History
HISTORY OF FC BARCELONA
Introduction
On November 29, 1899, Hans Gamper founded Futbol Club Barcelona, along with eleven other enthusiasts of 'foot-ball', a game that was still largely unknown in this part of the world.
He could never have imagined the magnitude of what that initiative would eventually develop into. Over more than one hundred years of history, FC Barcelona has grown spectacularly in every area and has progressed into something much greater than a mere sports club, turning Barça’s ‘more than a club’ slogan into a reality.
Barça has become, for millions of people all around the world, a symbol of their identity, and not just in a sporting sense, but also in terms of society, politics and culture. Throughout the most difficult of times, Barça was the standard that represented Catalonia and the Catalan people's desire for freedom, a symbolism that has continued to be closely linked to the idiosyncrasy of the Club and its members to this day. Within the context of Spain, Barça is seen as an open and democratic club. And all around the world, Barça is identified with caring causes, and most especially children through its sponsorship agreement with Unicef.
For a whole century, FC Barcelona has passed through moments of glory and pain, periods of brilliance and other less successful ones, epic victories and humbling defeats. But all these different moments have helped define the personality of a Club that, due to its peculiar nature, is considered unique in the world.
With over one hundred years of history, there have naturally been many different periods, both in a social and a sporting sense. In the early years (1899-1922) , from the foundation of the club to the construction of Les Corts stadium, Barça was a club that had to distinguish itself from all the other football teams in Barcelona, to the point that it would come to be identified with the city as a whole. Barça soon became the leading club in Catalonia, and also associated itself with the increasingly growing sense of Catalan national identity.
From Les Corts to the Camp Nou (1922-1957), the club went through contrasting periods. Its membership reached 10,000 for the first time, while football developed into a mass phenomenon and turned professional, and these were the years of such legendary figures as Alcántara and Samitier. But due to material difficulties and the political troubles of the Spanish Civil War and post-war period, the club was forced to overcome several adverse circumstances, including the assassination of president Josep Sunyol in 1936, the very person who had propagated the slogan ‘sport and citizenship'. But the club survived, and a period of social and sporting recovery materialised in the form of the Camp Nou, coinciding with the arrival of the hugely influential Ladislau Kubala.
From the construction of the Camp Nou to the 75th anniversary (1957-1974) , Barça suffered mediocre results but was consolidated as an entity, with a constantly increasing membership and the slow but steady recovery, in the face of adversity, of its identity. A very clear sensation that was manifested for the first time ever in the words ‘Barça, more than a club’ proclaimed by president Narcís de Carreras. The board presided by Agustí Montal brought a player to Barcelona who would change the history of the club, Johan Cruyff.
From the 7th anniversary to the European Cup (1974-1992) the club saw the conversion of football clubs to democracy, the start of Josep Lluís Núñez’s long presidency, the extension of the Camp Nou on occasion of the 1982 World Cup and the Cup Winners Cup triumph in Basle (1979), a major success not just in a sporting sense but also in a social one, with an enormous and exemplary expedition of Barça supporters demonstrating to Europe the unity of the Barcelona and Catalan flags. Cruyff returned, this time as coach, and created what would come to be known as the 'Dream Team' (1990-1994), whose crowning glory was the conquest of the European Cup at Wembley (1992), thanks to Koeman’s famous goal.
Barça has become, for millions of people all around the world, a symbol of their identity, and not just in a sporting sense, but also in terms of society, politics and culture. Throughout the most difficult of times, Barça was the standard that represented Catalonia and the Catalan people's desire for freedom, a symbolism that has continued to be closely linked to the idiosyncrasy of the Club and its members to this day. Within the context of Spain, Barça is seen as an open and democratic club. And all around the world, Barça is identified with caring causes, and most especially children through its sponsorship agreement with Unicef.
For a whole century, FC Barcelona has passed through moments of glory and pain, periods of brilliance and other less successful ones, epic victories and humbling defeats. But all these different moments have helped define the personality of a Club that, due to its peculiar nature, is considered unique in the world.
With over one hundred years of history, there have naturally been many different periods, both in a social and a sporting sense. In the early years (1899-1922) , from the foundation of the club to the construction of Les Corts stadium, Barça was a club that had to distinguish itself from all the other football teams in Barcelona, to the point that it would come to be identified with the city as a whole. Barça soon became the leading club in Catalonia, and also associated itself with the increasingly growing sense of Catalan national identity.
From Les Corts to the Camp Nou (1922-1957), the club went through contrasting periods. Its membership reached 10,000 for the first time, while football developed into a mass phenomenon and turned professional, and these were the years of such legendary figures as Alcántara and Samitier. But due to material difficulties and the political troubles of the Spanish Civil War and post-war period, the club was forced to overcome several adverse circumstances, including the assassination of president Josep Sunyol in 1936, the very person who had propagated the slogan ‘sport and citizenship'. But the club survived, and a period of social and sporting recovery materialised in the form of the Camp Nou, coinciding with the arrival of the hugely influential Ladislau Kubala.
From the construction of the Camp Nou to the 75th anniversary (1957-1974) , Barça suffered mediocre results but was consolidated as an entity, with a constantly increasing membership and the slow but steady recovery, in the face of adversity, of its identity. A very clear sensation that was manifested for the first time ever in the words ‘Barça, more than a club’ proclaimed by president Narcís de Carreras. The board presided by Agustí Montal brought a player to Barcelona who would change the history of the club, Johan Cruyff.
From the 7th anniversary to the European Cup (1974-1992) the club saw the conversion of football clubs to democracy, the start of Josep Lluís Núñez’s long presidency, the extension of the Camp Nou on occasion of the 1982 World Cup and the Cup Winners Cup triumph in Basle (1979), a major success not just in a sporting sense but also in a social one, with an enormous and exemplary expedition of Barça supporters demonstrating to Europe the unity of the Barcelona and Catalan flags. Cruyff returned, this time as coach, and created what would come to be known as the 'Dream Team' (1990-1994), whose crowning glory was the conquest of the European Cup at Wembley (1992), thanks to Koeman’s famous goal.
International Dominance. From Wembley to Abu Dhabi (1992-2009) was when the club’s most recent developments occurred in between its three greatest achievements, becoming champions of Europe. Josep Lluís Núñez’s long presidency came to an end, and the club displayed its finest potential during the celebrations of the club Centenary. Following on from Joan Gaspart (2000-2003), the June 2003 election brought Joan Laporta into office, and the start of new social expansion, reaching 172,938 members, and more successes on the pitch, including four league titles, the Champions League titles won in Paris and Rome and the FIFA Club World Cup.
In the season 2008-09 the arrival of Josep Guardiola as first team coach brought new energy to the club and they recorded the most successful season in their entire history winning the six titles that will be forever burned into the memories of all Barça fans. Success on the field has helped the club expand its social role and heighten its media profile. In the 2009/10 season, Guardiola’s second in charge, the Liga title was won for the second year in a row, and the twentieth on club history, setting a new record of 99 points in the process. The title was not decided until the very last day, with a game against Valladolid, and the celebrations went ahead that very same evening in the company of the fans at the Camp Nou.
The grandeur of Futbol Club Barcelona is explained, among many other factors, by its impressive honours list. Very few clubs anywhere in the world have won so many titles. The Intercontinental Cup is the only major football trophy that has never made its way into the club museum, where the club's greatest pride and joy remain the three European Cup titles won in Wembley (1992) Paris (2006), Rome (2009) and the FIFA Club World Cup in 2009.
Apart from winning Europe’s top title,, the Club also has the honour of being the only one to have appeared in every single edition of European club competition since the tournaments were first created back in 1955. Barcelona's many achievements in Europe include being considered 'King of the Cup Winners Cup', having won that title a record four times
Apart from winning Europe’s top title,, the Club also has the honour of being the only one to have appeared in every single edition of European club competition since the tournaments were first created back in 1955. Barcelona's many achievements in Europe include being considered 'King of the Cup Winners Cup', having won that title a record four times
In addition, FC Barcelona also won three Fairs Cups (the tournament now known as the UEFA Cup) in 1958, 1960 and 1966. In 1971, Barça won that trophy outright in a match played between themselves, as the first ever winners of the competition, and Leeds United, as the last.
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FC Barcelona Records (( Team Records ))
Record attendance at the Camp Nou
120,000 people120,000 people for FC Barcelona v Juventus, first leg of the European Cup quarter final (5/03/1986).Year with the most titles
20096: Spanish Cup, League, Champions League, Spanish Super Cup, European Super Cup and World Club Cup (a world record).The only team in the Spanish league to have won all the official competitions at least once
From the Copa Macaya (1902) to the World Club Cup (2009).Team with the most official titles in the Spanish league
106Season with most titles
1951/525: League, Cup, Copa Llatina, Trofeu Eva Duarte and Copa Martini-RossiYear with most titles
20096: Copa del Rei, League, Champions League, Spanish Super Cup, European Super Cup and World Club Cup (a world record)Only team to have appeared in every year of Continental competition
since they first started in 1955.Only Spanish team to win the treble
Barca won the Copa del Rei, Spanish League and the Champions League in the 2008/09 seasonTeam with most Cup Winners Cup titles
4 Cups1979, 1982, 1989 and 1997.Team with most Fairs Cup titles
3 Cups1958, 1960 and 1966. Also won the Grand Final in 1971 to decide who should keep the trophy outright.Team with most Spanish Cup titles
25 titlesConsecutive League titles
4 titles1990-91, 1991-92, 1992-93 and 1993-94.The team with most points at the end of the first half
50 poitnsIn week 19 of the Spanish League Season 2008/09.Team with the most points in the history of the league
99 points99 points in the 2009/10 season (record in the major European leagues).Most goals scored in a league season
105 goals2008/09, 105 goals in 38 matches.Team most away goals in a league season
44 goals2008/09 League seasonTeam with best goal difference in a league season
+ 701958/59 and 2008/09 seasonsLeague with fewest goals conceded
1968-69With 18 goals in 30 matches.Longest unbeaten run in League matches
26 games26 games, from the 6th (7-10-1973) to the 31st (21-4-1974) match in the 1973-74 season.- Longest unbeaten run in League matches from the opening match
The first 21 matches of the 2009/10 league season.Longest unbeaten run at home in league matches
67 matchesFrom the 25th match of the 72-73 season (4-3-1973) to the 21st of the 76-77 season (20-2-1977), a total of 66 matches, of which 55 were won and 12 drawn, scoring 155 goals and conceding 37.Longest winning run in the League
14 games14 games, from the 8th match (22-10-2005) to the 21st (29-1-2006) in the 2005-06 Spanish league season.Longest winning run in the League (home)
39 games39 games, from the 22nd of the 1957-58 season (16-2-1958) to the 8th of the 1960-61 season (6-11-1960).First half of the season without losing any matches
19 matches19 matches in the 2009-10 league season (15 victories and 4 draws).Most victories in a league season
31 victories31 victories in the 2009/10 season, together with Real Madrid in the same season.Most away wins in a season
13 matches2008/09 (13 victories, 3 draws and 3 defeats) and 2009/10 (13 victories, 5 draws and 1 defeat, together with Real Madrid with 13 victories, 3 draws and 3 defeats).Longest scoring run in the League
36 games36 games, from the ninth of the 1942-43 season (21-11-1942) to the 18th of the 1943-44 season (6-2-1944).Longest scoring run in the League (home)
88 games88 games, from the 22nd of the 1951-52 season (10-2-1952) to the 18th of the 57-58 season (19-1-1958).Most league away goals 44goals
2009/09Team with best goal difference
+742010Biggest League win (home)
10-1FC Barcelona 10 - Gimnàstic Tarragona 1 (11/09/1949).Biggest League win (away)
0-8Las Palmas 0 - FC Barcelona 8 (25/10/1959) and Almeria 0 - FC Barcelona 8 (20/11/2010).Longest scoring run in a season
3434 consecutive matches in the 2009-10 season (27 league, 5 Champions League and 2 World Club Cup).Biggest win in any competition
0-18Macaya Cup: Tarragona 0 - FC Barcelona 18 (17-3-1901).Longest unbeaten run in competitive matches
27 matches27 matches 1973-74 (26 league, 1 UEFA Cup), from 3-10-1973 to 21-4-1974Most matches without conceding a goal in one season
31 matches31 matches in the 2009/10 season (20 league, 6 Champions League, 1 Spanish Super Cup, and 1 European Super Cup)Most wins in a season
45 victories45 victories in 59 competitive matches in the 2009/10 season.Most consecutive wins in the Champions League
11In the 2002/03 season.Longest winning run in official matches
19 games19 games in the 2005-06 season (13 League, 3 Champions League, 2 Copa de Rey and one in the Catalan Cup) between 22-10-2005 and 22-1-2006Longest unbeaten run in European competition
17 games17 matches between 1988-89 and 1992-93 and also between 2005/06 and 2006/07.Player with most international games for the club
4 titles1990-91, 1991-92, 1992-93 and 1993-94.League with most goals scored
2008-09With 105 goals in 38 matches.League with fewest goals scored
1939-40With 32 goals in 22 matches.League with most goals conceded
1941-42With 66 goals in 26 matches.Biggest win a friendly match
1-20Smilde (Holland) 1 - FC Barcelona 20 (6-8-1992)Heaviest defeat
12-1Athletic Club Bilbao 12 - FC Barcelona 1 (8-2-1931), in the 1930-31 Spanish league season.Biggest wins in European competitions (home)
8-0FC Barcelona 8 - Apollon Limassol (Cyprus) (Cup Winners Cup. 15/09/1982); FC Barcelona 8 – Matador Púchov (Slovakia) 0 (UEFA Cup. 15/10/2003).Biggest win in European competitions (away)
0-7Hapoel Beer Sheva (Israel) 0 - FC Barcelona 7 (UEFA Cup. 12/09/1995).Most consecutive away wins
13 gamesBetween the 21st of September 2008 and the 11th of January 2009, FC Barcelona recorded 13 consecutive victories in official competition away from home. Eight came in the league (Sporting de Gijón, Espanyol, Athletic Club, Recreativo, Sevilla, Villarreal and Osasuna), three in the Champions' League (Shaktar Donetsk, FC Basel and Sporting Clube) and two in the Copa del Rey (Benidorm and Atlético de Madrid)Record run of away wins in the league
9 victoriesSporting de Gijón, Espanyol, Athletic Club, Málaga, Recreativo, Sevilla, Villarreal, Osasuna and Racing were the victims in Barça’s consecutive run of victories away from home in the season 2008/09.
