The Spanish football league system refers to the system in Spanish club football that consists of several football leagues bound together hierarchically by promotion and relegation. Unlike the English and Scottish football federations, the Spanish football federation allows reserve teams to compete in the main football league system, as is the case in most of Europe; however reserve teams are not allowed to compete in the same tier as their senior team, and no reserve team has thus competed in the top flight, Primera División.
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La Liga/La Liga Santander
La Liga is the highest level in the Spanish football league system and is operated by the LFP.
La Liga 2/La Liga 1|2|3
La Liga 2 is the second highest level in the Spanish football league system and is also operated by the LFP.
Segunda División B
The Segunda Division B is the third highest level in the Spanish football league system and is operated by the Royal Spanish Football Federation.
Tercera División
The Tercera Division is the fourth highest level in the Spanish football league system and is operated by the Royal Spanish Football Federation and 17 regional federations.
Lower divisions
Starting at Level 5, each of the 19 regional federations of RFEF run their regional league pyramid under their own jurisdiction.
Evolution of the Spanish league system
* From 1929 to 1940 the Spanish pyramid was similar to the Brazilian system, two simultaneous and independent pyramids, the national pyramid, and the regional pyramid.
**The Primera and Segunda was founded by the Royal Spanish Football Association, but since 1984 is now operated by the LFP. Since 2008 the Primera División is commonly known as Liga Santander and the Segunda División is commonly known as Liga Adelante for sponsorship reasons.
Women
The women's top league was renamed for the 2011–12 season and expanded to 20 teams. The second level league also got renamed and was expanded to seven groups.