Venezuelan Primera División
The Primera División, or Liga Venezolana is the top-flight professional football league of Venezuela. It was created in 1921 and turned professional in 1957. It's organized by the Federación Venezolana de Fútbol.
Format
Starting in the 2020 season, the 20 teams play in a home-and-away round-robin tournament, with the top eight teams advancing to the semi-final stage.In the semi-final stage, the eight teams are divided in two groups of four teams each, facing the other teams in their group twice. The two group winners will advance to the Serie Final to decide the league champions.
International qualification
- The champions and runners-up qualify to the group phase of the Copa Libertadores.
- The team with the most points in the entire season qualifies to the preliminary round of the Copa Libertadores as Venezuela 3.
- The second and third team with the most points in the entire season qualifies to the Copa Sudamericana as Venezuela 1 and Venezuela 2.
- If a team won both tournaments that team qualify to the Copa Libertadores as Venezuela 1, then the first and second team with the most points in the entire season qualify to the Copa Libertadores as Venezuela 2 and Venezuela 3 and the fourth and fifth team with the most points in the entire season qualify to the Copa Sudamericana as Venezuela 1 and Venezuela 2.
- If the winner of the Copa Venezuela does not qualify to the Copa Libertadores through the aforementioned manners or through the point total in the entire season, they take the Venezuela 2 spot in the Copa Sudamericana.
Relegation
- The two lowest placed teams in the entire season are automatically relegated to the Segunda División.
2020 teams
Team | City | Stadium | Capacity |
Academia Puerto Cabello | Puerto Cabello | La Bombonerita | 7,500 |
Aragua | Maracay | Olímpico Hermanos Ghersi Páez | 14,000 |
Atlético Venezuela | Caracas | Brígido Iriarte | 10,000 |
Carabobo | Valencia | Misael Delgado | 10,400 |
Caracas | Caracas | Olímpico de la UCV | 23,940 |
Deportivo La Guaira | Caracas | Olímpico de la UCV | 23,940 |
Deportivo Lara | Cabudare | Metropolitano de Cabudare | 47,913 |
Deportivo Táchira | San Cristóbal | Polideportivo de Pueblo Nuevo | 38,755 |
Estudiantes de Mérida | Mérida | Metropolitano de Mérida | 42,200 |
GV Maracay | Maracay | Giuseppe Antonelli | 7,500 |
LALA | Ciudad Guayana | Polideportivo Cachamay | 41,600 |
Metropolitanos | Caracas | Olímpico de la UCV | 23,940 |
Mineros | Ciudad Guayana | Polideportivo Cachamay | 41,600 |
Monagas | Maturín | Monumental de Maturín | 51,796 |
Portuguesa | Acarigua | General José Antonio Páez | 18,000 |
Trujillanos | Valera | José Alberto Pérez | 25,000 |
Yaracuyanos | San Felipe | Florentino Oropeza | 10,000 |
Zamora | Barinas | Agustín Tovar | 29,800 |
Zulia | Maracaibo | José "Pachencho" Romero | 40,800 |
List of Champions
List of champions since the first championship held in 1920. The Primera División turned professional on 21 February 1957.Season | Champion | Runner-up | Third Place | Topscorer |
1920–21 | América | Centro Atlético | ||
1922 | Centro Atlético | América | ||
1923 | América | Centro Atlético | ||
1924 | Centro Atlético | Vargas | ||
1925 | Loyola | Venzóleo | ||
1926 | Centro Atlético | Venzóleo | ||
1927 | Venzóleo | Centro Atlético | Nueva Esparta | |
1928 | Deportivo Venezuela | Centro Atlético | ||
1929 | Deportivo Venezuela | Unión | ||
1930 | Centro Atlético | Unión | ||
1931 | Deportivo Venezuela | Centro Atlético | ||
1932 | Unión | Dos Caminos | Deportivo Venezuela | |
1933 | Deportivo Venezuela | Dos Caminos | ||
1934 | Unión | Dos Caminos | ||
1935 | Unión | Dos Caminos | ||
1936 | Dos Caminos | Centro Atlético | Deportivo Venezuela | |
1937 | Dos Caminos | Litoral | Centro Atlético | |
1938 | Dos Caminos | Litoral | ||
1939 | Unión | Litoral | ||
1940 | Unión | Dos Caminos | Litoral | |
1941 | Litoral | Dos Caminos | Unión | |
1942 | Dos Caminos | Loyola | ||
1943 | Loyola | Litoral | - | |
1944 | Loyola | Dos Caminos | ||
1945 | Dos Caminos | Loyola | ||
1946 | Deportivo Español | Centro Atlético | ||
1947 | Unión | Universidad Central | ||
1948 | Loyola | Unión | ||
1949 | Dos Caminos | Universidad Central | ||
1950 | Unión | La Salle | ||
1951 | Universidad Central | Loyola | La Salle | |
1952 | La Salle | Loyola | Universidad Central | |
1953 | Universidad Central | La Salle | Vasco | |
1954 | Vasco | Loyola | La Salle | |
1955 | La Salle | Deportivo Español | Dos Caminos | |
1956 | Banco Obrero | La Salle | Vasco | |
1957 | Universidad Central | La Salle | Banco Obrero | ![]() |
1958 | Deportivo Portugués | Deportivo Español | Estudiantes | ![]() |
1959 | Deportivo Español | Deportivo Portugués | Danubio | ![]() |
1960 | Deportivo Portugués | Deportivo Español | Deportivo Italia | ![]() |
1961 | Deportivo Italia | Banco Agrícola y Pecuario | Banco Francés–Italiano | ![]() |
1962 | Deportivo Portugués | Universidad Central | Dos Caminos | ![]() |
1963 | Deportivo Italia | Deportivo Portugués | Tiquire Flores | ![]() |
1964 | Deportivo Galicia | Tiquire Flores | Unión Deportiva Canarias | ![]() |
1965 | Lara | Deportivo Italia | Tiquire Flores | ![]() |
1966 | Deportivo Italia | Deportivo Portugués | Deportivo Galicia | ![]() |
1967 | Deportivo Portugués | Deportivo Galicia | Lara | ![]() |
1968 | Unión Deportiva Canarias | Deportivo Italia | Deportivo Portugués | ![]() |
1969 | Deportivo Galicia | Valencia | Deportivo Italia | ![]() ![]() |
1970 | Deportivo Galicia | Deportivo Italia | Valencia | ![]() |
1971 | Valencia | Deportivo Italia | Tiquire Aragua | ![]() |
1972 | Deportivo Italia | Deportivo Galicia | Anzoátegui | ![]() |
1973 | Portuguesa | Valencia | Estudiantes de Mérida | ![]() |
1974 | Deportivo Galicia | Portuguesa | Estudiantes de Mérida | ![]() ![]() |
1975 | Portuguesa | Estudiantes de Mérida | Deportivo Galicia | ![]() |
1976 | Portuguesa | Estudiantes de Mérida | Deportivo Portugués | ![]() |
1977 | Portuguesa | Estudiantes de Mérida | Valencia | ![]() ![]() |
1978 | Portuguesa | Deportivo Galicia | Estudiantes de Mérida | ![]() |
1979 | Deportivo Táchira | Deportivo Galicia | Universidad de Los Andes | ![]() |
1980 | Estudiantes de Mérida | Portuguesa | Valencia | ![]() |
1981 | Deportivo Táchira | Estudiantes de Mérida | Valencia | ![]() |
1982 | San Cristóbal | Deportivo Táchira | Universidad de Los Andes | ![]() |
1983 | Universidad de Los Andes | Portuguesa | Deportivo Italia | ![]() |
1984 | Deportivo Táchira | Deportivo Italia | Zamora | ![]() |
1985 | Estudiantes de Mérida | Deportivo Táchira | Nacional Carabobo | ![]() |
1986 | Deportivo Táchira | Estudiantes de Mérida | Marítimo | ![]() |
1986–87 | Marítimo | Unión Atlético Táchira | Estudiantes de Mérida | ![]() |
1987–88 | Marítimo | Unión Atlético Táchira | Caracas | ![]() |
1988–89 | Mineros | Pepeganga Margarita | Marítimo | ![]() |
1989–90 | Marítimo | Unión Atlético Táchira | Minervén | ![]() |
1990–91 | Universidad de Los Andes | Marítimo | Zamora | ![]() |
1991–92 | Caracas | Minervén | Marítimo | ![]() |
1992–93 | Marítimo | Minervén | Caracas | ![]() |
1993–94 | Caracas | Trujillanos | Minervén | ![]() |
1994–95 | Caracas | Minervén | Trujillanos | ![]() |
1995–96 | Minervén | Mineros | Caracas | ![]() |
1996–97 | Caracas | Atlético Zulia | Unión Atlético Táchira | ![]() |
1997–98 | Atlético Zulia | Estudiantes de Mérida | Deportivo Chacao | ![]() |
1998–99 | Deportivo Italchacao | Unión Atlético Táchira | Estudiantes de Mérida | ![]() |
1999–00 | Deportivo Táchira | Deportivo Italchacao | Estudiantes de Mérida | ![]() |
2000–01 | Caracas | Trujillanos | Deportivo Italchacao | ![]() |
2001–02 | Nacional Táchira | Estudiantes de Mérida | Monagas | ![]() |
2002–03 | Caracas | Maracaibo | Deportivo Italchacao | ![]() |
2003–04 | Caracas | Deportivo Táchira | Mineros | ![]() |
2004–05 | Maracaibo | Caracas | Deportivo Táchira | ![]() |
2005–06 | Caracas | Maracaibo | Deportivo Táchira | ![]() |
2006–07 | Caracas | Maracaibo | Mineros | ![]() |
2007–08 | Deportivo Táchira | Caracas | Deportivo Anzoátegui | ![]() |
2008–09 | Caracas | Deportivo Italia | Deportivo Táchira | ![]() ![]() |
2009–10 | Caracas | Deportivo Táchira | Deportivo Italia | ![]() |
2010–11 | Deportivo Táchira | Zamora | Caracas | ![]() |
2011–12 | Deportivo Lara | Caracas | Deportivo Anzoátegui | ![]() |
2012–13 | Zamora | Deportivo Anzoátegui | Caracas | ![]() |
2013–14 | Zamora | Mineros | Deportivo Táchira | ![]() |
2014–15 | Deportivo Táchira | Trujillanos | Caracas | ![]() |
2015 | Zamora | Deportivo La Guaira | Mineros | ![]() |
2016 | Zamora | Zulia | Carabobo | ![]() |
2017 | Monagas | Deportivo Lara | Carabobo | ![]() |
2018 | Zamora | Deportivo Lara | Caracas | ![]() |
2019 | Caracas | Estudiantes de Mérida | Deportivo Táchira | ![]() |
Titles by club
Clubs in bold compete in Primera División as of the current season. Clubs in italic no longer exist.Club | Winners | Runners-Up | Winning years | Runners-Up years |
Caracas | 12 | 3 | 1991–92, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1996–97, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2019 | 2004–05, 2007–08, 2011–12 |
Deportivo Táchira | 8 | 8 | 1979, 1981, 1984, 1986, 1999–00, 2007–08, 2010–11, 2014–15 | 1982, 1985, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1989–90, 1998–99, 2003–04, 2009–10 |
Unión | 7 | 3 | 1932, 1934, 1935, 1939, 1940, 1947, 1950 | 1929, 1930, 1948 |
Dos Caminos | 6 | 7 | 1936, 1937, 1938, 1942, 1945, 1949 | 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1940, 1941, 1944 |
Deportivo Italia | 5 | 7 | 1961, 1963, 1966, 1972, 1998–99 | 1965, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1984, 1999–00, 2008–09 |
Portuguesa | 5 | 3 | 1973, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978 | 1974, 1980, 1983 |
Centro Atlético | 4 | 7 | 1922, 1924, 1926, 1930 | 1921, 1923, 1927, 1928, 1931, 1936, 1946 |
Deportivo Galicia | 4 | 5 | 1964, 1969, 1970, 1974 | 1967, 1972, 1978, 1979 |
Deportivo Portugués | 4 | 3 | 1958, 1960, 1962, 1967 | 1959, 1963, 1966 |
Marítimo | 4 | 1 | 1986–87, 1987–88, 1989–90, 1992–93 | 1990–91 |
Zamora | 4 | 1 | 2012–13, 2013–14, 2016, 2018 | 2010–11 |
Deportivo Venezuela | 4 | 0 | 1928, 1929, 1931, 1933 | — |
Loyola | 3 | 5 | 1925, 1943, 1944 | 1942, 1945, 1951, 1952, 1954 |
Universidad Central | 3 | 3 | 1951, 1953, 1957 | 1947, 1949, 1962 |
Estudiantes de Mérida | 2 | 8 | 1980, 1985 | 1975, 1976, 1977, 1981, 1986, 1997–98, 2001–02, 2019 |
Deportivo Español | 2 | 3 | 1946, 1959 | 1955, 1958, 1960 |
La Salle | 2 | 2 | 1952, 1955 | 1950, 1953 |
América | 2 | 1 | 1921, 1923 | 1922 |
2 | 0 | 1983, 1990–91 | — | |
Litoral | 1 | 4 | 1941 | 1937, 1938, 1939, 1943 |
Maracaibo | 1 | 3 | 2004–05 | 2002–03, 2005–06, 2006–07 |
Minervén | 1 | 3 | 1995–96 | 1991–92, 1992–93, 1994–95 |
Deportivo Lara | 1 | 2 | 2011–12 | 2017, 2018 |
Mineros | 1 | 2 | 1988–89 | 1995–96, 2013–14 |
Valencia | 1 | 2 | 1971 | 1969, 1973 |
Venzóleo | 1 | 2 | 1927 | 1925, 1926 |
Atlético Zulia | 1 | 1 | 1997–98 | 1996–97 |
Banco Obrero | 1 | 0 | 1956 | — |
Lara | 1 | 0 | 1965 | — |
Monagas | 1 | 0 | 2017 | — |
Nacional Táchira | 1 | 0 | 2001–02 | — |
San Cristóbal | 1 | 0 | 1982 | — |
Unión Deportiva Canarias | 1 | 0 | 1968 | — |
Vasco | 1 | 0 | 1954 | — |