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EARLY YEARS


Before 1922 , the Portuguese Teams played only local games with neighbouring clubs and later the local championships as the Lisbon Championship (''Campeonato Distrital de Lisboa'') or the Oporto Championship (''Campeonato Distrital do Porto'').


NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP


The nation was urging for a nationwide competition and the clubs organized a National Championship (''Campeonato Nacional'') for the most important District Associations clubs ( Lisbon , Oporto , Coimbra , Madeira , Algarve , and Braga ). This championship was played on a knock-out basis and was very similar with today's Cup of Portugal.

But after the formation of the first Portuguese Football Union (''União Portuguesa de Futebol''), and later ( 1926 ) Portuguese Football Federation (''Federação Portuguesa de Futebol'') the organization dissolved the former competitions and reformed the Portuguese football.


NEW NAMES, NEW FORMATS


The National Championship was turned into the Cup of Portugal (or Portuguese Cup), this time with all clubs in the nation (except for those in the Colonies ). The Premier League (a round-basis experimental league) was transformed into the Portuguese National Championship Of The First Division (''Campeonato Nacional Português da Primeira Divisão'') with the major clubs.

The also experimental Second League was given the name of Portuguese National Championship Of The Second Division (''Campeonato Nacional Português da Segunda Divisão'') divided into two zones (North and South) and later into three zones (North, Central and South). The Third Division was also created with several geographical series.

The irregular local championships were assigned to the 22 Portuguese District Football Associations , and, therefore, the District Championships were created.


END OF DICTATORSHIP


With the end of the dictatorship in Portugal with the Carnation Revolution the old 1938 format of the competitions needed some changes.

First, it is created the Portuguese League For Professional Football (''Liga Portuguesa de Futebol Profissional'') - not a championship. This institution would be an organism of the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) and rule the only professional league (First Division). The other competitions continued with the FPF.

A SuperCup was then introduced. The name chosen: SuperCup Cândido De Oliveira in honour of the Portuguese former football enthusiast and national coach in the early days. This competition was played on a yearly-basis between the First Division champion and the Cup of Portugal winner.

Since 1938 the First Division grew from 8 teams to 20 teams in 1989. The professional football was growing and a new professional competition was needed.


THE 90'S REFORM


With the beginning of the 1990s the Portuguese Football Federation and the Portuguese League for Professional Football agreed to create a new professional competition between the First Division and the Second Division. It would be called Division of Honour or Second Division Of Honour (''Segunda Divisão de Honra'') and relegated the former zone-divided Second Division to third place. This competition continued to exist as "Second Division" but with B added to the name until 2005, up until today the name used is Second Division again.

So, until today these are the Portuguese Competitions:

  • Professional (Portuguese League for Professional Football as the governing body)

  • --- League Betandwin.com (former First Division and Premier League)

  • --- League Of Honour (former Second Division of Honour and Second League)

  • Non-Professional

  • --- Portuguese Football Federation as the governing body

  • -- Second Division (A, B, C and D)

  • -- Third Division (A, B, C, D, E, F and Azores Series)

  • --- District Football Associations as the governing body in association with the Federation

  • -- District Championships 1st level (different names)

  • -- District Championships 2nd level (different names)


''Note:'' Portuguese Football Federation also rules the National Teams , the Cup Of Portugal , the SuperCup Cândido De Oliveira , the national youth championships, the women's football and the indoor-football (or Futsal). District Football Associations rule the Cups of the District Football Associations, the youth district championships, women's district football and district indoor football.