FC Barcelona

1961-69. A new social dimension

The Club increases its membership despite the relative lack of success in the 1960s

During the 1960s, FC Barcelona saw a relentless increase in membership numbers. Paradoxically, this did not go hand in hand with sporting success. At the same time, Catalonia received a large number of migrants and it was in this context that Barça became an important mechanism for integration in Catalan society.

Irregular sporting success and economic austerity, partly due to the construction of the Camp Nou, meant that the Club was unable to sign big players; this was reflected in Barça’s results.

GREAT SOCIAL GROWTH

During the 1960s, Catalonia’s population grew by more than 1,200,000 inhabitants. This was largely due to waves of migration from the south of Spain. Many people were attracted to Barça because of its democratic spirit, its inter-class consciousness and its overtly anti-centralist stance. The identification of Barça with Catalonia was no longer limited to members and fans born in the Principality. Barça consolidated its role as a catalyst for social integration. This had happened previously in the 1920s when people from Valencia, Murcia and Aragón migrated to Catalonia, and it would happen again at the end of the 20th century, when immigrants would arrive from other continents.

TV BOOM

In the 1960s, football was broadcast on television for the first time. Regular television broadcasts had started in Catalonia in 1959. Because televisions were so expensive, the first Barça matches broadcast on television were watched by crowds of people standing outside shops that sold televisions, or in bars and restaurants throughout Catalonia.

GOODBYE TO THE GOLDEN GENERATION

The “curse of the square goalposts” in Berne proved decisive in Barça’s failure to win the 1961 European Cup Final; this marked the beginning of an unsuccessful period of sporting history for the Club. The Five Cup era, and the time of Helenio Herrera, had come to a definitive end. At the end of the season, László Kubala’s departure made it even more obvious that Barça’s glory had come to an end. That Antoni Ramallets, the great goalkeeper, left the Club, followed by Tejada and Czibor, was further evidence of Barça’s decline. When Segarra left at the end of the 1964/65 season, this marked the end of the golden generation.

'MORE THAN A CLUB' FOR THE FIRST TIME

The incoming Barça president Narcís de Carreras, during his acceptance speech on 17 January 1968, stated “Barcelona is something more than a football club”. A short time later, this gave rise to the motto “Barça is more than a club”. His son Lluís remembered that his father had a written copy of his speech — something he did not normally do — and that this famous saying had been written conscientiously. Although it was impossible that the speaker could imagine the impact his words would have, and still have today, it is clear that he was aware they meant something special.

THE DEATH OF JULIO CÉSAR BENÍTEZ

The sudden death of the footballer Julio César Benítez, aged 27, on 6 April 1968 was one of the saddest days ever for Barça fans. His death was a hard blow for both his team mates and the fans, at a time when Barça was not performing well. It happened on the day before a Barça-Madrid match, which was cancelled. Thousands of people came to pay their last respects to Benítez as he lay in state at the Camp Nou. Mourners included Barça fans, as well as supporters of other teams.

THE 'FINAL OF THE BOTTLES'

The Spanish Cup final, which took place at the Santiago Bernabéu against Real Madrid, has gone down in history as “the bottle final”. This name came about due to an incident that occurred only minutes from the end of the match, when spectators threw glass bottles at Barça players. Despite the hostile atmosphere, Barça beat Madrid 0-1 in a heroic victory.

1969-78. Cruyff and democracy

The possibility of signing foreign players once more mean that the dream of signing Johan Cruyff became a reality in 1973 with Montal as president.

In 1969, Agustí Montal Costa won the elections and became president of the Club. His programme insisted on member involvement, and was committed to the idea that all members would see their opinions reflected through their votes. In 1973, Montal was re-elected president; his election slogan was “Barça is more than a club”.

During his presidency, Montal avidly defended the restoration of Catalanism and was firmly opposed to centralism in football, as exercised by the Spanish Football Federation and the National Sports Delegation. His influence led Futbol Club Barcelona to begin to recover its symbols, starting with the organisation’s name that had been changed to sound more Spanish after the Civil War.

The outbreak of corruption associated with the oriondos (foreign players who falsified birth certificates in order to claim Spanish heritage and be admitted into Spanish football) meant that it became possible to sign foreign players. Barça’s dream of signing Johan Cruyff began to look like a reality.

FIRST EUROPEAN CUP FOR ROLLER HOCKEY

Barça’s golden era for Roller Hockey began with the signing of the Catalan trainer, Josep Lorente, in 1972. The 1972/73 season resulted in victory for the team made up of Villacorta, Pons, Vila, Brasal, Chércoles and Centell in the first Roller Hockey Champions League against Sporting Lisboa, in a two-match final.

THE SIGNING OF JOHAN CRUYFF

To put an end once and for all to the Club’s ill fate, a star player was needed to arouse interest amongst fans. The chosen one was Johan Cruyff, the Dutch forward who had triumphed throughout Europe with AFC Ajax of Amsterdam. On 13 August 1973, Cruyff joined Barça. He became the leader of a talented team, managed by Rinus Michels, which brought the Camp Nou back to its former glory. Cruyff demonstrated an intelligent style of play and superb technique.

The Dutch star went down in history for some unforgettable moments, like his memorable goal against Atlético de Madrid. Cruyff flew into the air to intercept the ball from Rexach and beat the goalkeeper, Reina.

5-0 IN THE BERNABÉU

The team started to climb up the league tables once more, and Barça’s victories began to mount. Barça won the Spanish League after defeating Sporting de Gijón 2-4. There were still five match days left, but the League was already won, following fourteen years of frustration for Barça.

The team’s vertiginous ascent up the league table during the 1973-74 season included one spectacular match fought out in the Santiago Bernabéu stadium, on 17 February 1974. Barça stormed the pitch, culminating in a legendary 0-5 win, with a star line-up of Mora, Rifé, Costas, De la Cruz, Torres, Juan Carlos, Rexach, Asensi, Cruyff, Sotil and Marcial.

1974 AND 75TH ANNIVERSARY

The Club’s 75th anniversary was a major event as a result of the Club’s large number of supporters and a euphoric sporting atmosphere, following the team’s League victory. The commemorative acts were used to celebrate everything that Barça meant, and involved the participation of figures that represented the most dynamic aspects of Catalan society. Joan Miró, Salvador Dalí, Antoni Tàpies, Joan Fuster, Pere Calders and Tísner all contributed an artistic or literary work. For the 75th anniversary, Josep M. Espinàs and Jaume Picas wrote the lyrics of a song, to which Manuel Valls composed the music. It became the Club’s official anthem, the “Cant del Barça”.

BARÇA AND CATALONIA

During the presidency of Agustí Montal i Costa, FC Barcelona implemented a policy for the Club to strengthen its Catalan identity, despite the limits imposed by the Francoist dictatorship. In 1972, the Catalan language was once more emitted through the loudspeakers at the Camp Nou and the Club newsletter began to use Catalan. In 1973, the Club reinstated its original name: Futbol Club Barcelona.

The 1975/76 season coincided with political upheaval within the Francoist regime. On 28 December 1975, a Barça-Real Madrid match took place, during which a massive display of Senyeres was to be seen for the first time ever at the Camp Nou. Spectators had smuggled the flags in secretly. It was only one month since the death of Franco.

The match was broadcast on television, meaning that the sight of thousands of Senyeres waving throughout the Stadium made a huge impact. Barça won the match, with a goal by Rexach in the last minute, which made the triumph all the more resounding.

During the final season of Montal’s presidency, Barça pledged support in favour of the re-establishment of the Catalan government.

1978-88. MORE MEMBERS, MORE STARS

Persistence to build itself into the greatest club in the world.

The incredible victory in Basel in May 1979, when Barça won the European Cup Winners’ Cup for the first time ever, returned FC Barcelona to the top ranking positions of the great world clubs. It was the first victory during Josep Lluís Núñez’s presidency.

During the 1980s, FC Barcelona experienced alternating highs and lows, influenced by match results, star players’ performances and other matters, unrelated to sport.

This decade saw the arrival of fantastic footballers -including Quini, Maradona, Schuster, Alexanco, Julio Alberto, Urruti, Marcos…- and a series of managers with very different outlooks on football - Helenio Herrera, Lattek, Menotti, Venables… This was also the period in which the first multi-million contracts appeared and television rights began to influence the Club’s financial affairs. The organisation grew bigger with the extension of the Camp Nou and a spectacular rise in membership numbers, which saw the total figure increase to over one hundred thousand.

A NEW ERA WITH PRESIDENT NÚÑEZ

On 6 May 1978, the first elections of the new democratic period were held. All members were able to choose their president freely. Josep Lluís Núñez was elected, with the campaign “Let’s open up Barça”. Núñez was insistent on his aim to make the Club more accessible to its members, and the need to straighten out the Club’s financial situation.

FIRST EUROPEAN CUP WINNERS' CUP

On 16 May 1979, Barça won the Cup Winners’ Cup against Fortuna Düsseldorf (4-3), in an epic match that ran into extra time. An impressive group of some 30,000 FC Barcelona supporters accompanied the team to its victory; bringing their Senyeres and blue and claret flags across Europe. The European title victory prompted an unprecedented celebration on the streets of Barcelona and in other Catalan cities. The champions received a sensational homecoming, with two players given an especially ecstatic reception: Johan Neeskens, who was leaving the team, and Migueli, who had played the final with a broken collarbone.

QUINI'S KIDNAPPING

On 1 March 1981, the team’s best striker, Enrique Castro, “Quini”, was kidnapped from his own front door. His captivity lasted 25 days, during which time the team members rallied around each other. Quini’s kidnapping had an enormous emotional impact on the team. Left without its striker, the team was obliged to continue playing the League, but lost any chance of winning the title. Barça supporters carried out a mass demonstration for Quini’s release, which eventually came about on 25 March.

THE SIGNING OF MARADONA

Maradona was considered the best footballer in the world at that time. Maradona, known as 'El Pelusa', was a maestro of unforgettable moves and goals. The Argentinean forward was a football prodigy, with his magical left foot, changes of rhythm, speed and dribbling. However, his time with Barça was marred by bad luck. In two years, he suffered from hepatitis and a serious injury. These misfortunes meant that fans could not enjoy his exceptional talent uninterruptedly.

SECOND EUROPEAN CUP WINNERS' CUP AT CAMP NOU

On 12 May, Barça won its second Cup Winners’ Cup; the final was played at the Camp Nou against Standard Liège (2-1), with goals from Simonsen and Quini. Barça lost the Spanish League during the final matches of the 1981/82 season, although victory had seemed imminent. Lattek’s team had also been knocked out of the Spanish Cup before the quarterfinals.

"URRUTI, I LOVE YOU"

A penalty awarded against Barça in the 88th minute could have delayed the team from winning the title. Urruti saved 'Mágico' González’s shot, and Barça became League champion for the first time in eleven years. The Basque goalkeeper went down in the Club’s history. The match was broadcast on Catalunya Ràdio, with commentary from Joaquim Maria Puyal. Upon seeing the goalkeeper’s save, he repeatedly exclaimed “Urruti, I love you”. These words have come to mark the culminating moment of a League that Barça sorely wanted to win.

1988-1996. THE ERA OF THE 'DREAM TEAM'
Barça win their first European Cup in 1992.

From 1988 on, with Cruyff as manager, Barça came to be associated once more with excellent football and sporting success. The board of directors presided over by Nuñez focused on building up a team of footballers that would spark enthusiasm and perform well. The Camp Nou began to fill up once again.

FC Barcelona managed to secure four consecutive Spanish League championships, between 1990 and 1994. Winning the European Cup in 1992 was the pinnacle of this period, which was characterised by the team’s one touch play and attacking style and the winning mentality of Cruyff’s players.

Known as the 'Dream Team' of European football, the following unforgettable players went down in the Club’s history: Zubizarreta, Bakero, Begiristain, Laudrup, Koeman, Stoichkov, Romário, Eusebio, Nadal, Guardiola, Amor, Juan Carlos, Ferrer, Nando, Julio Salinas, Serna, Alexanko and Goikoetxea.

Led by the Cruyff-Rexach duo, the team finally drew a line under its troubled past; Barça became one of the biggest names in world football.

THE RETURN OF CRUYFF

“I know the Club and I don’t want history to repeat itself. If we want things to change, we must change history”. These words set the Cruyff era in motion, marked by a change of philosophy. The team’s tactics were modified to incorporate the Dutch coach Rinus Michels’s “total football”. Team management also changed, becoming the exclusive responsibility of the manager. With Cruyff, Barça experienced a glorious era. Cruyff’s track record includes one European Cup, four Spanish League championships, one Cup Winners’ Cup, one Spanish Cup and four Spanish Supercups. He was also responsible for introducing “rondos” (a circle of players pass the ball to each other, while one in the centre tries to catch it) into the team’s training sessions.

THIRD EUROPEAN CUP WINNERS' CUP

On 10 May 1989, goals from Salinas and López Rekarte led FC Barcelona to a 2-0 victory against UC Sampdoria of Genoa. Over 25,000 supporters travelled to Switzerland to support the team. Cruyff’s new Barça took home the Club’s third Cup Winners’ Cup. After years of disillusionment, fans returned to Canaletes and Plaça Sant Jaume to celebrate the top football team’s victory.

MIGUELI'S FAREWELL

Migueli holds a privileged place in the history of the club, being the second player who has worn the Barça shirt most times (553), only beaten by Xavi. He was also one of the best centre backs to have ever played for FC Barcelona. On 5 September 1989, 'Migueli' wore the Barça colours for the last time in a match when Barça beat the Bulgarian national football team. Migueli had played for FC Barcelona for sixteen seasons, alongside legendary figures like Cruyff (who scored a goal) and Rexach.

FIRST EUROPEAN CUP IN HANDBALL...

Barça’s handball team won its first EHF Champions League while under Valero Rivera’s management. FC Barcelona beat FK Proleter Zrenjanin 20-17 before a capacity crowd at the Palau. The combination of veteran players, like Rico, Sagalés and Serrano, and promising young players, such as Masip, Urdangarín and Barrufet, alongside the best player in the world, Veselin Vujović, brought the desired results. Barça’s European domination began here, with a team that is one of the main favourites to win titles, year after year.

... AND IN FOOTBALL

The dream became a reality on 20 May 1992 at Wembley Stadium in London, when Barça beat UC Sampdoria of Genoa. The course of FC Barcelona’s history changed forever. Johan Cruyff’s last instruction to his players before they stepped onto the pitch was: “Go out and enjoy it”. The match went to extra time after a scoreless draw. In the 111th minute, Ronald Koeman’s brilliant free kick clinched Barça’s first European Cup victory. 25,000 supporters accompanied the team to Wembley. One million people turned out on the streets of Barcelona to welcome the European champions home.

FOUR CONSECUTIVE LEAGUE TITLES

The Spanish League was the only title Cruyff had left to win, having already won the Cup Winners’ Cup (1989) and the Copa del Rey (1990). Barça rose to the occasion. Not only did it win the League — it won four Leagues in a row. The last three were won in the last match of the season. To this day, one of the abiding images of the 'Dream Team' is that of the footballers on the pitch awaiting the outcomes of their rivals’ matches.

1996-08. BARCA REACHES IT'S CENTURY

The centenery celebrations were a demonstration of what Barça means to people, an emotional journey through the Club's history that lasted the whole year.

Few organisations reach their one hundredth anniversary, for doing so requires consistence and continuity. The aim of FC Barcelona's centenary was to celebrate the link between a glorious past and new hope for the future.

The commemorative events saw an outpouring of Barça sentiment, and offered an emotional opportunity to spend a year looking back at the Club's proud history. Several important personages from Catalan culture were involved, as did the media and several major organisations. Famous artist Antoni Tàpies designed the official Centenary poster, thus adding his name to list of internationally renowned artists and writers that have helped aggrandise FC Barcelona's symbolic universe over the years.

The 1998-99 season, that of the Centenary celebrations, was also historic because of the many sporting achievements: all four of the Club's professional sections (Football, Basketball, Handball and Roller Hockey) won their respective league titles.

In 2003, newly elected president Joan Laporta brought with him a young and dynamic generation of directors who totally changed the Club's image. His priority was to make it possible for the club's sporting successes to have a knock-on effect on the more social aspects of the Club.

The following years were spectacular in many ways: there was sporting success, an exponential increase in membership, economic progress that situated the Club among the world's elite and an unprecedented focus on charity projects that was culminated with Barça's collaboration agreement with Unicef in 2006, which projects Barça's caring image around the world, thus definitively globalising the notion of being "more than a club".

VAN GAAL AND SUCCESSIVE LEAGUE TITLES

Louis Van Gaal took over as manager of FC Barcelona from Bobby Robson, who had won the Cup Winners Cup and Copa del Rey in his only year at the Club, 1996-97, with a team led by the young and effective striker, Ronaldo. Van Gaal led Barça to its first League and Cup double in 39 years. In his second season at FC Barcelona, the Dutchman retained the League title.

CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

The Club wanted the FC Barcelona Centenary celebrations to go on for a year. The fans and sportspeople enjoyed a series of commemorative events between November 1998 and November 1999. It all started with a massive fiesta in the stadium. One of the most memorable moments came when legendary Catalan singer Manuel Serrat sung the Barça anthem before one hundred thousand spectators. Another emotional moment was the parade of hundreds of sportspeople that have defended the FCB colours over the years.

FIRST EUROLEAGUE TITLE

On 11 May 2003, Barça’s Basketball team ended its disappointing European track record to win the Euroleague, formerly known as the European Champions’ Cup. Following five defeats, the team, coached by Svetislav Pešić and led by Dejan Bodiroga, Sarunas Jasikevicius and Juan Carlos Navarro, finally won the Euroleague title. Barça defeated Benetton Treviso 76-65 at a packed Palau Sant Jordi. Dejan Bodiroga was named MVP of the Final Four played in Barcelona.

SECOND CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TITLE IN PARIS

On May 17, 2006, Barça had its name engraved on the Champions League trophy for the second time after overcoming Arsenal 2-1 in Paris. The goals by Eto’o and Belletti illuminated the Stade de France. It was the victory of joyous football, the so-called “jogo bonito”, a bold and daring style, acclaimed the world over. Thousands of members and fans celebrated the victory in Paris, and millions more followed suit in Barcelona and other cities inside and outside Catalonia.

HISTORIC AGREEMENT WITH UNICEF

In 2006 an historic agreement was signed with UNICEF, by virtue of which the Club undertook to collaborate financially with this association, which works for children’s rights and their protection, and whose anagram the Club’s first-team shirt now bears. The first match in which the team sported the shirt with the UNICEF logo was on 12 September 2006, in the Camp Nou, in a Champions League match against Levski Sofia. Barça put on yet another brilliant exhibition that ended with a resounding 5-0 victory.

2008-16. THE BEST YEARS IN OUR HISTORY

Barça delight the world with their brand of football that is appreciated by football fans from all over the world. They win three more Champions League titles in a decade of dominance for the blaugranes.

Under Josep Guardiola, the team improved even further. Playing with the same style that Cruyff had introduced, Guardiola was a firm supporter of basing his team around the club's own youth system and promoted several young talents to the first team, and the result was the greatest Barça team ever.
The greatest international recognition of this came when the FIFA Ballon d'Or nominations in 2010 shortlisted Xavi, Iniesta and Messi for the honour, all three of whom had grown up at La Masia, the residence where young sportspeople of all ages are trained and educated.
This team was the culmination of everything that FC Barcelona stands for, and produced an amazing string of major titles, including two Champions Leagues and three Spanish Leagues, plus the long-awaited Clubs World Cup, which was finally won in 2009, that extraordinary year when Barcelona won all six major trophies, something unprecedented in the history of European football. The Guardiola era ended in 2012 but Barça continued their success under Tito Vilanova (the league in 2012/13) and Luis Enrique who in 2015 won the Champions League, the League and the Spanish Cup in another historic treble winning season.
Barça broke all kinds of records, played memorable matches and won just about every title on offer. But the finest hour for Guardiola's side came at Wembley, when the world was enchanted by the kind of football that dreams are made of. The world's press bestowed praise on this extraordinary side that had written one of the most incredible chapters in the history of the game.
But it wasn't just the football team that was collecting honours. The basketball, handball, futsal and roller hockey teams also won further European titles. Furthermore, the season 2011/12 and 2014/15 ended with a new record by winning 17 professional titles. Never before had FC Barcelona won so much silverware in a single season during its 115 year history.

SANDRO ROSELL, NEW PRESIDENT

Sandro Rosell rose to the presidency of FC Barcelona with an extensive background in both the business world and in football. His first stint in the management of the Club had begun in 2003 as a member of the board under then-president Joan Laporta. Rosell was the driving force behind the signing of Ronaldinho.
Rosell’s candidacy used the slogan "We are all Barça" under an electoral program created after listening to the members for two years. In 2010 he was elected the new president of FC Barcelona with an overwhelmingly successful 61.35% of the votes, the best result ever achieved. Sandro Rosell thus became the most voted president in the history of the Club.

BARÇA SWEEP THE PODIUM FOR THE BALLON D’OR

FC Barcelona made history with the nomination of Xavi, Iniesta and Messi as finalists for the FIFA Ballon d'Or 2010. Three Barça players who all came up through La Masia swept the podium. Journalists, coaches and captains from around the world, the elite of world football, lauded Barça’s style. It was the first time that all three finalists came from the youth academy of the same club. It was a full recognition of the work done at La Masia. Three superstars developed at home, instilled with the values of effort, humility, sportsmanship and enthusiasm, were selected as the three best players in the world in 2010.

WEMBLEY, AGAIN

On 28 May 2011 Barça lifted its fourth European Cup. The victory came at the new Wembley Stadium, the same place where in 1992 Cruyff’s Barça had won the trophy for the first time. It was full of symbolism. After winning a very difficult semi-final against Real Madrid, Barça played for the title against Manchester United, who they had defeated in the Rome final two years before. A clearly superior Barça won 3-1 with goals each striker: Pedro, Messi and Villa.
It was a great display of football, one of the best ever seen in a Champions League final. Europe hailed Barça, and the world press followed suit. At the end of the summer Barça confirmed its greatness by winning the Spanish Super Cup against Real Madrid and UEFA Super Cup against Porto.

THE DEATH OF TITO VILANOVA

One of the saddest pieces of news in Barça history was received on 25 April 2014 when Francesc 'Tito' Vilanova i Bayó (Bellcaire d'Empordà, 09/17/1968 - 04/25/2014, Barcelona), a man loved and admired by all, died at the age of 45 after failing to overcome an illness had forced him in July to step away from his duties as head coach of the first team, and just a couple of months after leading the team to a league title with 100 points, a record achievement. Vilanova was also Guardiola's second in command from 2008 to 2012. A totalof 53,000 people came to Camp Nou in the days after his death to pay him a final tribute.

GOODBYE TO TWO LEGENDS: PUYOL AND VALDÉS

In the summer of 2014 Barça said goodbye to two captains. Two symbols. Carles Puyol, the eternal captain, announced his retirement as a player after 593 official games and a career that made him an idol for Barça fans. The most memorable of these were his defensive stop using the Barça shield in a Champions League match, his kisses to La Senyera during Barça’s 6–2 rout at the Bernabéu or when he gave Abidal the honour of raising the Cup following the victory at Wembley in 2011. Puyol’s departure coincided with that of Victor Valdés, the long-time Barça goalkeeper who months earlier had announced his intention to leave the team at the end of the 2013/14 season. One of the best ever to wear the blaugrana shirt, Valdés conceded just 441 goals in 535 matches.
Among his most outstanding performances was in the 2006 Champions League final in Paris and the semi-final against Chelsea in 2009.

LUIS ENRIQUE: ARRIVAL AND A TREBLE

Gerardo Martino took over for Tito Vilanova in the summer of 2013 but, despite a good start, the left after the 2013/14 season having only won the Spanish Super Cup. Luis Enrique, a beloved former Barça player, took Martino’s place as coach in the summer of 2014 and success immediately followed. In his first year as coach, Luis Enrique would attain the second treble in Barça history, just six seasons after the first. FC Barcelona won the League, Copa del Rey and Champions League in one magical season. The same team, consisting of top players like Messi, Iniesta, Neymar Jr and Luis Suárez went on to win a total of five titles in 2015, adding the UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup to the treble. To that treble the team would add four more trophies the following season: the European Super Cup, the Club World Cup, the league and the Copa del Rey.

XAVI’S FAREWELL

In the summer of 2015, coinciding with the completion of the second treble, Xavi Hernandez announced his goodbye. The legendary FC Barcelona midfielder hung up his shoes after 17 seasons with the first team. He said goodbye to the Club with an enviable total of 25 titles: eight leagues, four Champions Leagues, three Spanish Cups, six Spanish Super Cups, two European Super Cups and two Club World Cups. Xavi left with 85 goals in 767 official matches, an FC Barcelona record. He left as an inheritance his a unique style of football.

JOSEP MARIA BARTOMEU WINS ELECTION

On July 18, 2015 Josep Maria Bartomeu won the election for the presidency of FC Barcelona. With 25,823 votes, 54.6% of the total, Bartomeu won the third most voted election in club history. Bartomeu quickly resumed some of the work he had already begun in January 2014, following the resignation of the previous president, Sandro Rosell.

I hope fans of this FM Scout site have enjoyed reading this so far, that was the past Barcelona with all that rich history and world class players throughout the generations to generations..

With Valdes, Puyol and Xavi leaving in recent seasons the so called "Golden Generation" (The actual real ones that won everything, not the England team) Have somewhat broken up with some exceptions who are still going strong in the team (Messi, Iniesta, Pique) plus newcomers into the team to replace the old guard... I've got quite a job on my hands to replicate the Guardiola era and the successful ones before him. Let's not mention the transfer embargo as soon as i start the save to not help things.

THE PLAN
This is how in planning on doing the save.. It will be in story mode just like your reading now with maybe a few funny bits inbetween.. A month by month analysis of every game, players happiness, goals, assists etc that sort of thing and also my personal view on the results and what my plans will be in future matches.

Feel free to drop me a comment anytime during the story... Constructive criticism is always welcome i don't mind if it helps me along improving the story in any way..

Thanks for following.. Sit back, relax and most of all enjoy the ride and who knows where this journey will take me.