If you’re a football fan, then you’ve probably heard of Argentina’s Primera Division – the country’s top-flight football league. The league has been home to some of the biggest names in football history, including Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi. But there’s more to the league than just its famous players. Here are 10 fascinating facts about the Argentina Primera Division that you might not know.
- The Argentina Primera Division was established in 1891, making it the oldest professional league in South America. The league was formed by Alexander Watson Hutton, an English teacher who introduced football to Argentina.
- Club Boca Juniors is the most successful club in the Argentina Primera Division, with a record 34 league titles. River Plate is second with 36 titles.
- One of the most famous footballers of all time, Diego Maradona, started his career in the Argentina Primera Division with Argentinos Juniors.
- Winners Argentina is one of the most successful football nations in the world, with two World Cup victories. Many of the players on those winning teams got their start in the Primera Division.
- The biggest rivalry in Argentine football is between Boca Juniors and River Plate, known as the Superclasico. The two clubs have played each other over 250 times, with each match being a heated affair.
- Like many football leagues around the world, the Argentina Primera Division uses a promotion and relegation system. The team that finishes in last place at the end of the season is relegated to the second division, while the top team from the second division is promoted to the Primera Division.
- Many of the stadiums in the Argentina Primera Division are located at high altitudes. This can make it difficult for visiting teams to adjust to the thinner air.
- The Argentina Primera Division plays two seasons per year – the Torneo Apertura and the Torneo Clausura. Each season is only 19 games long, with the winner of each season being crowned league champions.
- Some of the most famous football coaches in history got their start in the Argentina Primera Division, including Carlos Bilardo, Cesar Luis Menotti, and Marcelo Bielsa.
- Football is a way of life in Argentina, and the fans of the Primera Division clubs are some of the most passionate in the world. The stadiums are often packed to capacity, and the fans are known for their intense support of their teams.
