History of La Liga in Timeline
La Liga, officially LaLiga EA Sports, is Spain's top professional men's football division. Organized by the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional, it features 20 teams competing in a 38-matchday season. It represents the highest level of Spanish football.
April 1928: Proposal of a national league
In April 1928, José María Acha proposed the idea of a national league in Spain.
1929: First Primera División
In 1929, the Real Federación Española de Fútbol agreed on the ten teams who would form the first Primera División.
1929: Inaugural La Liga Season
In 1929, the first of 94 La Liga championships was played.
1932: Real Madrid wins first title
In 1932, Ricardo Zamora's Real Madrid won their first title.
1933: Real Madrid wins La Liga
In 1933, Real Madrid won their first La Liga since 1933.
1935: Real Betis wins La Liga
In 1935, Real Betis won their only title to date.
1937: Barcelona wins Mediterranean League
In 1937, Barcelona emerged as champions of the Mediterranean League.
1939: Atlético Aviación awarded place in Primera División
During the 1939-40 season, Atlético Aviación was awarded a place in the Primera División as a replacement for Real Oviedo.
1940: Sevilla finishes as runners-up
In 1940, Sevilla finished as runners-up.
1941: Atlético Aviación wins La Liga
In 1941, Atlético Aviación (nowadays Atlético Madrid) retained their La Liga title.
1942: Sevilla finishes as runners-up
In 1942, Sevilla finished as runners-up.
1942: Valencia wins La Liga title
In 1942, Valencia won one of their three Liga titles.
1943: Athletic Bilbao wins La Liga and Copa del Generalísimo
In 1943, Athletic Bilbao won a La Liga and Copa del Generalísimo double.
1944: Athletic Bilbao wins Copa del Generalísimo
In 1944, Athletic Bilbao won the Copa del Generalísimo again.
1944: Josep Samitier returns as coach
In 1944, Josep Samitier returned to Barcelona as a coach.
1944: Valencia wins La Liga title
In 1944, Valencia won one of their three Liga titles.
1945: Athletic Bilbao wins Copa del Generalísimo
In 1945, Athletic Bilbao won the Copa del Generalísimo again.
1945: Barcelona wins La Liga
In 1945, Barcelona, guided by Samitier, won their second La Liga title.
1947: Valencia wins La Liga title
In 1947, Valencia won one of their three Liga titles.
1948: Barcelona wins La Liga title
In 1948, Barcelona won one of their back to back La Liga titles.
1948: Valencia finished as runners-up
In 1948, Valencia finished as runners-up.
1949: Barcelona wins La Liga title
In 1949, Barcelona won one of their back to back La Liga titles.
1949: Valencia finished as runners-up
In 1949, Valencia finished as 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, previously known as ''Atlético Aviación'', won the championship under Helenio Herrera.
1951: Atlético Madrid wins title
In 1951, Atlético Madrid won the championship again under Helenio Herrera.
1951: Barcelona wins La Liga and Copa Del Rey doubles
In 1951-52, FC Barcelona, under coach Ferdinand Daučík, won La Liga and Copa Del Rey doubles.
1952: Barcelona wins five trophies in one year
In 1952, FC Barcelona made history by winning five distinctive trophies in one year: La Liga, Copa Del Rey, Copa Eva Duarte, Latin Cup and Copa Martini & Rossi.
1954: Real Madrid wins La Liga
In 1954, Real Madrid won their third La Liga.
1955: Real Madrid wins La Liga
In 1955, Real Madrid retained their title in La Liga.
1956: Athletic Bilbao wins La Liga title
In 1956, Athletic Bilbao won their sixth La Liga title.
1957: Real Madrid wins La Liga title
In 1957, Real Madrid won La Liga again.
1958: Real Madrid wins La Liga title
In 1958, Real Madrid won La Liga again.
1959: Barcelona wins La Liga and Copa Del Rey
In 1959, Barcelona won another double of La Liga and Copa Del Rey, conquering three doubles in the 1950s.
1960: Real Madrid dominates
In 1960, Real Madrid began to dominate La Liga, being crowned champions 14 times between 1960 and 1980.
1961: Luis Suárez World Record Transfer
In 1961, Luis Suárez became the first La Liga player involved in a world record transfer, moving from Barcelona to Inter Milan for £152,000 (£4.3 million in 2023).
1961: Real Madrid wins La Liga title
In 1961, Real Madrid won La Liga title.
1963: Atlético Madrid finishes second place
In 1963, Atlético Madrid finished in second place.
1965: Real Madrid wins La Liga title
In 1965, Real Madrid won La Liga title.
1966: Atlético Madrid wins La Liga
In 1966, Atlético Madrid were crowned La Liga champions.
1970: Atlético Madrid wins La Liga
In 1970, Atlético Madrid were crowned La Liga champions.
1971: Valencia wins La Liga
In 1971, Valencia won their fourth La Liga title.
1973: Atlético Madrid wins La Liga
In 1973, Atlético Madrid were crowned La Liga champions.
1974: Barcelona wins La Liga
In 1974, the Johan Cruyff-inspired Barcelona won their ninth La Liga.
1977: Atlético Madrid wins La Liga
In 1977, Atlético Madrid were crowned La Liga champions.
1980: Real Madrid dominates
In 1980, Real Madrid dominated La Liga between 1960 and 1980, being crowned champions 14 times.
1981: Real Sociedad wins La Liga titles
In 1981, Real Sociedad won their first La Liga titles.
1982: Barcelona Signs Diego Maradona
In 1982, Barcelona set the record by signing Diego Maradona from Boca Juniors for £5 million (£22 million in 2023).
1982: Real Sociedad wins La Liga titles
In 1982, Real Sociedad won their second La Liga titles.
1983: Athletic Bilbao wins La Liga titles
In 1983, Athletic Bilbao managed to win one of two consecutive La Liga titles.
1984: Athletic Bilbao wins La Liga and Copa del Rey double
In 1984, Athletic Bilbao won their fifth La Liga and Copa del Rey double.
1985: Barcelona wins La Liga title
In 1985, Barcelona won their tenth La Liga title under coach Terry Venables, their first La Liga win since 1974.
1986: Real Madrid wins La Liga titles
In 1986, Real Madrid won La Liga titles.
1990: Real Madrid wins La Liga titles
In 1990, Real Madrid won La Liga titles.
1991: Barcelona wins La Liga title
In 1991, Cruyff's team won one of four consecutive La Liga titles between 1991 and 1994.
1992: Barcelona wins European Cup
In 1992, Cruyff's team won their first European Cup.
1994: Barcelona wins La Liga title
In 1994, Cruyff's team won one of four consecutive La Liga titles between 1991 and 1994.
1995: Real Madrid wins La Liga
In 1995, Real Madrid ended Barcelona's run by winning the La Liga title.
1996: Atlético Madrid Wins La Liga and Copa Del Rey Double
In 1996, Atlético Madrid secured their ninth La Liga title and their only Liga/Copa Del Rey double.
1996: Atlético Madrid wins La Liga title
In 1996, Atlético Madrid, under the management of Diego Simeone, won their tenth La Liga title, their first since 1996.
1997: Spanish Clubs Win Both Champions League and UEFA Cup
During the 1997 season, La Liga became the first league to have its clubs win both the Champions League and UEFA Cup since 1997.
1997: Real Madrid wins La Liga title
In 1997, Real Madrid added another La Liga title to their cabinet.
1998: Barcelona wins La Liga title and Copa Del Rey
In 1998, Barcelona, under Louis van Gaal, won the La Liga title and their fourth double of Liga and Copa Del Rey.
1998: Real Betis Signs Denílson for World Record Fee
In 1998, Real Betis set the world record when they signed Denílson from São Paulo for £21.5 million (£47.8 million in 2023).
1999: Barcelona wins La Liga title
In 1999, Barcelona, led by talents like Luís Figo, Luis Enrique, and Rivaldo, won the La Liga title.
2000: Deportivo La Coruña wins La Liga
In 2000, Deportivo La Coruña, under Javier Irureta, became the ninth team to win La Liga.
2001: Real Madrid wins La Liga title
In 2001, Real Madrid won one of their first La Liga titles of the century.
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
In 2002, Valencia, one of the strongest teams in Europe, were crowned La Liga champions under Rafael Benítez.
2003: Real Madrid wins La Liga title
In 2003, Real Madrid won one of their first La Liga titles of the century.
2003: Deportivo La Coruña Champions League Appearance
In 2003-04, Deportivo La Coruña had a semi-finals appearance in Champions League.
2005: Barcelona wins La Liga title
In the 2004-05 season, Barcelona won their first La Liga title of the new century.
2006: Real Madrid wins La Liga title
In 2006, Real Madrid won back-to-back La Liga titles.
2007: Real Madrid wins La Liga title
In 2007, Real Madrid won back-to-back La Liga titles.
2008: Liga BBVA sponsorship
In 2008, Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria began sponsoring La Liga, and it was known as Liga BBVA.
2008: Creation of LFP Awards
In the 2008-09 season, the governing body created the LFP Awards (now called La Liga Awards), awarded each season to individual players and coaches.
2009: Top-rated club
In 2009, La Liga produced the continent's top-rated club and continued to do so for 10 of the 11 seasons between 2009 and 2019.
2010: Barcelona Wins La Liga Title
In 2009-10, Barcelona won La Liga with 99 points, ahead of Real Madrid who had 96 points. Real Madrid achieved a record 96 points but still finished behind Barcelona
2011: Barcelona Wins La Liga Title
In the 2010-11 season, Barcelona secured a third straight La Liga title with 96 points.
2012: Real Madrid Wins La Liga Title with Record Points
In the 2011-12 season, Real Madrid won their 32nd La Liga title with a record 100 points, 121 goals, and a +89 goal difference.
2013: Real Madrid Wins Champions League and Sevilla Wins Europa League
During the 2013–14 season Real Madrid won their tenth Champions League title and Sevilla won their third Europa League.
2013: Real Madrid Buys Gareth Bale
In 2013, Gareth Bale was bought for £85.3m (€103.4m or $140m at the time; £123.5m in 2023) from Tottenham Hotspur.
2013: La Liga ranked top league in Europe
In 2013, La Liga was ranked as the top league in Europe by UEFA.
2013: Barcelona Wins La Liga Title
In the 2012-13 season, Barcelona won La Liga title, replicating Real Madrid's record of 100 points.
2013: Introduction of Monthly Awards
Since the 2013–14 season, La Liga has bestowed the monthly manager of the month and player of the month awards.
2014: Barcelona Wins Champions League and Sevilla Wins Europa League
During the 2014–15 season Barcelona won their fifth Champions League title and Sevilla won their fourth Europa League.
2014: Atlético Madrid Wins La Liga Title
In the 2013-14 season, Atlético Madrid won their tenth La Liga title, their first since 1996.
2015: Discontinuation of Most LFP Awards
After the 2015-16 season, the majority of the LFP Awards were discontinued.
2015: Real Madrid Wins Champions League and Sevilla Wins Europa League
During the 2015–16 season Real Madrid won their eleventh Champions League title and Sevilla won their fifth Europa League.
2015: Barcelona achieves second Treble
In the 2014-15 season, Barcelona made history by becoming the first team to achieve a second Treble, and winning a sixth Liga/Copa Del Rey double.
2016: LaLiga Santander sponsorship
In 2016, Banco Santander began sponsoring La Liga, and it was known as LaLiga Santander.
2016: Barcelona Wins Back-to-Back Liga/Copa Del Rey Double
In the 2015-16 season, Barcelona won a back-to-back Liga/Copa Del Rey double, a feat not achieved since the 1950s.
2017: Real Madrid Wins Champions League and Atlético Madrid Wins Europa League
During the 2017–18 season Real Madrid won their thirteenth Champions League title and Atlético Madrid won their third Europa League.
2017: Real Madrid Wins La Liga Title
In the 2016-17 season, Real Madrid won the La Liga title under Zinedine Zidane.
January 2018: Barcelona Signs Philippe Coutinho
In January 2018, Barcelona signed Philippe Coutinho for €142m.
2018: Barcelona wins La Liga Title and Copa del Rey
In the 2017-18 season, Barcelona won La Liga title and won their eighth double, for seven La Liga titles in ten years.
2018: La Liga attendance
In the 2018-19 season, La Liga had an average attendance of 26,933 for league matches, the eighth-highest of any domestic professional sports league globally.
2019: La Liga ranked top league in Europe
In 2019, La Liga led Europe as the top league in UEFA's league coefficient rankings for the 22nd time in the 60 ranked years up to 2019.
2019: Barcelona wins La Liga Title
In the 2018-19 season, Barcelona won their 26th La Liga title, for eight La Liga titles in eleven years.
2020: Non-EU Player Restrictions in La Liga
In 2020, La Liga clubs were allowed five non-EU players but could only name three in each matchday squad.
August 2021: La Liga clubs approve deal with CVC Capital Partners
In August 2021, La Liga clubs approved a €2.7 billion deal to sell 10% of the league to CVC Capital Partners.
2022: Real Madrid wins La Liga
In 2022, Real Madrid won the 2021-22 La Liga season with four games to spare.
2023: Luis Suárez transfer value adjusted for inflation
In 1961, Luis Suárez became the first La Liga player involved in a world record transfer, moving from Barcelona to Inter Milan for £152,000 (£4.3 million in 2023). The adjusted value for inflation is included.
2023: Teams Competing in La Liga
In 2023, 20 teams compete in the league, including the top 17 sides from the 2023–24 season and three promoted from the 2023–24 Segunda División: Leganés, Real Valladolid, and Espanyol.
2023: LaLiga EA Sports sponsorship
In 2023, Electronic Arts began sponsoring La Liga, and it became known as LaLiga EA Sports.
2023: La Liga Rebrands with New Logo and Sponsor
In 2023, La Liga rebranded itself with a new logo and a new title sponsor, EA (Electronic Arts), replacing Santander. LaLiga EA Sports and LaLiga Hypermotion are the new names of the Primera and Segunda Divisions.
2023: Matches Postponed due to Flash Floods
In 2023, following the flash floods disaster that hit Spain, the Spanish league postponed all matches scheduled to be played in the Valencian region on Thursday, and games were played after the floods opened in a moment of silence.
2024: 94th La Liga Championship Season
In 2024, the 2024–25 season will mark the 94th La Liga championship season.
