Spanish Soccer - History of La Liga
History - Clubs - Records - Winners - Standings
Mr Jose Maria Acha director at Arenas Club de Getxo proposed the idea of a National Spanish League in April 1927. The Real Federación Española de Fútbol eventually agreed on a structure of ten teams which will constitute the first Primera Division in 1928. The teams are: FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, Athletic Bilbao, Real Sociedad, Arenas Club de Getxo and Real Unión. Just three of the first clubs wich are part the Liga have never been relegated to the Segunda División: Real Madrid, FC Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao.
The professional football league in Spain is called La Liga and since the 1950s, Real Madrid and FC Barcelona have been the strongest groups in this competition. These teams have been champions 29 times. During the 1930s and 1940s and in more recent seasons, La Liga teams have been more competitive and other winners include Valencia CF, Real Sociedad, Atlético Madrid, Athletic Bilbao, Real Betis, Deportivo La Coruna and Sevilla FC.
Throughout its history it has featured some of the best players in the world, players such as: Raymond Kopa, Luis Suarez, Alfredo Di Stéfano, Johan Cruyff, Hristo Stoichkov, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho and Luis Figo, all these players were elected European Footballer of the Year while playing for La Liga Spanish clubs.
In addition; Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane, Romario, Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho were all voted FIFA World Player of the Year. Current famous players in La Liga include David Beckham, Deco, Samuel Eto'o, Raul, Pablo Aimar, Joaquín and Fernando Torres.
In Europe La Liga is consistently rated as one of the strongest ones along with the English Premier and the Italian Serie A. La Liga football clubs have an excellent record in European competition. For example, the Real Madrid has been champion of Europe 9 different occasions.
The Real Madrid has achieved 12 titles in total and the FC Barcelona has won 10 titles. Real Zaragoza has 2 and Valencia CF has contributed with 6 and Atlético Madrid with 1. The Deportivo La Coruna has been regular in the UEFA Champions League while Athletic Bilbao, RCD Espanyol, CD Alaves and Real Mallorca have all contested in the major finals.
Between the years of 1993 and 2004 there were some changes and other clubs have excelled their expectations. Deportivo La Coruña has finished in the top 3 ten different times, and in 2000 under the coaching of Javier Irureta the club became the ninth team to be crowned champions.
On the other hand, the Real Madrid club has achieved two additional La Liga titles in 2001 and 2003 as well as the UEFA Champions League in 2000 and 2002. The contender football club was the Valencia CF in both competitions. Hector Cuper was the Valencia club coach, Valencia CF finished as runners-up in the UEFA Champions League in 2000 and 2001.
For the 2004-2005 season; European football spectators were thrilled to see a strong and well defined FC Barcelona, with the players Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto'o and their joyful and precise game. The club won their first title of the new century.
|