The formation and development of La Liga can be traced back to 1909, when a group of clubs in Madrid proposed the idea of establishing the Spanish Football Association. This association was incorporated into FIFA in 1913. Prior to that time, all football matches in Spain were limited to regional or local competitions. However, by 1902, this trend began to change as cross-region games began to host. The concept of a national league, later known as La Liga, was introduced in 1902, marking the beginning of a series of continental football competitions.
As the sport evolved, so did the landscape of Spanish football. In 1984, La Liga was established, under the leadership of the Spanish Football Association. Since then, La Liga has expanded several times, reaching a total of 22 teams in 1995. Today, La Liga encompasses 20 top-flight Spanish clubs and 22 second-tier Spanish clubs.
In 1996, two major events had a profound impact on the development of La Liga. First, the implementation of the Marquess of Berwick's Bill - an EU regulation allowing professional football players to move freely across the European Union - provided a foundation for attracting top-level talent from across the continent. In addition, the growing popularity of pay-per-view (PPV) TV and on-demand streaming services led to a significant increase in media attention, boosting the engagement of西甲 fans both domestically and internationally.
Overall, the formation and growth of La Liga can be seen as a long-term process, with multiple phases characterized by the development of regional football competition, the emergence of cross-regional matches, the establishment of the Spanish National League, and the establishment of the Spanish Professional Football League (La Liga). Throughout this journey, La Liga has become a global force, drawing talented athletes and passionate football fans.