La Liga runners-up.

1941: Atlético Aviación retains Liga title

In 1941, Atlético Aviación (nowadays Atlético Madrid) retained its Liga title.

1942: Sevilla finishes as runners-up

In 1942, Sevilla finished as La Liga runners-up.

1942: Valencia wins Liga title

In 1942, Valencia won their first Liga title.

1943: Athletic Bilbao wins La Liga and Copa del Generalísimo double

In 1943, Athletic Bilbao won both La Liga and the Copa del Generalísimo, achieving a double.

1944: Athletic Bilbao wins Copa del Generalísimo

In 1944, Athletic Bilbao won the Copa del Generalísimo again.

1944: Samitier returns as coach

In 1944, Josep Samitier returned to Barcelona as a coach.

1944: Valencia wins Liga title

In 1944, Valencia won their second Liga title.

1945: Athletic Bilbao wins Copa del Generalísimo

In 1945, Athletic Bilbao won the Copa del Generalísimo again.

1945: Barcelona wins La Liga title

In 1945, under the guidance of coach Josep Samitier, Barcelona secured their second La Liga title.

1946: Sevilla wins title

In 1946, Sevilla won their only La Liga title to date.

1947: Valencia wins Liga title

In 1947, Valencia won their third Liga title.

1948: Barcelona wins La Liga title

In 1948, Barcelona won another La Liga title.

1948: Valencia runners-up

In 1948, Valencia were Liga runners-up.

1949: Barcelona wins La Liga title

In 1949, Barcelona won another La Liga title.

1949: Valencia runners-up

In 1949, Valencia were Liga runners-up.

1950: Athletic Bilbao wins Copa del Generalísimo

In 1950, Athletic Bilbao won the Copa del Generalísimo again.

1950: Atlético Madrid wins title

In 1950, Atlético Madrid won the La Liga title.

1951: Atlético Madrid wins title

In 1951, Atlético Madrid won the La Liga title.

1951: Barcelona wins La Liga and Copa Del Rey doubles

In 1951, FC Barcelona, coached by Ferdinand Daučík, won La Liga and Copa Del Rey doubles.

1952: Barcelona wins La Liga, Copa Del Rey, Copa Eva Duarte, Latin Cup and Copa Martini & Rossi

In 1952, FC Barcelona achieved a historic feat by winning five trophies: La Liga, Copa Del Rey, Copa Eva Duarte, Latin Cup, and Copa Martini & Rossi, earning the name 'L’equip de les cinc Copes'.

1954: Real Madrid wins title

In 1954, Real Madrid won La Liga their first since 1933.

1955: Real Madrid retains title

In 1955, Real Madrid retained their La Liga title.

1956: Athletic Bilbao wins title

In 1956, Athletic Bilbao won their sixth La Liga title.

1957: Real Madrid wins title

In 1957, Real Madrid won La Liga.

1958: Real Madrid wins title

In 1958, Real Madrid won La Liga.

1959: Barcelona wins La Liga

In 1959, coached by Helenio Herrera, Barcelona won La Liga and Copa Del Rey.

1960: Real Madrid Dominance

Between 1960 and 1980, Real Madrid were crowned champions 14 times.

1960: Barcelona wins La Liga

In 1960, Barcelona won La Liga for the second consecutive year.

1961: Real Madrid wins title

In 1961, Real Madrid won La Liga.

1963: Atlético Madrid finishes second place

In 1963, Atlético Madrid finished second place.

1965: Real Madrid wins title

From 1961 to 1965, Real Madrid won five La Liga titles in a row.

1966: Atlético Madrid crowned La Liga champions

In 1966, Atlético Madrid were crowned La Liga champions.

1970: Atlético Madrid crowned La Liga champions

In 1970, Atlético Madrid were crowned La Liga champions.

1971: Valencia wins Liga

In 1971, Valencia won their fourth La Liga title.

1973: Atlético Madrid crowned La Liga champions

In 1973, Atlético Madrid were crowned La Liga champions.

1974: Barcelona wins title

In 1974, the Johan Cruyff-inspired Barcelona won their ninth La Liga.

1977: Atlético Madrid crowned La Liga champions

In 1977, Atlético Madrid were crowned La Liga champions.

1980: Real Madrid Dominance

Between 1960 and 1980, Real Madrid were crowned champions 14 times.

1981: Real Sociedad wins title

In 1981, Real Sociedad won their first La Liga title.

1982: Real Sociedad wins title

In 1982, Real Sociedad won their second La Liga title.

1983: Athletic Bilbao wins title

In 1983, Athletic Bilbao won a La Liga title.

1984: Athletic Bilbao achieves double

In 1984, Athletic Bilbao won their fifth La Liga and Copa del Rey double.

1985: Barcelona wins title

In 1985, Barcelona won their tenth La Liga title.

1986: Real Madrid wins title

From 1986 to 1990, Real Madrid won another five La Liga titles.

1988: Johan Cruyff returns to Barcelona

In 1988, Johan Cruyff returned to Barcelona as manager and assembled the legendary Dream Team.

1990: Real Madrid wins title

From 1986 to 1990, Real Madrid won another five La Liga titles.

1991: Barcelona wins first title

From 1991 to 1994, Cruyff's Dream Team won four consecutive La Liga titles.

1992: Barcelona wins first European Cup

In 1992, Cruyff's Dream Team won their first European Cup.

1994: Barcelona wins fourth title

From 1991 to 1994, Cruyff's Dream Team won four consecutive La Liga titles.

1995: Real Madrid wins La Liga

In 1995, Real Madrid won La Liga.

1996: Atlético Madrid wins La Liga and Copa Del Rey double

In 1996, Atlético Madrid won their ninth La Liga title, as well as their only Liga/Copa Del Rey double.

1997: Real Madrid wins La Liga

In 1997, Real Madrid added another league title to their cabinet.

1998: Barcelona wins La Liga

In 1998, Barcelona won the La Liga title.

1999: Deportivo La Coruña finishes in top three

Between 1999-2000 and 2004, Deportivo La Coruña finished in the top three on five occasions.

1999: Barcelona wins La Liga

In 1999, Barcelona won the La Liga title.

2000: Deportivo La Coruña becomes crowned champion

In 2000, Deportivo La Coruña became the ninth team to be crowned champions under Javier Irureta.

2001: Valencia runners-up in the UEFA Champions League

In 2001, Valencia were runners-up in the UEFA Champions League under Hector Cuper.

2002: Valencia wins La Liga title

In 2002, Valencia were crowned La Liga champions under Rafael Benítez.

2004: Valencia wins La Liga title

In 2004, Valencia were crowned La Liga champions under Rafael Benítez.

September 2007: Barcelona requests recognition of Mediterranean League title

On September 28, 2007, Barcelona requested the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) to recognize their 1937 Mediterranean League title as a Liga title.

2008: La Liga sponsored by Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria as Liga BBVA

In 2008, Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria became the sponsor of La Liga, leading the league to be known as Liga BBVA.

2016: La Liga sponsored by Banco Santander as LaLiga Santander

In 2016, Banco Santander became the sponsor of La Liga, and the league was then known as LaLiga Santander.

2018: La Liga average attendance

In the 2018-19 season, La Liga recorded an average attendance of 26,933 for league matches. In 2018, this placed it as the eighth-highest among domestic professional sports leagues globally and the third-highest among professional association football leagues, trailing the Premier League and the Bundesliga.

2023: Spain's ranking in UEFA country coefficients

As of the end of the 2023-24 season, Spain (and La Liga) held the second position in the UEFA country coefficients ranking, which determines the number of places allocated to Spanish clubs in UEFA competitions.

2023: La Liga sponsored by Electronic Arts as LaLiga EA Sports

Since 2023, Electronic Arts has sponsored La Liga, leading to the league being known as LaLiga EA Sports.

2024: La Liga ranked third in UEFA coefficient rankings

In 2024, La Liga was ranked third in the UEFA coefficient rankings, reflecting team performances in European competitions over the previous five seasons. It trails the English Premier League and Italian Serie A, but has historically led the rankings more often and produced more top-rated clubs overall.