The Lega Calcio was founded as the Lega Nazionale ("National League") in 1946, after the Second World War, and its name was changed in 1960, shortly after Italy fully recognized professional status for the players of the top divisions. Its predecessor during the fascist era, between 1926 and 1944, was the Direttorio Divisioni Superiori ("Directory of Higher Divisions"), a committee whose president was appointed by the FIGC. Earlier still before, the first football league in Italy was the "Lega Nord" (Northern League), which was composed of the major clubs of Northern Italy from 1921 to 1926.