FC Barcelona

Futbol Club Barcelona or simply Barcelona, also informally known as the Barca is one of the richest football clubs of the world that plays in the top flight of the Spanish football league and internationally represented their country many times. The club owned, funded and operated by its supporters, by the essence of democracy enrooted since its inception by its key founder Joan Gamper, became the symbol of Catalonian pride and its culture, hence its motto, “Més que un club”(More than a club). Barcelona FC is one of the founding members of the Premier Spanish football tournament “La Liga” in 1929 and never been relegated since its inception. It has won 5 European Cups, 4 European Cup Winners’ Cups, 25 La Liga, and 30 Copa del Rey titles.

Present Lineup or Squad

Club’s current president is Josep Maria Bartomeu (since 2014), an entrepreneur and club’s former director of basketball. Club’s current manager is Ernesto Valverde. The current lineup is the following:

Goalkeepers: Marc-André ter Stegen (No.1), Jasper Cillessen (No.13).

Defenders: Nélson Semedo (No.2), Gerard Piqué (No.3), Jean-Clair Todibo (No.6), Clément Lenglet (No.15), Jordi Alba (No.18), Sergi Roberto (No.20), Samuel Umtiti (No.23), Thomas Vermaelen (No.24).

Midfielders: Ivan Rakitić (No.4), Sergio Busquets (vice-captain) (No.5), Philippe Coutinho (No.7), Arthur (No.8), Rafinha (No.12), Malcom(No.14), Carles Aleñá (No.21), Arturo Vidal (No.22).

Forwards: Luis Suárez (No.9), Lionel Messi (captain) (No.10), Ousmane Dembélé (No.11).

Summary of History

On 29th November 1899, responding to a newspaper ad posted by Joan Gamper, who were mostly foreign nationals, they founded Foot-Ball Club Barcelona. Started from cycle track grounds at Bonanova (1899-1900), the club floated through many grounds, among them ‘Camp de Les Corts’ from 1922 to 1957 before finally settling in the Camp Nou in 1957. Barcelona began their successful journey from the victory of the Copa Macaya trophy but lost to Bizcaya by 1-2 in the Copa del Rey final in 1902. In 1908, club’s key founder Joan Gamper took over as their first official president and carried on five times as the president of the club until 1925, before being expelled from Spain on the accusation of anti-Spanish and promoting procatalonian activities.

In 1909, Gamper built their own stadium, Camp de la Indústria of capacity 8000. The following year Barca won their first ever Copa del Rey and late In 1917 appointed Jack Greenwell (1917-23, 1931–1933) as the club’s first full-time manager. Under Gamper, the club had won 11 Catalonian regional titles, 6 six Copa del Rey and 4 Pyrenees titles. Few notable players of the 20s who played with the team were Ricardo Zamora, Joseph Samitier, Sancho, Sagi, Piera, and Alcántara.

Succeeded by Aradi Balaguer as the president, the club won Spanish Championship (Copa del Rey) final in 1928 beating Real Sociedad (3-1). the following year in the inaugural season of La Liga Barca won the title. Undoubtedly 30s was the most struggling decade for the club. As the outcome of the war went against the pro-independence Catalonians and Franco imposing many restrictions on Catalonia and the club consisting ban on every kind of separatist elements and representations, from Catalan flag, language, including changing the club’s non-Spanish name to a more Spanish one,’ Club de Fútbol Barcelona’.

In a relatively successful 1940s, the club won 3 La Ligas (1944–45, 1947–48, 1948–49) and Copa del Rey in 1941–42, Copa Eva Duarte in 1948 and won the Copa Latina in 1949. During this time some key players like César, Velasco, Ramallets played with Barca.

Even a better 50s started with the signing of the club’s legend and star player Laszlo Kubala (1951–1961) in June 1950, pairing with the club’s successful coach Ferdinand Daučík (1950-54), they won 1951 Copa del Rey, successive Copa del Rey, La Liga and Copa Eva Duarte triple trophies in 1952 and 1953. With two additional Copa Latina and Copa Martini Rossi trophies in 1952, that year Barca won five different titles. In the later 50s, 1957 Copa del Rey, 1959 Copa del Rey-La Liga double and consecutive 1955-58 and 1958-60 European fairs Cup titles. In 1957 Barca moved to the new ground in Camp Nou. In 1954 Barca signed another very exceptional player Luis Suarez (1955–1961) and in 1958 appointed Helenio Herrera as coach. Herrea-Suarez team consisted of players like Kubala, Ramallets, Evaristo, Sándor Kocsis, and Zoltán Czibor. In 1960 Suarez was awarded the Ballon d’Or.

The 60s was a modest decade for Barcelona FC, started with some key players and their coach leaving. Apart from 1962–63 and 1967–68 Copa del Rey and 1966 European Fairs Cup the club didn’t win any major titles for the rest of the decade.
The 1970s was as good as the previous one, but from their socio-cultural identity’s point of view, their oppressor Franco’s regime came to an end in 1974, enabling them to the restore the original design of the crest, former name. In 1973 one of football’s all-time greatest, Johan Cruyff (1973–1978, joined the club and led them to the La Liga title in 1974. Some standing out players played along Cruyff during this time was Asensi, Rexach, Sotil, De la Cruz, Rifé, Costas, Juan Carlos, and Marcial. In the 70s Barca also won the 1970–71, 1977–78 Copa del Rey and the 1978–79 European Cup winner’s club.

In 1978 José Luis Núñez Clemente (1978-2000) was elected as president had been the most successful president. Núñez didn’t bend over the demands of club’s star players like Diego Maradona, Figo, Schuster, Stoichkov and Ronaldo by refusing to pay them higher wages and was very strict about the players’ discipline. During his reign, Barca won 7 La Liga, 6 Copa del Rey, 2 Copa de la Liga, 5 Supercopa de España, 1991-92 European Cup, 4 European Cup Winners’ Cup, 2 UEFA Super Cup titles.

The 1980s was mixed one, few ups and downs but definitely, they did much better than the previous one. It was a decade when the club signed many big names, the likes of Maradona, Quinn, Gary Lineker, Andoni Zubizarreta, Marcos, Alexanco, Julio, Schuster, Alberto, and Urruti. In 1982 Diego Maradona joined the club but after 2 unsuccessful years left the club. In the 80s club president brought back many big names and former managers of 60s namely Herrera (Mar-May, 1980 and Nov’80-Jun’81 ), legendary player Ladislao Kubala (May-Nov’1980). Before the appointment of Cruyff (1988-96), the club went through many managers, like Udo Lattek (1981-83), José Luis Romero (1983), Menotti (83-84), Terry Venables (1984-87), Aragonés (1987-88), Carles Rexach (1988). Pre Cruyff era in the 80s the club won 1 La Liga (1984–85) title, 3 Copa del Rey (1980–81, 1982–83, 1987–88), 1 Supercopa de España (1983), 2 Copa de la Liga (1983, 1986), 1981–82 European Cup Winners Cup.

Cruyff began assembling a dream team following his appointment in 1988. Cruyff’s players were Hristo Stoichkov, Michael Laudrup, Ronald Koeman, Romário, Pep Guardiola, Txiki Begiristain and José Mari Bakero. Under Cruyff, they won 1989 European Cup Winner’s Cup, first ever European Cup for the club in 1992, European Super Cup in 1992, 4 successive La Liga from 1991 to 1994, 1990 Copa del Rey, 3 Supercopa de España.

In 1996 Bobby Robson took over as manager, under him Barca claimed 1 European cup winner’s Cup, 1 Copa del Rey, 1 Supercopa de España title and the team consisted of many outstanding players like Ronaldo, Figo, Stoichkov. Van Gaal (first spell: 1997-2000) succeeded Robson and guided the team over 1 European Super Cup, 2 La Liga, and 1 Copa del Rey title. In 2003 former Dutch international Frank Rijkaard was appointed as manager, under him the team won 1 European Cup, 2 La Liga, 2 Supercopa de España. Following Rijkard Pep Guardiola (2008-12) was appointed as manager, during his tenure the club won 2008–09, 2010–11 European Cup titles, 2 European Super Cup, 2 FIFA Club Cup, 3 La Liga titles, 2 Copa del Rey trophies, 3 Supercopa de España titles. Among many notable players under him, Messi, Iniesta, and Xavi were the finalists of the 2010 FIFA Ballon d’Or award. Luis Enrique (2014-17) took charge as the manager in 2014, the club won 2015 FIFA Club World Cup, 1 European Cup, 1 European Super Cup, 2 La Liga, 1 Supercopa de España, 3 Copa del Rey. The current manager is Ernesto Valverde, appointed in the May 2017, till now he saw the club through 1 La Liga, 1 Supercopa de España, 1 Copa del Rey title.

Honours

Tournament	Year/Season
La Liga (25)	1929, 1944–45, 1947–48, 1948–49, 1951–52, 1952–53, 1958–59, 1959–60, 1973–74, 1984–85, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2017–18
La Copa / Copa del Rey (30)	1909–10, 1911–12, 1912–13, 1919–20, 1921–22, 1924–25, 1925–26, 1927–28, 1941–42, 1950–51, 1951–52, 1952–53, 1956–57, 1958–59, 1962–63, 1967–68, 1970–71, 1977–78, 1980–81, 1982–83, 1987–88, 1989–90, 1996–97, 1997–98, 2008–09, 2011–12, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18
Copa Eva Duarte (3)	1948, 1952, 1953
Copa de la Liga (2)	1983, 1986
Spanish Super Cup (13)	1983, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2018
FIFA Club World Cup (3)	2009, 2011, 2015
European Cup (5)	1992, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2015
European Cup winner’s Cup (4)	1979, 1982, 1989, 1997
European Super Cup (5)	1992, 1997, 2009, 2011, 2015
European Fair’s Cup (3)	1955–58, 1958–60, 1965–66

Most Notable Players

Over the years many exceptional players played in Barcelona FC, some of the most notables are:

• Josep Samitier (Midfielder, 1919–1932, appearances: 28, goals: 20)
• László Kubala (Forward, 1950–1961, appearances: 186, goals: 131)
• Johan Cruyff (Forward, 1973–1978, appearances: 139, goals: 47)
• Bernd Schuster (Midfielder, 1980–1988, appearances: 170, goals: 63)
• Andoni Zubizarreta (Goalkeeper, 1986–1994, appearances: 301, goals: 0)
• Diego Maradona (Midfielder, 1982–1984, appearances: 36, goals: 22)
• José Mari Bakero (Midfielder, 1988–1996, appearances: 260, goals: 72)
• Julio Salinas (Forward, 1988–1994, appearances: 146, goals: 60)
• Luis Enrique (Midfielder, 1996–2004, appearances: 207, goals: 73)
• Gary Lineker (Forward, 1986–1989, appearances: 103, goals: 42)
• Hristo Stoichkov (Forward, 1990–1995 & 1996–1998, appearances: 175, goals: 83)
• Michael Laudrup (Midfielder, 1989–1994, appearances: 167 goals: 40)
• Ronald Koeman (Defender, 1989–1995, appearances: 192, goals: 67)
• Luís Figo (Midfielder, 1995–2000, appearances: 172, goals: 30)
• Romário (Forward, 1993–1995, appearances: 46, goals: 34)
• Deco (Midfielder, 2004–2008, appearances: 113, goals: 13)
• Rivaldo (Midfielder, 1997–2002, appearances: 157, goals: 86)
• Ronaldo (Forward, 1996–1997, appearances: 37, goals: 34)
• Patrick Kluivert (Forward, 1998–2004, appearances: 182, goals: 90)
• Ronaldinho (Forward, 2003–2008, appearances: 145, goals: 70)
• Carles Puyol (Defender, 1999–2014, appearances: 392, goals: 12)
• Xavi Hernández (Midfielder, 1998–2015, appearances: 505, goals: 58)
• Andrés Iniesta (midfielder, 2002–2018, appearances: 442, goals: 35)
• Gerard Piqué (Defender, 2008–, appearances: 271, goals: 23)
• Lionel Messi (Forward, 2004–, appearances: 414, goals: 378)
• Luis Suárez (Forward, 1954–1961, appearances: 122, goals: 61)

Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FC_Barcelona
https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/club/history/decade-by-decade
https://sites.duke.edu/wcwp/research-projects/spain/origins-of-the-rivalry/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Cl%C3%A1sico
https://www.goal.com/en/news/1717/editorial/2009/04/30/1238074/el-clasico-a-political-and-cultural-perspective