From underground to the world elite of women's football

Soccer is one of the sports that has been most affected by the distinction between genders. It has gone from underground to the elite. On February 21, 1971, in the first unofficial match of the National Team, the internationals wore the red jersey without the shield of Spain. The referee was not a referee. Even the organizer was about to go to jail. A difficult struggle that began in the midst of the Franco era. Fifty years of struggle to reach two great heights: a National Team among the best in the world and a professional league. A path with many achievements, but which has not ended yet. Thus it was produced.

Supports. José Luis Pérez Payá, then president of the RFEF, threw balls out if asked about women's football “I have nothing against it, but I don't like it either. The woman in a T-shirt and pants is not very favored. Any regional costume would suit her better.”. Very different from Luis Rubiales' speech.

Infrastructure. In 1971 four teams stood out: Sizam de Madrid, Peña Femenina Barcelonista, Polideportivo Fuengirola and Racing de Valencia. They started the 1st National Women's Soccer Championship and ultimately they would nurture the first National Team with players. Now all the big clubs have a women's section. There is a First Division with 18 professional teams and a Second with four groups and 34 teams.

Records. Current data confirm thate the barrier of 65,000 licenses for women's football has been surpassed in Spain. Since 2015, the first World Cup of the National Team, this number of chips has doubled. At that time they had 35,000 and only seven players on the team that traveled to Canada were professionals.

Marketing. Before the footballers were not known and of course they were not the claim of sports brands. Now that has changed. The current international women are recognized, they are idols in society and are the image of a multitude of advertisements. Alexia Putellas has done advertisements for food and sportswear. It's not the only one.

Professionalism. In 1971 the first match of the Spanish National Team was played, but it was an unofficial match. Of course there was no national league or clubs that had a women's section. Until next season, 2021-2022, the Primera Iberdrola will not be professional, as is LaLiga Santander, SmartBank and ACB.

Material. In 1971 They could not wear the flag and had to buy all the material on their own, in addition to washing it at home. In the first European Championship in 1997 they wore the boys' shirts, with size S (“We looked like clowns, and that we had it all folded”, recognizes Mari Mar Prieto). In the last World Cup, the one in France, the sports brand that dresses La Roja exclusively created its kit according to the design chosen by the players themselves.

Foreign leagues. Vicenta Pubill and Conchi Amancio, the two best players of the first National Team, could never play in Spain. They had to go to England and Italy. That prevented them from being summoned by the Selection. Nowadays most of the internationals play in Spain and if they go abroad it is because they receive very juicy economic offers.

Exclusiveness. Even today, with a collective agreement in force and a professional league on the horizon, many Primera Iberdrola players have to combine soccer with some other profession. They work for a good part of the day and train afterwards. Yes indeed, currently all have a decent salary and rights that support them.

Subsistence allowance. In the past it was a prize to be summoned by the National Team and the players went out of conviction and recognition. Now, in addition to that, there are some diets for the days that they spend concentrated with La Roja. From the first World Cup in Canada to the last in France, this figure has increased substantially for the benefit of the players.