Liga F Explained

Pixels:200px
Country:Spain
Confed:UEFA
Teams:16
Relegation:Primera Federación
Levels:1
Domest Cup:Copa de la Reina
Supercopa de España Femenina
Confed Cup:UEFA Champions League
Champions:Barcelona (9th title)
Season:2023–24
Most Successful Club:Barcelona
(9 titles)
Tv:GOL PLAY (Spain only)
DAZN (worldwide, inc. Spain)
Current:2024–25 Liga F

The Primera División de la Liga de Fútbol Femenino, currently known as the Liga F (finetwork Liga F for sponsorship reasons), is the highest level of league competition for women's football in Spain. It is the women's equivalent of the men's La Liga, and it is organized by the Liga Profesional Femenina de Fútbol (LPFF). As one league of the top six national leagues ranked by Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) coefficient, it is considered one league of the most important women's leagues in Europe. Starting with the 2021–22 edition, as determined by the UEFA women's coefficient, the top three teams will qualify for the UEFA Women's Champions League.

The league was founded in 1988, and has operated every year since, although it has undergone several changes in format and names including; Primera Iberdrola (formerly Liga Femenina Iberdrola for sponsorship reasons), Superliga Femenina, División de Honor, and Liga Nacional. A total of 12 different clubs have been champions; Barcelona have won the most championships, with eight.

History

Liga Nacional

The league was founded in 1988 as Liga Nacional, formed by Olímpico Fortuna, Puente Castro, Parque Alcobendas, Santa María Atlético, Vallès Occidental, RCD Españyol, FC Barcelona, CE Sabadell and Peña Barcelonista Barcilona.

División de Honor

Starting in the 1996–97 season the league was divided into 4 groups. The group winners played a semi-final and final to decide the champion.

Superliga

For the 2001–02 season the league was renamed the Superliga and the competition system was changed from the group format to a double round-robin, with each team playing the other teams twice, once away and once at home. The league in this period consisted of 14 teams. The 2008–09 season kept the double round-robin format as the league increased from 14 to 16 teams.

In the 2009–10 season the Superliga increased from 16 to 24 teams, causing criticism by teams and players who feared a decline in the quality of competition. The Superliga was divided into 3 groups of 7 to 8 teams each, with geographically nearby teams placed into each group to minimize travel.[1] In the first stage of the season, each team played each other team in its group twice. In the second stage, the best two of each group as well as the two best third-place finishers went into group A and the other teams were divided into groups B and C based on a predefined key. Again a double round-robin was played within each group. All Group A teams and the three best finishers of Group B and C qualified for the Copa de la Reina, and the two best teams in Group A played each other in a two-legged final for the season's championship. Rayo Vallecano won the 2009–10 and 2010-11 finals, both times against RCD Españyol. In the 2009–10 season, two teams had to withdraw from the league for financial reasons.

Primera División

Starting in the 2011–12 season, the league was renamed to Primera División and the group-based system was eliminated; 18 teams played double round-robin to decide the champion. The size was reduced to 16 teams for the 2012–13 season. Before the 2016–17 season, the RFEF agreed to a sponsorship by Iberdrola, renaming the league Liga Iberdrola.[2] This was slightly changed to Primera Iberdrola in 2019.

On 22 October 2019, following a breakdown of negotiations with the RFEF for a year over salaries and working conditions,[3] [4] the players went on a strike and a number of league games had to be cancelled due to the strike.[5] On 18 November, the players announced that they would be lifting the strike, after reaching an agreement with the ACFF to resume negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement.[6]

In 2020 the Primera División was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[7]

On 10 June 2020 the Primera División was granted professionalised league status.[8]

Starting with the 2021-2022 season, the league became fully professional, and reduced from 18 teams to 16.[9]

The opening fixture of the 2023−24 season, set for 8 September 2023, was cancelled in the wake of strike called by five players unions.[10]

Teams

Stadiums and locations

TeamHome cityStadiumCapacity
Athletic ClubBilbaoLezama 23,200
Atlético MadridMadridCentro Deportivo Wanda2,700
BarcelonaBarcelonaJohan Cruyff Stadium6,000
EibarEibarUnbe1,000
GranadaGranadaCiudad Deportiva del Granada CF600
LevanteValenciaCiudad Deportiva de Buñol3,000
Levante BadalonaBadalona4,170
Madrid CFFSan Sebastián de los ReyesEstadio Fernando Torres6,000
Real BetisSevilleEstadio Luis del Sol1,300
Real MadridMadridAlfredo Di Stéfano Stadium6,000
Real SociedadSan SebastiánCampo José Luis Orbegozo2,500
Sevilla Fútbol Club FemeninoSevilleEstadio Jesús Navas8,000
Sporting de HuelvaHuelvaCampo del C.D. Lamiya1,500
UDG TenerifeGranadilla de AbonaEstadio Francisco Suárez2,700
Valencia CF FemeninoValenciaCiudad Deportiva de Paterna3,000
VillarrealVillarrealCiudad Deportiva Pamesa Cerámica3,500

List of champions

The following list shows all champions of the Spanish women's football league.[11] Before creation of the league, from 1983 to 1988 the Copa de la Reina de Fútbol winners were the Spanish Champions.

width=80px;Seasonwidth=50px;Teamswidth=175px;Championwidth=50px;Pointswidth=175px;Runner-upwidth=50px;Pointswidth=175px;Third placewidth=50px;Points
Liga Nacional
9Peña Barcilona 242120
12 Atlético Villa de Madrid 43 39 30
8 Oiartzun 20 20 20
8 Añorga 27 19 17
7 Oroquieta Villaverde 24 21 20
10 Oroquieta Villaverde 49 42 40
10 Añorga 48 40 34
9 Añorga 36 31 30
División de Honor
Sant Vicent align=center- AD Guillén Lafuerza align=center-
45 Atlético Málaga align=center- align=center-
50 Oroquieta Villaverde align=center- align=center-
50 Puebla align=center- align=center-
56 Levante align=center- align=center-
Superliga
2001–0211Levante57Puebla51Espanyol37
2002–0312Athletic Club55Levante55Puebla46
2003–0414Athletic Club60Sabadell58Levante58
2004–0514Athletic Club66Levante63Españyol57
2005–0613Espanyol60Híspalis60Levante55
2006–0714Athletic Club64Españyol63Levante55
2007–0814Levante71Rayo Vallecano71Athletic Club53
2008–0916Rayo Vallecano81Levante76 Athletic Club65
2009–1022Rayo VallecanoEspañyol-Athletic Club-
2010–1123Rayo VallecanoEspañyol-Athletic Club-
Primera División
2011–1218Barcelona94Athletic Club91Españyol76
2012–1316Barcelona76Athletic Club74Atlético de Madrid68
2013–1416Barcelona79Athletic Club69Atlético de Madrid54
2014–1516Barcelona77Atlético de Madrid69Athletic Club65
2015–1616Athletic Club78Barcelona77Atlético de Madrid69
2016–1716Atlético de Madrid78Barcelona75Valencia68
2017–1816Atlético de Madrid77Barcelona76Athletic Club56
2018–1916Atlético de Madrid84Barcelona78Levante57
2019–2016Barcelona59Atlético de Madrid50Levante45
2020–2118Barcelona99Real Madrid74Levante70
2021–2216Barcelona90Real Sociedad66Real Madrid60
2022–2316Barcelona85Real Madrid75Levante66
2023–2416BarcelonaReal Madrid

Performance by club

Since the inception of the Superliga

TeamsWinnersRunners-upWinning years
9 4 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
5 3 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2016
3 2 2017, 2018, 2019
3 1 2009, 2010, 2011
2 3 2002, 2008
1 3 2006
0 3
0 1
0 1
0 1
0 1

Overall

TeamsWinnersRunners-upWinning years
9 5 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
5 3 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2016
4 4 1997, 2001, 2002, 2008
4 3 1990, 2017, 2018, 2019
3 3 1992, 1995, 1996
3 2 1993, 1994, 1999
3 1 2009, 2010, 2011
1 3 2006
1 2 2000
1 1 1989
1 0 1991
1 0 1998
0 3
0 1
0 1
0 1
0 1
0 1
0 1
Marked in italic those teams that won the Copa de la Reina that season

All-time Liga F table

Liga Nacional (1988–1996)

RankClubSPWDLGFGAGDPtsWin %
1Añorga KKE69273415348102+246150%
2CD Oroquieta Villaverde7112661630304182+122148%
3FC Barcelona8129582645261226+35142%
4RCD Español588471823223139+84112%
5CE Sabadell71144718512492490112%
6Atletico Villa de Madrid35032810190100+9072%
7Peña Barcelonista Barcilona3503361113464+7072%
8CD Sondika35223821152107+4554%
9FFP Parque Alcobendas587191652136316-18054%
10Olímpico Fortuna35319826102123-2146%
11Oiartzun KE22817388341+4237%
12Puente Castro FC46914847122267-14536%
13CFF Tradehi559977370200-13025%
14CF PubliSport 1218494153-1220%
15CFF Vallès Occidental1168263524+1418%
16CF Llers22874174282+4018%
17CD Anaitasuna1186393732+515%
18EFAV La Chimenea12161144470-2613%
19Atlético Málaga1164482227-512%
20CFF Athenas230192020113-9310%
21Universidad Complutense12113172479-555%
22Atlético Santa María del Camí11612131354-354%

División de Honor (1996–2001)

Almost 100 clubs participated during the 5 seasons that this league format lasted.

Group stages

Group 1 (North)Group 2 (East)Group 3 (Centre)Group 4 (South)
RankClubSPWDLGFGAGDPtsWin %
1Sant Vicent CCF / Levante UD51271128774369+674232%
2RCD Espanyol512799181056399+464216%
3CF Barcelona5127971227511184+327206%
4Eibartarrak5124912013477133+344202%
5SD Lagunak5124862315420145+275195%
6CF Llers5127801334426236+190173%
7Oiartzun KE5124692332426236+192161%
8CD Sondika4100731413325126+199160%
9Añorga KKE5124613132327167+160153%
10EF Madrid Oeste Boadilla49472814397109+288152%
11CD Oroquieta Villaverde5114691134343166+227149%
12UE Cornellà5127642055270299-29148%
13Rayo Burgalés / CD Nuestra Señora de Belén5114622131280171+109145%
14UE L'Estartit4101661223330168+162144%
15CE Sabadell4101651323341154+187143%
16León FF5114551950285246-61129%
17CFF Bilbao5124452653250265-15116%
18CFF Puebla361554235848+310114%
19CD Lagun Onak5124442555231262-31113%
20CD Anaitasuna5124442357226281-55111%
21CD Tortosa5127402265254453-199102%
22AD Torrejón CF252483130336+26799%
23Peña Azul Oviedo5114401658194286-9296%
24CF Pozuelo de Alarcón252463330549+25695%
25AFF Butarque3624211920467+13795%
26Trofeo La Amistad5100391648177228-5194%
27CD Híspalis3614191121397+11691%
28CD Olímpico Rosillo 75362401121191132+5991%
29Bizkerre FT4100342244205216-1190%
30CF Pardinyes5127312768205393-18889%
31CFF Estudiantes de Huelva36140813187100+8788%
32CD Municipal de Corella374321329121125-477%
33Sporting de Gijón / EF Mareo5114282136151361-17277%
34Terrassa FC4101291755158299-14175%
35FCF Atlético Jiennense46128924195152+4355%
36AD Guillén Lafuerza2422641213490+4456%
37UD Tres Cantos372201636134225-9156%
38Mondragón CF378211245117221-10454%
39Atlético Málaga228233211014+9649%
40CD Fray Albino2432251612772+5549%
41CD Nueva Ciudad24320815129102+2748%
42AD Peña Nuestra Señora de la Antigua2432131910898+1045%
43Club Internacional de la Amistad36214113762178-11639%
44CD San Roque123172411146+6536%
45Athenas FF3771285771249-17832%
46CD Ribert3689134670221-15131%
47Torrent CF2511263385170-8530%
48Atlético Juval3401172260104-4429%
49ACRD Ñaque243992558125-6727%
50Sporting Plaza de Argel2511053671204-13325%
51AD San Juan250953681215-13423%
52Olímpico Fortuna12010286642+2422%
53Casa Social Católica de Ávila12686124676-3022%
54Montilla CF338942561152-9122%
55Gernika Club252783749173-12422%
56UE Breda252783765198-13322%
57Gure Txoko KE12675143931+519%
58CD Coslada12666144276-3418%
59Atlanta-El Raval FC239742849198-14418%
60Club Atlético General Lamadrid242753057147-9018%
61CDFB L'Eliana12665155182-3117%
62Zarautz KE12464143352-1916%
63CD Larre12663174893-4515%
64CD Blanes12663173594-5915%
65CD Canillas126631736103-6715%
66UD Eurosol22862203396-6314%
67AD Las Mercedes12353153975-3613%
68SD Retuerto12453163583-4813%
69CF Carbayedo12653183781-4413%
70El Palo FC22853203098-6813%
71CD Elgoibar12444163889-5112%
72SE Mercat Nou Magòria126521927107-8012%
73AAVV Nueva Elipa126361741124-8312%
74Montjuïc126441829123-9412%
75CD Dunboa-Eguzki12243153487-5311%
76CD Miguelturreño12635183399-6611%
77AE La Canya12434172785-5810%
78CD Amaya128252124109-859%
79CD Ronda243253659273-2149%
80Peña Deportiva Rociera12332182995-668%
81CD Trinitat12616192688-618%
82Atlètic Gavanova124241830131-1018%
83CDF Trobajo del Camino246324144203-668%
84Mutriku FT12423193287-557%
85UD 77 Taxonera126312234125-917%
86AD Virgen de la Chanca12004161793-764%
87UE Deltebre126122329164-1354%
88Ikesi CF128122520107-874%
89Motril CF110028229-272%
90AD Cortijos de Marín11810172160-392%
91Luarca CF12202207122-152%
92CD Gazteria124012313226-2131%

Final phases

ClubSPWDLGFGAGDPtsWin %
Sant Vicent CCF/Levante UD4117132815+1315%
Añorga KKE16312157+87%
CFF Puebla352121013-35%
Atlético Málaga1220030+34%
CD Oroquieta Villaverde2320194+54%
AD Guillén Lafuerza16123811-34%
AD Torrejón CF1211010+13%
CD Híspalis16114920-113%
Eibartarrak23102611-52%
CD Sondika110102201%
SD Lagunak1100134-10%
RCD Espanyol1100123-10%
CF Pozuelo de Alarcón1100128-60%

Superliga (2001–2011)

This table includes all games played since the 2001–02 season to 2010–11 season, when the Superliga recovered its format of a single group after several years with four groups and the group winners playing a Final Four. For a timeline of each team's league record, see List of women's football clubs in Spain.

Superliga 2001-2009

RankClubSPWDLGFGAGDPtsWin %
1Levante UD82001552322649127+522333%
2Athletic Club71801272330552208+344277%
3RCD Españyol82001272162567300+267275%
4CFF Puebla / Extremadura FCF8200982678413333+80222%
5Rayo Vallecano61581031540403223+180221%
6AD Torrejón CF8200942878401366+35216%
7CD Híspalis8170642086327439-112148%
8CFF Estudiantes de Huelva5118501949284241+43119%
9CE Sabadell494501529292175+117115%
10SD Lagunak5132392073164265-10198%
11Oviedo Moderno CF71703430106184422-23898%
12FC Barcelona4106342052155200-4588%
13Transportes Alcaine / Prainsa Zaragoza380251441103155-5264%
14Real Sociedad38223174281144-6363%
15CF Pozuelo de Alarcón5124241486173391-21832%
16CD Nuestra Señora de Belén49422765109357-24851%
17Atlético de Madrid2521910236788-2148%
19UE L'Estartit2561982987118-3146%
20Sporting de Huelva25615162571105-3446%
21AD DSV-Colegio Alemán2561453775140-6533%
22Atletico Málaga13082203384-5118%
23AD Peña Nuestra Señora de la Antigua368555850280-23015%
24Gijón FF12400231996-771%

Superliga 2009-2011

RankClubSPWDLGFGAGDPtsWin %
1Rayo Vallecano256438620251+15194%
2RCD Espanyol258437820245+15793%
3Athletic Club2563971016558+10793%
4SD Lagunak2522713128652+3467%
5FC Barcelona254289179555+4065%
6AD Torrejón CF25026111310463+4163%
7Atlético de Madrid25226101610478+2662%
8Prainsa Zaragoza2562672310879+2959%
9Real Sociedad2562411219584+1159%
10Levate UD252257208668+1857%
11Sporting de Huelva2502542111586+2954%
12Valencia CF25224622119107+1254%
13Oviedo Moderno CF254238239395-254%
14UE L'Estartit2502452110782+2553%
15UD Collerense2502010208987+250%
16Sevilla FC248217208281+149%
17UD Las Palmas2501462080114-3434%
18Atlético Málaga25012102850140-9034%
19CE Sant Gabriel128114135077-2726%
20SD Reocín12897124262-2025%
21SD Eibar254494150175-12517%
22Real Valladolid252484040167-12716%
23Real Jaén12432192381-588%
24Gimnàstic de Tarragona252224825225-2006%

Primera División (2011–2022)

RankClubSPWDLGFGAGDPtsWin %
1FC Barcelona1132928428171,185136+1,049880%
2Atlético de Madrid113292246441798276+522736%
3Athletic Club113292015573710358+352658%
4Levante UD113291816781584369+215610%
5Real Sociedad1132914473112527409+118505%
6Valencia CF1132912371135492457+35440%
7Rayo Vallecano1132912268139498534-36434%
8Sporting de Huelva1132911276141410512-102412%
9RCD Espanyol102999670133406476-70358%
10UD Granadilla Tenerife7205994066320283+37337%
11Sevilla FC82356444127263449-186236%
12Real Betis6175584077213270-57214%
13Transportes Alcaine / Zaragoza CFF72146540109293460-167170%
14Madrid CFF5145472177178274-96162%
15Real Madrid385481324149112+37151%
16Santa Teresa CD5154383185147305-158145%
17CE Sant Gabriel4124382066163230-6796%
18UD Collerense5154352693206379-17396%
19Fundación Albacete5150313188202358-15693%
20EDF Logroño385211945101161-6082%
21Deportivo La Coruña2551992785119-3466%
22Oviedo Moderno CF39016254986180-9457%
23SD Eibar2641684067125-5856%
24FC Levante Las Planas2601593661120-5949%
25SP Comarca Los Llanos de Olivenza26413103669139-7036%
26Atlético Málaga / Málaga CF26412124061158-9736%
27Oiartzun KE26010123847141-9432%
28Deportivo Alavés Gloriosas13086163063-3330%
29Villarreal CF13085172963-3429%
30SD Lagunak264955045202-15723%
31UE L'Estartit13485213574-3921%
32Granada CF13057184181-4017%
33FVPR El Olivo134542543112-6914%
34UD Tacuense13036212285-6312%
35SD Reocín134232930126-967%

Liga F (2022–present)

As of the end of the 2022–23 Liga F season

RankClubSPWDLGFGAGDPtsWin %
1FC Barcelona130281111810+10885%
2Real Madrid13024338025+5575%
3Levante UD13021368034+4666%
4Atlético de Madrid13016955435+1957%
5Madrid CFF13017586548+1756%
6UD Granadilla Tenerife130117123544-940%
7Sevilla FC1301010104544+140%
8Real Sociedad130109115450+439%
9Valencia CF130114153655-1937%
10Athletic Club130105153444-1035%
11FC Levante Las Planas13068162461-3726%
12Sporting de Huelva13067172454-3025%
13Real Betis13067172662-3625%
14Villarreal CF13058172765-3823%
15Alhama CF13056192457-3321%
16Deportivo Alavés13056193573-3821%

Records

Records in this section refer to Primera División from its founding in 1988 through to the present.

Clubs

Top goalscorer by season

See main article: Liga F Golden Boot.

SeasonPlayer(s)Club(s)Goals
2001–02
2002–03
2003–04 María José PérezSabadell
2004–05 Marta CubíEspanyol32
2005–06 Auxiliadora JiménezHíspalis29
2006–07 Adriana MartínEspanyol30
2007–08 Natalia PablosRayo Vallecano24
2008–09 Erika VázquezAthletic Club32
2009–10 Adriana MartínRayo Vallecano35
2010–11 Verónica BoqueteEspanyol39
2011–12 Sonia BermúdezBarcelona38
align=center rowspan="2"2012–13 Sonia BermúdezBarcelonaalign=center rowspan="2"27
Natalia PablosRayo Vallecano
2013–14 Sonia BermúdezBarcelona28
align=center rowspan="2"2014–15 Sonia BermúdezBarcelonaalign=center rowspan="2"22
Adriana MartínLevante
2015–16 Jennifer HermosoBarcelona24
2016–17 Jennifer HermosoBarcelona35
2017–18 Charlyn CorralLevante24
2018–19 Jennifer HermosoAtlético de Madrid24
2019–20 Jennifer HermosoBarcelona23
2020–21 Jennifer HermosoBarcelona31
align=center rowspan="2"2021–22 Asisat OshoalaBarcelonaalign=center rowspan="2"20
Geyse FerreiraMadrid CFF
2022–23 Alba RedondoLevante27
2023–24 Caroline Graham HansenBarcelona21

All-time top-scorers

width=10Rankwidth=150Playerwidth=350Club(s)width=90Years activewidth=60Goalswidth=60Appswidth=60Ratio
1 Natalia PablosRayo Vallecano2000–18442361
2 María Paz VilasLevante UD, FC Barcelona, RCD Espanyol, Valencia CF261325
3 Erika VázquezSD Lagunak, Athletic Club, RCD Espanyol1999–259+384+
4 Sonia BermudezCE Sabadell, Rayo Vallecano, FC Barcelona, Atlético de Madrid, Levante UD2003–20233+306+
5 Jennifer HermosoAtlético de Madrid, Rayo Vallecano, FC Barcelona2005–177245
6 Nekane DíezAthletic Club2007–144310
7 Priscila BorjaCE Sabadell, CFF Puebla, Sporting de Huelva, Atlético de Madrid, Rayo Vallecano, Real Betis, Madrid CFF2002–223353
8 Adriana MartinCE Sabadell, RCD Espanyol, Rayo Vallecano, Atlético de Madrid, Levante UD, Málaga CF2003–2019219448
9 Verónica BoqueteCD Trasportes Alcaine, RCD Espanyol2005–2011109164
10 Elisabeth IbarraEibartarrak, Athletic Club2000–17104367

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.rfef.es/index.jsp?nodo=126&CATEGORIA=3&ID=523 Reunión Comisión Mixta de seguimiento de la Superliga
  2. Web site: Iberdrola patrocinará la Primera División Femenina. La Liga. 22 August 2016. 22 August 2016. es.
  3. Web site: Female footballers deserve a fair deal. That's why we went on strike Ainhoa Tirapu. 11 October 2021. The Guardian. 21 November 2019.
  4. Web site: Spanish women's football strike a double-edged sword. 11 October 2021. AS.com. 18 November 2019.
  5. News: Women's football: Spain's top players' strike sees all fixtures postponed. BBC Sport. 11 October 2021.
  6. News: Women's football: Spain's top players' strike called off after negotiations reopen. BBC Sport. 11 October 2021.
  7. News: 7 May 2020 . La Liga Femenina to be Called to an End . en-GB . Her Football Hub . 27 February 2022.
  8. Web site: Women's soccer gains professional status in Spain. 10 June 2020.
  9. Web site: Beswick . Aiden . Liga Ellas: Spain's top division to go professional from next season . GiveMeSport . 26 March 2021 . 26 July 2022.
  10. Web site: El Sevilla-UDG Tenerife no se jugó. As. Aimara G.. Gil. 8 September 2023.
  11. Web site: Spain – List of Women's Champions. 2010. RSSSF. 8 May 2011.