FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona has long been known for its likable and highly watchable brand of football that always appeared to deliver results, even before they transformed the football landscape by inventing the tiki-taka style of play. They have won numerous La Liga titles as well as Copa del Rey medals, as well as Champions Leagues and Cup Winners’ Cups during their long and illustrious history. As one of the world’s wealthiest and most popular clubs, they can afford to be solely owned and financed by their own fans. Barcelona has been a key emblem of Catalonia and its culture since its creation, as indicated by its motto, “More than a club” (Més que un club).
Basic facts
Founded: 1899
Country: Spain
City: Barcelona
Main trophies
La Liga: 26
Copa del Rey: 30
European Cup/Champions League: 5
UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup: 4
Prominent players
Josep Samitier, László Kubala, Paulino Alcántara, Johan Cruyff, Bernd Schuster, Andoni Zubizarreta, Diego Maradona, José Mari Bakero, Julio Salinas, Luis Enrique, Gary Lineker, Hristo Stoichkov, Hristo Stoichkov, Michael Laudrup, Ronald Koeman, Gheorghe Hagi, Luis Figo, Romário,
Club records
Most games played: Xavi (767)
Top goalscorer: Lionel Messi (474)
History
Joan Gamper, a football pioneer, decided to start a football club in 1899. The dream became a reality after eleven other fans responded to his newspaper advertisement, and Barcelona was founded.
After losing in the final of the inaugural Copa del Rey against Bizcaya in 1902, Barcelona bounced back by winning the trophy eight times between 1902 and 1928. (they were also doing well in the regional Campionat de Catalunya). They won the inaugural La Liga the next year before sliding into decline as a result of the country’s growing political disputes, which finally grew so enormous that they led in the onset of the Spanish Civil War and the establishment of Franco’s administration.
Gamper’s stay in Barcelona came to an end unexpectedly when he was deported from Spain for political reasons. He committed suicide a few years later. Josep Sunyol had been appointed as FC Barcelona’s new director. He was a left-wing politician, which eventually led to his execution when the Francoist administration killed him in 1938.
While life under Franco was difficult from a political standpoint (the club was compelled to change its name to the less Catalan and Anglian sounding Barcelona Club de Futbol and the Catalan colors were removed from the crest), the club’s fortunes improved over the next two decades. Barcelona won five La Liga titles and five Copa del Rey cups between 1942 and 1957. Following the club’s relocation to the newly constructed Camp Nou, administrators opted to start a new page and select Helenio Herrera as the next manager.
Barcelona won two straight La Liga titles and one Copa del Rey under Herrera’s leadership – and with a Ballon d’Or winner Luis Suárez (not the Uruguayan footballer) as the team’s leader on the field.
Despite the fact that Barcelona made history by becoming the first side to overcome Real Madrid in the European Cup, the 1960s were primarily a disappointment for Barcelona fans. Real Madrid was simply too formidable an opponent with Di Stefano in his prime, and Barcelona had to settle for two Copa del Rey trophies for the decade. This, ironically, would become a recurring subject in the coming years.
Johan Cruyff, a Dutch international, joined the club in 1973 and was one of the main reasons for the team’s first La Liga triumph in 10 years in 1974. The wait for the next league victory would stretch for another ten years until a team led by Terry Venables could win one. But it wasn’t all doom and gloom for Barcelona, and the trophy collection would continue to grow swiftly, thanks to the fact that the club was significantly more successful in cup tournaments. Barcelona won four Copa del Reys and two Cup Winners’ Cups during this time.
