Spanish football league system


The football league system in Spain consists of several leagues bound together hierarchically by promotion and relegation. The Spanish football federation allows reserve teams to compete in the main league system, as is the case in most of Europe; however reserve teams are not allowed to compete in the same tier as their senior team, and no reserve team has thus competed in the top flight, Primera División.

Men

La Liga

La Liga is the highest level in the Spanish football league system and is operated by the LFP.

Other professional divisions

Segunda División, also called La Liga 2 is the second highest level in the Spanish football league system and is also operated by the LFP.
The RFEF planned to create a new division before the 2021–22 season between Segunda División and Segunda División B.

Semi-professional division

The Segunda Division B is the third highest level in the Spanish football league system and is operated by the Royal Spanish Football Federation.

Lower divisions

The Tercera Division is the fourth highest level in the Spanish football league system and is operated by the Royal Spanish Football Federation and 17 regional federations.
Starting at level 5, each of the 19 regional federations of RFEF run their regional league pyramid under their own jurisdiction.
Until 2020–21:
Start of 2021–22:

Evolution of the Spanish league system

* From 1929 to 1940 the Spanish pyramid was similar to the Brazilian system, two simultaneous and independent pyramids, the national pyramid, and the regional pyramid.
**The Primera and Segunda was founded by the Royal Spanish Football Association, but since 1984 is now operated by the LFP. Since 2008 the Primera División is commonly known as Liga Santander and the Segunda División is commonly known as Liga SmartBank for sponsorship reasons.

Women

Youth