Liga de Fútbol Profesional Boliviano
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| LFPB |
|---|
 LFPB - 2008 |
| Founded |
| August 23, 1977 |
| Inaugural season |
| 1977 |
| Nation |
 Bolivia |
| Relegation To |
| Regional Leagues |
| Number of Teams |
| 12 Clubs |
| CONMEBOL Qualification |
| Copa Libertadores de América Copa Sudamericana |
| Defending Champions (2006) |
| 2007-Apertura: Real Potosí 2007-Clausura: San José |
| Website |
| Official Website {Spanish} |
Liga de Fútbol Profesional Boliviano is the top football (soccer) league in Bolivia. It started in 1977, though football had been played in Bolivia since the early 1900s, specifally in La Paz and Oruro.
An amateur league (which became semi-pro in 1950) started in La Paz in 1914, the LPFA (La Paz Football Association, which is currently called the Asociacion de Futbol de La Paz), the first association of soccer in Bolivia. The LPFA was considered for many years the top soccer tournament in the country.
Founded in 1925, the Federación Boliviana de Fútbol didn't organize a national championship until 1960. These championships included representatives of all regional associations, although the LPFA had also included representatives of Oruro and Cochabamba in its championships. Despite this cup being considered the top Bolivian football championship, the LPFA league was still considered the most competitive one.
The creation of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional Boliviano 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 LPFB became the organizer of the sole 1st Division tornament, and the LPFA, together with the rest of the regional associations, became the organizer of the Second (and lower) division regionalized tournaments.
Contents |
[edit] 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 twelve clubs in two series playing two tournaments each year beginning 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.
Historically, teams from La Paz, Cochabamba and Santa Cruz have dominated the league. Only once in 1995 and 2007 a team from another city, Club San José from Oruro in 1995 and Clausura 2007 and Real Potosí in Apertura 2007, won the league. Four teams share the record of never been relegated to "La Simón Bolivar" (2nd division): Jorge Wilstermann, The Strongest, Oriente Petrolero and Bolívar (although they were relegated in 1969 before the LPFB era). The only team that have played all the first division tournaments since the formalization of soccer in 1914 is The Strongest. Two other teams, Oriente Petrolero and Jorge Wilstermann were also never relegated but they have only existed since the 50's.
[edit] Current teams (2008 season)
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[edit] List of champions
for previous champions of regional tournaments, see: Bolivian Football Regional Championships
[edit] Federación Boliviana de Fútbol Championships (Copa Simón Bolívar)
| # | Year | Winner | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|
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1960 | Wilstermann | Aurora |
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1961 | Deportivo Muncipal | Aurora |
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1962 | (Not Held) | |
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1963 | (Not Held) | |
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1964 | The Strongest | Aurora |
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1965 | Deportivo Municipal | Wilstermann |
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1966 | Bolívar | 31 de Octubre |
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1967 | Wilstermann | Always Ready |
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1968 | Bolívar | CD Litoral |
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1969 | Universitario(La Paz) | CD Litoral |
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1970 | Chaco Petrolero | The Strongest |
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1971 | Oriente Petrolero | Chaco Petrolero |
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1972 | Wilstermann | Oriente Petrolero |
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1973 | Wilstermann | Deportivo Municipal |
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1974 | The Strongest | Wilstermann |
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1975 | Guabirá | Bolívar |
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1976 | Bolívar | Oriente Petrolero |
[edit] Liga de Fútbol Profesional Boliviano
Legend
[edit] Titles by team (professional era: 1977-present)
| Club | Nº of Titles | Runners-Up |
|---|---|---|
| Bolívar |
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| The Strongest |
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| Oriente Petrolero |
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| Wilstermann |
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| Blooming |
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| San José |
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| Real Potosí |
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| Guabirá |
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| Aurora |
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| La Paz F.C. |
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| TOTAL |
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[edit] Notes
- ^ The 2004 Clausura championship was won by The Strongest 1-1 (4-2 PK) on the final game against Oriente Petrolero. Three months later the Bolivian Football federation gave the title to Oriente Petrolero after they alleged doubts about the nationality of The Strongest's goalkeeper Marcelo Robledo, who had an Argentine passport but is of Bolivian ancestry. Since then Robledo has won a favorable verdict from the Constitutional Court (branch of the Bolivian Supreme Court), being recognized as being born a Bolivian Citizen. The Bolivian Football Federation has not stated any change in its stance considering the new status quo. As of 2007, both teams claim to have won the title.
- ^ Oriente Petrolero was the runner-up but they lost 3 points in favour of Bolivar for using suspended players during the last round match agaisnt Bolívar which ended 3-1..
[edit] List of all-time topscorers
| # | Name | Nationality | Career | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Víctor Hugo Antelo | |
1983 - 2001 | 350 |
| 2. | Juan Carlos Sánchez |  |
1979 - 1992 | 261 |
| 3. | Luis Fernando Salinas | |
1980 - 1993 | 201 |
| 4. | Jesús Reynaldo | |
1977 - 1993 | 196 |
| 5. | Raúl Horacio Baldessari | |
1977 - 1988 | 161 |
| 6. | Silvio Edmundo Rojas | |
1977 - 1992 | 140 |
| 7. | Luis William Ramallo | |
1982 - 1999 | 138 |
| 8. | Juan Berthy Suárez | |
1990 - 2000 | 135 |
| 9. | Erwin Romero | |
1977 - 1992 | 134 |
| 10. | Carlos Fernando Borja | |
1977 - 1995 | 129 |
| = | Arturo García | |
1983 - 1999 | 129 |
| 12. | Jorge Hirano |  |
1986 - 1992 | 124 |
[edit] External links
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Liga de Fútbol Profesional Boliviano 2008
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