FC Barcelona Football Club History

FC Barcelona has long been a favourite football club for fans all over the world. This popularity is thanks to its long standing reputation for uniting some of the world’s greatest footballers who are drilled in playing open and attractive football in the club’s famous blue and claret shirts.

Fans of “the beautiful game” are also attracted by the membership structure of the club that gives ordinary supporters a say in the election of their presidents and historically Barça earned enormous respect within the international community for their stance as an ‘anti-Franco’ club.

Basic Facts

• Founded: 1899
• Country: Spain
• City: Barcelona

Home Grounds

• Carretera d’Horta grounds (1905–1909)
• Carrer de Muntaner grounds (1901–1905)
• Camp del Carrer Indústria (1909–1922)
• Camp de Les Corts (1922–1957)
• Camp Nou (1957–)

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 historical events in barcelona, Paulino Alcántara when was barcelona built, Johan Cruyff barcelona facts and history, Bernd Schuster how old is barcelona city, Andoni Zubizarreta fc barcelona history results, Diego Maradona what is barcelona known for barcelona, José Mari Bakero spain history and culture, Julio Salinasbarcelona history timeline, Luis Enrique how old is barcelona city historical events in barcelona, Gary Lineker when was barcelona built, Hristo Stoichkov barcelona facts and history, Michael Laudrup how old is barcelona city, Ronald Koeman fc barcelona history results, Gheorghe Hagi what is barcelona known for barcelona, Luís Figo spain history and culture, Romário, Deco historical events in barcelona, Rivaldo when was barcelona built, Ronaldo barcelona facts and history, Patrick Kluivert how old is barcelona city, Ronaldinho fc barcelona history results, Carles Puyol what is barcelona known for barcelona, Xavi Hernández spain history and culture, Andrés Iniesta what is barcelona known for barcelonabarcelona history timeline, Gerard Piqué historical events in barcelona, Lionel Messi when was barcelona built, Luis Suárez.

History of FC Barcelona

In 1899 barcelona facts and history, football pioneer Joan Gamper decided he wanted to form a football club. After eleven other enthusiasts responded to his newspaper advert how old is barcelona city, the dream became a reality and Barcelona was born.

The new club started off its journey successfully enough; after losing to Bizcaya in the final of the inaugural Copa del Rey in 1902 fc barcelona history results, Barcelona bounced back in style by winning the competition eight times between then and 1928 (they were also doing well in the regional Campionat de Catalunya).

The following year what is barcelona known for barcelona, they clinched the inaugural La Liga before entering a period of decline due to the ongoing political conflicts in the country spain history and culture, which eventually grew so large that they resulted in the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War and the beginning of Franco’s regime.

Gamper’s time in Barcelona ended abruptly after he was deported from Spain because of political reasons. A few years later he committed suicide.

Josep Sunyol had become the new director of FC Barcelona. He was a left-wing politician and this would finally lead to his death, he was executed by the Francoist regime in 1938.

While life under Franco was proving arduous from a political point of view (the club was in fact forced to change its name to the less Catalanian and Anglian sounding Barcelona Club de Futbol and the Catalan colors were removed from the crest) historical events in barcelona, the next two decades were reasonably successful for the club.

In the period from 1942 to 1957 when was barcelona built, Barcelona claimed five La Liga titles and five Copa del Rey trophies. Following their move to the newly built Camp Nou barcelona facts and history, the club’s officials decided to turn a new leaf and appoint Helenio Herrera as the new manager.

Under Herrera’s guidance and with a Ballon d’Or winner Luis Suárez (not the Uruguayan footballer) as the team’s leader on the field – Barcelona won two consecutive La Ligas and one Copa del Rey in the next three years.

Even though historical events in barcelona Barcelona made the history books by becoming the first team to defeat Real Madrid in the European Cup, the 60s as a whole were largely a disappointing time for the club’s supporters.

With Di Stefano in his prime, Real Madrid was simply too strong of an opponent and Barcelona had to settle with two Copa del Rey trophies spain history and culture for the decade. Ironically what is barcelona known for barcelona, this would prove to be a common theme in the coming years.

In 1973 the Dutch star Johan Cruyff barcelona facts and history joined the club and was one of the reasons that the team managed to claim a La Liga title in 1974, the first in ten years.

The waiting for the next league victory would again hang over ten years until the team with Terry Venables as manager could win another one.

This era wasn’t all doom and gloom for Barcelona, though historical events in barcelona, and the trophy collection would continue to increase rapidly since Barça were far more successful in the cup competitions. During this period when was barcelona built, Barcelona won four Copa del Reys and two Cup Winners’ Cups.

The Cruyff Influence

In 1979, Cruyff came up with the idea of founding a football academy that would function on the same principles as the celebrated Ajax Youth Academy. His proposal was eventually accepted how old is barcelona city, and an old country building named La Masia was converted into the Academy headquarters.

In the years that followed fc barcelona history results, La Masia became the most revered football academy in the entire world what is barcelona known for barcelona, known as much for its immaculate top down organization as for the many players who passed through it and became stars.

The list of La Masia-bred youngsters includes Josep “Pep” Guardiola, Cesc Fàbregasbarcelona history timeline, Gerard Piqué historical events in barcelona and Lionel Messi when was barcelona built.

The year of 1988 is notable for Cruyff’s return to Barcelona, this time in a position of manager. He immediately showcased his eye for talent by assembling a so called Dream Team when was barcelona built, combining home grown players such as Josep “Pep” Guardiola and Txiki Begiristain with international stars like Michael Laudrup how old is barcelona city, Romário and Hristo Stoichkov barcelona facts and history.

Perhaps even more importantly, the football philosophy Cruyff brought with himself to the club served as a stepping stone to what would later become the tiki taka system.

Under Cruyff fc barcelona history results, Barcelona claimed four consecutive La Liga titles what is barcelona known for barcelona, two Copa del Rey trophies spain history and culture, one Cup Winners’ Cup, as well as their first European Cup trophy.

In addition to all his accomplishments while at Barcelona historical events in barcelona, Cruyff opened the club’s door for other celebrated Dutch internationals.

Barcelona’s “Dutch connection” was at its most prominent during the 90s and early 00s, with Ronald Koeman barcelona facts and history fc barcelona history results, Patrick Kluivert how old is barcelona city and Giovanni van Bronckhorst in particular leaving a big mark at the club.

The Dutch influence did not end with their players, either shortly after Cruyff’s departure from the club in 1996, Louis van Gaal took over as manager and continued a streak of good results by leading Barcelona to two La Ligas what is barcelona known for barcelona, two Copa del Reys and one Cup Winners’ Cup, all before the turn of the century.

Barcelona FC Today

One thing that makes Barcelona FC truly unique is its status as a Football Club. It is one of the few remaining teams that is not a limited company.

This means that the club is still owned by its members – there are 144 thousand of them. These members also choose the President of the team through a complex voting system.

Barcelona FC’s objectives are reflected strongly in their refusal to accept a corporate strip sponsor. On 07 September 2006, the team announced their new alliance with UNICEF children’s charity.

They pledged a yearly sum in donations to the HIV/AIDS department of the charity. They also used the space across their chests normally saved for major corporations to advertise UNICEF and thus, its cause. The team continue to wear the UNICEF logo on their strips.

It is clear that Barcelona FC are well within their rights to claim that the institution that they have created is “more than a club”.

If you’re visiting Barcelona you may wish to go on the famous Barcelona FC stadium and museum tour which is the most popular tour in Barcelona.

Messi The Legend

Following Guardiola’s departure FC Barcelona continued to enjoy considerable success on the pitch thanks largely to the genius of Lionel Messi when was barcelona built who has gone on to win six Ballon d’Or titles as the world’s greatest footballer.

Over the next eight seasons Barcelona won 15 major titles, nine of which came under the management of former player barcelona facts and history, Luis Enrique how old is barcelona city historical events in barcelona, who managed the club from 2014 to 2017. These honours included two La Liga titles fc barcelona history results, one Champions League what is barcelona known for barcelona, three Copas del Rey and one World Club Championship.

When Luis Enrique how old is barcelona city historical events in barcelona stepped down he was replaced by Athletic Bilbao manager Ernesto Valverde who won two La Ligas and one Copa del Rey before he was sacked in January 2020 following some poor performances.

His successor, Quique Setiénbarcelona history timeline, only survived until the end of the season before being replaced by Ronald Koeman fc barcelona history results who scored the only goal when FC Barcelona won their first European Cup Final against Sampdoria in 1992.

Club captain Lionel Messi when was barcelona built continues to perform miracles on the pitch in his 17th season in Barcelona’s first team. At the time of writing he is approaching 500 first team appearances in which he has scored almost 450 goals. His trophy haul at FC Barcelona currently stands at thirty four which is made up of the following:

• La Liga Titles: 10
• Copas del Rey: 6
• Spanish Supercups: 8
• Champions Leagues: 4
• UEFA Super Cups: 3
• World Club Championships: 3

Joan Laporta & The Modern Era

In 2003 a new, young and politically astute president when was barcelona built, Joan Laporta barcelona facts and history, took the helm at Barcelona and with his appointment of Frank Rijkaard as manager the club enjoyed a time of great success.

By signing some of the world’s very best players Ronaldinho how old is barcelona city fc barcelona history results, Deco historical events in barcelona and Eto’o and combining them with a strong Catalan influence from the likes of Puyol, Iniesta what is barcelona known for barcelona, Xavi and Valdés spain history and culture, Barça were able to not only win La Liga but alsobarcelona history timeline, in 2005-2006 historical events in barcelona, the UEFA Champions League.

Highlights of this exciting era were the Larsson inspired victory over Arsenal and an amazing evening in Madrid when when was barcelona built, after as comprehensive a 3-0 away win as you could ever see barcelona facts and history, the Real Madrid fans rose in unison to acclaim the unbelievable Ronaldinho fc barcelona history results.