History of La Liga in Timeline
La Liga, officially known as LaLiga EA Sports due to sponsorship, 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 the Spanish football league system, showcasing top-tier talent and competition in Spanish football.
April 1928: José María Acha proposes national league
In April 1928, José María Acha, a director at Arenas de Getxo, proposed the idea of a national league in Spain.
1929: Barcelona wins the first Liga
In 1929, Barcelona won the first Liga title.
1929: First Primera División formed
In 1929, the Real Federación Española de Fútbol agreed on the ten teams who would form the first Primera División.
1929: First La Liga Championship Played
In 1929, the first La Liga championship was played.
1932: Real Madrid wins their first title
In 1932, Ricardo Zamora's Real Madrid won their first La Liga title.
1933: Real Madrid's First Title
In 1933, Real Madrid won their first La Liga Title.
1933: Real Madrid wins their second title
In 1933, Ricardo Zamora's Real Madrid won their second La Liga title.
1935: Real Betis wins their only title
In 1935, Real Betis, then known as Betis Balompié, won their only La Liga title to date.
1939: Atlético Aviación replaces Real Oviedo
During the 1939-40 season, Atlético Aviación was awarded a place in Primera División as a replacement for Real Oviedo, whose ground was damaged during the Spanish Civil War.
1940: Sevilla finishes as runners-up
In 1940, Sevilla finished as runners-up.
1941: Atlético Aviación retains Liga title
In 1941, Atlético Aviación (now Atlético Madrid) retained its Liga title.
1942: Sevilla finishes as runners-up
In 1942, Sevilla finished as runners-up.
1942: Valencia wins La Liga title
In 1942, Valencia gained 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.
1944: Samitier returns to Barcelona as a coach
In 1944, Josep Samitier returned to Barcelona as a coach.
1945: Athletic Bilbao wins Copa del Generalísimo
In 1945, Athletic Bilbao won the Copa del Generalísimo.
1945: Barcelona wins La Liga title
In 1945, Josep Samitier guided Barcelona in winning their second La Liga title.
1946: Sevilla wins their only title
In 1946, Sevilla won their only La Liga title to date.
1950: Athletic Bilbao wins Copa del Generalísimo
In 1950, Athletic Bilbao won the Copa del Generalísimo.
1950: Atlético Madrid wins La Liga
In 1950, Atlético Madrid, previously known as ''Atlético Aviación'', were champions under coach Helenio Herrera.
1951: Atlético Madrid wins La Liga
In 1951, Atlético Madrid were champions under coach Helenio Herrera.
1951: FC Barcelona wins La Liga and Copa Del Rey double
In 1951, FC Barcelona, coached by Ferdinand Daučík, won both La Liga and Copa Del Rey, achieving a double.
1952: FC Barcelona wins five trophies
In 1952, FC Barcelona made history by winning five distinctive trophies: 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 title, their first since 1933.
1955: Real Madrid retains La Liga title
In 1955, Real Madrid retained their La Liga title.
1956: Athletic Bilbao wins La Liga
In 1956, Athletic Bilbao won their sixth La Liga title.
1959: Barcelona wins La Liga and Copa Del Rey double
In 1959, Barcelona won another double of La Liga and Copa Del Rey.
1960: Barcelona wins back-to-back La Liga titles
In 1960, Barcelona, coached by Helenio Herrera and featuring Luis Suárez, won back-to-back La Liga titles.
1960: Real Madrid begins dominance
In 1960, Real Madrid began to dominate La Liga, being crowned champions 14 times between 1960 and 1980.
1961: Luis Suárez Breaks 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).
1963: Atlético Madrid finished second place
In 1963, Atlético Madrid finished second place.
1965: Real Madrid wins La Liga
In 1965, Real Madrid won La Liga, making it five La Liga titles in a row from 1961 to 1965.
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 La Liga title
In 1971, Valencia won their fourth La Liga title under Alfredo Di Stéfano.
1973: Atlético Madrid crowned La Liga champions
In 1973, Atlético Madrid were crowned La Liga champions.
1977: Atlético Madrid crowned La Liga champions
In 1977, Atlético Madrid were crowned La Liga champions.
1980: Real Madrid's dominance crowned 14 times
Real Madrid dominated La Liga between 1960 and 1980, being crowned champions 14 times.
1981: Real Sociedad wins their first La Liga title
In 1981, Real Sociedad won their first La Liga title.
1982: Barcelona Signs Diego Maradona for Record Fee
In 1982, Barcelona set a record by signing Diego Maradona from Boca Juniors for £5 million (£22 million in 2023).
1982: Real Sociedad wins La Liga title
In 1982, Real Sociedad won La Liga title.
1983: Athletic Bilbao wins La Liga title
In 1983, Athletic Bilbao managed to win La Liga title.
1984: Athletic Bilbao achieves La Liga and Copa del Rey double
In 1984, Athletic Bilbao achieved 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.
1986: Real Madrid wins La Liga
In 1986, Real Madrid won another La Liga titles from 1986 to 1990 under the brilliance of Emilio Butragueño and Hugo Sánchez.
1990: Real Madrid wins La Liga
In 1990, Real Madrid won another La Liga titles from 1986 to 1990 under the brilliance of Emilio Butragueño and Hugo Sánchez.
1991: Cruyff's Dream Team wins La Liga
In 1991, Johan Cruyff's Dream Team won La Liga.
1992: Cruyff's Dream Team wins European Cup
In 1992, Johan Cruyff's Dream Team won their first European Cup.
1994: Cruyff's Dream Team wins La Liga
In 1994, Johan Cruyff's Dream Team won La Liga, making it four consecutive La Liga titles between 1991 and 1994.
1995: Real Madrid Wins La Liga
In 1995, Real Madrid ended Barcelona's successful 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 achieved their first and only Liga/Copa Del Rey double.
1996: Atlético Madrid Wins La Liga Title
In the 2013-14 season, Atlético Madrid won their tenth La Liga title, their first since 1996, under Diego Simeone.
1997: First League to Win Champions League and UEFA Cup Since 1997
During the 2005–06 European 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 won another La Liga title.
1998: Barcelona Wins La Liga Title and Liga/Copa Del Rey Double
In 1998, Barcelona, under Louis van Gaal, won the La Liga title and their fourth double of Liga and Copa Del Rey, with players like Luís Figo, Luis Enrique, and Rivaldo.
1998: Real Betis Signs Denílson for World Record Fee
In 1998, Real Betis set the world record by signing Denílson from São Paulo for £21.5 million (£47.8 million in 2023).
1999: Barcelona Wins La Liga Title
In 1999, Barcelona, led by Louis van Gaal with talents like Luís Figo, Luis Enrique, and Rivaldo, secured the La Liga title.
1999: Copa del Rey Win for Valencia
In 1999, Valencia won the Copa del Rey.
2000: Deportivo La Coruña Wins La Liga Title and Valencia Runner-Up in Champions League
In 2000, Deportivo La Coruña, under Javier Irureta, became the ninth team to win La Liga, and Valencia was the runner-up in the UEFA Champions League.
2001: Real Madrid Wins La Liga Title
In 2001, Real Madrid won their first La Liga title of the century.
2001: Valencia Runner-Up in 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, under Rafael Benítez, won the La Liga title.
2003: Real Madrid Wins La Liga Title
In 2003, Real Madrid won another La Liga title.
2003: Deportivo La Coruña Semi-Finals Appearance in Champions League
In the 2003-04 season, Deportivo La Coruña reached the semi-finals of the Champions League.
2004: Barcelona Wins La Liga Title
In the 2004-05 season, Barcelona, with Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto'o, won their first La Liga title of the new century.
2005: Barcelona Wins UEFA Champions League and Sevilla Wins UEFA Cup
During the 2005-06 European season, Barcelona won the UEFA Champions League and Sevilla won the UEFA Cup.
2005: Barcelona Wins La Liga Title
In the 2005-06 season, Barcelona retained the La Liga title, marking back-to-back wins.
2006: Real Madrid Wins La Liga Title
In the 2006-07 season, Real Madrid secured a La Liga title.
2007: Real Madrid Wins La Liga Title
In the 2007-08 season, Real Madrid secured a back-to-back La Liga title.
2008: Liga BBVA sponsorship
From 2008 to 2016, the league was sponsored by Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria and 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: Barcelona and Real Madrid Dominated
In 2009, Barcelona and Real Madrid started a period of dominance, being the top club in 10 of the 11 seasons between 2009 and 2019.
2009: Real Madrid Achieves Record Points but Finishes Behind Barcelona
In the 2009-10 season, Real Madrid achieved a record of 96 points but finished behind Barcelona, who amassed 99 points.
2010: Barcelona Achieves Record Points and Wins La Liga
In the 2010-11 season, Barcelona achieved 96 points and won a third straight La Liga title.
2011: Barcelona Wins La Liga Title
In the 2010-11 season, Barcelona won their third straight La Liga title with 96 points.
2012: Real Madrid Wins La Liga Title with Record Points and Goals
In the 2011-12 season, Real Madrid, under José Mourinho, ended Barcelona's winning streak and won their 32nd La Liga title with a record 100 points, 121 goals scored, and a +89 goal difference.
2013: Real Madrid Wins Tenth Champions League Title and Sevilla Wins Third Europa League
During the 2013–14 season Real Madrid won their tenth Champions League title and Sevilla won their third Europa League.
2013: La Liga was the top league in Europe
In 2013, La Liga began a period of dominance as the top league in Europe, a position it maintained for seven consecutive years.
2013: Real Madrid Buys Gareth Bale for a Record Fee
In 2013, Real Madrid bought Gareth Bale from Tottenham Hotspur for £85.3m (€103.4m or $140m at the time; £123.5m in 2023).
2013: Barcelona Wins La Liga Title, Replicating Record Points
In the 2012-13 season, Barcelona won another La Liga title under coach Tito Vilanova, matching Real Madrid's previous 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 Fifth Champions League Title and Sevilla Wins Fourth 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, under Diego Simeone, won their tenth La Liga title, their first since 1996.
2015: Real Madrid Wins Eleventh Champions League Title and Sevilla Wins Fifth Europa League
During the 2015–16 season Real Madrid won their eleventh Champions League title and Sevilla won their fifth Europa League.
2015: La Liga Enters Five Teams in Champions League Group Stage
In 2015, La Liga became the first league to enter five teams in the Champions League group stage due to a rule change.
2015: Barcelona Achieves Second Treble and Liga/Copa Del Rey Double
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.
2015: Discontinuation of Most LFP Awards
The majority of the LFP Awards were discontinued after the 2015-16 season.
2016: LaLiga Santander sponsorship
From 2016 to 2023, La Liga was sponsored by Banco Santander and 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 Thirteenth Champions League Title and Atlético Madrid Wins Third 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, under Zinedine Zidane, won the La Liga title.
January 2018: Philippe Coutinho Transfers to Barcelona
In January 2018, Philippe Coutinho transferred to Barcelona for €142m.
2018: Barcelona Wins La Liga Title and Eighth Double
In the 2017-18 season, Barcelona won the La Liga title and their eighth double, marking seven La Liga titles in ten years.
2019: Barcelona Wins La Liga Title
In the 2018-19 season, Barcelona retained the La Liga title, securing their 26th title and their eighth in eleven years.
2019: La Liga led Europe for 22 of 60 ranked years up to 2019
Up to 2019, La Liga led Europe for 22 of the 60 ranked years, more than any other country, and was the top league in Europe each year from 2013 to 2019.
2020: Restrictions on Non-EU Players
In La Liga in 2020, each club is allowed five non-EU players but can only name three in each matchday squad.
2020: Atlético Madrid Wins La Liga Title
In the 2020-21 season, Atlético Madrid won La Liga, with Real Madrid as runners-up.
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 Title
In the 2021-22 season, Real Madrid won La Liga with four games to spare.
2023: La Liga Rebrands with New Logo and Sponsor
In 2023, La Liga rebranded itself with a new logo and sponsor, with EA (Electronic Arts) replacing Santander. The Primera and Segunda Divisions are now named LaLiga EA Sports and LaLiga Hypermotion, starting in the 2023-24 season.
2023: Teams Promoted to La Liga
In 2023, Leganés and Real Valladolid were directly promoted to La Liga from the 2023-24 Segunda División, and Espanyol won the promotion play-off.
2023: Real Madrid wins La Liga
In 2023, Real Madrid won the La Liga title, marking their 36th victory in the competition and making them the most recent champions.
2023: Adjusted Value of Gareth Bale Transfer
In 2023, the adjusted value of Gareth Bale's 2013 transfer to Real Madrid was calculated to be £123.5m.
2023: LaLiga EA Sports sponsorship
Since 2023, La Liga has been sponsored by Electronic Arts and is known as LaLiga EA Sports.
2024: La Liga ranked third in UEFA coefficient rankings
As of 2024, La Liga is ranked third in the UEFA coefficient rankings, based on performances in European competitions over the past five seasons, placing it behind the English Premier League and Italian Serie A.
2024: La Liga Season
From the 1929 season until the 2024–25 season there were 94 La Liga championships played.
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