Venezuelan Primera División

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"Venezuelan League" redirects here. For the baseball league, see Venezuelan Professional Baseball League. For the basketball league, see Liga Profesional de Baloncesto.
For other leagues called Primera División, see Primera división (disambiguation).
Liga FUTVE
Founded1921; 101 years ago (1921)
CountryVenezuela
ConfederationCONMEBOL
Number of teams16
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toSegunda División
Domestic cup(s)Copa Venezuela
International cup(s)Copa Libertadores
Copa Sudamericana
Current championsDeportivo Táchira (9th title)
(2021 season)
Most championshipsCaracas (12 titles)
TV partnersTVes, GolTV
WebsiteFVF's website
Current: 2022 season

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.

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.

2022 teams[]

class=notpageimage|
Locations of the 2022 Primera División teams
Team City Stadium Capacity
Academia Puerto Cabello Puerto Cabello 7,500
Aragua Maracay Olímpico Hermanos Ghersi Páez 14,000
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 Barquisimeto Farid Richa 12,480
Deportivo Táchira San Cristóbal Polideportivo de Pueblo Nuevo 38,755
Estudiantes de Mérida Mérida Metropolitano de Mérida 42,200
Hermanos Colmenarez Barinas Agustín Tovar 29,800
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
Universidad Central Caracas Olímpico de la UCV 23,940
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.[citation needed]

Amateur league (1921–1956)[]

Season Champion Runner-up
1921 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
1928 Deportivo Venezuela Centro Atlético
1929 Deportivo Venezuela Unión
1930 Centro Atlético Unión
1931 Deportivo Venezuela Centro Atlético
1932 Unión Dos Caminos
1933 Deportivo Venezuela Dos Caminos
1934 Unión Dos Caminos
1935 Unión Dos Caminos
1936 Dos Caminos Centro Atlético
1937 Dos Caminos Litoral
1938 Dos Caminos Litoral
1939 Unión Litoral
1940 Unión Dos Caminos
1941 Litoral Dos Caminos
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
1952 La Salle Loyola
1953 Universidad Central La Salle
1954 Deportivo Vasco Loyola
1955 La Salle Deportivo Español
1956 Banco Obrero La Salle

Profesionnal league (1957–present)[]

Season Champion Runner-up Third Place Topscorer(s)
1957 Universidad Central La Salle Banco Obrero Brazil (Universidad Central, 12 goals)
1958 Deportivo Portugués Deportivo Español Loyola Venezuela (Portugués, 6 goals)
1959 Deportivo Español Deportivo Portugués Danubio Spain (Deportivo Español, 15 goals)
1960 Deportivo Portugués Deportivo Español Deportivo Italia Spain (Deportivo Portugués, 9 goals)
1961 Deportivo Italia Banco Agrícola y Pecuario Banco Francés e Italiano Venezuela Antonio Ravelo (, 11 goals)
1962 Deportivo Portugués Universidad Central Dos Caminos Brazil (Universidad Central, 16)
1963 Deportivo Italia Deportivo Portugués Tiquire Flores Brazil (Deportivo Portugués, 15 goals)
1964 Deportivo Galicia Tiquire Flores UD Canarias Brazil (Tiquire Flores, 12 goals)
1965 Lara Deportivo Italia Tiquire Flores Argentina (Lara, 16 goals)
1966 Deportivo Italia Deportivo Portugués Deportivo Galicia Brazil (Deportivo Portugués, 20 goals)
1967 Deportivo Portugués Deportivo Galicia Lara Brazil (Deportivo Portugués, 28 goals)
1968 UD Canarias Deportivo Italia Deportivo Portugués Brazil (Deportivo Portugués, 21 goals)
1969 Deportivo Galicia Valencia Deportivo Italia Brazil (Deportivo Italia, 19 goals)
Brazil (Valencia, 19 goals)
1970 Deportivo Galicia Deportivo Italia Valencia Uruguay (Deportivo Galicia, 13 goals)
1971 Valencia Deportivo Italia Tiquire Aragua Brazil (Tiquire Aragua, 20 goals)
1972 Deportivo Italia Deportivo Galicia Anzoátegui Venezuela Francisco Rodriguez (, 18 goals)
1973 Portuguesa Valencia Estudiantes de Mérida Uruguay (Estudiantes de Mérida, 14 goals)
1974 Deportivo Galicia Portuguesa Estudiantes de Mérida Uruguay (Estudiantes de Mérida, 15 goals)
Uruguay Sergio Hugo Castillo (Anzoátegui Fútbol Club, 15 goals)
1975 Portuguesa Estudiantes de Mérida Deportivo Galicia Paraguay (Portuguesa, 20 goals)
1976 Portuguesa Estudiantes de Mérida Deportivo Portugués Paraguay (Portuguesa, 25 goals)
1977 Portuguesa Estudiantes de Mérida Valencia Brazil Jairzinho (Portuguesa, 20 goals)
Brazil (Portuguesa, 20 goals)
1978 Portuguesa Deportivo Galicia Estudiantes de Mérida Brazil Andrade (ULA Mérida, 23 goals)
1979 Deportivo Táchira Deportivo Galicia Universidad de Los Andes Uruguay Omar Ferrari (Deportivo Táchira, 15 goals)
1980 Estudiantes de Mérida Portuguesa Valencia Brazil (Portuguesa, 12 goals)
1981 Deportivo Táchira Estudiantes de Mérida Valencia Colombia (Deportivo Táchira, 14 goals)
1982 San Cristóbal Deportivo Táchira Universidad de Los Andes Uruguay German Montero (Estudiantes, 21 goals)
1983 Universidad de Los Andes Portuguesa Deportivo Italia Venezuela Johnny Castellanos (Atlético Zamora, 13 goals)
1984 Deportivo Táchira Deportivo Italia Atlético Zamora Brazil (Zamora, 15 goals)
1985 Estudiantes de Mérida Deportivo Táchira Nacional Carabobo Brazil (Deportivo Táchira, 17 goals)
1986 Unión Atlético Táchira Estudiantes de Mérida Marítimo Venezuela Wilton Arreaza (Caracas, 8 goals)
1986–87 Marítimo Unión Atlético Táchira Estudiantes de Mérida Venezuela Johnny Castellanos (Portuguesa, 16 goals)
1987–88 Marítimo Unión Atlético Táchira Caracas Argentina (Unión Atlético Táchira, 22 goals)
1988–89 Mineros de Guayana Pepeganga Margarita Marítimo Venezuela Johnny Castellanos (Mineros, 24 goals)
1989–90 Marítimo Unión Atlético Táchira Minervén Venezuela Herbert Márquez (Marítimo, 19 goals)
1990–91 Universidad de Los Andes Marítimo Atlético Zamora Venezuela Alexander Bottini (Monagas, 15 goals)
1991–92 Caracas Minervén Marítimo Germany Andreas Vogler (Caracas, 25 goals)
1992–93 Marítimo Minervén Caracas Venezuela Herbert Márquez (Marítimo, 21 goals)
1993–94 Caracas Trujillanos Minervén Colombia Rodrigo Soto (Trujillanos, 20 goals)
1994–95 Caracas Minervén Trujillanos Brazil (Mineros, 30 goals)
1995–96 Minervén Mineros de Guayana Caracas Venezuela (Caracas, 24 goals)
1996–97 Caracas Atlético Zulia Unión Atlético Táchira Venezuela Rafael Castellín (Caracas, 19 goals)
1997–98 Atlético Zulia Estudiantes de Mérida Deportivo Chacao Venezuela (Estudiantes de Mérida/Carabobo, 22 goals)
1998–99 Deportivo Italchacao Unión Atlético Táchira Estudiantes de Mérida Colombia (Internacional Lara, 24 goals)
1999–00 Deportivo Táchira Deportivo Italchacao Estudiantes de Mérida Venezuela Juan Enrique García (Caracas, 24 goals)
2000–01 Caracas Trujillanos Deportivo Italchacao Argentina Martín Brignani (Estudiantes de Mérida, 12 goals)
2001–02 Nacional Táchira Estudiantes de Mérida Monagas Venezuela Juan Enrique García (Nacional Táchira, 34 goals)
2002–03 Caracas Maracaibo Deportivo Italchacao Venezuela Juan Enrique García (Monagas/Mineros, 19 goals)
2003–04 Caracas Deportivo Táchira Mineros de Guayana Venezuela Juan Enrique García (Mineros, 18 goals)
2004–05 Maracaibo Caracas Deportivo Táchira Argentina Daniel Delfino (Carabobo, 19 goals)
2005–06 Caracas Maracaibo Deportivo Táchira Venezuela Juan Enrique García (Deportivo Táchira, 21 goals)
2006–07 Caracas Maracaibo Mineros de Guayana Colombia Robinson Rentería (Trujillanos, 19 goals)
2007–08 Deportivo Táchira Caracas Deportivo Anzoátegui Venezuela Alexander Rondon (Deportivo Anzoátegui, 19 goals)
2008–09 Caracas Deportivo Italia Deportivo Táchira Venezuela Daniel Arismendi (Maracaibo/Deportivo Táchira, 17 goals)
Venezuela (Aragua, 17 goals)
2009–10 Caracas Deportivo Táchira Deportivo Italia Colombia (Atlético El Vigía, 20 goals)
2010–11 Deportivo Táchira Zamora Caracas Venezuela Daniel Arismendi (Deportivo Anzoátegui, 20 goals)
2011–12 Deportivo Lara Caracas Deportivo Anzoátegui Venezuela Rafael Castellín (Deportivo Lara, 21 goals)
2012–13 Zamora Deportivo Anzoátegui Caracas Panama Gabriel Torres (Zamora, 19 goals)
2013–14 Zamora Mineros de Guayana Deportivo Táchira Venezuela Juan Falcón (Zamora, 19 goals)
2014–15 Deportivo Táchira Trujillanos Caracas Panama Edwin Aguilar (Deportivo Anzoategui, 23 goals)
2015 Zamora Deportivo La Guaira Mineros de Guayana Venezuela Manuel Arteaga (Zulia, 17 goals)
2016 Zamora Zulia Carabobo Panama Gabriel Torres (Zamora, 22 goals)
2017 Monagas Deportivo Lara Carabobo Venezuela Anthony Blondell (Monagas, 24 goals)
2018 Zamora Deportivo Lara Caracas Venezuela Anthony Uribe (Zamora, 16 goals)
2019 Caracas Estudiantes de Mérida Deportivo Táchira Venezuela Edder Farías (Atlético Venezuela, 18 goals)
2020 Deportivo La Guaira Deportivo Táchira Deportivo Lara Venezuela Richard Blanco (Mineros, 8 goals)
Venezuela Edder Farías (Atlético Venezuela, 8 goals)
2021 Deportivo Táchira Caracas Monagas Benin Samson Akinyoola (Caracas, 18 goals)

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 4 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
Deportivo Táchira 9 9 1979, 1981, 1984, 1986, 1999–00, 2007–08, 2010–11, 2014–15, 2021 1982, 1985, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1989–90, 1998–99, 2003–04, 2009–10, 2020
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 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
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 —
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
Universidad de Los Andes 2 — 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 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
Banco Obrero 1 — 1956 —
Deportivo La Guaira 1 — 2020 —
Deportivo Vasco 1 — 1954 —
Lara 1 — 1965 —
Monagas 1 — 2017 —
Nacional Táchira 1 — 2001–02 —
San Cristóbal 1 — 1982 —
UD Canarias 1 — 1968 —
  1. ^ Zamora won the Torneo de Adecuación in 2015, but this title is not counted as it was not a full season.

See also[]

References[]

External links[]

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