The 2024 Primera División season, officially Liga de Fútbol Profesional Venezolano or Liga FUTVE, was the 68th season of the Venezuelan Primera División, the top-flight football league in Venezuela, and the 43rd season since the start of the professional era. The season began on 2 February 2024, being pushed back from its original date of 19 January 2024 to avoid a clash with the 2024 CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament held in Venezuela, and ended on 8 December 2024.
The defending champions Deportivo Táchira won a second league championship in a row and their eleventh overall after defeating Carabobo on kicks from the penalty mark in the season's grand final, following a 1–1 draw on aggregate.
Competition format The 2024 season saw a return to the Apertura and Clausura format in the competition, which was used for the last time in 2019. Both the Apertura and Clausura tournaments featured a first stage in which the participating teams played each other on a single round-robin fashion, with the top eight teams advancing to a semi-final stage in which they were divided into two groups of four teams each in which the qualified teams played against the other rivals in their group twice. The winners of each group contested a single-match final, with the Apertura and Clausura winners facing each other in the season's grand final (Final Absoluta) to decide the league champions. In the finals of both short tournaments, the finalist with the better performance was entitled to host the match.
The season champions as well as the best-placed team in the aggregate table qualified for the group stage of the 2025 Copa Libertadores, while the season runners-up and the second best-placed team in the aggregate table qualified for the preliminary stages of that competition, with the former entering the second stage and the latter entering the first stage. The runners-up of both of the season's short tournaments as well as the next two best teams in the aggregate table that did not qualify for the Copa Libertadores qualified for the 2025 Copa Sudamericana.
Teams 15 teams were expected to compete in the 2024 season, subject to the fulfillment of club licensing requirements: the top 14 teams in the first stage of the 2023 season as well as the 2023 Segunda División champions Ureña. Ureña would replace Mineros de Guayana, relegated at the end of the previous season.
Prior to the start of the season, it was reported that Hermanos Colmenarez would change its name to Inter de Barinas, which was confirmed on 30 January 2024. It was also announced that Ureña had resigned from playing in the top tier due to economic problems and would sell their spot to third-placed side Marítimo de La Guaira. Although on 9 January 2024 the league announced the first matchday with Ureña receiving a bye, the club's final withdrawal from the competition was announced on 31 January 2024. As a result of this, the season was played by 14 clubs.
Relegated to 2024 Segunda División15Mineros de Guayana
Promoted to 2024 Primera DivisiónNone (Ureña withdrew)
Stadia and locations Team City Stadium Capacity Academia Puerto Cabello Puerto Cabello La Bombonerita 7,500 Angostura Ciudad Bolívar Ricardo Tulio Maya 2,500 Carabobo Valencia Misael Delgado 10,400 Caracas Caracas Olímpico de la UCV 23,940 Brígido Iriarte 10,000 Deportivo La Guaira Caracas Olímpico de la UCV 23,940 Deportivo Táchira San Cristóbal Polideportivo de Pueblo Nuevo 38,755 Estudiantes de Mérida Mérida Metropolitano de Mérida 42,200 Inter de Barinas Barinas Agustín Tovar 29,800 Metropolitanos Caracas Olímpico de la UCV 23,940 Monagas Maturín Monumental de Maturín 51,796 Portuguesa Acarigua General José Antonio Páez 18,000 Rayo Zuliano Maracaibo José Pachencho Romero 40,800 Universidad Central Caracas Olímpico de la UCV 23,940 Zamora Barinas Agustín Tovar 29,800
Personnel and kits Team Manager Kit manufacturer Main shirt sponsors Academia Puerto Cabello Iván Fernández Givova CLX Samsung Angostura Saúl Maldonado RS Genpar Carabobo Diego Merino New Arrival Fospuca, El Maizal, Juega En Línea Caracas Fernando Aristeguieta RS Maltín Polar, SellaTuParley Deportivo La Guaira Juan Domingo Tolisano RS Traki Deportivo Táchira Edgar Pérez Greco Boman Juega En Línea, Rutaca Airlines, Grupo JHS Estudiantes de Mérida Daniel Farías Econtex Cordialito.la, Frigilux, Daka, Ivon Inter de Barinas Enrique García Attle Corporation CSA Metropolitanos José María Morr RS Aerolíneas Estelar Monagas Carlojavier Fuhrman (caretaker) RS Banplus Portuguesa Giancarlo Maldonado Attle Bet77, Alimentos Fina Ideal Rayo Zuliano Javier Villafráz Attle San Simón, Javitour Universidad Central Daniel Sasso New Arrival CFMoto Venezuela, SoyTechno Zamora Alí Cañas RS Thundernet
Managerial changes TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming managerDate of appointmentTorneo AperturaCarabobo Juan Domingo TolisanoEnd of contract13 October 2023Pre-season Diego Merino22 November 2023Monagas Tony Franco19 October 2023 Daniel Blanco20 October 2023Estudiantes de Mérida Franklin LucenaSacked13 February 202414th Daniel Farías15 February 2024Deportivo La Guaira Enrique GarcíaMutual agreement21 March 202410th Juan Domingo Tolisano23 March 2024Monagas Daniel BlancoSacked26 March 20249th Grenddy Perozo26 March 2024Caracas Leonardo GonzálezMutual agreement31 March 202411th Henry Meléndez31 March 2024Zamora Enrique Maggiolo1 April 202413th Alí Cañas1 April 2024Torneo ClausuraCaracas Henry MeléndezDemoted to the youth setup6 July 2024Pre-tournament Fernando Aristeguieta6 July 2024Portuguesa Jesús OrtizMutual agreement11 July 2024 Roberts Rivas11 July 2024 Roberts RivasEnd of caretaker spell18 July 202411th Giancarlo Maldonado18 July 2024Academia Puerto Cabello Noel SanvicenteMutual agreement22 July 202410th Bladimir Morales22 July 2024 Bladimir MoralesEnd of caretaker spell23 July 20249th Iván Fernández23 July 2024Inter de Barinas Leonel VielmaSacked23 August 202414th Alfarabi Romero26 August 2024Rayo Zuliano Elvis Martínez23 August 20244th Javier Villafráz26 August 2024Inter de Barinas Alfarabi RomeroEnd of caretaker spell3 September 202414th Enrique García3 September 2024Angostura Osmar CastilloMutual agreement6 September 202413th Adrián Sánchez6 September 2024Monagas Grenddy PerozoResigned22 September 20247th Carlojavier Fuhrman26 September 2024Angostura Adrián SánchezEnd of caretaker spell26 September 202413th Saúl Maldonado26 September 2024Deportivo Táchira Eduardo SaragóResigned30 October 20241st, Group A Edgar Pérez Greco31 October 2024 Notes
Torneo Apertura The Torneo Apertura was the first tournament of the 2024 season. It began on 2 February and ended on 2 June 2024.
First stage Standings
Results
Semi-finals The eight teams that advanced to the semi-finals were drawn into two groups of four teams. The two group winners advanced to the final.
Group A
Group B
Final
Torneo Clausura The Torneo Clausura was the second and last tournament of the 2024 season. It began on 16 July and ended on 24 November 2024.
First stage Standings
Results
Semi-finals The eight teams that advanced to the semi-finals were drawn into two groups of four teams. The two group winners advanced to the final.
Group A
Group B
Final
Final Absoluta The winners of the Apertura (Carabobo) and Clausura (Deportivo Táchira) tournaments played a two-legged series to decide the season champions (Campeón Absoluto). The second leg was hosted by the Apertura winners, Carabobo.
Tied 1–1 on aggregate. Deportivo Táchira won on penalties.
Aggregate table
Top goalscorers Rank Player Club Goals1 Juan Camilo ZapataInter de Barinas / Universidad Central16 Tomás RodríguezMonagas3 Edwuin PerníaCaracas144 Edson TortoleroCarabobo13 Elías AldereteEstudiantes de Mérida6 Andrés MonteroPortuguesa / Rayo Zuliano127 Charlis OrtizMetropolitanos / Universidad Central11 Johan MorenoPortuguesa9 José BalzaCarabobo10 Maurice CovaDeportivo Táchira Source: Balonazos
Season awards On 11 December 2024, the Liga FUTVE held a ceremony in Caracas to announce the winners of the season awards. AwardWinnerClubMost Valuable Player Carlos VivasDeportivo TáchiraBest Goalkeeper Jesús CamargoDeportivo TáchiraBest Youth Player Keiber LamadridDeportivo La GuairaAssists Leader Juan Carlos CastellanosAngostura / Deportivo La GuairaManager of the Year Diego MerinoCaraboboBest Goal Jesús LoboEstudiantes de MéridaFair Play AwardRayo ZulianoTop Goalscorer Juan Camilo Zapata Tomás RodríguezInter de Barinas / Universidad CentralMonagas
Team of the Season Team of the SeasonGoalkeeperDefendersMidfieldersForwards Jesús Camargo (Deportivo Táchira) Roberto Rosales (Deportivo Táchira) Carlos Vivas (Deportivo Táchira) Leonardo Aponte (Carabobo) Miguel Pernía (Carabobo) Maurice Cova (Deportivo Táchira) Gustavo González (Carabobo) Keiber Lamadrid (Deportivo La Guaira) Edson Tortolero (Carabobo) Juan Camilo Zapata (Inter de Barinas / Universidad Central) Tomás Rodríguez (Monagas)
See also 2024 Copa Venezuela
References
External links of the Venezuelan Football Federation Liga FUTVE