The beautiful city of Barcelona is the proud home of FC Barcelona.
In 1899 Joan Gamper put an advert in Los Deportes looking for players to form a new football club. Following a positive response and a meeting on the 29th November, FC Barcelona was created. They soon emerged as one of the leading clubs in Spain, competing in the Campeonato de Cataluna and the Copa del Rey.
By 1902, FC Barcelona had secured their first trophy, the Copa Macaya, and also featured in the first Copa del Rey final, losing out to Club Vizcaya 2-1.
Despite winning the Campeonato de Cataluna in 1905, the club was on the verge of folding by 1908 so Joan Gamper became the president and not only helped to rescue their finances, but also helped Barcelona acquire its own stadium.
During Gamper’s 25 years association with the club, Barcelona also known commonly as Barca had won eleven Campeonato de Cataluna, the Copa del Rey on six occasions and 4 Coupe de Pyrenees. During this period, Paulino Alcantra played for the club and remains their all-time leading goal scorer.
FC Barcelona Suffer Decline during the Spanish Civil War
During the 1920s Barcelona won the Spanish Cup in 1928 and La Liga in 1929, but suffered an era of decline as the Spanish Civil War crippled the club financially, socially and in a sporting sense. The football ground was closed and Gamper was forced to give up presidency. Despite this, by the 1930’s the club managed to secure the Campionat de Catalunya in 1930, 1931, 1932, 1934, 1936 and 1938, however success at Spanish level eluded them.
Following the end of the Spanish Civil war, the Catalan language and flag was banned and football clubs were prohibited from using names which were deemed non-Spanish. This led to Barca being forced to change their name to Club de Futbol Barcelona.
Faced with a difficult political situation Barca managed to secure La Liga in 1945, 1948 and 1949, also adding the Copa Latina in this year to their trophy haul.
FC Barcelona’s Success Continues Despite the Political Unrest
By 1952, coach Fernando Daucik inspired the club to win La Liga, the Copa de Generalismo, the Copa Latino, the Copa Eva Duarte and the Copa Martini Rossi in one season. The following year Barcelona retained La Liga and the Copa del Generalismo.
Before the 1950s were over FC Barcelona had secured the Copa del Generalismo again in 1957 and 1959 and the Fairs Cup in 1958.
With the club moving to their current home, the Camp Nou in 1957, they had little money to spend on bettering the squad in the 1960’s and Real Madrid became the dominant side in Spain. They still enjoyed some success by winning La Liga in 1960 the Fairs Cup in 1966 and the Copa del Generalismo in 1963 and 1968, famously beating Real Madrid 1-0 in the final.
FC Barcelona Sign Johan Cruyff to Inspire them to Success
By 1974, Johan Cruyff had arrived at the club and inspired them to win La Liga for the first time since 1960. Barca had also secured the Copa del Rey in 1971 and 1978 and their first UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in 1979.
The 1980s saw players like Maradona and Gary Lineker arrive and despite the Copa del Rey being won in 1981, 1983 and 1988, and the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup being won in 1982, La Liga was won just once in 1985.
Johan Cruyff returned to the club as manager in 1988 and became the clubs most successful manager to date. Barcelona won four consecutive titles from 1991 to 1994, the Copa del Rey in 1990, the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in 1989 and the European Cup in 1992.
League, Cup and European Success Continues for FC Barcelona
Managers like Luis Van Gaal, Bobby Robson and Frank Rijkaard enjoyed spells in charge of the club following Cruyff and Barca went on to win the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in 1997 and La Liga in 1998, 1999, 2005 and 2006. The club also secured the Copa Del Rey in 1990, 1997 and 1998. in 2006 Rijkaard led Barca to their second European Cup win in 2006 with a 2-1 win over Arsenal in the final.
In total FC Barcelona have won La Liga on 18 occasion, the Copa del Rey 24 times and the European Cup twice.
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