Mediterranean League
Encyclopedia
The Mediterranean League, also referred to as the Lliga Mediterrània (Catalan
), the Liga Mediterránea (Spanish
) or La Liga del Mediterráneo, was a football
league played in the Republican
area of Spain
during the Spanish Civil War
. The league, played out in early 1937, was won by FC Barcelona
. Clubs from the league also competed in a cup competition, the Copa de la España Libre
. By 1938 the Republican area was divided and a second Mediterranean League season proved impossible to organise. However an alternative Lliga Catalana, also won by FC Barcelona
, was arranged.
, which began in July 1936, left Spain divided. Several La Liga
clubs, including Sevilla FC
, Real Betis
, Real Sociedad
, Athletic Bilbao
, Celta de Vigo
and Deportivo de La Coruña
found themselves in areas under the control of Franco
.
The Republicans
controlled three major cities - Madrid
, Barcelona
and Valencia
- and much of the surrounding countryside. They also controlled much of the Levante
coast. As a result of this divide, La Liga
was suspended. However during late 1936, some regional leagues continued to be organised in the Republican areas. The Campeonato Levante featured teams from Valencia and Murcia. Participating teams included Valencia FC, Levante FC
, Gimnàstico FC
, Hércules CF
, Murcia FC and FC Cartagena
. Valencia FC emerged as champions with 13 points.
The Campionat de Catalunya was also contested between CE Espanyol, FC Barcelona
, Girona FC
, ES Granollers, CE Sabadell FC and CF Badalona
. Both Madrid CF and Athletic Madrid had applied to join the Campionat de Catalunya, but their application was rejected by FC Barcelona
. CE Espanyol emerged as champions with 14 points.
. It was intended to feature all twelve teams from both the Campeonato Levante and the Campionat de Catalunya. However Hércules CF
, Murcia FC
and FC Cartagena
had to withdraw because their towns were bombarded. To even the balance between teams from Catalonia and Levante, CE Sabadell FC and FC Badalona
were also withdrawn and Atlético Castellón were invited to participate as the fourth Levante club.
Despite Madrid
being in the Republican area, neither Madrid CF or Athletic Madrid entered the Mediterranean League. The reasons for this are debatable. Their non-participation has being blamed both on internal divisions within the Republican ranks and the fact that Madrid remained closer to the frontline than either Barcelona
or Valencia
. The league was contested between January and May 1937. After 14 games FC Barcelona
, with a team coached by Patrick O'Connell
and featuring Domènec Balmanya
and Josep Escolà
, emerged as champions. CE Espanyol finished as runners-up and Girona FC
, coached by Francisco Bru finished third. Valencia FC, who featured Lecue of Madrid CF as a guest player in their last two games, finished fourth and Levante FC
finished fifth.
On September 28 2007, FC Barcelona
requested that the RFEF to recognise the Mediterranean League as a La Liga
title. This action was taken after the Spanish Congress proposed to the RFEF to recognise Levante FC
's Copa de la España Libre
win as equivalent to Copa del Rey
trophy.
. In November 1937 their capital was transferred from Valencia
to Barcelona
and after the Battle of Teruel
the Republican area was split in two. In football terms this meant that a second Mediterranean League was impossible as clubs from the Levante
were unable to enter. Instead a Lliga Catalana, featuring just Catalan teams was organised. The competition was never completed due to disruption from the war but the title was subsequently awarded to FC Barcelona
. The Barça coach Patrick O'Connell
had returned from the tour of Mexico
and the United States
with only four players. Despite this, FC Barcelona won both the Lliga Catalana and the Campionat de Catalunya.
Catalan language
Catalan is a Romance language, the national and only official language of Andorra and a co-official language in the Spanish autonomous communities of Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and Valencian Community, where it is known as Valencian , as well as in the city of Alghero, on the Italian island...
), the Liga Mediterránea (Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
) or La Liga del Mediterráneo, was a football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
league played in the Republican
Second Spanish Republic
The Second Spanish Republic was the government of Spain between April 14 1931, and its destruction by a military rebellion, led by General Francisco Franco....
area of Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
during the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
. The league, played out in early 1937, was won by FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
. Clubs from the league also competed in a cup competition, the Copa de la España Libre
Copa de la España Libre
Copa de la España Libre , also referred to as the Copa de la España Libre – Trofeo Presidente de la República, was a football competition played in the Republican area of Spain during the Spanish Civil War...
. By 1938 the Republican area was divided and a second Mediterranean League season proved impossible to organise. However an alternative Lliga Catalana, also won by FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
, was arranged.
Regional Leagues
The Spanish Civil WarSpanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
, which began in July 1936, left Spain divided. Several La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
clubs, including Sevilla FC
Sevilla FC
Sevilla Fútbol Club S.A.D. is a Spanish professional football club based in Seville, Spain that plays in the Spanish La Liga championship.They are one of the most successful clubs in Spanish football having won a 1 La Liga title, 5 Spanish "Copa del Rey" Cups, 1 Spanish Super Cup and 2 UEFA...
, Real Betis
Real Betis
Real Betis Balompié S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Seville, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 12 September 1907, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio Benito Villamarín....
, Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in the city of San Sebastián, Basque Country, founded on 7 September 1909...
, Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Club, also known as Athletic Bilbao, is an association football club from Bilbao in Biscay, Spain. The club has played in the Primera División of La Liga since its start in 1928. They have won La Liga on eight occasions...
, Celta de Vigo
Celta de Vigo
Real Club Celta de Vigo , simply referred to as Celta Vigo, is a Spanish professional football club based in Vigo, Galicia, currently playing in the Segunda División. It was founded on March 28, 1923 following the merger of Real Vigo Sporting and Real Fortuna Foot-ball Club.Nicknamed Los Celestes ,...
and Deportivo de La Coruña
Deportivo de La Coruña
Real Club Deportivo de La Coruña is a professional football club based in the city of A Coruña, Galicia; founded in 1906 and currently playing in Segunda División...
found themselves in areas under the control of Franco
Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...
.
The Republicans
Second Spanish Republic
The Second Spanish Republic was the government of Spain between April 14 1931, and its destruction by a military rebellion, led by General Francisco Franco....
controlled three major cities - Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
and Valencia
Valencia (city in Spain)
Valencia or València is the capital and most populous city of the autonomous community of Valencia and the third largest city in Spain, with a population of 809,267 in 2010. It is the 15th-most populous municipality in the European Union...
- and much of the surrounding countryside. They also controlled much of the Levante
Levante, Spain
The Levante is a name used to refer to the eastern region of the Iberian Peninsula, on the Spanish Mediterranean coast. It roughly corresponds to the former Xarq Al-Andalus, but has no modern geopolitical definition...
coast. As a result of this divide, La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
was suspended. However during late 1936, some regional leagues continued to be organised in the Republican areas. The Campeonato Levante featured teams from Valencia and Murcia. Participating teams included Valencia FC, Levante FC
Levante FC
Levante Football Club is a defunct football club based in Valencia, Spain-History:Levante F.C. was founded in 1909, in 1915 is dissolved ,but in 1917 is refounded...
, Gimnàstico FC
Gimnástico FC
Gimnástico Fútbol Club is a defunct football club based in Valencia, Spain-History:Gimnástico F.C. was founded in 1913. In 1939 Levante FC and Gimnástico merged in Levante UD.-Background:...
, Hércules CF
Hércules CF
Hércules Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Alicante, in the autonomous community of Valencia. Founded in 1922, it currently plays in the Spanish second division, and holds home games at the Estadio José Rico Pérez, which seats 30,000 spectators.-History:After first...
, Murcia FC and FC Cartagena
FC Cartagena
Fútbol Club Cartagena is a Spanish football team based in Cartagena, in the autonomous community of Murcia. Founded in 1995, it currently plays in the second division, holding home games at Estadio Cartagonova, with a capacity of 15,105 spectators....
. Valencia FC emerged as champions with 13 points.
The Campionat de Catalunya was also contested between CE Espanyol, FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
, Girona FC
Girona FC
Girona Futbol Club, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Girona, in the autonomous community of Catalonia. Founded in 1930, it plays in Segunda División, holding home games at Estadi Montilivi, which has a capacity of 10,000....
, ES Granollers, CE Sabadell FC and CF Badalona
CF Badalona
Club de Fútbol Badalona is a Spanish football team based in Badalona, in the autonomous community of Catalonia. Founded in 1903, it plays in Segunda División B - Group 3, holding home games at the Camp del Centenari, with a capacity of 10,000 seats....
. Both Madrid CF and Athletic Madrid had applied to join the Campionat de Catalunya, but their application was rejected by FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
. CE Espanyol emerged as champions with 14 points.
The Mediterranean League
The Republican civil authorities also organised the Mediterranean League as an alternative to La LigaLa Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
. It was intended to feature all twelve teams from both the Campeonato Levante and the Campionat de Catalunya. However Hércules CF
Hércules CF
Hércules Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Alicante, in the autonomous community of Valencia. Founded in 1922, it currently plays in the Spanish second division, and holds home games at the Estadio José Rico Pérez, which seats 30,000 spectators.-History:After first...
, Murcia FC
Real Murcia
Real Murcia Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in the region of Murcia. Founded in 1908, it currently plays in the second division, playing home matches at Estadio Nueva Condomina, which can hold 33,045 spectators....
and FC Cartagena
FC Cartagena
Fútbol Club Cartagena is a Spanish football team based in Cartagena, in the autonomous community of Murcia. Founded in 1995, it currently plays in the second division, holding home games at Estadio Cartagonova, with a capacity of 15,105 spectators....
had to withdraw because their towns were bombarded. To even the balance between teams from Catalonia and Levante, CE Sabadell FC and FC Badalona
CF Badalona
Club de Fútbol Badalona is a Spanish football team based in Badalona, in the autonomous community of Catalonia. Founded in 1903, it plays in Segunda División B - Group 3, holding home games at the Camp del Centenari, with a capacity of 10,000 seats....
were also withdrawn and Atlético Castellón were invited to participate as the fourth Levante club.
Despite Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
being in the Republican area, neither Madrid CF or Athletic Madrid entered the Mediterranean League. The reasons for this are debatable. Their non-participation has being blamed both on internal divisions within the Republican ranks and the fact that Madrid remained closer to the frontline than either Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
or Valencia
Valencia (city in Spain)
Valencia or València is the capital and most populous city of the autonomous community of Valencia and the third largest city in Spain, with a population of 809,267 in 2010. It is the 15th-most populous municipality in the European Union...
. The league was contested between January and May 1937. After 14 games FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
, with a team coached by Patrick O'Connell
Patrick O'Connell (1887-1959)
Patrick Joseph O'Connell , also known as Paddy O'Connell or Patricio O'Connell, was an Irish footballer and manager. He played as a defender, most notably, for Belfast Celtic, Sheffield Wednesday, Hull City and Manchester United. As an international he captained Ireland and was a member of the...
and featuring Domènec Balmanya
Domènec Balmanya
Domènec Balmanya Perera , also referred to as Domingo Balmanya, is a former Spanish footballer and manager who spent most of his playing career at FC Barcelona. As a manager he guided CF Barcelona to the a Copa del Generalísimo win in 1957 and to victory in the first ever Fairs Cup in 1958...
and Josep Escolà
Josep Escolà
Josep Escolà Segalés , also referred to as José Escolà, was a Spanish Catalan footballer who spent most of his career at FC Barcelona. Escolà also played for both Spain and the Catalan XI...
, emerged as champions. CE Espanyol finished as runners-up and Girona FC
Girona FC
Girona Futbol Club, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Girona, in the autonomous community of Catalonia. Founded in 1930, it plays in Segunda División, holding home games at Estadi Montilivi, which has a capacity of 10,000....
, coached by Francisco Bru finished third. Valencia FC, who featured Lecue of Madrid CF as a guest player in their last two games, finished fourth and Levante FC
Levante FC
Levante Football Club is a defunct football club based in Valencia, Spain-History:Levante F.C. was founded in 1909, in 1915 is dissolved ,but in 1917 is refounded...
finished fifth.
On September 28 2007, FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
requested that the RFEF to recognise the Mediterranean League as a La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
title. This action was taken after the Spanish Congress proposed to the RFEF to recognise Levante FC
Levante FC
Levante Football Club is a defunct football club based in Valencia, Spain-History:Levante F.C. was founded in 1909, in 1915 is dissolved ,but in 1917 is refounded...
's Copa de la España Libre
Copa de la España Libre
Copa de la España Libre , also referred to as the Copa de la España Libre – Trofeo Presidente de la República, was a football competition played in the Republican area of Spain during the Spanish Civil War...
win as equivalent to Copa del Rey
Copa del Rey
The Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
trophy.
Final Table
| Teams | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | GF | Ga | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FC Barcelona FC Barcelona Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.... |
14 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 27 | 15 | 20 |
| CE Espanyol | 14 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 30 | 20 | 19 |
| Girona FC Girona FC Girona Futbol Club, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Girona, in the autonomous community of Catalonia. Founded in 1930, it plays in Segunda División, holding home games at Estadi Montilivi, which has a capacity of 10,000.... |
14 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 27 | 18 | 17 |
| Valencia FC | 14 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 32 | 23 | 17 |
| Levante FC Levante FC Levante Football Club is a defunct football club based in Valencia, Spain-History:Levante F.C. was founded in 1909, in 1915 is dissolved ,but in 1917 is refounded... |
14 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 30 | 18 | 16 |
| Gimnàstico FC Gimnástico FC Gimnástico Fútbol Club is a defunct football club based in Valencia, Spain-History:Gimnástico F.C. was founded in 1913. In 1939 Levante FC and Gimnástico merged in Levante UD.-Background:... |
14 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 18 | 31 | 10 |
| ES Granollers | 14 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 17 | 36 | 8 |
| Atlético Castellón | 14 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 7 | 27 | 5 |
Lliga Catalana
By the latter half of 1937 and early 1938 the war was going against the RepublicansSecond Spanish Republic
The Second Spanish Republic was the government of Spain between April 14 1931, and its destruction by a military rebellion, led by General Francisco Franco....
. In November 1937 their capital was transferred from Valencia
Valencia (city in Spain)
Valencia or València is the capital and most populous city of the autonomous community of Valencia and the third largest city in Spain, with a population of 809,267 in 2010. It is the 15th-most populous municipality in the European Union...
to Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
and after the Battle of Teruel
Battle of Teruel
The Battle of Teruel was fought in and around the city of Teruel during the Spanish Civil War in December 1937 – February 1938. The combatants fought the battle during the worst Spanish winter in twenty years. It was one of the bloodier actions of the war. The city changed hands several times,...
the Republican area was split in two. In football terms this meant that a second Mediterranean League was impossible as clubs from the Levante
Levante, Spain
The Levante is a name used to refer to the eastern region of the Iberian Peninsula, on the Spanish Mediterranean coast. It roughly corresponds to the former Xarq Al-Andalus, but has no modern geopolitical definition...
were unable to enter. Instead a Lliga Catalana, featuring just Catalan teams was organised. The competition was never completed due to disruption from the war but the title was subsequently awarded to FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
. The Barça coach Patrick O'Connell
Patrick O'Connell (1887-1959)
Patrick Joseph O'Connell , also known as Paddy O'Connell or Patricio O'Connell, was an Irish footballer and manager. He played as a defender, most notably, for Belfast Celtic, Sheffield Wednesday, Hull City and Manchester United. As an international he captained Ireland and was a member of the...
had returned from the tour of Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with only four players. Despite this, FC Barcelona won both the Lliga Catalana and the Campionat de Catalunya.
Table
| Teams | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FC Barcelona FC Barcelona Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.... |
17 | 14 | 1 | 2 | 86 | 26 | 29 |
| UE Sants | 16 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 66 | 37 | 23 |
| L'Avenç del Sport | 16 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 39 | 33 | 18 |
| CE Espanyol | 16 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 44 | 44 | 18 |
| CE Europa CE Europa Club Esportiu Europa is a Spanish/Catalan sports club, based in the Gràcia district of Barcelona. The club is best known for its football team who in 1928, along with city neighbours FC Barcelona and RCD Espanyol, were founder members of La Liga. During the late 1990s they won the Copa Catalunya... |
16 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 47 | 39 | 17 |
| FC Martinenc | 16 | 7 | 2 | 7 | 39 | 34 | 16 |
| CE Júpiter CE Júpiter Club Esportiu Júpiter is a football team based in Barcelona in the autonomous community of Catalonia. Founded in 1909, it plays in the Preferent Territorial of Catalonia. Its stadium is La Verneda with a capacity of 6,000 seats.- Season to season :----... |
17 | 4 | 2 | 11 | 25 | 76 | 10 |
| FC Badalona CF Badalona Club de Fútbol Badalona is a Spanish football team based in Badalona, in the autonomous community of Catalonia. Founded in 1903, it plays in Segunda División B - Group 3, holding home games at the Camp del Centenari, with a capacity of 10,000 seats.... |
16 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 47 | 50 | 10 |
| Iluro SC CE Mataró Club Esportiu Mataró is a Spanish football team based in Mataró, in the autonomous community of Catalonia. Founded in 1939, it currently plays in 1ª Territorial, holding home games at Municipal Carles Padrós, which has a capacity of 4,500.... |
16 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 31 | 55 | 7 |
| CE Manresa CE Manresa Centre d'Esports Manresa is a football team based in Manresa, Catalonia. Founded in 1916, it plays in Preferent Territorial de Catalunya. Its stadium is Nou Estadi Municipal del Congost with a capacity of 3,000.- Season to season:----... |
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 14 | 0 |
Sources
- Morbo: The Story of Spanish Football (2003), Phil Ball. http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0954013468
- Barça: A People’s Passion (1998), Jimmy Burns. http://www.amazon.com/dp/0747545545