FC Barcelona was founded in 1899 by Joan Gamper, a Swiss businessman who had relocated to Spain after falling in love with the country. Gamper sought to start a football club and placed an ad in a paper, receiving several responses and quickly assembling a team that went on to emerge as one of the leading teams in their home region of Catalonia and the greater country of Spain. In 1902, the club won the Copa Macaya.

In 1908, Gamper became club president in order to save the club from going under. FC Barcelona had been experiencing hardships due to many of their best players retiring and the fact that they had not won anything since 1905. Gamper was able to get the club its own stadium, formally moving into the Carrer Industria on March 14, 1909. Gamper was also able to recruit top-notch players and managers and get the club back into the business of winning with him at the helm. The club moved yet again in 1922 to an even larger stadium, Las Cortes, which eventually had a capacity of a whopping 60,000.

The mid- 1920s and 30s marked a period of hardship for the club. During this period, a crowd at a Barça game jeered the Royal March as a spontaneous objection to Spain’s dictatorship. As a result, the stadium was shut down for three months and Gamper was forced to concede the presidency of the club. The club’s founder committed suicide on July 30, 1930 following a bout of depression brought on by personal and financial problems.

After the Spanish Civil War, Dictator Francisco Franco banned football clubs from using non-Spanish names. As a result, FC Barcelona was changed to Club de Futbol Barcelona. During this period, the club was oppressed by Franco’s regime, which favored their rivals, Real Madrid. Despite the political climate and oppression, FC Barcelona was able to go on and win many trophies and championships during the 1940s and 50s.

Though they became the first club to beat Real Madrid in a European Cup eliminatory in 1961, the 60s were not a great decade for CF Barcelona. Because the club lacked money to acquire better players after building a new stadium, the league was dominated by Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid. The 1970s, however, saw the arrival of the soon-to-be-legendary Johan Cruyff, who led the team to the championship in ’74.

Despite winning many championships, the next fourteen years saw the team experience conflicts with their management. Finally, in 1988 Johan Cruyff returned as team manager and assembled the “Dream Team”, a group of elite players. Cruyff led the team to many victories and remains their most successful manager to date. After Cruyff’s departure in 1994, managers and players came and went, but the team continued having limited successes.

Finally, in 2003 a young new president took over FC Barcelona. Joan Laporta brought in manager Frank Rijkaard and many international stars that led the team to many victories for a few years. In 2008, after many failures Laporta decided to replace Rijkaard with Barça B coach Josep Guardiola.

For more information on buying FC Barcelona tickets for your trip to Barcelona, check out Simply Barcelona Tickets. More information at http://www.simplybarcelonatickets.com

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There was a very high participation among the associates and they were clear in stating they did not want him to continue but not a 66.6% was reached therefore there is no possible resignation of the leaders neither the assembly of elections. 

 

Laporta will remain leading his team and despite of the “protest vote” received he wills pursuit his dream to end his time at the club in 2010.

 

“The remaining two years of term will be a real arsenal for a club that will face the future problems; and this has already been reflected in the voting of the Barcelonan associates “, notified the Sports World director, Santi Nolla. 

 

A football club as Barca is right now “divided and practically uncontrollable is what he will direct” added Catalonia Newspaper. 

 

The rest of the associates will not ask Laporta for his resignation but are interested in speaking to him and learning his plans for the future. Basically in order to prevent additional splits in the internal environment.  Also, it is required to take into account what the Camp Nou president and its board of directors will have to say in these regards.

 

Back in 2002 when Laporta was elected Sandro Rosell and his collaborators who also became elected in the following elections supported him. Rosell was one of the first members in emitting his vote in front of applauses of many followers. He was very clear to state that he did not have any type of relation with the rumor, which started regarding Laporta’s behavior. But he did say that “The worst enemy of Laporta is the own Laporta”, commented Rosell. 

 

From this point forward Laporta’s countdown has began, according to the observers as the eminent crisis is visible therefore; the management will need to shift its priorities and began to work towards a better future for the team.

 

Additionally, new team’s coach Pep Guariola authorized the acquirement of the Brazilian Dani Alves and the Uruguayan Martin Cáceres to reinforce the defense, as well as Manchester United former player Gerard Pique for the midfield and he has stated that more reinforcements will continue shortly.

 

The directors’ board has also mentioned the hiring of professional specialists in physical preparation and sports performance besides upcoming renovations to the stadium itself for which the American architect Norman Foster has been contacted. Indeed there are many things expected to happen within a short period therefore we will have to wait and see what the results will be.

 

 

About the Author

Stephen Lars has been a prominent writer on daily Spain Primera Division games, sports news and the online betting industry for many exceptional sport web sites. You may reprint this article in its full content, please note no modifications to it are accepted.

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Ronaldinho’s professional career began to blossom at a very young age as by 18 he participated in his first senior international event in the Copa Libertadores and only one year later was an important part of the Brazilian national team. Short after he transferred to the French Paris Saint-Germain FC during the 2001-2002 season. His time with the French squad was very brief as he soon began to search for new options among which were Manchester United and FC Barcelona. This period is remembered in the football history as one when these two clubs basically declared war to each other in order to obtain Ronaldnho’s services.

By 2003 the Spaniard giant of FC Barcelona paid the sum of £21 million for the Brazilian magician whose skills were just unbelievable as his seniority continue to grow on the football field. Despite having the opportunity to sign for the English team of Manchester Ronaldinho opted otherwise as many of his countrymen including Romário, Ronaldo and Rivaldo had done previously. Without knowing what the future will hold for him the Brazilian began his successful career bringing to the club the Liga title in 2004 and the FIFA World Player of the Year award.  In 2006 with Ronaldinho leading his team he managed to have Barcelona crowned as the Liga Champions and only two weeks later the club becomes the Champion League winners after beating Arsenal.

Unfortunately for the young player the 2007-08 season was a dark time for him as he was constantly injured and was not able to live to the standards the club and the fans wanted of him. Barcelona president Laporta began his pursuit to transfer the Brazilian player to either Manchester City or the Italian AC Milan as both teams had persistently assured their interest in acquiring the player.

Less than 24 hours ago the Associazione Calcio Milan or AC Milan paid the amount of £21 million for a three-year deal for the Brazilian player. Now that Ronladinho is part of the Italian leader of the Serie A tournament he will be able to participate in the coming 2008 Beijing Olympic Games an option which had previously been blocked by the FC Barcelona.

Now, it seems things are getting better for Ronaldinho as he feels more than at home in Italy especially after the incredible warm welcome he received at the San Siro Stadium where he stated “I am very happy, after so much time I am eventually here. I am overjoyed to have arrived at [AC] Milan and hope to be able to give everyone so much to cheer about.

If the predictions are not off track we are certain to expect a lot from this exceptional footballer as it seems he feels he now can show the football world he is still a great player and his struggle with the FC Barcelona group has finally come to end.

Claudia Beckford provides outstanding European Football content as well as information in the sports betting industry.

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