How the world's most famous football leagues were founded

England · Football League and Premier League — The oldest league in the world

On 17 April 1888, in a Manchester hotel, the Football League was founded on the initiative of William McGregor, a director of Aston Villa. Tired of clubs playing scattered friendlies with no fixed calendar, he proposed a regular competition. It began with 12 teams and the first edition was won by Preston North End, who did not lose a single league match (the so-called «Invincibles»).

In 1992 the clubs of the top division broke away from the Football League and created the Premier League in order to negotiate their own television rights. Its first champions were Manchester United in 1992-93.

In a nutshell: The Football League (1888) is the first professional league in history and the Premier League has been its evolution since 1992.

Spain · La Liga — The national championship that started with ten teams

Until 1929, the champion of Spain was decided in the Copa del Rey. The Spanish Football Federation pushed for a national round-robin league, and the first season kicked off in February 1929 with ten teams in the top flight: Arenas Club, Athletic Club, Atlético de Madrid, Barcelona, Espanyol, Europa, Racing de Santander, Real Madrid, Real Sociedad and Real Unión.

The first champions were FC Barcelona. Today the competition is known as La Liga and run by the professional league body LaLiga, created in 1984.

In a nutshell: First played in 1929, and its first champion was Barcelona.

Italy · Serie A — A one-day championship in Turin

The first Italian championship was played on 8 May 1898 in Turin, organised by the Italian Football Federation (then the FIF): in a single day, Genoa were crowned champions. For decades it was played with knockout rounds and regional groups.

Serie A as we know it, with a single round-robin group, began in the 1929-30 season, and that year the champions were Ambrosiana (today's Inter).

In a nutshell: The first tournament dates from 1898; Serie A with a single group started in 1929-30.

Germany · Bundesliga — Born so that Germany could step up a level

Before 1963, the German champion was decided in a final round between regional champions. After the national team's disappointing 1962 World Cup, the federation (DFB) approved the creation of a national professional league on 28 July 1962 in Dortmund. The Bundesliga started in August 1963 with 16 clubs.

The first champions were 1. FC Köln in 1963-64.

In a nutshell: The Bundesliga was approved in 1962 and first played in 1963.

France · Ligue 1 — From professionalism to «Ligue 1»

French football made its championship professional in 1932, under the name Division Nationale. The first season (1932-33) was won by Olympique Lillois.

The current name, Ligue 1, has been used since 2002, when the former Division 1 was renamed.

In a nutshell: The French professional championship began in 1932 and has been called Ligue 1 since 2002.

Portugal · Primeira Liga — From a cup format to a league

Portugal used to decide its champion in the «Campeonato de Portugal», a knockout tournament. In 1934-35 the Campeonato da Liga was played for the first time, in a round-robin league format, and it was won by FC Porto.

Today it is called the Primeira Liga and the so-called «big three» (Benfica, Porto and Sporting) share almost all the titles.

In a nutshell: The first Portuguese league was played in 1934-35 and won by Porto.

Netherlands · Eredivisie — Professionalism arrives late, but strongly

The Netherlands had a national championship from the late 19th century, but professional football was not authorised until 1954. The Eredivisie («premier division of honour») was born in 1956-57 as the first professional league and its first champions were Ajax.

In a nutshell: The Eredivisie started in 1956-57 with Ajax as its first champions.

Scotland · Scottish Premiership — The league created in 1890

The Scottish Football League was founded in 1890 and its first season (1890-91) ended with the title shared between Dumbarton and Rangers. It has been called the Scottish Premiership since 2013.

In a nutshell: One of the oldest leagues in the world: 1890, with a shared title in its first season.

Brazil · Brasileirão — A country so large it took time to have a single league

Because of the huge distances, Brazil played state championships for decades. In 1959 the Taça Brasil was created, won by Bahia, and in 1967 the Roberto Gomes Pedrosa tournament. In 1971 the unified Campeonato Brasileiro was born, won by Atlético Mineiro.

In 2010 the federation (CBF) officially recognised the Taça Brasil and Robertão winners as Brazilian champions.

In a nutshell: The unified Brasileirão dates from 1971, but titles are recognised from 1959.

Argentina · Primera División — The league with British roots

The English and Scots working in Buenos Aires brought football to Argentina in the late 19th century. The first championship was played in 1891 and won by Old Caledonians. In 1893 the association that would later become the AFA was founded, led by the Scot Alexander Watson Hutton, regarded as the «father of Argentine football».

The championship became professional in 1931.

In a nutshell: First championship in 1891; professionalism in 1931.

Mexico · Liga MX — The Mexican professional championship

Mexico has had an amateur championship since 1902. In the 1943-44 season the professional league was born and it was won by Asturias, a club that no longer exists. Since then Liga MX has changed format several times (Apertura and Clausura tournaments, liguilla…).

In a nutshell: The Mexican professional league started in 1943-44.

United States · MLS — A league born thanks to a World Cup

Major League Soccer was founded in 1993 as a condition for the United States to host the 1994 World Cup. Its first match was played in 1996, with ten teams, and its first champions were D.C. United.

Since then it has grown to about thirty clubs, including teams from Canada.

In a nutshell: Founded in 1993 and launched in 1996, after the 1994 World Cup.

Japan · J.League — A professional league created from scratch

Until the 1990s, Japanese football was semi-professional. The J.League was founded in 1991 and started in 1993 with ten clubs. The first champions were Verdy Kawasaki (today Tokyo Verdy). Its creation raised the level of Asian football and helped Japan qualify for World Cups.

In a nutshell: Born in 1991 and launched in 1993, it is the example of a league created from nothing.