Bolivian Primera División

The División de Fútbol Profesional, is the top-flight professional football league in Bolivia. Until 2017 it was known as the "Liga de Fútbol Profesional Boliviano" (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈliɣa ðe ˈfuðβol pɾofesjoˈnal βoliˈβjano]; English: Bolivian Professional Football League).

División de Fútbol Profesional
Founded1950 (1950)
CountryBolivia
ConfederationCONMEBOL
Number of teams16
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toCopa Simón Bolívar
Domestic cup(s)Copa Bolivia
International cup(s)Copa Libertadores
Copa Sudamericana
Current championsIndependiente Petrolero (1st title)
(2021)
Most championshipsBolívar (29 titles)
TV partnersTigo Sports

Unitel.tv (Highlights only)
Red PAT (Highlights only)
WebsiteFBF
Current: 2022 season

Since 1950, a total of 16 clubs have been crowned champions of the Bolivian football league system. Bolívar is the most winning club with 29 titles to date. The current champions are Independiente Petrolero, which won the title in the 2021 tournament.

History

The organisation of football in Bolivia started in 1914 with the creation of regional associations and their respective competitions. The "La Paz Football Association" (Asociación de Fútbol de La Paz – AFLP) was the first organised body with 29 championships held between 1914 and 1949. The AFLP was considered for many years the top football tournament in the country. In 1950 the body modified its statutes allowing the professionalisation of the sport in Bolivia, so the "Torneo Profesional" was created.[1]

Between 1950 and 1959, only clubs from La Paz, Oruro (since 1954) and Cochabamba (1955) took part of the championship because football was still amateur in the rest of the regions.

At the end of 1960, the Bolivian Football Federation established a national championship, with the purpose of crowning a champion representing Bolivia in recently created Copa Libertadores. The competition, named "Copa Simón Bolívar", was contested by champions and runner ups of regional associations.

The demise of Bolivian national team in the 1978 FIFA World Cup qualification (where it was thrashed by Brazil 8–0 and Peru 5–0) encouraged some clubs to create their own league, so 16 teams separated from their respective associations to establish the "Liga de Fútbol Profesional Boliviano" (Bolivian Professional Football League – LFPB) to organise championships autonomously, in 1977.[2]

The creation of the LFPB ended the distinction. It also resulted in the creation of three separate entities: the FBF's role was restricted to the international representation of Bolivia in the sport, the newly created LFPB became the organizer of the sole first division tournament, and the LPFA, together with the rest of the regional associations, became the organizer of the second (and lower) division regionalized tournaments. It was the first and, until the formation of the basketball league (LIBOBASQUET) in 2014, the only professional sports league in the country.

In 2017, after a change of statutes in the FBF, the LFPB and the ANF were replaced by the "División Profesional" (professional division) and the "División Aficionados" (amateur division), both managed by the FBF from 2018 onwards.

Format overview

The championship format has changed over the years. Beginning in 1977, the league ran with sixteen clubs divided into two series, but switched to fourteen clubs in two series playing two tournaments each year beginning in the mid 80s and economical problems with some teams led to another cut in the number of participants to twelve in 1991. Another change came in 2005 when teams decided to adapt to the International FIFA calendar, meaning the season would be played from August to June rather than from February to December, in order to avoid problems defining which teams would qualify for international tournaments. The league played a short tournament from February to June in 2005, and the official 2005-06 season started in August. This led to yet another problem — second division teams weren't keen on the idea of putting off relegation until June 2006. After negotiations, the league determined that relegation of the lowest standing club would take place after the completion of the Apertura tournament, making the Bolivian league an odd tournament where teams were relegated in the middle of the season. But this decision was overturned in November 2006 and the league switched back to a calendar-year season in 2007 starting with the Apertura tournament in March 2007. For the 2018 season, the number of teams was increased from twelve to fourteen.

Historically, teams from La Paz, Cochabamba and Santa Cruz have dominated the league. Until 2007 only San José won the league in 1995, but since then teams from the "big three" have struggled to win the league again and 3 teams from smaller cities have won it (Real Potosí, San José and Universitario).

Three teams share the record of never been relegated to "La Simón Bolivar" (2nd division): The Strongest, Oriente Petrolero and Bolívar (although they were relegated in 1969 before the LPFB era).

For the 2008 season, and for the first time, three tournaments were played instead of the usual two. The Apertura tournament was played from March to July on a round-robin system; the Clausura tournament played from August to October where the teams were divided into two series of 6 teams each, Group A comprised all western teams (plus Universitario) and Group B comprised all eastern teams (plus Wilstermann and Aurora), the top two teams of each group advanced to the semifinals and the finals. The newly instated play-off tournament consisted of home-away matches (and with away goals rule used for the first time).

An average points from the previous two seasons determines relegation, with the last placed team being directly relegated and replaced by the winner of the Liga Nacional B. With the 11th placed team playing a promotion play-off with the runner-up of the Liga Nacional B.

Current teams (2022)

Team City Stadium Capacity
Always Ready El Alto Municipal de Villa Ingenio 25,000
Atlético Palmaflor Quillacollo Municipal de Quillacollo 6,000
Aurora Cochabamba Estadio Félix Capriles 32,000
Blooming Santa Cruz Ramón Tahuichi Aguilera 38,000
Bolívar La Paz Hernando Siles 42,000
Guabirá Montero Gilberto Parada 13,000
Independiente Petrolero Sucre Olímpico Patria 30,700
Jorge Wilstermann Cochabamba Estadio Félix Capriles 32,000
Nacional Potosí Potosí Víctor Agustín Ugarte 32,105
Oriente Petrolero Santa Cruz Ramón Tahuichi Aguilera 38,000
Real Santa Cruz Santa Cruz Real Santa Cruz 14,000
Real Tomayapo Tarija IV Centenario 15,000
Royal Pari Santa Cruz Ramón Tahuichi Aguilera 38,000
The Strongest La Paz Hernando Siles 42,000
Universitario de Sucre Sucre Olímpico Patria 30,700
Universitario de Vinto Vinto Hipólito Lazarte 2,000

List of champions

Tournament names:
  • 1950–1953: "Torneo Interdepartamental" (AFLP)
  • 1954–1959: "Torneo Integrado" (AFLP)
  • 1960–1976: "Copa Simón Bolívar"
  • 1977–2017: "Liga de Fútbol Profesional Boliviano"
  • 2018–present: "División de Fútbol Profesional"

Keys:

  • AFLP: Asociación de Fútbol de La Paz
  • AFC: Asociación de Fútbol Cochabamba
  • AFO: Asociación de Fútbol Oruro
Season Champion Runner-up Third Place
1950Bolívar (1)LitoralUnión Maestranza
1951Always Ready (1)BolívarFerroviario
1952The Strongest (1)Always ReadyIngavi
1953Bolívar (2)Always ReadyIngavi
1954Litoral (1)The StrongestDeportivo Municipal
1955San José (1)Chaco PetroleroBolívar
1956Bolívar (3)Deportivo MunicipalLitoral
1957Always Ready (2)Deportivo MunicipalChaco Petrolero
1957 AFC–AFO [note 1]Jorge Wilstermann (1)AuroraSan José
1958Jorge Wilstermann (2)Deportivo MunicipalSan José
1959Jorge Wilstermann (3)Always ReadyBolívar
1960Jorge Wilstermann (4)AuroraDeportivo Municipal
1961Deportivo Municipal (1)The StrongestChaco Petrolero
1962Chaco Petrolero (1)The StrongestDeportivo Municipal
1963Aurora (1)Jorge Wilstermann
1964The Strongest (2)Deportivo Municipal31 de Octubre
1965Deportivo Municipal (2)Jorge WilstermannOriente Petrolero
1966Bolívar (4)31 de OctubreJorge Wilstermann
1967Jorge Wilstermann (5)Always ReadyBlooming
1968Bolívar (5)GuabiráLitoral
1969Universitario (LP) (1)BolívarOriente Petrolero
1970Chaco Petrolero (2)The Strongest
1971Oriente Petrolero (1)Chaco PetroleroThe Strongest
1972Jorge Wilstermann (6)Oriente PetroleroPetrolero
1973Jorge Wilstermann (7)Deportivo Municipal31 de Octubre
1974The Strongest (3)Jorge WilstermannBolívar
1975Guabirá (1)BolívarOriente Petrolero
1976Bolívar (6)Oriente PetroleroGuabirá
1977The Strongest (4)Oriente PetroleroBolívar
1978Bolívar (7)Jorge WilstermannOriente Petrolero
1979Oriente Petrolero (2)The StrongestBlooming
Bolívar
1980Jorge Wilstermann (8)The StrongestChaco Petrolero
1981Jorge Wilstermann (9)BloomingGuabirá
Deportivo Municipal
1982Bolívar (8)Jorge WilstermannBlooming
Oriente Petrolero
1983Bolívar (9)Oriente PetroleroBlooming
The Strongest
1984Blooming (1)BolívarOriente Petrolero
The Strongest
1985Bolívar (10)Jorge WilstermannReal Santa Cruz
1986The Strongest (5)Oriente Petrolero
1987Bolívar (11)Oriente Petrolero
1988Bolívar (12)The Strongest
1989The Strongest (6)Oriente Petrolero
1990Oriente Petrolero (3)Bolívar
1991Bolívar (13)San JoséOriente Petrolero
1992Bolívar (14)San JoséJorge Wilstermann
1993The Strongest (7)BolívarBlooming
1994Bolívar (15)Jorge WilstermannThe Strongest
1995San José (2)GuabiráBolívar
1996Bolívar (16)Oriente PetroleroThe Strongest
1997Bolívar (17)Oriente PetroleroBlooming
1998Blooming (2)Jorge WilstermannThe Strongest
1999Blooming (3)The StrongestBolívar
2000Jorge Wilstermann (10)Oriente PetroleroThe Strongest
2001Oriente Petrolero (4)BolívarThe Strongest
2002Bolívar (18)Oriente PetroleroThe Strongest
2003 AperturaThe Strongest (8)BolívarJorge Wilstermann
2003 ClausuraThe Strongest (9)Jorge WilstermannBolívar
2004 AperturaBolívar (19)AuroraJorge Wilstermann
2004 ClausuraThe Strongest (10)Oriente PetroleroReal Potosí
2005 AdecuaciónBolívar (20)The StrongestOriente Petrolero
2005 AperturaBlooming (4)BolívarOriente Petrolero
2006 ClausuraBolívar (21)Real PotosíUniversitario
2006 Segundo TorneoJorge Wilstermann (11)Real PotosíOriente Petrolero
2007 AperturaReal Potosí (1)BolívarLa Paz
2007 ClausuraSan José (3)La PazBlooming
2008 AperturaUniversitario (1)La PazSan José
2008 ClausuraAurora (2)BloomingLa Paz
Real Potosí
2009 AperturaBolívar (22)Real PotosíSan José
2009 ClausuraBlooming (5)BolívarThe Strongest
Oriente Petrolero
2010 AperturaJorge Wilstermann (12)Oriente PetroleroAurora
2010 ClausuraOriente Petrolero (5)BolívarAurora
2011 AdecuaciónBolívar (23)Real PotosíOriente Petrolero
2011–12 AperturaThe Strongest (11)UniversitarioOriente Petrolero
2011–12 ClausuraThe Strongest (12)San JoséOriente Petrolero
2012–13 AperturaThe Strongest (13)San JoséBolívar
2012–13 ClausuraBolívar (24)Oriente PetroleroSan José
2013–14 AperturaThe Strongest (14)BolívarSan José
2013–14 ClausuraUniversitario (2)San JoséThe Strongest
2014–15 AperturaBolívar (25)Oriente PetroleroThe Strongest
2014–15 ClausuraBolívar (26)The StrongestJorge Wilstermann
2015–16 AperturaSport Boys (1)BolívarThe Strongest
2015–16 ClausuraJorge Wilstermann (13)The StrongestUniversitario
2016 AperturaThe Strongest (15)BolívarOriente Petrolero
2017 AperturaBolívar (27)The StrongestGuabirá
2017 ClausuraBolívar (28)The StrongestJorge Wilstermann
2018 AperturaJorge Wilstermann (14)The StrongestSan José
2018 ClausuraSan José (4)The StrongestRoyal Pari
2019 AperturaBolívar (29)The StrongestNacional Potosí
2019 ClausuraJorge Wilstermann (15)The StrongestBolívar
2020 AperturaAlways Ready (3)The StrongestBolívar
2020 Clausura
(Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic)
2021Independiente Petrolero (1)Always ReadyThe Strongest
Notes
  1. Dissident league tournament.
  2. No third-place awarded.

Titles by club

Club Winners Runners-up Winning years Runners-up years
Bolívar
29
15
1950, 1953, 1956, 1966, 1968, 1976, 1978, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2002, 2004 Apertura, 2005 Adecuación, 2005–06 Clausura, 2009 Apertura, 2011 Adecuación, 2013 Clausura, 2014 Apertura, 2015 Clausura, 2017 Apertura, 2017 Clausura, 2019 Apertura1951, 1969, 1975, 1984, 1990, 1993, 2001, 2003 Apertura, 2005–06 Apertura, 2007 Apertura, 2009 Clausura, 2010 Clausura, 2013 Apertura, 2015 Apertura, 2016 Apertura
The Strongest
15
18
1952, 1964, 1974, 1977, 1986, 1989, 1993, 2003 Apertura, 2003 Clausura, 2004 Clausura, 2011 Apertura, 2012 Clausura, 2012 Apertura, 2013 Apertura, 2016 Apertura1954, 1961, 1962, 1970, 1979, 1980, 1988, 1999, 2005 Adecuación, 2015 Clausura, 2016 Clausura, 2017 Apertura, 2017 Clausura, 2018 Apertura, 2018 Clausura, 2019 Apertura, 2019 Clausura, 2020 Apertura
Jorge Wilstermann
15
9
1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1967, 1972, 1973, 1980, 1981, 2000, 2006 Segundo Torneo, 2010 Apertura, 2016 Clausura, 2018 Apertura, 2019 Clausura1963, 1965, 1974, 1978, 1982, 1985, 1994, 1998, 2003 Clausura
Oriente Petrolero
5
15
1971, 1979, 1990, 2001, 2010 Clausura1972, 1976, 1977, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2004 Clausura, 2010 Apertura, 2013 Clausura, 2014 Apertura
Blooming
5
2
1984, 1998, 1999, 2005–06 Apertura, 2009 Clausura1983, 2008 Clausura
San José
4
5
1955, 1995, 2007 Clausura, 2018 Clausura1991, 1992, 2012 Clausura, 2012 Apertura, 2014 Clausura
Always Ready
3
6
1951, 1957, 2020 Apertura1952, 1953, 1959, 1963, 1967, 2021
Deportivo Municipal
2
5
1961, 19651956, 1957 Integrado, 1958, 1964, 1973
Aurora
2
4
1963, 2008 Clausura1957, 1960, 1964, 2004 Apertura
Chaco Petrolero
2
2
1962, 19701955, 1971
Universitario
2
1
2008 Apertura, 2014 Clausura2011 Apertura
Real Potosí
1
4
2007 Apertura2005–06 Clausura, 2006 Segundo Torneo, 2009 Apertura, 2011 Adecuación
Guabirá
1
2
19751995, 1968
Litoral
1
1
19541950
Independiente Petrolero
1
0
2021
Sport Boys
1
0
2015 Apertura
Universitario (LP)
1
0
1969

References

  1. Comienza El Profesionalismo 1950-1959 on Historia del fútbol boliviano by Carlos Mesa Gisbert
  2. Y nació la liga by Jaime Galarza, 2 Jan 2012
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