# Primera División de Fútbol de El Salvador

The Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional (Professional Football League), more commonly known as La Liga Mayor or La Primera, is the top professional football league in El Salvador.
It was established in 1947, and in 2011 had 10 clubs. Initially the league was run as a year-long tournament, but since 1998 there are two tournaments each year, much like in many other football leagues in the Americas.
The Apertura season runs from August to December, while the Clausura season runs from February to July.
Of the 56 teams to have competed in the league, FAS has won the title 19 times, followed by Alianza (18), Aguila (17), Firpo and Isidro Metapan (10)

## Competition format

La Liga Mayor follows the usual double round-robin format.
During the course of a given season (Apertura or Clausura), each club plays every other club twice, once at home and once away, for a total of 22 games.
Teams receive three points for a win, one point for a draw, and no points for a loss. Teams are ranked by total points, with the top eight clubs at the end of the season progressing through to the finals.
If points are equal between two or more clubs, goal difference usually determines their placement.
Although when it comes to qualifying for the finals, if the team in eighth and ninth spot are equal on points, then a Repechaje or Playoff is needed to determine which team gains entry into finals.
A system of relegation exists between the Primera División and the Segunda División.
In May each year, at the conclusion of both the apertura and clausura seasons, the team with the fewest points on aggregate over both seasons, is automatically relegated to the Segunda División.

### CONCACAF Central American Cup

La Liga Mayor has three guaranteed spots in the CONCACAF Central American Cup. The winner of each apertura and clausura season gains automatic entry into this tournament. To determine the third spot, aggregate points over both seasons is used, the best no-champion team in the season qualified to the tournament. If the same team is to win both the apertura and clausura seasons, the last spot belongs to the second best no-champion team in the season.

## History
### Foundation

In 1921, the Salvadoran Sports Commission (Comisión Nacional de Educación Física) held its first National Sports Week. Although initially this event did not include any participation from football clubs, it would go on to be the basis of what would grow to be the Liga Mayor of today. In 1924, due to high demand, the commission included a football tournament in the annual Sports Week. Due to the enormous success of this event, it was decided that starting in 1926 the Sports Week tournament would in turn become the country's official National Football Championship. The championship was to be contended by three teams who represent the three different zones of the country playing in a double round robin format. The first three teams to compete in the tournament were, Nequepio (Central Zone), Chinameca Sporting Club (Eastern Zone) and Olímpic (Western Zone). This format was used until 1930.

### Controversy

Controversy occurred after the 1929–30 championship when finalists Excélsior F.C. (who represented the western zone) complained that the second leg of the final against Hércules should not be registered, as they felt that the referee in that game had helped Hércules win the title. The Sports Commission did not agree and the result was not changed. As a result, Excélsior F.C. withdrew from the tournament and Hércules was crowned champion. This led to there being talk of corruption from event organisers against teams from the western part of the country, and as a result teams from that zone refused to take part in any of the following Championships. Because of this there was no national playoff held again until 1937.

### Return of the National Championship

The national championship returned to its original format in 1937, but was short lived, as once again, teams complained of there still being corruption within the tournament. Again as a result, there was no national championship during 1939 and 1941. Although no national championship was played, there was still regional championships which over time are now considered to be legitimate national championships.

### Introduction of a league format

In 1947 the Salvadoran Football Federation tried to organize a National Championship in league format, but this proved to be unsuccessful and the tournament was suspended after only a few rounds. It proved to be more successful the following season, but was postponed once again in 1949. Although this new format did not begin very well, because of a lack of organisation, it did prove to work very well during the 1950 championship, and throughout the 1950s.

### The league begins to form

The 1950s saw interest in the league begin to grow nationwide and although the league did have some problems, with teams dropping out at the end of any given season, it would not affect the league as a whole, as there were various new teams that were anxious to take part in the league and take the place of those that had left. In 1955, league organisers announced that the championship would now be played out in a double round robin format, with a maximum of 10 teams taking part in the league. This year also saw the introduction of promotion and relegation into the league.

### Switch to Apertura/Clausura format

In 1998, league officials decided to change the league format from a yearlong tournament to an Apertura/Clausura schedule, with the hope that it would garner more interest in the league and give a chance for its player to rest between seasons.

### Annex Major League Soccer El Salvador

These are the three league format that existed in Salvadoran national football league until now
* Short Tournament (1926–1946)
Three regional champions, faced each other in the national championship. Each team represented a different section of the country (West zone, Central zone, East zone).
* League System (1947–1997)
This format consisted of all against all and twelve national teams participated.
* Apertura/Clausura format (1999–present)
The current league format, consisting of two short football tournaments annually mind between opening and closing ceremonies are held.

### New league format 2015/2016

For the 2015–16 season, the league will have 12 teams leaving behind 10 team years. With the approval of this new format, major league soccer Cadre El Salvador, seeks to be more competitive and bring football to more people throughout the country.

## Primera Division clubs

The following 11 teams are competing in the 2024–25 Primera División season.
| Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
| Alianza © √ | San Salvador | Estadio Cuscatlán | 53,400 |
| Aguila √ | San Miguel | Estadio Juan Francisco Barraza | 10,000 |
| Dragon | San Miguel | Estadio Juan Francisco Barraza | 10,000 |
| FAS | Santa Ana | Estadio Óscar Quiteño | 17,500 |
| Fuerte San Francisco | San Francisco Gotera | Estadio Correcaminos | 12,000 |
| L.A. Firpo | Usulután | Estadio Sergio Torres | 5,000 |
| Isidro Metapan | Metapán | Estadio Jorge Calero Suárez | 10,000 |
| Platense | Zacatecoluca | Estadio Antonio Toledo Valle | 10,000 |
| Municipal Limeño √ | Santa Rosa De Lima | Estadio Ramòn Berrios | 5,000 |
| Once Deportivo | Ahuachapán | Estadio Simeón Magaña | 5,000 |
| Cacahuatique | Ciudad Barrios San Miguel | Poli-Deportivo Ecológico El Amaton | 5,000 |

## Sponsorship

ON January 2023, league president Pedro David Hernández announced Instituto Nacional de los Deportes de El Salvador INDES as the official sponsor, with the goal of modernizing the league's image. The contract was signed for seven years worth estimated 9 million dollars
Since 2021, Pioneer Deportes has been the official match ball manufacturer. In 2021, the contract was extended for three years concluding until 2024. In 2024, Molten was announced to be the new ball sponsor.

## Team presidents

| No. | Name | Team president |
| 1 | Alexander Menjívar | Águila |
| 2 | Adolfo Salume | Alianza |
| 3 | Rigoberto Mejía | Chalatenango |
| 4 | José Ferrufino | El Vencedor |
| 5 | Guillermo Morán | FAS |
| 6 | Geovanny Villalobos | Independiente |
| 7 | Rafael Morataya | Isidro Metapán |
| 8 | Leonel Hernández | Jocoro |
| 9 | Martín Herrera | Municipal Limeño |
| 10 | Antonio Salaverría | Once Deportivo |
| 11 | José Vidal | Santa Tecla |
| 12 | Pedro Contreras | Sonsonate |

## Important matches

* FAS vs Águila "Clásico Nacional"
* Alianza vs Firpo "Clásico Joven"
* FAS vs Isidro Metapán "Derbi Santaneco"
* Águila vs Firpo "Derbi de Oriente"
* Alianza vs Atlético Marte "Derbi Capitalino"
* FAS vs Firpo "Clasico de los 90s"
* Dragón vs Águila " Derbi Migueleño"
* Jocoro vs Fuerte San Francisco " Derbi Morazeño"

## International broadcasters
### Centro y Norte America (CNA)

| Country | Language | Broadcasters |
| El Salvador | Spanish | TCS |
| USA | English | Megavisión |
| Canada | French | Telemundo |
| Mexico | Spanish | TV Azteca |

## Champions

Teams in bold are currently participating in La Liga Mayor.
* (#) – Current Primera Division Champion
* (†) – Defunct national team
| Team | Championships | Runners-up | Winning Years |
| FAS | 19 | 23 | 1951–1952, 1953–1954, 1957–1958, 1961–1962, 1962, 1977–1978, 1978–1979, 1981, 1984, 1994–1995, 1995–1996, Clausura 2002, Apertura 2002, Apertura 2003, Apertura 2004, Clausura 2005, Apertura 2009, Clausura 2021, Apertura 2022 |
| Alianza | 18 | 15 | 1965–66, 1966–67, 1986–87, 1989–90, 1993–1994, 1996–1997, Apertura 2001, Clausura 2004, Clausura 2011, Apertura 2015, Apertura 2017, Clausura 2018, Apertura 2019, Apertura 2020, Apertura 2021, Clausura 2022, Clausura 2024 |
| Águila | 17 | 13 | 1959, 1960–1961, 1963–1964, 1964, 1967–1968, 1972, 1975–1976, 1976–1977, 1983, 1987–1988, Apertura 1999, Apertura 2000, Clausura 2001, Clausura 2006, Clausura 2012, Clausura 2019, Apertura 2023 |
| Luis Ángel Firpo | 10 | 11 | 1988–1989, 1990–1991, 1991–1992, 1992–1993, 1997–1998, Clausura 1999, Clausura 2000, Apertura 2007, Clausura 2008, Clausura 2013 |
| Isidro Metapán | 10 | 3 | Clausura 2007, Apertura 2008, Clausura 2009, Clausura 2010, Apertura 2010, Apertura 2011, Apertura 2012, Apertura 2013, Clausura 2014, Apertura 2014 |
| Atlético Marte | 8 | 0 | 1955, 1955–1956, 1956–57, 1968–1969, 1970, 1980–1981, 1982, 1985 |
| Hércules † | 7 | 0 | 1927, 1928, 1929–1930, 1930–1931, 1931–1932, 1932–1933, 1933–1934 |
| Quequeisque | 5 | 0 | 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945 |
| Santa Tecla | 4 | 2 | Clausura 2015, Apertura 2016, Clausura 2017, Apertura 2018 |
| Dragón | 3 | 3 | 1950–1951, 1952–1953, Clausura 2016 |
| C.D. 33 † | 3 | 0 | 1937, 1938, 1939 |
| Once Municipal | 2 | 5 | 1948–1949, Apertura 2006 |
| Juventud Olímpica | 2 | 4 | 1971, 1973 |
| Maya † | 2 | 1 | 1934–1935, 1935–1936 |
| Santiagueño † | 1 | 1 | 1979–1980 |
| San Salvador † | 1 | 1 | Clausura 2003 |
| Chinameca S.C. | 1 | 1 | 1926 |
| Libertad † | 1 | 1 | 1946 |
| Platense | 1 | 1 | 1974–1975 |
| España † | 1 | 0 | 1939–1940 |
| Vista Hermosa† | 1 | 0 | Apertura 2005 |
| Once Deportivo | 1 | 0 | Apertura 2024 |

### Former teams

| Name | City | Foundation | Dissolved |
| Vista Hermosa | San Francisco Gotera (Morazán) | 1999 | 2012 |
| Atlético Balboa | La Unión (La Unión) | 1950 | 2010 |
| San Salvador | San Salvador (San Salvador) | 2002 | 2008 |
| Independiente Nacional 1906 | San Vicente (San Vicente) | 1946 | 2007 |
| Juventud Olímpica | San Salvador (San Salvador) | 1939 | 2007 |
| ADET | La Libertad (La Libertad) | 1974 | 2001 |
| Santiagueño | Santiago de María (Usulután) | 1970 | 1985 |
| Quequeisque | Santa Tecla (La Libertad) | 1896 | 1968 |
| Libertad | La Libertad (La Libertad) | 1930 | 1950 |
| España Atletico | San Salvador (San Salvador) | 1930 | 1941 |
| Hércules | San Salvador (San Salvador) | 1920 | 1939 |
| Deportivo 33 | San Salvador (San Salvador) | 1933 | 1940 |
| ADET | La Libertad (La Libertad) | 1974 | 2001 |
| Coca Cola | San Salvador (San Salvador) | 1930 | 2007 |
| Atlante | San Alejo (La Unión) | 1930 | 1955 |
| Excélsior | Santa Ana (Santa Ana) | 1928 | 1945 |

### Player records (Liga Mayor de Futbol)

Statistics below are for all-time leaders who are still playing. Statistics are for regular season only.
Goals :
| Rank | Player | Goals |
| 1 | Williams Reyes | 170 |
| 2 | Nicolás Muñoz | 120 |
| 3 | Alex Bentos | 100 |
| 4 | Fito Zelaya | 75 |
| 5 | Mágico González | 70 |
Assists :
| Rank | Player | Assists |
| 1 | Mauricio Cienfuegos | 400 |
| 2 | Mágico González | 68 |
| 3 | Osael Romero | 65 |
| 4 | Óscar Cerén | 46 |
| 5 | Gerson Mayen | 45 |
| 5 | Darwin Cerén | 45 |
Shutouts :
| Rank | Player | Shutouts |
| 1 | Cristian Álvarez | 118 |
| 2 | Elder Figueroa | 82 |
| 3 | Jaime Alas | 55 |
| 4 | Léster Blanco | 53 |
| 5 | Nenei de Melo | 35 |
Games Played :
| Rank | Player | Games |
| 1 | Williams Reyes | 375 |
| 2 | Cristian Álvarez | 359 |
| 3 | Mágico González | 345 |
| 4 | Misael Alfaro | 334 |
| 5 | Meme Gonzalez | 324 |

## Short Tournament (1926–1946)

Three regional champions, faced each other in the national championship. Each team represented a different section of the country (West zone, Central zone, East zone).
| Season | Champion | Runner-up |
| 1926 | Chinameca | Nequepio |
| 1927 | Hércules | Chinameca |
| 1928 | Hércules | Excélsior F.C. |
| 1929–30 | Hércules | Excélsior F.C. |
| 1930–31$^*$ | Hércules | |
| 1931–32$^*$ | Hércules | |
| 1932–33$^*$ | Hércules | |
| 1933–34$^*$ | Hércules | |
| 1934–35$^*$ | C.D. Maya | |
| 1935–36$^*$ | C.D. Maya | |
| 1937 | C.D. 33 | C.D. Alacranes |
| 1938 | C.D. 33 | C.D. Maya |
| 1939$^*$ | C.D. 33 | |
| 1940$^*$ | España F.C. | |
| 1941$^*$ | Quequeisque | |
| 1942 | Quequeisque | Juventud Olímpica |
| 1943 | Quequeisque | Ferrocarril |
| 1944$^*$ | Quequeisque | |
| 1945$^*$ | Quequeisque | |
| 1946 | Libertad | Once Municipal |
$^*$ – There was no national championship held during this year, only regional championships. These championships are now often considered national titles.

## League System (1947–1997)

| Season | Champion | Runner-Up |
| 1947 $^{(**)}$ | No national championship was held during these years | No national championship was held during these years |
| 1948-49 | Once Municipal | Libertad |
| 1949-50 $^{(**)}$ | No national championship was held during these years | No national championship was held during these years |
| 1950-51 | C.D. Dragón | C.D. FAS |
| 1951-52 | C.D. FAS | Leones |
| 1952-53 | C.D. Dragón | Juventud Olímpica |
| 1953-54 | C.D. FAS | C.D. Dragón |
| 1955 | Atlético Marte | C.D. Dragón |
| 1955-56 | Atlético Marte | L.A. Firpo |
| 1956-57 | Atlético Marte | Atlante |
| 1957-58 | C.D. FAS | Once Municipal |
| 1959 | C.D. Águila | C.D. FAS |
| 1960-61 | C.D. Águila | C.D. FAS |
| 1961-62 | C.D. FAS | C.D. Águila |
| 1962 | C.D. FAS | Atlante |
| 1963-64 | C.D. Águila | Juventud Olímpica |
| 1964 | C.D. Águila | C.D. FAS |
| 1965-66 | Alianza F.C. | Once Municipal |
| 1966-67 | Alianza F.C. | C.D. Águila |
| 1967-68 | C.D. Águila | C.D. FAS |
| 1968-69 | Atlético Marte | C.D. FAS |
| 1970 | Atlético Marte | C.D. FAS |
| 1971 | Juventud Olímpica | Alianza F.C. |
| 1972 | C.D. Águila | Juventud Olímpica |
| 1973 | Juventud Olímpica | Alianza F.C. |
| 1974-75 | C.D. Platense | Negocios Internacionales |
| 1975-76 | C.D. Águila | Alianza F.C. |
| 1976-77 | C.D. Águila | Once Municipal |
| 1977-78 | C.D. FAS | Once Municipal |
| 1978-79 | C.D. FAS | Alianza F.C. |
| 1979-80 | C.D Santiagueño | C.D. Águila |
| 1980-81 | Atlético Marte | C.D Santiagueño |
| 1981 | C.D. FAS | Independiente Nacional 1906 |
| 1982 | Atlético Marte | Independiente Nacional 1906 |
| 1983 | C.D. Águila | C.D. FAS |
| 1984 | C.D. FAS | C.D. Águila |
| 1985 | Atlético Marte | Alianza F.C. |
| 1986-87 | Alianza F.C. | C.D. Águila |
| 1987-88 | C.D. Águila | C.D. FAS |
| 1988-89 | L.A. Firpo | Cojutepeque F.C. |
| 1989-90 | Alianza F.C. | L.A. Firpo |
| 1990-91 | L.A. Firpo | C.D. Águila |
| 1991-92 | L.A. Firpo | Alianza F.C. |
| 1992-93 | L.A. Firpo | Alianza F.C. |
| 1993-94 | Alianza F.C. | C.D. FAS |
| 1994-95 | C.D. FAS | L.A. Firpo |
| 1995-96 | C.D. FAS | L.A. Firpo |
| 1996-97 | Alianza F.C. | L.A. Firpo |
| 1997-98 | L.A. Firpo | C.D. FAS |
$^{**}$ - No national championship was held during these years

## Apertura/Clausura format (1999–present)

| Season | Champion | Runner-up |
| Apertura 1998 (*) | Alianza F.C. | L.A. Firpo |
| Clausura 1999 | L.A. Firpo | C.D. FAS |
| Apertura 1999 | C.D. Águila | C.D. Municipal Limeño |
| Clausura 2000 | L.A. Firpo | ADET |
| Apertura 2000 | C.D. Águila | C.D. Municipal Limeño |
| Clausura 2001 | C.D. Águila | C.D. FAS |
| Apertura 2001 | Alianza F.C. | L.A. Firpo |
| Clausura 2002 | C.D. FAS | Alianza F.C. |
| Apertura 2002 | C.D. FAS | San Salvador F.C. |
| Clausura 2003 | San Salvador F.C. | L.A. Firpo |
| Apertura 2003 | C.D. FAS | C.D. Águila |
| Clausura 2004 | Alianza F.C. | C.D. FAS |
| Apertura 2004 | C.D. FAS | C.D. Atlético Balboa |
| Clausura 2005 | C.D. FAS | L.A. Firpo |
| Apertura 2005 | C.D. Vista Hermosa | A.D. Isidro Metapán |
| Clausura 2006 | C.D. Águila | C.D. FAS |
| Apertura 2006 | Once Municipal | C.D. FAS |
| Clausura 2007 | A.D. Isidro Metapán | L.A. Firpo |
| Apertura 2007 | L.A. Firpo | C.D. FAS |
| Clausura 2008 | L.A. Firpo | C.D. FAS |
| Apertura 2008 | A.D. Isidro Metapán | C.D. Chalatenango |
| Clausura 2009 | A.D. Isidro Metapán | L.A. Firpo |
| Apertura 2009 | C.D. FAS | C.D. Águila |
| Clausura 2010 | A.D. Isidro Metapán | C.D. Águila |
| Apertura 2010 | A.D. Isidro Metapán | Alianza F.C. |
| Clausura 2011 | Alianza F.C. | C.D. FAS |
| Apertura 2011 | A.D. Isidro Metapán | Once Municipal |
| Clausura 2012 | C.D. Águila | A.D. Isidro Metapán |
| Apertura 2012 | A.D. Isidro Metapán | Alianza F.C. |
| Clausura 2013 | L.A. Firpo | C.D. FAS |
| Apertura 2013 | A.D. Isidro Metapán | C.D. FAS |
| Clausura 2014 | A.D. Isidro Metapán | C.D. Dragon |
| Apertura 2014 | A.D. Isidro Metapán | C.D. Aguila |
| Clausura 2015 | Santa Tecla F.C. | A.D. Isidro Metapán |
| Apertura 2015 | Alianza F.C. | C.D. FAS |
| Clausura 2016 | C.D. Dragon | C.D. Aguila |
| Apertua 2016 | Santa Tecla F.C. | Alianza F.C. |
| Clausura 2017 | Santa Tecla F.C. | Alianza F.C. |
| Apertua 2017 | Alianza F.C. | Santa Tecla F.C. |
| Clausura 2018 | Alianza F.C. | Santa Tecla F.C. |
| Apertua 2018 | Santa Tecla F.C. | Alianza F.C. |
| Clausura 2019 | C.D. Aguila | Alianza F.C. |
| 2019 Apertura | Alianza F.C. | C.D. FAS |
| 2020 Clausura | Season cancelled, title not awarded (^) | Season cancelled, title not awarded (^) |
| 2020 Apertura | Alianza F.C. | C.D. Aguila |
| 2021 Clausura | C.D. FAS | Alianza F.C. |
| 2021 Apertura | Alianza F.C. | C.D. Platense Municipal Zacatecoluca |
| 2022 Clausura | Alianza F.C. | C.D. Águila |
| 2022 Apertura | FAS | Jocoro |
| 2023 Clausura | Season cancelled, title not awarded (+) | Season cancelled, title not awarded (+) |
| 2023 Apertura | Aguila | Jocoro |
| 2024 Clausura | Alianza F.C. | C.D. Municipal Limeño |
| 2024 Apertura | Once Deportivo | C.D. FAS |
(*) The first winner of the shorter tournament has been deemed "Champion Cup", and the next, that of the Clausura 1999, as "champions". The First Division of El Salvador has not changed that status competition.
(^) Season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Once Deportivo were originally given the championship after leading the competition after 11 rounds, but the title was later retracted.
(+) Season was cancelled due to the San Salvador crowd crush.

## Professional Football locally Salvadoran

| Name Salvadoran football competition | Copetencia level football | Number of teams in league |
| Salvadoran Primera División | 1ª "A" | 12 Football clubs |
| Segunda División de Fútbol Salvadoreño | 2ª "B" | 24 Football clubs |
| Tercera Division de Fútbol Salvadoreño | 3ª "C" | 40 Football clubs |
| Federated Salvadoran Football League | 4ª "D" | 50 Football clubs |

## Current Board of Directors
### Management

As of June 1, 2023
| Position | Staff |
| President | Boris Romero |
| Vice-President | TBD |
| Secretary | Lic. Guillermo Morán |
| Pro-Secretary | Lic. Ernesto Allwood |
| Administrative Manager | Sr. Humberto Blanco |
| One senior staff | Sr. Jesús Flores |
| Two managers | Lic. Víctor Quintanilla |
| Third managers | Lic. Guillermo Morán |
| Management Representative | Lic. Roberto Campos |