Barcelona Football Club – A History

For FC Barcelona fans, the past two years have been as good as any in the club’s storied history. Stocked with talent that many people saw dominate the 2010 World Cup, including Lionel Messi, the Barca, as they are affectionately known, won no less than every major Spanish and European championship; a record-breaking 6 titles.

This year’s addition of David Villa, the star of Spain’s winning World Cup side, has already helped them to win the Super Cup- and has overseas fans researching cheap travel deals on the internet for a chance to see real legends play together.

More than a club
For Barcelonans, the club has been beloved for decades. It was started in 1899 as a sports club modelled on many of the European sports clubs.

As Barcelona is the capital of Catalan Spain and historically politically subservient, the club was a positive outlet that helped many in Catalonia weather some very difficult times over the past century. Owned by its members, it has also, at times, served as a beacon of light for previous generations of Spanish exiles and immigrant communities all over the world. The message from an assassinated Spanish president regarding how football and civics are of equal importance resonated with like-minded club management and the current motto ‘more than a club’ was adopted in name for the first time in the decades that followed. Currently, FC Barcelona is heavily involved in working with UNICEF.

On the field, the club was successful from the beginning. After dominating Catalonia amid fierce competition from other clubs over the course of a few decades, the Barca were able to also compete well nationally. They won several trophies in the amateur system and were well positioned for continued success when the modern Spanish professional league came into existence in the mid 20th century.

Towards the end of the 20th century Johan Cruyff led the squad to international acclaim, first as a player, and then as a coach, bringing home several league championships and the European cup in an era where cheap travel deals were not found on the internet, but by calling a travel agent.

The Figo transfer
Another European championship followed in 1997, despite the loss of the prolific Ronaldo. The name that many Barcelonans still have a love-hate relationship with, Luis Figo, played a large role for the Barca in winning the cup. He left for arch-rival Real Madrid in 2000. And although he certainly qualifies as a club legend, his name is conspicuously absent from the club’s web page honouring their best players. If this has whetted your appetite Travelzoo offer great holiday deals to Barcelona.

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