Which Clubs Have Won The La Liga?

Which Clubs Have Won The La Liga?

The Spanish top flight was established in 1929 and is fast approaching a century of existence. During that time it has produced some of the greatest teams ever to play the game.

You only have to look at Spanish clubs European dominance to back this up. But aside from continental success, we're going to focus on the winners of Spain's highest regarded domestic prize, La Liga. Out of the 62 teams to compete in the league throughout history, there have been a total of nine teams to be crowned champions.

Real Betis (1)

Los Verdiblancos have won La Liga once in their history. That came way back in 1934/35 season, where their team was a real force to be reckoned with during the first half of that decade. They reached a Spanish cup final and would win the Spanish second division title on 3rd April 1932, then playing under the name of Betis Balompie.

After becoming the first Andalusian (Southern-Coast) team to be promoted to the top flight, they soon went from strength to strength. They attracted top talent and under Irish manager Patrick O'Connell they would win their first and only La Liga title after beating Santander 0-5.

The success was short lived though as club President Antonio Moreno Sevillano would leave at the end of the campaign, having major financial consequences for the club. The Spanish Civil War then completley disrupted all workflow as many players had to go and fight. In turn, O'Connell would depart Betis for Barcelona ahead of the 1935/36 season.

Gloria a nuestros campeones 🏆⚽ Hoy se cumplen 81 años del título de Liga conseguido por el @RealBetis en 1935 👏 pic.twitter.com/Sv4nv3m91b

— Real Betis Balompié 🌴💚 (@RealBetis) April 28, 2016

Sevilla (1)

The oldest professional football club in Spain is Sevilla, established in 1890. Their sole Spanish league title came in the 1945/46 season where they would edge out a strong Barcelona side by a single point. Star striker Juan Arza contributed 14 goals that season and made over 300 appearances for the club.

It was Sevilla's 3-0 victory over Real Oviedo that sent them top of the table at the hands of Barcelona after they were held to a draw with Castellon. The outcome of the league came down to the final day, with the top two facing off in front of 60,000 fans at Barcelona's Les Corts Stadium. That match ended in a 1-1 stalemate handing the visitors their first domestic title in their history.

Further success would follow as they would go on to win their third Copa Del Rey title two years later. They'd have to wait many years to win another, but they would eventually get their hands on the cup in 2007 and again in 2010. They've also become the masters of the Europa League winning it seven times since 2006. They managed to win it three years in a row, a feat no other team has ever achieved.

🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆

Seven-time #UEL winners Sevilla were formed #OTD in 1890 🗓️ pic.twitter.com/aH3x5OBjx8

— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) January 25, 2024

Deportivo La Coruna (1)

A team that currently play their football in the Spanish second divison, were once champions of the top flight sooner than you'd think. Deportivo were shock league winners in 1999/2000 season, beating Barcelona and Valencia to the title by five points.

For a club that was on the brink of collapse just over a decade prior to their success, their campaign that year is regarded as one of the best achievements ever in Spanish football. Vicente Celerio's goal on the final day of the 1987/1988 saved the club from relegation to the third tier, which would have ultimately sent the club into administration.

New President Augusto Cesar Lendoiro would change Deportivo's fortunes and with his backing they'd achieve promotion to the top flight in 1990/91. They began to sign quality players and came close to winning La Liga throughout the 90s. Fast forward to May 19 2000 when Deportivo needed a single point on the final day of the season to be crowned champions. They'd get all three, beating Espanyol 2-0 at home confirming their status as league winners.

20 años del Dépor campeón#TalDíaComoHoy hace 20 años, un 19 de mayo del 2000, el RC Deportivo ganó la liga más igualada de la historia de Primera División. Lo hizo con 69 puntos, con tan solo ocho más que el sexto clasificado

Aquellos maravillosos años de ligas competitivas 😍 pic.twitter.com/1FErfci9Yx

— Los otros 18 (@Losotros18) May 18, 2020

Real Sociedad (2)

The start of the 80's was a jubilant time if you were a Real Sociedad fan. The previous decade saw a tranistion for the club as young players from the B team were linking up with the more experienced players, adding a new sense of dynamism to the group. Some good runs in the Copa Del Rey would follow. They bailed out in the semi-finals twice in three seasons, first to Atletico Madrid in 1975/76 and then to Johan Cruyff's Barcelona in 1977/78.

The arrival of Albero Ormaetxea proved to be the best appointment in the clubs history. In his first season in 1979/80 the club would win the most games in the division, finishing fourth place and securing European football. They'd finish second the season after going unbeaten for all 32 league games.

It was the following two seasons that cemented Ormaetxea's legacy. They'd win back-to-back league titles. La Real's most impressive campaign was perhaps the first as they would only go top of the table for the first time that season with three games to go. They needed a point on the final day and were crowned champions with a 2-2 draw with Gijon, subsequently beating Real Madrid to the crown.

#RealBetis 1980/81.

Esnaola, Bizcocho, Álex, Ortega, Peruena, Gordillo.
Segundo, López, Rincón, Cardeñosa, Benítez. pic.twitter.com/E7ux2keoLV

— Olympia (@olympia_vintage) August 21, 2018

Valencia (6)

Upping the ante now, the fifth most successful team in La Liga history is Valencia. La Terreta won their first league title in 1941/42, accumulating a record number number of goals (85 in 26 games) in the process. They'd then pick up two further league titles that decade in 1943/44 and 1946/47.

The next years were difficult for Valencia. Despite having some of the league's best players, they were unable to live up to expectations. Antonio Purchades was the talisman for the club, having been named in the best XI at the 1950 World Cup in Brazil, responsibility rested on his shoulders. His team finished runners-up in the Spanish Cup at the start of the decade and then finished runners-up in the league in 1952/53.

Their next league triumph however didn't come for almost 20 years later in 1970/71, being the last league season with 16 competing teams, before it expanded to 20 the year after. They've been crowned league champions twice this century in 2001/02 and 2003/04. They'd win the Europa League and reach two UEFA Champions League finals in the same decade with veteran manager Rafa Benitez at the helm.

📸 El Valencia CF de la 2003-2004 pic.twitter.com/l6OgzMudvk

— Kodro Magazine (@KodroMagazine) March 18, 2025

Athletic Bilbao (8)

Bilbao were arguably the best Spanish team in the early years of La Liga. In 1929/30, the second season of the league's existence, they would win their first title going unbeaten in the process. They'd win it again in 1930/31, 1933/34 and 1935/36.

They'd have to wait 7 years for another title, after a new influx of talent entered the club. Of this new generation, star forward Telmo Zarra arrived in 1940. He is the clubs record goalscorer with 335 goals. He netted 38 times in the 1950/51 season, a record that could only be bettered by arguably the games greatest player ever, Lionel Messi over sixty years later.

He'd help his side win a sixth title in 1955/56 before departing the club in 1957. They'd have to wait until 1982/83 for their next, where they would win back-to-back titles for the second time in their history. They'd win a double under Javier Clemente in 1983/84, with league success being accompanied by a Copa Del Rey triumph.

🔴⚪️ Telmo Zarra scored 251 La Liga goals and won 6 Pichichi awards – both records until surpassed by Lionel Messi – was a magnificent servant to @AthleticClub and hit 20 goals in 20 games for @SeFutbol 🇪🇸

⏪ 15 years ago today football lost one of its greatest-ever marksmen ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/sfThPaHPRN

— FIFA (@FIFAcom) February 23, 2021

Atletico Madrid (11)

In recent years Atletico have proven a tricky proposition for many opponents during manager Diego Simeone's current tenure. Way before the Argentine's reign, Atletico estbalished themselves the best of the rest. In 1939/40 Los Colchoneros won their first title and backed it up the following year achieving the same prize, captained by the influential midfielder German Gomez.

They'd win successive titles again in 1949/50 and 1950/51. Atletico would then have to wait nearly 15 years for the next in 1965/66, before further success followed in 1969/70, 1972/73 and 1976/77. Jose Eulogio Garate won the league's golden boot in 1969, 1970 and 1971 demosntrating his influence in this era.

Only one more title would be claimed by Atletico in the century, coming in 1995/96, which current manager Diego Simeone was apart of. He'd then take charge of the club as manager in December 2011. He'd win his first league title as manager in 2013/14 with stars like Godin, Gabi, David Villa and Diego Costa. They also finished runners-up in the UEFA Champions League that year. Their latest title came in 2020/21 beating Barcelona by two points.

On this day in 2014, Atletico won La Liga over both Messi’s Barcelona and CR7’s Real Madrid.

In this last decade, how highly do you rate this title win? pic.twitter.com/fLvtyRRlub

— EiF (@EiFSoccer) May 17, 2020

Barcelona (28)

In a club that has produced six Ballon D'or winners, including a seven time winner of the prize (the most in history), Lionel Messi, it is no surprise that they have amassed 28 league titles since being founded 126 years ago. They would win the first contested league season in 1929/30. They wouldn't achieve this feat again for over 15 years when further success began to follow from the 50s.

The 1973/74 season brought more success with the arrival of Johan Cruyff, who would shine for Barcelona, on route to a ninth title win for the club. He'd also be voted the Ballon D'or winner for his contributions that season. It was the 90s when the Spanish giants really went to the next level as players like Koeman, Stoichkov, Guardiola, Hagi, and Laudrup all starred at The Camp Nou.

A 23-year-old Brazilian by the name of Ronaldinho would sign in the summer of 2003 from Paris Saint-Germain in a record deal for the club. He'd link up with debutant Lionel Messi in his second season as the pair went on to win the title that season.

Most regard Pep Guardiola's managerial reign as the best team ever to play the game. The period between 2008 to 2012 when Barcelona won two UEFA Champions Leagues and three successive league titles changed football forever. The team included so much homegrown talent with the likes of Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets, Puyol, Pique and Valdes. This trend continues today with the likes of hugely talented youngsters Yamal and Pedri carrying the team forward in this new era.

🔵🔴 Leo Messi: “There are two people at Barcelona who’ve made a huge impact on me”.

“The first one was Pep Guardiola, because we achieved incredible things together — and Ronaldinho, for how he helped me”, told MD. pic.twitter.com/usaiZlhxTR

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 6, 2024

Real Madrid (36)

The most successful football club ever is of course Real Madrid. The number of titles that the club have managed to win are astronomical, ending the debate of who is the biggest club in the world. In 1931/32 season they would go unbeaten as they claimed their first league title.

Complete domination would follow for Los Blancos as they won seven titles during the 60s. Player's like Alfredo Di Stefano and Ferenc Puskas were iconic figures during these years, with the latter having an individual goal award named in his honour. A further six titles would follow in the 70s as Real Madrid started to prove to be an unstoppable force in Spanish football.

In the 80s the "Quinta Del Buitre" (Vulture's Cohort) generation was born. Leaders of this period included legendary strikers Emilio Butragueno and Hugo Sanchez with the former nicknamed "The Vulture" for his dribbling ability. The 1990s was a quieter year in terms of league trophies, winning just three La Liga's. Arguably the greatest left-back ever, Roberto Carlos joined the club in 1996, two years after former club topscorer Raul broke into the first team.

The 2000s sparked a new era for Real Madrid as 'The Galacticos' was born. Luis Figo became the first signing of the new era from arch rivals Barcelona for $62M. Zinedine Zidane would sign the following summer and win a title in his first season. It was then Ronaldo (The Phenomenon) who would sign the next year as the club seemed to be signing bigger talents in each season that went by.

English talents David Beckham and Michael Owen would follow suit, but the maruqee signing of the decade would be Cristiano Ronaldo. His $94M fee from Manchester United in 2009 smashed the transfer record. The clubs record goalscorer would go on to win two league titles, two Copa Del Rey's and four UEFA Champions Leagues. Current stars Mbappe, Vinicius Jr, and Bellingham to name a few will be hoping to emulate the iconic figures trophy cabinet in the near future and bring further league success to the Bernabeu.

🗓 ON THIS DAY IN 2009: Cristiano Ronaldo signed for Real Madrid from Manchester United.

👕 438 appearances
⚽️ 450 goals
🎯 131 assists
🏆 15 trophies

One of the greatest signings of all time 🐐 pic.twitter.com/fc7aYDpgjO

— Footy Accumulators (@FootyAccums) June 11, 2022