In which year was La Liga founded?

La Liga was founded in 1929, when Spain launched its first national professional football league.

The inaugural Primera División season began on 10 February 1929 with 10 clubs. Barcelona became the first champion, finishing ahead of Real Madrid and the other founding teams. The league was created after years of discussion about how to unite Spain’s regional football competitions into one national championship.

The original lineup included Barcelona, Real Madrid, Athletic Bilbao, Real Sociedad, Real Unión, Arenas Club, Atlético Madrid, Espanyol, Europa, and Racing Santander. Six clubs qualified because they had previously won the Copa del Rey, three had reached a cup final, and Racing Santander earned the final place through a qualifying tournament.

La Liga’s early years were interrupted by the Spanish Civil War, and the competition did not operate normally during the conflict. Nevertheless, the 1929 season established the top division that would become one of Europe’s most prominent leagues. Only Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Athletic Bilbao have played continuously in the division without relegation.