Top Leagues

What does it take for a small, "lesser" league, such as Ligue 1 in France or the Portugese Premier league (no offense to these fans), to begin a 'big league'. I.E. the 'Big Four' of England, Spain, Italy, and possibly to a lesser extent recently, Germany?

I mean, many teams in the smaller leagues are fairly well off, they are not poor clubs by any means. I personally think maybe it will take a league's teams (take France for example) to be placing highly in Continental tournaments consistantly. For example, you see the occasional Marsailles or Ajax win the Champs League or UEFA Cup. And yet many consider their home leagues still not the 'top in the world'.

I was just wondering what everyone else thought it would take for these leagues to become known as the best of the best.

thanks

 

I don't think players make the league (well they do but not in the same sense). Good players can come from almost anywhere. True, not with any consistancy without a good home league; but you don't need a 'great' league to create good players. EX. French leagues do a good job of developing players but don't have any consistancy winning continental titles.

Also, media attention must be taken into account. Leagues which the media focuses on get the most attention and therefore money. Also these same leagues seem to be the leagues that players, traditionally, want to go to BECAUSE of the tradition that these leagues have. But what is it that builds tradition I guess I am asking. Titles and players it seems.