Venezuelan Primera División

The Primera División (pronounced [pɾiˈmeɾa ðiβiˈsjon]; English: First Division), or Liga Venezolana (locally [ˈliɣa βenesoˈlana]; English: Venezuelan League) is the top-flight professional football league of Venezuela. It was created in 1921 and turned professional in 1957. It is organized by the Federación Venezolana de Fútbol.

Liga FUTVE
Founded1921; 103 years ago (1921)
CountryVenezuela
ConfederationCONMEBOL
Number of teams14
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toSegunda División
Domestic cup(s)Copa Venezuela
International cup(s)Copa Libertadores
Copa Sudamericana
Current championsDeportivo Táchira (10th title)
(2023 season)
Most championshipsCaracas (12 titles)
Top goalscorerJuan García
(271 goals)
TV partnersTVes, GolTV, Star+
WebsiteLiga FUTVE (in Spanish)
Venezuelan Football Federation (in Spanish)
Current: 2024 season

Format

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Starting in the 2020 season, 20 teams play in a home-and-away round-robin tournament, with the top eight teams advancing to the semi-final stage.

At the semi-final stage, the eight teams are divided into two groups of four teams each, facing the other teams in their group twice. The two group winners advance to the Serie Final to decide the league champions.

International qualification

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  • 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

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  • The two lowest placed teams in the entire season are automatically relegated to the Segunda División.

2024 teams

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Team City Stadium Capacity
Academia Puerto Cabello Puerto Cabello La Bombonerita 7,500
Angostura Ciudad Bolívar Ricardo Tulio Maya 2,500
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 Táchira San Cristóbal Polideportivo de Pueblo Nuevo 38,755
Estudiantes de Mérida Mérida Metropolitano de Mérida 42,200
Inter de Barinas Barinas Agustín Tovar 29,800
Metropolitanos Caracas Olímpico de la UCV 23,940
Monagas Maturín Monumental de Maturín 51,796
Portuguesa Acarigua General José Antonio Páez 18,000
Rayo Zuliano Maracaibo José "Pachencho" Romero 40,800
Universidad Central Caracas Olímpico de la UCV 23,940
Zamora Barinas Agustín Tovar 29,800

List of champions

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List of champions since the first championship held in 1920. The Primera División turned professional on 21 February 1957.[citation needed]

Amateur era (1921–1956)

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Ed. Season Champion Runner-up
1
1921 América Centro Atlético
2
1922 Centro Atlético (1) América
3
1923 América Centro Atlético
4
1924 Centro Atlético (2) Vargas
5
1925 Loyola Venzóleo
6
1926 Centro Atlético (3) Venzóleo
7
1927 Venzóleo Centro Atlético
8
1928 Deportivo Venezuela Centro Atlético
9
1929 Deportivo Venezuela Unión
10
1930 Centro Atlético (4) Unión
11
1931 Deportivo Venezuela Centro Atlético
12
1932 Unión (1) Dos Caminos
13
1933 Deportivo Venezuela Dos Caminos
14
1934 Unión (2) Dos Caminos
15
1935 Unión (3) Dos Caminos
16
1936 Dos Caminos Centro Atlético
17
1937 Dos Caminos Litoral
18
1938 Dos Caminos Litoral
19
1939 Unión (4) Litoral
20
1940 Unión (5) Dos Caminos
21
1941 Litoral Dos Caminos
22
1942 Dos Caminos Loyola
23
1943 Loyola Litoral
24
1944 Loyola Dos Caminos
25
1945 Dos Caminos Loyola
26
1946 Deportivo Español Centro Atlético
27
1947 Unión (6) Universidad Central
28
1948 Loyola Unión
29
1949 Dos Caminos Universidad Central
30
1950 Unión (7) La Salle
31
1951 Universidad Central Loyola
32
1952 La Salle Loyola
33
1953 Universidad Central La Salle
34
1954 Deportivo Vasco Loyola
35
1955 La Salle Deportivo Español
36
1956 Banco Obrero La Salle

Professional era (1957–present)

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Ed. Season Champion Runner-up Top scorer
37
1957 Universidad Central La Salle   Tonho (Universidad Central, 12 goals)
38
1958 Deportivo Portugués Deportivo Español   René Irazque (Portugués, 6 goals)
39
1959 Deportivo Español Deportivo Portugués   Abel Benítez (Deportivo Español, 15 goals)
40
1960 Deportivo Portugués Deportivo Español   José Luis Iglesias (Deportivo Portugués, 9 goals)
41
1961 Deportivo Italia Banco Agrícola y Pecuario   Antonio Ravelo (Banco Agrícola y Pecuario, 11 goals)
42
1962 Deportivo Portugués Universidad Central   Jaime da Silva (Universidad Central, 16)
43
1963 Deportivo Italia Deportivo Portugués   Nino (Deportivo Portugués, 15 goals)
44
1964 Deportivo Galicia Tiquire Flores   Helio Rodrigues (Tiquire Flores, 12 goals)
45
1965 Lara Deportivo Italia   Mario Mateo (Lara, 16 goals)
46
1966 Deportivo Italia Deportivo Portugués   Ratto (Deportivo Portugués, 20 goals)
47
1967 Deportivo Portugués Deportivo Galicia   Joao Ramos (Deportivo Portugués, 28 goals)
48
1968 Unión Deportiva Canarias Deportivo Italia   Raimundinho (Deportivo Portugués, 21 goals)
49
1969 Deportivo Galicia Valencia   Eustaquio Batista (Deportivo Italia, 19 goals)
  Lelo (Valencia, 19 goals)
50
1970 Deportivo Galicia Deportivo Italia   Roland Langon (Deportivo Galicia, 13 goals)
51
1971 Valencia Deportivo Italia   Agostinho Sabara (Tiquire Aragua, 20 goals)
52
1972 Deportivo Italia Deportivo Galicia   Francisco Rodriguez (Anzoátegui FC, 18 goals)
53
1973 Portuguesa Valencia   Jose Chiazzaro (Estudiantes de Mérida, 14 goals)
54
1974 Deportivo Galicia Portuguesa   Jose Chiazzaro (Estudiantes de Mérida, 15 goals)
  Sergio Hugo Castillo (Anzoátegui FC, 15 goals)
55
1975 Portuguesa Estudiantes de Mérida   Pedro Pascual Peralta (Portuguesa, 20 goals)
56
1976 Portuguesa Estudiantes de Mérida   Pedro Pascual Peralta (Portuguesa, 25 goals)
57
1977 Portuguesa Estudiantes de Mérida   Jairzinho (Portuguesa, 20 goals)
  Juan Cesar Silva (Portuguesa, 20 goals)
58
1978 Portuguesa Deportivo Galicia   Andrade (ULA Mérida, 23 goals)
59
1979 Deportivo Táchira (1) Deportivo Galicia   Omar Ferrari (Deportivo Táchira, 15 goals)
60
1980 Estudiantes de Mérida Portuguesa   Wilfrido Campos (Portuguesa, 12 goals)
61
1981 Deportivo Táchira (2) Estudiantes de Mérida   Rafael Angulo (Deportivo Táchira, 14 goals)
62
1982 San Cristóbal Deportivo Táchira   German Montero (Estudiantes, 21 goals)
63
1983 Universidad de Los Andes Portuguesa   Johnny Castellanos (Atlético Zamora, 13 goals)
64
1984 Deportivo Táchira (3) Deportivo Italia   Sergio Meckler (Zamora, 15 goals)
65
1985 Estudiantes de Mérida Deportivo Táchira   Sergio Meckler (Deportivo Táchira, 17 goals)
66
1986 Unión Atlético Táchira (4) Estudiantes de Mérida   Wilton Arreaza (Caracas, 8 goals)
67
1986–87 Marítimo Unión Atlético Táchira   Johnny Castellanos (Portuguesa, 16 goals)
68
1987–88 Marítimo Unión Atlético Táchira   Miguel González (Unión Atlético Táchira, 22 goals)
69
1988–89 Mineros de Guayana Pepeganga Margarita   Johnny Castellanos (Mineros, 24 goals)
70
1989–90 Marítimo Unión Atlético Táchira   Herbert Márquez (Marítimo, 19 goals)
71
1990–91 Universidad de Los Andes Marítimo   Alexander Bottini (Monagas, 15 goals)
72
1991–92 Caracas (1) Minervén   Andreas Vogler (Caracas, 25 goals)
73
1992–93 Marítimo Minervén   Herbert Márquez (Marítimo, 21 goals)
74
1993–94 Caracas (2) Trujillanos   Rodrigo Soto (Trujillanos, 20 goals)
75
1994–95 Caracas (3) Minervén   Rogeiro da Silva (Mineros, 30 goals)
76
1995–96 Minervén Mineros de Guayana   Jose Luis Dolgetta (Caracas, 24 goals)
77
1996–97 Caracas (4) Atlético Zulia   Rafael Castellín (Caracas, 19 goals)
78
1997–98 Atlético Zulia Estudiantes de Mérida   Jose Luis Dolgetta (Estudiantes de Mérida/Carabobo, 22 goals)
79
1998–99 Deportivo Italchacao Unión Atlético Táchira   Gustavo Fonseca (Internacional Lara, 24 goals)
80
1999–00 Deportivo Táchira (5) Deportivo Italchacao   Juan Enrique García (Caracas, 24 goals)
81
2000–01 Caracas (5) Trujillanos   Martín Brignani (Estudiantes de Mérida, 12 goals)
82
2001–02 Nacional Táchira Estudiantes de Mérida   Juan Enrique García (Nacional Táchira, 34 goals)
83
2002–03 Caracas (6) Unión Atlético Maracaibo   Juan Enrique García (Monagas/Mineros, 19 goals)
84
2003–04 Caracas (7) Deportivo Táchira   Juan Enrique García (Mineros, 18 goals)
85
2004–05 Unión Atlético Maracaibo Caracas   Daniel Delfino (Carabobo, 19 goals)
86
2005–06 Caracas (8) Unión Atlético Maracaibo   Juan Enrique García (Deportivo Táchira, 21 goals)
87
2006–07 Caracas (9) Unión Atlético Maracaibo   Robinson Rentería (Trujillanos, 19 goals)
88
2007–08 Deportivo Táchira (6) Caracas   Alexander Rondon (Deportivo Anzoátegui, 19 goals)
89
2008–09 Caracas (10) Deportivo Italia   Daniel Arismendi (Maracaibo/Deportivo Táchira, 17 goals)
  Heatklif Castillo (Aragua, 17 goals)
90
2009–10 Caracas (11) Deportivo Táchira   Norman Cabrera (Atlético El Vigía, 20 goals)
91
2010–11 Deportivo Táchira (7) Zamora   Daniel Arismendi (Deportivo Anzoátegui, 20 goals)
92
2011–12 Deportivo Lara Caracas   Rafael Castellín (Deportivo Lara, 21 goals)
93
2012–13 Zamora Deportivo Anzoátegui   Gabriel Torres (Zamora, 19 goals)
94
2013–14 Zamora Mineros de Guayana   Juan Falcón (Zamora, 19 goals)
95
2014–15 Deportivo Táchira (8) Trujillanos   Edwin Aguilar (Deportivo Anzoategui, 23 goals)
96
2015 Zamora Deportivo La Guaira   Manuel Arteaga (Zulia, 17 goals)
97
2016 Zamora Zulia   Gabriel Torres (Zamora, 22 goals)
98
2017 Monagas Deportivo Lara   Anthony Blondell (Monagas, 24 goals)
99
2018 Zamora Deportivo Lara   Anthony Uribe (Zamora, 16 goals)
100
2019 Caracas (12) Estudiantes de Mérida   Edder Farías (Atlético Venezuela, 18 goals)
101
2020 Deportivo La Guaira Deportivo Táchira   Richard Blanco (Mineros, 8 goals)
  Edder Farías (Atlético Venezuela, 8 goals)
102
2021 Deportivo Táchira (9) Caracas   Samson Akinyoola (Caracas, 18 goals)
103
2022 Metropolitanos (1) Monagas   Kevin Viveros (Carabobo, 21 goals)
104
2023 Deportivo Táchira (10) Caracas   Luifer Hernández (Academia Puerto Cabello, 18 goals)
105
2024

Titles by club

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Clubs in bold compete in Primera División as of the current season. Clubs in italic no longer exist.

Rank Club Winners Runners-Up Winning years Runners-Up years
1 Caracas 12 5 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, 2021, 2023
2 Deportivo Táchira 10 9 1979, 1981, 1984, 1986, 1999–00, 2007–08, 2010–11, 2014–15, 2021, 2023 1982, 1985, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1989–90, 1998–99, 2003–04, 2009–10, 2020
3 Unión 7 3 1932, 1934, 1935, 1939, 1940, 1947, 1950 1929, 1930, 1948
4 Dos Caminos 6 7 1936, 1937, 1938, 1942, 1945, 1949 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1940, 1941, 1944
5 Deportivo Petare 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
7 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[note 1] 1 2012–13, 2013–14, 2016, 2018 2010–11
Deportivo Venezuela 4 1928, 1929, 1931, 1933
13 Loyola 3 5 1925, 1943, 1944 1942, 1945, 1951, 1952, 1954
Universidad Central 3 3 1951, 1953, 1957 1947, 1949, 1962
15 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 3 1952, 1955 1950, 1953, 1956
América 2 1 1921, 1923 1922
Universidad de Los Andes 2 1983, 1990–91
20 Litoral 1 4 1941 1937, 1938, 1939, 1943
Unión Atlético 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 de Guayana 1 2 1988–89 1995–96, 2013–14
Carabobo 1 2 1971 1969, 1973
Venzóleo 1 2 1927 1925, 1926
Atlético Zulia 1 1 1997–98 1996–97
Monagas 1 1 2017 2022
Banco Obrero 1 1956
Deportivo La Guaira 1 2020
Deportivo Vasco 1 1954
Lara 1 1965
Metropolitanos 1 2022
Nacional Táchira 1 2001–02
San Cristóbal 1 1982
Unión Deportiva Canarias 1 1968
Trujillanos 3 1993–94, 2000–01, 2014–15
Deportivo Anzoátegui 1 2012–13
Banco Agrícola y Pecuario 1 1961
Tiquire Flores 1 1964
Pepeganga Margarita 1 1988–89
Zulia 1 2016
  1. ^ Zamora won the Torneo de Adecuación in 2015, but this title is not counted as it was not a full season.

See also

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References

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