[FM13] Futbol Club Barcelona - Més que un club; Into the Post-Pep Era

[tommonufc]

Futbol Club Barcelona

Més que un club

Welcome to the Football Manager 2013 Club Thread for FC Barcelona.

Football Manager 2013 Player Records and Hall of Fame

Club History

1899 -1910 Foundation and Survival

FC Barcelona, founded in 1899 by a group of young foreigners living in Barcelona, was the result of the increasing popularity of football, and other British sports, across Europe. These origins have conferred upon the Club its intercultural identity, multi-sport focus and its deeply-rooted allegiance to Barcelona and Catalonia. The foundation of the Club coincided with a time when people were becoming interested in playing sport in Catalonia; this social context and Catalonia’s idiosyncratic culture led to the creation of a new model of modern leisure. Joan Gamper, the Club’s founder, was the inspiration and driving force behind the Club’s first 25 years. His commitment to FC Barcelona went far beyond his role as player, director and president.

In October 1899, Joan Gamper placed an advert in the Los Deportes magazine to find players interested in forming a football team. On 29 November, Gamper and eleven other men (Otto Kunzle from Switzerland; Walter Wild, John and William Parsons from England; Otto Maier from Germany; and Lluís d’Ossó, Bartomeu Terradas, Enric Ducal, Pere Cabot, Carles Pujol and Josep Llobet from Catalonia) came together to form an association that paid tribute to the city’s name and coat of arms: Futbol Club Barcelona.

Gamper was a sports lover – a former athlete, cyclist, football and rugby player – who saw sport as a means of exalting the human spirit; his aim was to create an organisation that was open to everyone, regardless of their origin. He envisaged a club that served as a means of social integration, in which everyone could speak their mind, and he created a democratic society that was freely governed by its members. As a sign of his gratitude to Catalonia, the country that had welcomed him, Gamper imbued FC Barcelona with the essence that has come to define it ever since: its commitment to Catalan identity.

Catalan identity, democracy, multiple sports and universality: today, Gamper’s original values continue to give Barça meaning. At first, the Club shared Barcelona’s coat of arms, as a demonstration of its identification with the city and a desire to be recognised as one and the same. The FC Barcelona stamp at that time featured this coat of arms. In 1910, the board decided that the Club needed its own coat of arms and organised a competition to find a new design. The FC Barcelona shirts have always been blue and claret. At the beginning, half the shirt was blue and the other claret, the sleeves were opposite colours and the shorts were white. One of the many theories explaining the origin of the kit colours — blue and claret — is that Gamper used the same colours as the Basel team, where he had played before coming to Catalonia.

During a period of less than ten years, from 1899 to 1908, FC Barcelona used four different locations for its grounds. Their difficulty in finding permanent grounds was due to economic instability and the lack of large open-air spaces at a time when the city was undergoing urban expansion. In 1902, FC Barcelona won the first official title in its history The Copa Macaya was the precursor to the Catalan Football Championship. It was begun in 1900 by Alfons Macaya, president of Hispania AC, when he announced his intention to organise a competition between Catalan teams.

In November 1908, the Club was struggling, with 38 of its members about to abandon it. Gamper was determined to keep the Club afloat and for the first time he became president of the organisation. This marked a new stage in the Club's history, which consolidated it within the football panorama and social milieu of the city and country. A number of different circumstances played a part in this process, including its strengthening as an organisation via the steady growth of its members; the re-writing of the Club statutes, and the acquisition of the Club's own football grounds for the first time. At the same time, a range of sporting successes and growing recognition accorded to players saw football develop into a mass phenomenon, turning it into a professional sport.

The Club grew rapidly. The number of members increased from 201 in 1909 to 2,973 in less than ten years. During these years, Barça laid down solid foundations in order to define the type of football club it wanted to be. This took it beyond the original dream of the group of friends that had founded it in 1899; the Club was here to stay. Barça’s skilled sportsmanship and its first title victories, combined with the emergence of star players, meant that football was becoming increasingly popular

The team’s success led to membership growth and compelled the fans to turn out to welcome the team home after a victory.

Since 1899, FC Barcelona had used the city’s coat of arms, but by 1910 it wanted its own. The Club held a competition to choose a new design; the result, with slight modifications, is the coat of arms we know today, and was designed by the Barça player, Carles Comamala. The coat of arms is representative of the Club’s identity. It features the St. George’s Cross and the four stripes of the Senyera, the Catalan flag. The Club’s colours, blue and claret, also appear with a football in the centrer. Paulino Alcántara, from the Philippines, played his debut season in 1911-12, aged just fifteen. He is, without a doubt, Barça’s first star player and the Club’s top goalscorer. He scored a staggering 369 goals in 357 matches, representing an impressive average of one goal per match. It is said that his kick was so powerful it could rip through the goal net. Alcántara always wore a white scarf tied round his waist.

The 1908-1909 season marked the beginning of FC Barcelona’s dominance in the Catalan Football Championships, which lasted until 1922. Impressive results led Barça to win the title eight times, and in the 1909-1910 championship, the team won every single match it played.

Hans Gamper, (Winterthur, Switzerland, 1877 – Barcelona, 1930)

25th Anniversary, Barça Wins the First Ever League & Death of the Founder, Joan Gamper

The Team Wins Titles and the Players Become Idols. During the 1920s, football became a sport of the masses. FC Barcelona continued to attract huge amounts of support and was viewed as a dream team, comprising star players that became the first Barça idols, such as Samitier, Alcántara, Zamora, Sagi, Piera and Sancho. This legendary team saw a growth of its fan base, which “prompted” the construction of the football grounds at Les Corts, in 1922; this was the first great Barça stadium. By 1923, the Club had in excess of 10,000 members. Matches played against Barcelona’s Espanyol team, Barça’s biggest rival at that time, were always met with great expectation from devoted football fans, who followed the team to all its matches. The team enjoyed many years of success at the Les Corts football grounds.

FC Barcelona celebrated its 25th anniversary on 7 and 8 December 1924. FC Barcelona celebrated its 25th anniversary on 7 and 8 December 1924, with two matches against Real Unión de Irun at Les Corts football grounds. The occasion was also marked by the “III Challenge Pere Prat” race, in addition to an athletics convention with Spanish and French representatives. At that time the Club had 12,207 members.

The most significant victory of the decade was the Spanish Cup in 1928. At the final, which took place in Santander, Barça beat Real Sociedad (3-1), after the first two matches ended in a draw. The goalkeeper, Platko, suffered serious injuries during the match and was the day's hero. For the first time ever, Barça’s victory was broadcast on the radio and the newspapers published special editions. On February 12 1929, a new competition began: the League In only a few years, this competition would become the championship par excellence of Spanish football. It lasted four and a half months and FC Barcelona was the first champion with twenty-five points, two more than Real Madrid, which finished in second place. Manuel Parera had the honour of being the team’s first goalscorer in the Spanish League. However, this victory was not met with great enthusiasm at the time, as football fans thought that the League was an insignificant competition.

On 30 July 1930, Barça received the worst news it had ever had: Joan Gamper had committed suicide due to personal problems. The Club’s founder — a dynamic businessman and sportsman, responsible for the creation and development of a unique football club — had died, aged only 52. The demise of FC Barcelona’s founder was a bad omen for the years to follow. Without Gamper, the Club embarked upon a period that saw public life become increasingly politicised. During the 1930s, society showed more interest in the political meetings than it did in football matches. Barça entered a period of history characterised by its commitment to social, political and cultural reform. The new Club statutes, approved in May 1932, redefined the organisation. According to its first article, FC Barcelona was “a cultural and sporting association”. October saw the creation of the Cultural Committee, which promoted activities for members. In July 1935, the new president Josep Sunyol i Garriga made it clear that he believed in political ideals based on Catalan nationalism. Using the motto “Sport and Citizenship”, he emphasised the link between society and sport.

Post War Years & 50th Anniversary

Loyal to its Identity despite Adverse Circumstances. The toughest moments experienced by FC Barcelona football club were the initial post-war years. The Club would not disappear without a fight. Subject to relentless repression and purges by the army and authorities, the identity of the organisation was changed completely. The purges also affected the players; anyone who had gone on the tour to Mexico and the United States was suspended for two years. Many of the players were exiled abroad. The Club’s coat of arms and name were changed because they were not deemed to be sufficiently Spanish, and the Club’s presidents were scrupulously selected by the sports authorities.

After the war, FC Barcelona experienced terrible times of social, economic and sporting hardships. The team did not have enough players and a bomb had destroyed the Club’s headquarters. It was time to start anew. The new political dictatorship distrusted Barça, viewing it as an organisation that was committed to the Republican cause and Catalan nationalism. The Les Corts grounds were officially reopened for a match on 29 June 1939. The match was presided over by various military and civil authorities. Speeches were given proclaiming that the Club would cease to be a vehicle for anti-Spanish sentiment and would become a Spanish sports icon under the new regime.

Once the upheaval of the war had been overcome, the team was strengthened with players who came to define that football era: César Rodríguez and Mariano Martín

César was one of Barça’s greatest ever goalscorers. He played 433 official matches and scored 294 goals. He became famous for his goals from corners, which he often scored with diving headers. Other players influenced the team’s success, like Basora, one of the best wingers Barça has ever had, and Ramallets, one of the most talented goalkeepers in the Club’s history. The 1948-49 season saw Barça win the Latin Cup, a competition organised by FIFA and the precursor to the European Cup. Finalist teams from France, Italy, Portugal and Spain played for the Cup. The participating teams were Stade de Reims, Torino and Sporting Clube de Portugal. FC Barcelona beat Sporting in the final with a 2-1 victory.

The Club’s 50th anniversary coincided with a time of great success, and the Club’s awareness that it had recovered from the Civil War. At this time, FC Barcelona underwent a period of growth, and had a total membership of 24,893. The Club’s foundation was commemorated with a series of events and a three-way football tournament, between Barça, Boldklub from Denmark and Palmeiras from Brazil. Barça won the tournament. Taking full advantage of this anniversary celebration, the Club reinstated the four stripes of the Catalan flag that it had been forced to remove from its coat of arms. This was a clear demonstration of its desire to recover its identity, despite the limitations imposed by the existing circumstances. The massive turnout of Barça followers at the celebratory events that took place at Les Corts made it clear that the Club had outgrown the legendary football grounds.

The Arrival of Kubala, the Star of the Decade & Completion of Camp Nou

Samitier, the Club’s technical secretary, brought László Kubala to Barcelona. Kubala was a player that would change the history of Barça and who became legendary amongst the Club’s fans. The Hungarian genius introduced new football techniques that had not been seen before, such as curling the ball. The Les Corts grounds had become too small for the outstanding play of a team that dominated Spanish football and performed well at European level. Nobody doubted that the Club needed a bigger stadium. Barça’s complete dominance of football characterised these years; the team played an attractive, modern and efficient style of football. Barça’s sensational line-up during the 1951-52 season led it to win five different trophies: the League, the Spanish Cup, the Latin Cup, the Copa Eva Duarte and the Copa Martini Rossi.

The Camp Nou building works began in 1954 and were completed three years later. The grounds were inaugurated during the presidency of Francesc Miró-Sans, on 24 September 1957, on the day of La Mercè, Barcelona’s patron saint. Different celebratory acts took place at the inauguration ceremony, which included a match against a selection of players from Warsaw. Barça enjoyed its first victory in the stadium, 4-2. Eulogio Martínez scored the first goal. The stadium had an initial capacity of 93,053 spectators. The total cost of the Camp Nou was 288,088,143 pesetas. Today, Camp Nou is the stadium with the largest capacity in Europe, accommodating 98,772 spectators.

Camp Nou Expanded Due to High Membership Numbers. During the 1950s, the Club’s membership increased considerably. The 26,300 members rose to 52,791, an increase of just over 100%. There were a number of reasons for the rise in membership. László Kubala’s arrival played a significant role in Barça’s successes, and he became an idol for Barça fans. The team’s victories and the legendary Kubala were key factors in gaining fan loyalty. Barça became increasingly important in Catalan society. At the same time, the incipient economic recovery from 1951 on, combined with salary increases that were slightly higher than inflation rates, meant that people had more disposable income. The membership cost was less restrictive.

1957. The inauguration of Camp Nou.

1961-1969 New Social Dimension

Bigger as a Club but Further from Sporting Success. 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.

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 Aragon migrated to Catalonia, and it would happen again at the end of the 20th century, when immigrants would arrive from other continents.

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.

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.

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.

1969-1978 Cruyff, Democracy

More than a Club. 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. Victories by the Roller Hockey section began to mount up; hockey is the professional section that has won the most national and international titles for the Club.

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.

Johan Cruyff - Barcelona 1973 to 1978

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”.

The 1975-76 season coincided with political upheaval within the Francoist regime. On 28 December 1975, a Barça-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.

1978-1988 More Members, More Stars

Perseverance to Become 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…

Diego Maradona - 36 apperances, 22 goals between 1982 - 1984

A sea of blue and claret at the final in Basel. On May 16 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 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.

One of the most complex and expensive transactions carried out by FC Barcelona was the signing of Diego Armando Maradona, in the summer of 1982. 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.

1989 - 1996 The Dream Team

Barça’s First European Cup. 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. 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.

A New Management Model. “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.

Berne, the setting for the ill-fated European Cup Final in 1961, saw a more fortunate turn of events on this occasion. 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. The 1989-90 season began with the emotional departure of 'Migueli', Miguel Bernardo Bianquetti. The player 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.

The Spanish League was the only title Cruyff had left to win. The Spanish League was the only title Cruyff had left to win, having already won the Cup Winners’ Cup (1989) and the Spanish Cup (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.

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.1,000,000 people turned out on the streets of Barcelona to welcome the European champions home.

Cruyff assembled a mix of Spanish players like Pep Guardiola, José Mari Bakero, and Txiki Begiristain while signing international stars such as Ronald Koeman, Michael Laudrup, Romário, and Hristo Stoichkov.

1996-2008 A centenarian club

A hundred years of emotion. Few organisations reach their one hundredth anniversary, for doing so requires consistence and continuity. 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. Barça won its first League and Cup double in 39 years. 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.

Good times return with Rijkaard and Ronaldinho. In June 2003, the members voted in a new Board of Directors led by Joan Laporta. The new Board signed Frank Rijkaard as manager and Ronaldinho as its new star. The Club had just gone four years without a major trophy, and the Brazilian's arrival generated the kind of expectations that had been lacking for far too long. Rijkaard's side stormed to the 2004-05 League title, and retained their title a year later. Ronaldinho was the iconic figurehead of that team, assisted by the likes of Edmilson, Giuly, Belletti, Sylvinho and most especially, Deco and Eto'o, plus a number of locally produced stars in Valdés, Oleguer, Puyol, Xavi and Iniesta.

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.

In 2006 a historic agreement was signed with UNICEF. In 2006 a 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.

Barcelona vs. Levski Sofia, September 2006 - (left to right) Ronaldinho, T.Motta, L.Thuram, V.Valdes, S.Eto'o, G.Van Bronkhorst, J.Belletti, A.Iniesta, L.Guily, Deco, C.Puyol

2008-2011 The best years in our history

Barça stuns the world. 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.

Josep Guardiola substituted Frank Rijkaard after two trophy-less seasons. He applied the same style that he had learned in his playing days at the Club, based on attack, possession and combination plays. And it worked to perfection. In his first season, Guardiola won all three major titles. 2009 was the year that Barça won an amazing six trophies. That success continued over the next two seasons, meaning that Barça had won 10 of the 13 competitions it was involved in.

Guardiola set new standards for world football. But his Barça team was not just about what it did on the field, for it also made other important contributions to society. FC Barcelona went to the Olympic Stadium in Rome in search of their third major title of the season, after already winning the League and Cup double. Guardiola was missing several key defenders against a Manchester United side that looked in control until Eto'o’s goal changed everything. From then on, Barça were vastly superior, and Messi added a second to make it 2-0.

On May 27, 2009 Barça not only won the Champions League against the defending champions, but also became the first Spanish club to win the League, Copa del Rey and Champions League in the same season. Josep Guardiola’s first year as manager was nothing short of astonishing. The team won every trophy at stake, a total of six, and in authoritative fashion. Nobody could argue that every one of those titles was thoroughly deserved. The year ended with plenty of cause for celebration, following the most successful year in club history.

Barça made history when Xavi, Iniesta and Messi were announced as the three FIFA Ballon d’Or 2010 finalists. All three places on the podium were to be taken by players produced at La Masia. The journalists, coaches and captains that had named the trio thus showed their admiration for the amazing Barça style. It was the first time all three candidates had been produced by the same club, and was fine recognition for everything that is done at La Masia. Three terrific players, who had been trained not just to play great football but also to show effort and humility and to respect fair play, were officially accredited as the three best players in the world for 2010.

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. On May 28, 2011, Barça lifted the European Cup trophy for the fourth time. The venue was the new Wembley, the same place where they had won their first title in 1992 under Johan Cruyff, so there was added symbolism for the occasion. After winning a difficult and very high profile semi final with Real Madrid, Barça faced Manchester United in the final, the same team they had beaten two years earlier in Rome. Barça were by far the better team and cruised to a 3-1 win with one goal from each of the strikers: Pedro, Messi and Villa. It was an exhibition unlike anything seen before in a European final. The whole world watched in awe and the press was unanimous in its praise for the incredible Barcelona team.

From Michels to Cruyff, Cruyff to Guardiola; 2011 Champions League Winners.

Nou Camp

Full Name: L'Estadi Camp Nou

Capacity: 99,354 (96,636 in UEFA Competitions)

Opened: 24th September 1957

The construction of Camp Nou started on 28 March 1954 as Barcelona's previous stadium, Camp de Les Corts, had no room for expansion. Although originally planned to be called Estadi del FC Barcelona, the more popular name Camp Nou was used. The June 1950 signing of László Kubala, regarded as one of Barcelona's greatest players, provided further impetus to the construction of a larger stadium. Construction began on 28 March 1954 before a crowd of 60,000 Barça fans. Construction took three years, going 336% over budget for a final cost of 288 million pesetas.[7] The stadium was officially opened on 24 September 1957, with Barcelona defeating Legia Warsaw 4-2 in a friendly match.

In May 1972, Camp Nou hosted its first European Cup Winners' Cup final between Rangers and Dynamo Moscow. Rangers won the match with a score of 3–2. The stadium underwent an expansion in 1980, in anticipation of the 1982 FIFA World Cup, which added boxes, VIP lounges, a new press area, new markers and the enlargement of the third tier by 22,150 seats for a total capacity of 115,000 spectators. The club raised funds for the remodeling by inscribing thousands of supporters’ names on bricks in return for a small set donation. This later became a topic of controversy when the news media in Madrid reported that the name of long-time Real Madrid chairman and Franco supporter, Santiago Bernabéu, had been commemorated in this way.

The first important game played was the final of the Winners’ Cup featuring Barcelona against Standard Liège on 12 May 1982. Barcelona won the game 2–1 in front of an audience of 80,000. Camp Nou was one of several stadiums used throughout the 1982 World Cup, hosting the inauguration ceremony on 13 June. Before a 100,000-person crowd, Belgium upset the defending champions Argentina 1–0 in the match that followed.

The stadium’s capacity has varied greatly over the years, opening at 106,146, but growing to 121,749 for the 1982 FIFA World Cup. The European Cup final between Milan and Steaua Bucuresti was held on 24 May 1989, with the Italian club winning 4–0.[14] Camp Nou hosted part of the football competition, including the final, in the 1992 Summer Olympics. In preparation for these Games, two additional tiers of seating were installed over the previous roof-line. Camp Nou underwent little change after 1982, except for the opening of the club museum in 1984. The stadium underwent a facelift in 1993–94, in which the pitch was lowered by 2.5 m (8 ft), the security gap that separated the lawn from the galleries was removed, and standing room was eliminated in favor of individual seating. A new press box, renovation of the presidential grandstand and boxes, new parking under the main grandstand, and new lighting and sound systems were completed in time for the 1998–99 season. In 1999 the UEFA outlawed standing sections in stadiums, and Camp Nou’s capacity settled to its current level. The stadium hosted the 1999 UEFA Champions League Final later that year where Manchester United played Bayern Munich. United won 2–1, coming back from 0–1 down in injury time.

In 2000, fans were polled concerning the stadium’s name. Of the 29,102 votes the club received, a total of 19,861 (68.25%) preferred Camp Nou to Estadi del FC Barcelona, and thus the official name was changed to the popular nickname. The club issued an international tender to remodel the stadium as a celebration of the stadium's fiftieth anniversary. The objective was to make the facility an integrated and highly visible urban environment. The club sought to increase the seating capacity by 13,500, with at least half of the total seating to be under cover. The intention was to make it the fourth largest stadium in the world (in terms of seating capacity), after the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the USA (297,000), the Rungrado May Day Stadium in North Korea (150,000) and the Salt Lake Stadium in India (120,000 capacity).

On 18 September 2007 the British architect Norman Foster and his company were selected to "restructure" Camp Nou. With an estimated cost of €250 million, the plan included the addition of 10,000 seats for a maximum capacity of 106,000. The FC Barcelona board approved the sale of their former training ground (the Mini Estadi) in order to finance the remodeling. The project was planned to begin in 2009 and to be finished for the 2011–12 season. However, due to the 2008 financial crises and subsequent fall in real estate prices, the sale of the training ground was postponed and likewise the remodeling project. In May 2010 Sandro Rosell, then a candidate for president of FC Barcelona, dismissed the possibility of selling the Mini Estadi, saying it would be indefensible to “sell the crown jewels”, and his election on 30 June 2010 effectively halted the plan to remodel Camp.

Mini Estadia

Capacity: 15,276

Opened: September 23, 1982

Home to Barcelona B and reserve teams; on the 23rd September 1982, the Miniestadi, brainchild of architect Josep Casals and project manager Ramon Domenech, was inaugurated. In just nine months the stadium, with a capacity of 15.276 split in two tiers and with a covered grandstand, was completed. The pitch measures 103 metres by 65 metres.

Among the highlights of matches played at the Mini, the Copa del Rey match in the 1983-84 season between a Barça reserve side, known at the time as Barça Atlètic, and the Real Madrid first team stands out. The 0-0 draw turned out to be an historic result as the 1-0 scoreline in the return leg proved to be enough to put the Barça youngsters through. Four years later, in the 1987-88 season the stadium was fill to capacity once more for an under-19 Barça-Real Madrid match. The Mini has also hosted Andorra's international fixtures including games against Ireland,Holland and England. The Barcelona Dragons were based there in 2002. It is also the customary location for the Clubs Presidential elections.

But one of the most emotional evenings at the Miniestadi was the broadcast of the 2006 Champions League Final. Saint-Denis in Paris was not the only stadium in Europe to be enraptured by FC Barcelona's victory. 11,000 people filled every seat to watch Barça on the giant screen as they came from behind to beat Arsenal and claim the trophy for the second time.

Football Club Barcelona Facilities

El Clásico

Rivalry between Barcelona and Real Madrid has long been surpassed the sporting dimension - thus elections to these clubs presidency are strongly politicized. As early as the 1930s, Barcelona had developed a reputation as a symbol of Catalan pride and identity, opposed to the centralising tendencies of Madrid. In 1936, when Francisco Franco started the golpe against the democratic Second Spanish Republic, the president of FC Barcelona, Josep Sunyol, member of the Republican Left of Catalonia and Deputy to The Cortes, was arrested and executed without trial by Franco's troops. FC Barcelona was on top of the list of organizations to be purged by the National faction. During the Franco dictatorship, most citizens of Barcelona were in strong opposition to the fascist-like régime. During the dictatorships of Miguel Primo de Rivera and of Francisco Franco, all regional languages and identities were frowned upon and restrained. In this period, FC Barcelona gained their motto més que un club (English: More than a club) because of its alleged connection to progressive beliefs and its representative role for Catalonia. The links between senior Real Madrid representatives and the Francoist regime were undeniable; for most of the Catalans, Real Madrid was regarded as "the establishment club".

The rivalry was intensified during the 1950s when the clubs disputed the signing of Alfredo Di Stéfano. Di Stéfano had impressed both Barcelona and Real Madrid whilst playing for Club Deportivo Los Millonarios in Bogotá, Colombia, during a players' strike in his native Argentina. Both Madrid and Barcelona attempted to sign him and, due to confusion that emerged from Di Stéfano moving to Millonarios from River Plate following the strike, both clubs claimed to own his registration. After intervention from FIFA representative Muñoz Calero, it was decided that both Barcelona and Real Madrid had to share the player in alternate seasons. Barcelona's Franco-imposed president backed down after a few appearances, as Barcelona's side claimed, but Real say Barcelona's decision was voluntary and Di Stéfano moved definitively to Madrid. Di Stéfano became integral in the subsequent success achieved by Madrid, scoring twice in his first game against Barcelona. With him, Madrid won the initial five European Champions Cup competitions. The 1960s saw the rivalry reach the European stage when they met twice at the European Cup, Real Madrid winning in 1960 and Barcelona winning in 1961.

During the last three decades, the rivalry has been augmented by the modern Spanish tradition of the Pasillo, where one team is given the guard of honor by the other team, once the latter clinches the La Liga trophy before El Clásico takes place. The two teams met in the UEFA Champions League semi-final in 2002, with Real Madrid winning 2–0 in Barcelona and a 1–1 draw in Madrid. The match, dubbed by Spanish media as the "Match of the Century," was watched by more than 500 million people. In the Clásico held on November 2005, Barcelona played away in Madrid, winning 3–0. The star of the Barcelona team was Ronaldinho, who became the second Barcelona player after Diego Maradona to receive a standing ovation from Real Madrid fans.

The rivalry has been strengthened over time by the internal transfer of players between the clubs. Barcelona players who have later played for Real Madrid include Bernd Schuster, who switched in 1988; and Michael Laudrup, who went to Real Madrid on a free transfer in 1994. The most notorious, however, was former vice-captain Luís Figo's switch in 2000.

When Luís Figo returned to the Camp Nou as a Real Madrid player, the Barcelona supporters' group Boixos Nois threw a pig's head at him.

The rivalry intensified in 2011 where, due to the final of the Copa Del Rey and the meeting of the two in the UEFA Champions League, Barcelona and Real Madrid were scheduled to meet each other four times in 18 days. Several accusations of unsportsmanlike behavior from both teams and a war of words erupted throughout the fixtures which included four red cards. Spain coach Vicente del Bosque stated that he was "concerned" that due to the rising hatred between the two clubs, that this could cause friction in the national side. On October 7, 2012, Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player ever to score in six consecutive Clásicos. Ronaldo's run began from the 2011-12 Copa del Rey 1st leg and he currently runs this streak after having scored on the 1st leg of 2012-13 La Liga at Camp Nou.

Club crest and the Blue and Red

The club's original crest was a quartered diamond-shaped crest topped by the Crown of Aragon and the bat of King James, and surrounded by two branches, one of a laurel tree and the other a palm. In 1910 the club held a competition among its members to design a new crest - the winner was Carles Comamala, who at the time played for the club. Comamala's suggestion became the crest that the club wears today, with some minor variations. The crest consists of the St George Cross in the upper-left corner with the Catalan flag beside it, and the team colours at the bottom.

The first crest worn by Barcelona.

The blue and red colours of the shirts were first worn in a match against Hispania in 1900. Several competing theories have been put forth for the blue and red design of the Barcelona shirt. The son of the first president, Arthur Witty, claimed it was the idea of his father as the colours were the same as the Merchant Taylor's School team. Another explanation, according to author Toni Strubell, is that the colours are from Robespierre's First Republic. In Catalonia the common perception is that the colours were chosen by Joan Gamper and are those of his home team, FC Basel.

Prior to the 2011–2012 season, Barcelona had a long history of avoiding corporate sponsorship on the playing shirts. In July 2006, the club announced a five year agreement with UNICEF, which includes having the UNICEF logo on their shirts. The agreement has the club donate €1.5 million per year to UNICEF (0.7 percent of its ordinary income, equal to the UN International Aid Target, cf. ODA) via the FC Barcelona Foundation. Barcelona ended their refusal of corporate sponsorship prior to the commencement of the 2011–12 season, signing a five-year €150m deal with the Qatar Foundation.

Football Club Barcelona Records and Honours

La Liga

Winners (21): 1928–1929, 1944–45, 1947–48, 1948–49, 1951–52, 1952–53, 1958–59, 1959–60, 1973–74, 1984–85, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11

Runners-up (23): 1929–30, 1945–46, 1953–54, 1954–55, 1955–56, 1961–62, 1963–64, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1970–71, 1972–73, 1975–76, 1976–77, 1977–78, 1981–82, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1988–89, 1996–97, 1999–00, 2003–04, 2006–07, 2011–12

European Cup / UEFA Champions League

Winners (4): 1991–92, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2010–11

Runners-up (3): 1960–61, 1985–86, 1993–94

Copa del Rey

Winners (26): 1909–10, 1911–12, 1912–13, 1919–20, 1921–22, 1924–25, 1925–26, 1927–28, 1941–42, 1950–51, 1951–52, 1952–53, 1956–57, 1958–59, 1962–63, 1967–68, 1970–71, 1977–78, 1980–81, 1982–83, 1987–88, 1989–90, 1996–97, 1997–98, 2008–09, 2011–12

Runners-up (10): 1901–02, 1918–19, 1931–32, 1935–36, 1953–54, 1973–74, 1983–84, 1985–86, 1995–96, 2010–11

Supercopa de España[139]

Winners (10): 1983, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011

Runners-up (8): 1985, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2012

FIFA Club World Cup

Winners (2): 2009, 2011

Runners-up (1): 2006

*denots as of 20 October 2012

Official All Time Appearances

1. Xavi Xavi Hernández 642* (1998–date)

2. Carles Puyol 563* (1999–date)

3. Migueli 549 (1973–1989)

4. Víctor Valdés 470* (2002-date)

7. Andrés Iniesta 417* (2002–date)

Official All Time Goalscorers

1. Lionel Messi 268* (2004–date)

2. César Rodríguez Álvarez 232 (1942–1955)

3. László Kubala 194 (1950–1961)

8. Samuel Eto'o 130 (2004–2009)

9. Rivaldo 130 (1997–2002)

Record Transfer Fee Recived: Luís Figo - £37m to Real Madrid in 2000

Record Transfer Fee Paid: Zlatan Ibrahimovic - £37m + Samuel Eto'o p/ to Inter Milan in 2009

Lionel Messi Records

Most goals scored in all competitions: 268*

Highest overall goal total (all clubs) of an active player: 268*

Most goals scored in Spanish Super Cup for the club: 10

Most goals scored in one season (inc. friendlies) 75 2011/12 season (2 Friendlies, 50 La Liga, 3 Copa del Rey, 3 Spanish Supercup, 14 UEFA Champions League, 1 UEFA Supercup, 2 FIFA Club World Cup)

Most goals scored in a single La Liga campaign: 50 2011/12

Most goals scored in a single UEFA Champions League season: 14 2011/12

Most goals scored in International competitions: 58

Most goals scored in UEFA Champions League: 53

Most La Liga hat-tricks in one season: 8 2011/12

Most La Liga hat-tricks: 15

Most hat-tricks in all competitions: 21 - Lionel Messi

Fastest hat-trick completed: 17mins vs. RCD Mallorca 2011/12

Highest win in any competition: 18–0 (Copa Macaya) Tarragona 0–18 FC Barcelona, 1901.

Heaviest defeat in any competition: 12–1 (La Liga) Athletic Club Bilbao 12–1 FC Barcelona, 1930–31

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Barça's Playing Squads

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F.C. Barcelona Squad

1. Víctor Valdés -- 13. Jose Manuel Pinto -- Oier Olazábal

2. Daniel Alves -- 3; Gerard Piqué-- 5. Carles Puyol (Captain) -- 14. Javier Mascherano -- 15. Marc Bartra -- 18. Jordi Alba -- 19. Martín Montoya -- 21. Adriano Correia -- 22. Éric Abidal -- Marc Muniesa

4. Cesc Fàbregas -- 6. Xavi Hernández (vice-captain) -- 8. Andrés Iniesta -- 11. Thiago Alcântara -- 12. Jonathan dos Santos -- 16. Sergio Busquets -- 25. Alex Song

7. David Villa -- 9. Alexis Sánchez -- 10. Lionel Messi -- 18. Pedro Rodríguez -- 23. Isaac Cuenca -- Cristian Tello

Out on loan

Andreu Fontàs (Mallorca until 30 June 2013) -- Ibrahim Afellay (Schalke 04 until 30 June 2013) -- Keirrison (Coritiba until 30 June 2014)

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F.C. Barcelona 'B' Squad

13. Jordi Masip -- 25. Miguel Bañuz

2. Iván Balliu -- 3; Sergi Gómez-- 5. Carles Planas (Captain) -- 6. David Lombán -- 15. Kiko Femenía -- 16. -- 19. -- 33. -- 35.

4. (Captain) -- 8. (vice-captain) -- 10. -- 12. -- 14. -- 17. -- 18. -- 20. -- 21. -- 25. -- 25.

7. -- 9. On loan from Sevilla -- 22. On loan from Boca Juniors -- 34.

Out on loan

(Deportivo Alavés until 30 June 2013) -- (Sheffield Wednesday until 30 June 2013)

F.C. Barcelona Juvenil A (U19) Squad

José -- Sergi Tienda

Edgar Ié -- Brian Oliván -- Alex Grimaldo -- Leonid Bakoyock -- Mackay Bagnack -- Carlos Julio Martínez -- Roger Reira -- Elohor Godswill -- Xavi Quintillà --Robert Costa

David Babunkski -- Pol Calvet -- Maxi Rolón -- Sergi Samper -- Cristian Herrera -- Nando Quesada -- Armarda Traoré -- Joel Huertas -- Richard Ebwelle -- Munir El Haddadi

Jean Marie Dongou -- Sandro -- Sergio Buenacasa

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Barcelona First Team Overview

1. Víctor Valdés -- 13. Jose Manuel Pinto -- Oier Olazábal

There are three goalkeepers your start within your squad - your number one choice Víctor Valdés, veteran Jose Manuel Pinto and youngster Oier Olazábal. Víctor Valdés is a top keeper, and one of the best in the world in terms of ball playing abilities - he is the perfect candidate for you to base the rest of a passing Tiki-Taka style from. Jose Manuel Pinto is entering his final year of his contract; aged 38 it will probably see his final year at Barça - he's a dependable number two, but short of the quality of Valdes. Fresh from Barça B, this will be Oier Olazábal's first season in the first team; still young in terms of goalkeepers, he's 22 and has the potential to become a decent squad player, but hasn't the natural ability to uproot Valdes any time soon.

Víctor Valdés would be my number one for many more seasons to come. Within the cup competitions I'd like to use Oier Olazábal, and look to develop him into a reliable back-up player, whilst releasing Jose Manual Pinto at the end of the first year.

2. Daniel Alves -- 3; Gerard Piqué-- 5. Carles Puyol (Captain) -- 14. Javier Mascherano -- 15. Marc Bartra -- 18. Jordi Alba -- 19. Martín Montoya -- 21. Adriano Correia -- 22. Éric Abidal -- Marc Muniesa

You have a group of defenders that can provide you great flexibility in your approach to the game. Within the heart of your back line, and one of the first names on a team sheet will be Gerard Piqué. One of the best defenders in the world, he's the definition of your modern-day defender - quick, strong and assured with the ball at his feet. Carles Puyol, a Barça icon - known as 'The wall', what he may lack in pace as he grows older, he makes up for within second to none reading of the game. His last year of his current contract, if he can stay free of injury and maintain his fitness there is no reason for him to continue further into his mid-30s. Previously a no comprising defensive midfielder, Javier Mascherano's reading of the game, and comfort within possession have seen the Argentine drop into the back-line to become an accomplished center back. He will lack in aerial ability, but if paired with a player that will dominate the high balls such as Pique, he can form the basis of a impenetrable defence. Back up to these three at center back, you have the options of Marc Bartra, Marc Muniesa, Eric Abidal and even Alex Song or Sergio Busquets from your midfield.

At full back you now have two out and out attacking wingbacks, two players that have the ability to occupy a whole flank, first in Daniel Alves at right back, and new singing Jordi Alba on your left side. These two can provide the width for your side if you look to pack the center of midfield with creative talent, as well as providing great strength in terms of defensive ability down your sides. Martín Montoya is an exciting young right full back, who will provide strong back up to Alves on this side - he will be joined with Adriano in terms of back up to Alves at right back - he's a player that has similar attacking insinct as the Brazilian, although isn't up to such high standing, he can play across a variety of positions and will be an important member of your squad. Carles Puyol, if not played at in a central position, has the abilities to provide a defensive blockade at right-full back - although will offer little going forward. On the left side you have back up options in Eric Abidal, and Marc Muniesa. Neither of these will offer what Alba can in terms of attacking dynamism, which could be sought from Adriano's flexibility to play in this position as well as a preferred right side.

A back four would see my play Gerard Piqué and Javier Macherano at center back in a stopper, cover combination - with Alves and Alba given lisence to bomb forward from right and left full back positions respectively. Puyol would feature if playing a back three, and would be offered a new deal providing he can maintain his fitness. In Bartra, Muniesa and Montoya you have three great talents that can develop into mainstays within your Barça set-up - and would look to give them as much game time as possible to enhance their development.

4. Cesc Fàbregas -- 6. Xavi Hernández (vice-captain) -- 8. Andrés Iniesta -- 11. Thiago Alcântara -- 12. Jonathan dos Santos -- 16. Sergio Busquets -- 25. Alex Song

There is a veritable array of creative talent within your midfield - and the center piece of this crop of talent is Xavi Hernández. He offers a metronomic like ability to run your midfield, one of the greatest midfielders of his generation, and Barcelona's all time leading appearance holder. Where ever he goes, invariably Andreas Iniesta will follow closely. He will offer you a Xavi like ability to unlock defenses and pick passes, but has the abilities to dance through defenses with his dribbling skill. Re-joining the club in the summer of 2011 Cesc Fàbregas is one of the worlds best attacking midfielders, with his skill on the ball and creativity led Spain to play him in a withdrawn forward role in the European Championships. Yet another La Masia graduate with supreme quality is Sergio Busquets; he should form the base of your midfield - he's a defensive midfielder with a great reading of the game, and defensive positioning, along with great assurance in possession that will see him be the player that will make the first pass from which many a great goal will be scored from. He can also play at center back, and is a very natural ball playing center half.

Alex Song; a defensive midfielder that grew in stature in recent seasons at Arsenal, he's shown to have developed a play-making instinct that has seen Barcelona bring him from Arsenal in the summer of 2012. In his early stages in Spain have seen him fielded in defence, which many feel his future may lie. Within Barça's approach to the game this is more than understandable, he has the necessary defensive reading of the game to defend high up the pitch, whilst being assured in possession of the ball due to his midfield roots. Thiago Alcântara offers yet more attacking creativity in your midfield, and has the potential to mature into one of the worlds best midfielders. Not as creative or high profile as many players in the squad Jonathon Dos Santos is a young midfielder that will provide a high standard of back up to various players in your first team.

I would look to harvest the the talent you have here in every opportunity, and build a system based around a packed central area from which you can utilise the creativity within your side. A strikerless 4-6-0 could see you pack the midfield with Busquets deep, with Xavi, Fabregas and Iniesta all featuring as well. Long term, I would want either Busqutes or Song, possibly even both to be playing a center back.

7. David Villa -- 9. Alexis Sánchez -- 10. Lionel Messi -- 18. Pedro Rodríguez -- 23. Isaac Cuenca -- Cristian Tello

As with your midfield, you have a similar plethora of quality at your disposal in your forward line - maybe even more so. Lionel Messi is the jewel within your sparkly, star-studded Catalan Crown. Possibly the greatest ever human to play our beloved game, and still aged just 25 years old - the diminutive Argentine often defies many an understanding of what is possible on a football pitch. After much of last season out injured David Villa will return this season, and will offer you a clinical like finishing ability from a central area - he's a natural goalscorer, that can also play wide on the left, where he can move inside onto his favored right-foot.

Alexis Sánchez is a world class winger, that can also play through the middle - the Chilean has express pace, and top dribbling skill. Pedro Rodríguez won't probably feature within your best XI, but is a well rounded winger that will offer you a top level of backup on either wing. Your two more options within your front line are two recent graduates from the Barça B side - Isaac Cuenca and Cristian Tello. Both a young wide players, that are quick and have natural dribbling ability - these wo can turn into top wingers, and game time within the first team where available will greatly supplement their development.

Messi will undoubtedly be the center piece for anyone's side. In keeping with a vision of loading the midfield area, I'd look to use Messi in his favored false-9 position, where he drops deep and can create space for others, as well as looking to get as many goals from him as possible. Alexis Sanchez and David Villa will probably feature as inside forwards for me, where they will start on a flank and come inside into scoring opportunities.

One of two summer transfer to Barça, Alex Song moved from Arsenal for £15M after six years at the London club.

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Barcelona First Team Player Analysis

Goalkeepers

Víctor Valdés Víctor Valdés Arribas | 1. Goalkeeper | 1982/01/14 | Aged 30 | L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain | Barça 2002- [barça B, La Masia]

Víctor Valdés joined the Barça youth programme from the Peña Barcelonista 'Cinc Copes' on July 1st, 1992. In September of the same year he moved with his family to Tenerife and didn't rejoin the club until three years later. After quickly proving his worth with the youth teams and Barça B, in the 2002-2003 season, Valdés was promoted to the first team squad. At first, he competed for a place with Roberto Bonano, but when Radomir Antic took over as manager midway through the campaign, he became the regular first choice stopper. He consolidated his place as in the starting line-up in the 2003-04 season, playing in almost every Barca match and posting some first class performances as the side finished second in the league table. For several seasons, Barça had not had a definitive first-choice goalkeeper for any considerable length of time, but that all changed with the consolidation of Valdés among the elite in the 2004-05 season, which ended with the team winning the Liga title and the goalkeeper collecting the Zamora Trophy for the best defensive record of the season.

In the 2005-06 season, Valdés was one of the key players in Barça's League and the Champions League double. Especially memorable are the crucial saves he made in the final in Paris as Barça won the title for the second time. In the 2006-07 season, Valdés remained a fixture in the Barça goal and played in all 38 League games. In the 2007-08 campaign he only stood down in the last three matches to give José Manuel Pinto a chance to make his first team debut. All this time, Valdés had been improving and was well on course to becoming the man to have worn the coveted number one jersey the most times for the club. In the 2008/09 season, his consistency won him his second Zamora trophy. He played every league game bar the last three when the title was already decided. He culminated the season with a stellar performance in Rome, where became the first Barça keeper to be crowned champion of Europe twice. That was just the start of it, and in the 2009/10, 2010/11 and 2011/12 seasons he won the Zamora for the third, fourth and fifth times, thus equalling the record of the legendary Antoni Ramallets, the only previous five-time winner for Barcelona. The fourth of those titles was his best record ever, and the second best in the entire history of the Spanish championship (0.50 goals conceded a game). Valdés also became the only Barça keeper to appear in three European Cup finals, and won them all.

His consistently strong performances at club level earned him a trip to South Africa for the 2010 World Cup, where he collected a winners medal despite watching all of the action from the substitutes’ bench. Since then he has been a regular member of Spain’s international squad. But rather than individual honours, it is what his exceptional ability has done for the benefit of the team in general that really matters, and he once again played a significant role in the conquest of the club’s fourth Champions League title at Wembley on May 28, 2011. On November 1, 2011, in a game against Viktoria Pilsen, Valdés broke Miguel Reina’s club record for the most minutes without conceding a goal, an incredible 896. Two months later, on September 10, 2011, Víctor Valdés also broke Andoni Zubizarreta’s record for the most appearances in goal for FC Barcelona when he took to the field against Real Sociedad, his 411th official match for the club. Víctor Valdés also surpassed another club legend in the 2011/2012 season. The goalkeeper equalled the 449 appearances of Carles Rexach when Barça played Athletic Bilbao, meaning he now has the fourth highest number of official appearances ever for FC Barcelona. Only Xavi Hernández, Carles Puyol and Migueli have played in more games.

Jose Manuel Pinto José Manuel Pinto Colorado | 13. Goalkeeper | 1975/11/08 | Aged 38 | Puerto de Santa María (Cadis), Spain | Barça 2008- [€500,000, Celta Vigo]

José Manuel Pinto joined Barça on 18 January 2008 from Celta, the club he had played for during the previous ten seasons. He came on loan but FC Barcelona signed him permanently at the end of the 2007/08 season. Born in Puerto de Santa Maria (Cádiz) on November 8, 1975, Pinto started his professional career in Andalusia. After spending three seasons with Real Betis's B side, he moved up to the first team and made his debut for the club during the 1997/98 campaign. A year later he agreed to move to Celta Vigo, where would spend the next decade before leaving to go to Camp Nou in January 2008. After being replaced by Toni Prats at Betis, Pinto opted to join Celta and it was there that he found stability and was awarded the captain's armband. He went on to play 126 games in the first and 56 matches in the second divisions, as well as appearing in the UEFA Cup regularly with the club, and helping the side to qualify for the Champions League in 2003/04. Pinto’s finest hour came when he won the Zamora Trophy as the best keeper in the league in 2005/06. That year, Pinto conceded just 28 goals in 37 league matches (an average of 0.75 per game) and helped guide the team to sixth place in the top flight and into the UEFA Cup. The season before the Zamora had been won by Víctor Valdés, his future colleague at Barça.

When playing for Celta in the Second Division, FC Barcelona bought him in the January transfer window as cover for Albert Jorquera, who was sidelined with a long-term knee injury. He came on loan but FC Barcelona signed him permanently at the end of the 2007/08 season, during which he made his League debut away at Deportivo and then played in two more matches. In the 2008/09 season, Guardiola made Pinto his first choice stopper in the cup. The Andalusian played every game in the competition and performed especially well in the semi final, saving a penalty from Mallorca's Martí, which could have complicated Barcelona's qualification. He also played the last games of the league campaign, thus ensuring Valdés won the Zamora Trophy. From 2009/10 to 2010/11 he played a total of 21 games, mainly due to first choice keeper Valdés being out for some time though injury, but also due to his continued presence in the Copa del Rey, in which Barça reached the final. In the final season under Pep Guardiola (2011/12), Pinto was once again used in all cup matches as the team won the title for a record 26th time. On January 2, 2012, the club accepted the renewal of José Manuel Pinto’s contract until 2013.

Oier Olazábal Oier Olazábal Paredes | . Goalkeeper | 1989/09/14 | Aged 23 | Irún (Guipúscoa), Spain | Barça 2007- [barça B]

Born in Irun, Gipuzkoa, Basque Country, Olazábal arrived in FC Barcelona's youth academy at the age of 16, from local Real Unión. He spent his first years with the reserves as backup to another youth product, Rubén.

On 2 January 2008, Oier made his debut for the main squad, in the 2–2 home draw against CD Alcoyano in the cup. More than one year after, on 17 May, he appeared for the first time in La Liga, against RCD Mallorca, as Barça were already champions, in a 1–2 away loss. For 2009–10, after Albert Jorquera left for neighbours Girona FC, Olazábal was promoted to third-choice.

Defenders

Daniel Alves Daniel Alves da Silva | 2. Right Wing Back | 1983/05/06 | Aged 29 | Juazeiro, Brazil | Barça 2008- [£23M, Sevilla]

Dani Alves is one of the strongest, most intense right-sided players in the world, and covers an extraordinary amount of ground. He came to FC Barcelona in the summer of 2008, aged 25 years, after six seasons with Sevilla. Born on May 6, 1983 in Juazeiro (the Brazilian state of Bahia), Daniel Alves started out playing at youth level for the biggest club in the region, Esporte Clube Bahia. He progressed through the ranks, and was just 18 when he played his first game in the Brazilian Serie A, under management at the time of former Barça man Evaristo de Macedo.

Bahia beat Paraná 3-0 that day, and Alves impressed from the outset. He was brought down for a penalty and also supplied an assist, leading the home fans to start chanting “Ah, ah, ah, Daniel titular”. Alves’ first professional title was the Bahia Championship in 2001 followed by the Northeast Cup in 2001 and 2002. This led to a call-up for the Brazilian Under 20 team in January 2003. Sevilla had their eye on him, and brought him to Europe on loan. Pleased with his performances, the Andalusian outfit soon acquired permanent rights to the player. In late 2003, Alves was in the Brazilian U20 team that won the World Cup in the UAE, beating Spain and Andrés Iniesta 1-0 in the final. Alves was named best full back in the competition. That same 2003/04 season, Alves played 29 times at right back for Sevilla, helping his season to win a European berth.

As time went by, Alves consolidated his role as both a defender and part of the attack in the Sevilla team that in 2005/06 won the UEFA Cup. The Brazilian was named best player in that competition, and a few months later, won the Super Cup as his side beat FC Barcelona in Monaco. In 2006/07, the Brazilian formed an essential part of the Sevilla team that went on to also retain the UEFA Cup, win the European Supercup and also collect the Copa del Rey. A year before joining Barça, Alves won the Spanish Super Cup by beating Madrid and also gained his first Champions League experience. Sevilla went out in the second round to Turkish club Fenerbahçe. In that 2007/08 season, Alves played 33 league games and was the second most used player in the squad after Navas.

Now considered one of the best full backs in the world, Alves came to Barça in the summer of 2008. In his first season, he was involved in the incredible treble winning campaign. He missed very few games, but one of those was the Champions League final in Rome. By now he was fully consolidated as one of the finest examples the tradition of Brazilian wing backs, contributing five goals in his 54 appearances for his club that year. Despite injury problems he was the first choice right back in his second season, winning his second consecutive league title among other honours. He scored 3 goals in 29 matches and for the second year running was included in the UEFA team of the year.

In his third year at Barça, he won three new titles, the Spanish Supercup, La Liga and the Champions League. And unlike in Rome, this time he did appear at the Wembley final in a year that he also signed an extension to his contract until 2015. In his fourth year at FCB, he won the European Supercup, the Spanish Supercup and the Copa del Rey, scoring three goals in the six competitions that Barça competed in, and making 52 appearances. Alves has also been a regular feature in the Brazilian national team since 2006/07. In the summer of 2007, the right back won the Copa America and in 2009 collected a Confederations Cup winners medal. His first World Cup was that played in South Africa in 2012, in which Brazil were knocked out at the quarter final stage by Holland.

Gerard Piqué Gerard Piqué Bernabeu | 3. Center Back | 1987/02/02 | Aged 25 | Barcelona, Spain | Barça 2008- [£5M, Manchester United - (La Masia 1997-2004)]

Gerard Piqué returned to FC Barcelona, the club where he started out as a youngster, in the summer of 2008, after three seasons with Manchester United and one with Real Zaragoza. Gerard Piqué was born on 2 February 1987 and since that day he has been a club member of FC Barcelona. Since he was very young he has been involved with the club and when he was 10 years old he joined the youngest boys' team at the club at that time (Alevín B). From then on he passed through the various youth levels, picking up titles along the way and winning plaudits in all age categories (Alevín A, Infantil B and A, Cadete B and A and Juvenil B and A). When playing at Cadete B level Tito Vilanova was his manager, who he would coincide with again when he eventually made it into the first team. In all this time of development and learning, Gerard Piqué showed a great ability to adapt to different positions on the field and gained a reputation for goal scoring, despite his defensive position. At the end of the 2003/04 season, Gerard Piqué took a break from his life at FCB and left for Manchester United. He made his debut for the English side on 26 October, only three weeks after arriving, in a Carling Cup match against Crewe Alexandra. He was also with Alex Ferguson's team for the 2005/06 season before being loaned out to Real Zaragoza for the 2006/07 season. In his only season with the Aragonese side, Piqué often filled in as a defensive midfielder in front of the back four. The Catalan played 22 league games, eighteen of which he started, and scored two goals. During this time he played alongside Gabriel Milito, who he would also meet up with again on his return to Barça. Season 2007/08 saw Piqué return to Manchester United, where he was able to celebrate the Premiership and Champions League double. He had a memorable season in the Champions League, especially in the group phase, scoring two goals.

In his first season with Barcelona, Piqué soon showed why he had been signed. He became a first choice centre back and also scored three goals, one in each competition, totalling 45 appearances. His ability to work the ball forward from the back and support attacking moves won him plenty of admirers. His goal in the 6-2 win at the Bernabéu was a prime example of this. In his second year he consolidated his reputation as one of the best central defenders in the world, forming a regular partnership with Puyol and winning his second league title with the Club. In the third year, Piqué became an even more important part of the centre of defence due to injuries to Milito and Puyol and Abidal's illness. He played his largest number of official games in 2010/11, with 51 appearances, and faced his former side Manchester United in the final of the Champions League, which FC Barcelona won. He made his 100th appearance for Barça on September 22, 2010 against Sporting Gijón when he came on as a second half substitute for Puyol.

His fourth season was interrupted by injury, but he still managed to win the Spanish Supercup, the Clubs World Cup and Copa del Rey, but missed out on the European Supercup match against Porto FC. As for his international experience, Piqué played in the 2007 U-20 World Cup in Canada, the 2006 U19 European Championships in Poland (which Spain won) and the 2004 U17 European Championships in France (which Spain finished as runners-up). On Friday 11, 2009 he made his international debut against England, and made his first official appearance in the Confederations Cup in South Africa, 2009. He has since become a permanent feature of Spain defence, playing every minute of the country’s first ever World Cup win in 2010, and also playing a key role in the conquest of the 1012 European Championship.

Carles Puyol Club Captain | Carles Puyol Saforcada | 5. Center Back, Full Back | 1978/04/13 | Aged 34 | La Pobla de Segur (Lleida), Spain | Barça 1996- [barça B, La Masia]

Carles Puyol began his footballing career in the local team of the small town where he was born, La Pobla de Segur. His talent soon attracted wider attention and, at in the 95-96 season he was signed up for the Barça academy at La Masía. He rapidly became a fixture in Barça B and then progressed to make his debut with the first team on 2nd October 1999 against Valladolid at the orders of Louis Van Gaal. His appearances became more and more frequent until he made the right back position his own. Thanks to his determination to improve and a tremendous work rate, Carles Puyol adapted to the position of central defender. That position soon became Puyol’s regular role in the Barça game-plan. In the 2003-2004 season, having been chosen as third captain, he played a vital role in the team's sensational run of form that led to the runners-up place in the league. Puyol made 27 appearances in the league and seven in the UEFA Cup.

However, Carles Puyol had to wait until the 2004-05 season to win his first medal with Barça. He was, by then, captain of the first team and an essential part of Frank Rijkaard's much acclaimed side. At the end of the season, he finally saw his dream come true of lifting the league trophy in the Nou Camp.

During the 2005-06 season, he played as well as he had the previous year. The Barça captain had the honour of offering the league title trophy to the home supporters before the game against Espanyol, before winning the UEFA Champions League in Paris after the monumental victory against Arsenal in the Saint-Denis Stadium. Puyol only missed five matches all season and none through injury. At the end of the following season of 2006/07 (in which he played in 35 of 38 League games), Carles Puyol suffered the first serious injury of his career in a friendly in Pretoria when the League was already over. He damaged ligaments in his left knee on 20 June 2007 and this kept him out of the side until 29 September. Despite missing the first months of the competition, the club captain finally played in 30 League games in the 2007/08 campaign. In the treble winning 2008/09 season, Carles Puyol was once again Barça's most versatile defender. Guardiola used him as a right back in the Champions League final, a left back in the Copa del Rey final and also as centre back in most games. A great utility player, he also showed he can score goals, such as his header in the historic 6-2 win at the Bernabéu. In Rome he made history by becoming the first Barça captain to lift the Champions league trophy twice.

In the 2009-10 season he won his fourth league title. The captain is incredibly consistent and was one of the defenders most used by Pep Guardiola in the heart of his defence. Puyol was less fortunate in 2010/11, where despite winning his fifth league and third Champions League, he only played 27 matches (his fewest appearances since 2000/01). Towards the end of the season, he underwent arthroscopy on his left knee to extract loose cartilage from his femur. At Wembley he made the extraordinary gesture of stepping aside to allow Eric Abidal to lift the fourth European Cup in club history. In 2011/12, Carles Puyol went on to win the Spanish and European Supercups before taking even greater spoils in the form of the Clubs World Cup and Copa del Rey. It was also his best season ever in terms of goals, with five in his 44 appearances, including two particularly important ones against Real Madrid and Valencia in the quarters and semis of the Copa del Rey, respectively. Both were scored with his head, and helped send the team into the final at the Vicente Calderón. On February 11, 2012 away to Osasuna, Puyol’s amazing run of 56 games without defeat came to an end. The same season, in the Champions League second leg against AC Milan, he overtook Migueli’s record of 549 matches to become the player with the second most appearances ever for Barça, surpassed only by his team mate Xavi.

Carles Puyol is also a fixture in the Spanish national side, with which he played in the 2002, 2006 and 2010 World Cups and in the European Championships in 2004 and 2008. In the latter he was key figure as Spain won the title in Vienna. He missed Euro 2012 though injury. In the summer of 2010 he won the only club or international medal that was missing from his collection. One of the cornerstones of the team, he played in all seven matches and scored the only goal of the semi-final against Germany – a header similar to his goal in the historic 2-6 victory in the Bernabéu.

Javier Mascherano Javier Alejandro Mascherano | 14. Center Back, Defensive Midfielder | 1984/06/08 | Aged 28 | San Lorenzo, Argentina | Barça 2010- [€24M, Liverpool]

Javier Mascherano was presented as an FC Barcelona player on August 30, 2010 after the authoritative midfielder completed his move from Liverpool, where he had been established as a major star. The 'Little Chief', as the Argentinian is affectionately known, is a player who has earned the respect of all wherever he has played. He made his professional debut under Manuel Pellegrini at River Plate, curiously enough after already having made his international debut for Argentina in a game against Uruguay. After impressing with River for two seasons Mascherano moved to Corinthians in Brazil and won the league title. That form alerted European clubs and he was on the move once again when West Ham United secured his services. The London club bought him and his Corinthians team-mate Carlos Tévez for a combined fee of $35 million. In January 2007 he moved again, this time to Liverpool, but missed out on the Champions League win over FC Barcelona that spring. At Anfield he formed a lethal midfield trio alongside Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso. During his three-and-a-half years at the club, Liverpool reached the Champions League final but failed to win any silverware. Mascherano was hungry for trophies and sensed it was time to move on.

On August 30, 2010 Mascherano signed a four-year contract with FC Barcelona, where he was signed to bolster the centre of midfield alongside Busquets and Touré, before the latter departed for Manchester City. Due to the many injuries suffered by team-mates, the Argentinian progressed from a supporting role to being a central component of the first eleven in his first season. At first he was an alternative for Busquets in midfield, but with Puyol, Milito and Abidal all sidelined, he slipped back into defence and proved excellent in that position, which is where he played when winning his first Champions league winner medal at Wembley. The 2011/12 season saw Javier Mascherano once again demonstrating his versatility as cover for injured absentees. Mainly playing at centre back, he played a magnificent part in the successful assaults on the Spanish Supercup, European Supercup, Clubs World Cup and Copa del Rey. He made 52 appearances and was consolidated as a regular member of the starting line-up.

Mascherano is the only Argentinian player to have won two gold medals at the Olympic Games. After securing his first at the games in Athens in 2004 he then helped his country to further success at Beijing 2008, where he played alongside Lionel Messi. The two Barça players also appeared together for Argentina at the World Cup Finals in Germany 2006 and South Africa 2010, where the South Americans went out in the quarter finals on both occasions.

Jordi Alba Jordi Alba Ramos | 18. Left Wing Back | 1989/03/21 | Aged 23 | Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain | Barça 2012- [€14M, Valencia (La Masia 1998-2005)]

Jordi Alba signed for FC Barcelona on July 5th 2012 after the Club had reached an agreement with Valencia for his transfer. The Catalan wing back was 23 when he joined the Club and was the first signing of the 2012/13 season. Jordi Alba i Ramos was born in Hospitalet de Llobregat on March 21st 1989. After joining Barça at the age of 10, he proceeded through the various academy teams, alongside players such as Bojan Krkic, Fran Mèrida and Dos Santos. At the end of the 2007 season, he left Barça and joined UE Cornellà, where he spent one season, before joining Valencia, who paid a €6,000 signing on fee for him. He figured for the Youth A team and then València CF Mestalla , where he was a key piece in the team which won promotion to the Segona Divisió B. During this period, he also won a debut call up for the Spain Under-19 team.

He spent the 2008/09 season on loan at Gimnàstic de Tarragona, playing 30 games in the second division and played for the Spanish Under 21 team and figured in the Under-20 World Cup in Egypt. He returned to Valencia and became a first team squad member that summer. He made his league debut on September 13th 2009 against Real Valladolid. Although he had been signed as a left wing back, he showed his versatility by figuring in many positions and before leaving for Barça he played 108 times for Valencia – including 48 in his last season. His great performances at Valencia won him a call up to the full Spanish squad in September 2011 and he made his debut under Del Bosque on October 11th 2011 against Scotland. He was selected for the Euro 2012 tournament where he was one of the event’s top players and on July 5th 2012 he was presented as Barça’s - and Tito Villanova’s- first signing of the 2012/13 season.

Marc Bartra Marc Bartra Aregall | 15. Center Back, Right Full Back | 1991/01/15 | Aged 21 | Sant Jaume dels Domenys, Spain | Barça 2009- [barça B, La Masia]

Marc Bartra was born in Sant Jaume dels Domenys, Tarragona, on January 15th 1991. He came to Barcelona to play football when he was still very young, joining RCD Espanyol for the 2001/02 season, before moving to La Masia when he was just 11 years old. Since then, he has risen through the Club’s academy system, standing out as an elegant, ball playing centre half. Starting out in the Aleví A team, he moved through Infantil B and A, Cadet B and A, and the Youth A and B teams. For the 2009/10 season, he joined the Barça B team squad after having played for them whilst still a Youth Team A squad player. That same season he was called up by Pep Guardiola to make his debut with the first team against Atletico Madrid in the league, though Pep used him at right back rather than his more normal central position.

He continued on Guardiola’s radar and whilst he still played with the B team, he was also called up for other league , Cup and European games with the first team and was at Wembley when the team won the Champions League in2011 and at the Vicente Calderon for the 2011/12 Spanish Cup final. Bartra officially joined the first team squad on July 1st 2012. A year before that, he scored his first ever goal for the first team on May 21st 2011 in the last league game of the season against Malaga, but he has been more of a regular in the B team over the last two seasons, making 51 second division appearances and scoring 2 goals. Bartra has represented Spain at Under 18s, under 19s – with whom he took part in the European Championships –and the Under 20s, captaining them in a World Cup. He is also a regular in the Catalan national team.

Martín Montoya Martín Montoya Torralbo | 19. Right Wing Back | 1991/04/14 | Aged 21 | Barcelona, Spain | Barça 2008- [barça B, La Masia]

Martín Montoya was born in Barcelona on April 14th 1991 and at the age of 8 he joined the Club’s academy system. Since then, he has worked his way up through the various categories, finally making his first team debut *on September 9th 2008, whilst still a Youth Team player, coming on in the semi-final of the *Copa Catalunya against UE Sant Andreu and officially joining the first team squad in July 2012.*In the 2008/09 season he joined the Youth A team and also played with Luis Enrique’s B team. On August 19th 2009 he made his first start for the first team, in the Joan Gamper Trophy against Manchester City. The following season, he became a full B team squad member and has played 51 times for the reserves. He made his full league debut under Guardiola on February 26th at the Iberostar Estadi *against RCD Mallorca, coming on for the last five minutes and nearly 10 *months later on December 6th, he made his first European appearance, scoring in the win against FC BATE Borissov.*

With Dani Alves’ injury at the end of the 2011/12 season, Montoya figured in the last four games of the season and in the Spanish Cup final win over Bilbao.

Martín Montoya has played for the Spanish *Under-16s, Under 17s – with whom he won the European Championship – Under 19s and Under 21s, winning the European Championships alongside his Barça teammate Thiago Alcántara in June 2011.*On August 25th of the same year he received his first full international call *up for the friendly against Chile and the Euro 2012 qualifier against Lichtenstein, equalling Tomas Christiansen’s record, set in the 1992/93 season, as the only B team player to get a full international call up.

Adriano Correia Adriano Correia Claro | 21. Wing Back/Winger Right/Left | 1984/10/26 | Aged 28 | Curitiba, Brazil | Barça 2010- [€13.5M, Sevilla]

Adriano joined Barça on July 17th, 2010 at the age of 25, after playing for six seasons at Sevilla. The Brazilian was Barça's second summer signing of 2010 following the capture of David Villa in June. Adriano Correia Claro (26 October, 1984, Curitiba) signed a four year contract with FCB, with the option of a further season and a 90 million Euro buyout clause, on July 17th, 2010. He arrived from Sevilla, where he had played from 2004 to 2010, although he had started out playing futsal as a youngster before first playing the 11 side game for Brazilian outfit Coritiba, where he debuted at the age of 18, a year and a half before he moved to Andalusia. Playing 157 games and scoring 11 league goals, the Brazilian won an impressive number of medals with Seville, picking up at least one title in four of his six seasons at the club. But playing there he had little hope of winning any of the Liga, Champions League or the Clubs World Cup.

Curiously, he played his last game for Sevilla at the Camp Nou, on May 19, 2010, the day the Andalusians won the Copa del Rey at the expense of Atlético Madrid (2-0). In his first season at Barça, Adriano made 31 appearances and was the first choice on the left until injury kept him sidelined for the remainder of the season. He scored his first goal for his new club on February 2, 2011 at Almeria in the Copa del Rey semi final second leg. He became a more regular part of the team in the 2011/12 season, mainly due to a number of injuries to key defenders. He responded brilliantly, scoring three goals in 40 games and contributing to the conquests of the Spanish Supercup, European Supercup, Clubs World Cup and la Copa del Rey. His finest hour was his brace of goals in the semi final of the Clubs World Cup against Al-Sadd.

Adriano also has international experience. He was in the Brazil team that won the U20 World Cup in 2003 and the Copa America in 2004.

Éric Abidal Éric Sylvain Abidal | 22. Left Full Back, Center Back | 1979/09/11 | Aged 33 | Lyon, France | Barça 2007- [€9M, Olympique Lyonnais]

Eric Abidal joined Barça in the 2007/08 season to replace Dutch international Giovanni van Bronckhorst. This was his first taste of domestic football away from France. Born in Lyon (11-9-1979), Abidal started his footballing career with Lyon-la-Duchère in the French CFA 2 Division, where he played as a left sided midfielder. In the summer of 2000, he signed a professional deal with Monaco, making his debut in Ligue 1 on 16th September 2000 against Toulouse. In his first season in the Principality he alternated appearances with the reserves and the first team, with whom he appeared in 8 league matches and once in the Champions League. In the 2001/02 season, Abidal made a further 14 appearances in the Monaco defence, either at full back or using his strength as a centre back. At the end of the season, Abidal asked to go out on loan to get more first team football. He moved to Lille, managed by the man who gave him his Ligue 1 debut with Monaco, Claude Puel. He spent 2 seasons there and gained a reputation as one of the best defenders in the country.

In the summer of 2004, he returned to his hometown when he was signed by the league champions of the previous three seasons, Olympique Lyon. He earned a place in the starting line-up from the very beginning and made his international debut for 'Les Bleus' on August 18th 2004 against Bosnia. Abidal helped Lyon win three more league titles plus three Super Cups, forming part of a team that enthralled the whole of Europe with their great football. In the 2006 World Cup in Germany, he played six of France's seven games and won a runners-up medal, after which he had a great season with Lyon for the third consecutive year, with 31 starts in Ligue 1. He also figured in seven Champions League matches in the starting line-up and played 10 times for France in the 2006-07 season.

Eric Abidal joined FC Barcelona in the summer of 2007. The Frenchman played 30 League games, 10 in the Champions League and 6 in the Cup, sharing left-back duties with Sylvinho, although on more than one occasion Frank Rijkaard used him as a central defender. At the end of the season he played for France in Euro 2008 in Austria and Switzerland. In the 2008/09 season he won the treble with Barça, but it was also a year of misfortune for Abidal. First he was injured against Espanyol and missed eight weeks of football, and on his return he was sent off in the semi finals of both the Champions League and Spanish Cup and so was suspended for both finals in Rome and Valencia. He played 31 games in all three competitions. In the 2009-10 season he reached a peak of form, made some great goal assists but was once again plagued by injury. He played 17 games in the league and 8 in the Champions League.

The 2010/11 season was the hardest of all for Éric Abidal, when he was found to have a liver tumour in March. But showing an amazing fighting spirit, he would be back playing just six weeks later, in the 1-1 draw with Madrid in the Champions League semi final second leg. Abidal started the Wembley final on the left after missing the Rome final though suspension, and captain Puyol left it to him to lift the trophy after they had beaten Manchester United 3-1. That game in London was also his 150th for the club. On January 18, 2012, two days after renewing his contract with Barça, he scored his second goal for the club as they knocked Madrid out in the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey. But the 2011/12 came to a cruel end for Éric Abidal. On Thursday March 15, a year after the announcement of his liver tumour, the club revealed that he was going to need to go into surgery for a transplant. He was released from hospital on May 21, 2012, but still had to return for regular check-ups.

Abidal was in the France team that reached the World Cup final in Germany in 2006 and also appeared at Euro 2008 and the South Africa World Cup in 2010.

Marc Muniesa Marc Muniesa Martínez | 26. Center Back, Left Wing Back | 1992/03/27 | Aged 20 | Lloret de Mar (Girona), Spain | Barça 2009- [barça B, La Masia]

Marc Muniesa *was born on March 27th *1992 in Lloret de Mar, Girona. He started playing football with the Penya Barcelonista de Lloret de Mar, where he played from 1996 to2003. In the summer of 2003 he joined Barça’s academy and since then he has played at all age levels for the Club. When he was just 15, Muniesa was playing for the Youth A team, but a year later he suffered a serious knee injury which kept him out for 10 months. After a slow recovery, it wasn’t until the 2008/09 season that he again began to play with the Youth A team, with whom he won the Spanish Divisió d’Honor Juvenil and the Copa de Campions when he was 17. *

At the end of that season, Muniesa also made his first team debut, at the Camp Nou against Osasuna. He came on on 50 minutes for Sylvinho, becoming the fourth youngest player to ever play for the Club in a league game at the age of 17 and 57 days, but in one of his first interventions in the game, he was shown a harsh straight red. Guardiola then called him into the squad for the Champions League Final against Manchester United in Rome, which the team won 2-0. He spent the 2009 pre-season with the first team squad and played in a number of games, as well as forming part of the squad for the Spanish Super Cup. That same year he signed his first professional contract with Barça B. He was part of the squad for the Champions League group game against BATE Borissov and has become a regular in the first team squad when the defence needs reinforcements because of injuries.

Muniesa has played for the Spanish under-15s, under 16s and under 17s at the European Championships in Germany.

Muniesa was injured in Barça’s 2012/13 first preseason fixture, away to Hamburg (1-2). The defender has anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. He is expected to take six months to recover from the injury.

Midfielders

| . | | Aged | | Barça [barça B, La Masia]

Forwards

[tommonufc]

Reserved for Barça B Overview and Analysis

[tommonufc]

Reserved for Juvenil A (U19) Overview and Analysis

[tommonufc]

Reserved for Tactics, Formations and La Masia Philosophy

[tommonufc]

Reserved for Potential Transfers and Improvements

[tommonufc]

Reserved for future use...

[tommonufc]

Reserved for future use...

[tommonufc]

Sorry for the delay since claiming ownership to the thread guys. Had a good 70% of the thread complete before it was lost after a laptop failure. Have had the first post kicking around in a notepad file for last few days, spotted query to where Barca's thread was in the 'Which thread would you like?' thread earlier, so popped it in the forums.

Shouldn't be too long until everything is nailed down, but the thread is up and running for anybody to post in etc.

[yonko]

It's about time the best club in the World to get its due tread for FM13. Excellent start! And I see that you have reserved a quite a bit of space for future posts and analysis. I'll keep an eye on that.

I think this year our squad has nice depth and doesn't require any transfers unless it's players like Kurt Zouma or Bernard who would perhaps be better developed by the users at the club instead of the AI. Muniain is also someone to keep an eye on for the future, when Villa starts going downhill.

I also think some of youth prospects look quite good like Bartra, Montoya, Muniesa (maybe he will start injured on the full release) and especially Deulofeu. Edgar le and Dongou look nice too, but I'm a little disappointed with how rated are Grimaldo and Samper. The coaching and scouting staff could've also been better rated IMO.

Anyway, I've been mostly focused on understanding the new ME and trying to create a nice Barca tactic, sort of close to what they use IRL. I haven't had as much success and joy as I think the ME is still a little bugged and needs some more polishing, but I also understand that I've only been playing the beta version (with updated ME) and things in that area will improve more with the full release or later patches.

Anyway, KUTGW.

[BCFC_Mike]

Holy moly. Cracking start fella, good luck with the rest of it

[Gooner88]

Another amazing guide from you mate, quality.

[Purefun]

Nothing but respect mate.

[SRL88]

Excellent work dude

[Sapačko]

Great job, looking forward for further updates

Visca Barca !

[gipsy]

Great thread ! cant wait for the additional info

[gipsy]

Now that the thread is opened, I can finally ask my question related to training in FM 13.

Last year, I had training regimes for each set of positions (Defenders, central defenders...... strikers etc)

This year I am a bit puzzled especially for my dear Messi, who is scoring decently but nothing compared to last year. I have completed a season on the beta and he scored 35 goals from 52 games, reasonable but not enough.

I think that this drop is due to me not being able to identify which training regime. As you can see from my tactic, I play him as an AMC-trequartista, attack, last year his training regime was the one I was using for my strikers, this year I am lost, what shall I use? keep him as a trequartista or use something else like deep lying forward, complete forward etc.

Any advices welcome! god I miss training from last year

[dngrs]

really weird tactic you got there

I think thats the problem

how do you expect to play the counter when you are very fluid? very fluid means your offensive guys will drop to help the defense and this means that in a counter you will not have them available up in the front ready to rush towards goal

and why are you using cuenca and dos santos? I think you have too many playmakers, too.

also, I would switch fabregas with iniesta because he's a better scorer for that offensive role

nice rating for adriano and pique

[BCFC_Mike]

Now that the thread is opened, I can finally ask my question related to training in FM 13.

Last year, I had training regimes for each set of positions (Defenders, central defenders...... strikers etc)

This year I am a bit puzzled especially for my dear Messi, who is scoring decently but nothing compared to last year. I have completed a season on the beta and he scored 35 goals from 52 games, reasonable but not enough.

I think that this drop is due to me not being able to identify which training regime. As you can see from my tactic, I play him as an AMC-trequartista, attack, last year his training regime was the one I was using for my strikers, this year I am lost, what shall I use? keep him as a trequartista or use something else like deep lying forward, complete forward etc.

Any advices welcome! god I miss training from last year

Blimey, never seen anything like that I do love to see odd tactics to become a success though

As dngrs said, it's hard to influence counter attacking football when you are already playing with a 'very fluid' style, although I definitely see how/why it could work. With Messi, I would still push him right up top (you can still play him in a trequartista role) and let him free role whenever he likes. All of your players seem to have decent enough avg match ratings, so I'm guessing you still had success using the tactic?

TBH, I find training more simple this year. If I'm honest, whatever training regime you have Messi on, I don't reckon it would make much difference to him So I don't think that's where the problem lies. The only way I could see him scoring more goals, is just pushing him up top rather than the AMC position.

[gipsy]

Yeah I know it has a weird look originally Alves was also at FB position, but he performs even better as a WBR

Well the team plays a bit as a block so the whole team drops to defend and participates to counters, with the players available at Barca, there is absolutely no problems. at the end of the first season, the team scored 125 goals in La Liga, so not that bad. Not sure this tactic would work with lots of teams though.

When the season starts, the first team includes 22-24 players and I rotate a lot. Usually Busquets plays at Dos Santos' position but he is currently injured and I rotate Cuenca with Villa, or Tello or even Deulofeu...

Why not trying your suggestion for Fab and Iniesta, here is how I rotate these two positions:

MCR(support): Xavi/Fab/Roberto

MCL(attack): Iniesta/Thiago/Rafinha

Thanks for the compliment on defense, not that bad in that setup huh?

[dngrs]

Oh and if you want Messi to score more do this:

select him as target man ( I say mixed)

remove attacking role on some of the players because they will score instead of passing to Messi so he scores instead

[gipsy]

@BCFC_Mike

The tactic was devastating last year, trust me the counter attack works without any real issues

I could move Messi up but it would break the idea of playing without a striker.... last year in that setup he was averaging 60 goals a season. I do think it is related to training and as soon as will have tried several combinations of the training I am sure I will get what I am looking for Messi playing as an AMC trequartista but with a training of a striker, guess it will take some trial and errors.

[gipsy]

Messi is already set as TM with supply to feet Actually its true that the AML and AMR score loads, but Messi scored even more than them last year

Ow and I forgot to mention, even though counter is the default strategy I play with attacking strategy all the home games and some of the away games as well

[dngrs]

considering his awesome stats, you are safe with mixed supply.

incredible speed, 13 heading ( intelligence and technique make up for his poor jumping imo) is more than enough.

how do I see how Messi scores his goals? I wanna check for headed goals.

[Ranquelme]

That's an odd but fun looking tactic

[gipsy]

but bloody efficient, haven't lost a Liga game yet, this makes 45 games now. the only match I lost was the champions league against Montpelier, I still don't understand how that happened

[BCFC_Mike]

@BCFC_Mike

The tactic was devastating last year, trust me the counter attack works without any real issues

I could move Messi up but it would break the idea of playing without a striker.... last year in that setup he was averaging 60 goals a season. I do think it is related to training and as soon as will have tried several combinations of the training I am sure I will get what I am looking for Messi playing as an AMC trequartista but with a training of a striker, guess it will take some trial and errors.

Do let us know if things improve with Messi and how you solved it

[Llew_Arshavin23]

Another great thread, tommonufc

One thing: would it be possible for you to up the font size a bit. Makes reading it slightly difficult.

[yonko]

Now that the thread is opened, I can finally ask my question related to training in FM 13.

Last year, I had training regimes for each set of positions (Defenders, central defenders...... strikers etc)

This year I am a bit puzzled especially for my dear Messi, who is scoring decently but nothing compared to last year. I have completed a season on the beta and he scored 35 goals from 52 games, reasonable but not enough.

I think that this drop is due to me not being able to identify which training regime. As you can see from my tactic, I play him as an AMC-trequartista, attack, last year his training regime was the one I was using for my strikers, this year I am lost, what shall I use? keep him as a trequartista or use something else like deep lying forward, complete forward etc.

Any advices welcome! god I miss training from last year

I don't think the problem is in training. Messi pretty much is maxed out in terms of attributes and development, so training doesn't make that much difference to him and especially not in terms of scoring more or less goals. I don't think him improving his finishing from 19 to 20 will mean that he will score 10-20 more goals per season.

I also think that in FM13 ME scoring has been toned down, made more realistic and spread out amongst more attacking players. The ME is made to be taken less advantage of and exploited. At least these are my initial impressions.

Therefore it may have more to do with your tactics than with training. What may have worked in FM12 may not necessarily work in FM13 as the ME is different. To answer your question directly, I think Messi should have training focus set to Trequartista. I also have Villa and Sanchez set to the same focus. Pedro, Tello, Cuenca and Deulofeu are set to train as Poacher.

May I ask is Messi playing as Trequartista in your tactic with default settings or have you tweaked them? How often does he get into scoring positions? Is it a case of him getting chances but not scoring them or is there a lack chances for him all together?

In my beta saves so far (I've had a couple) I've also played Messi as Trequartista but in the ST position and I don't have any problem with his scoring.

[gipsy]

Hi yoonko

here are his settings, haven't changed them since fm12

He gets in scoring positions quite often but willl rather pass the ball than attempt to score

[BCFC_Mike]

Hi yoonko

here are his settings, haven't changed them since fm12

He gets in scoring positions quite often but willl rather pass the ball than attempt to score

Definitely the ME.

[steakfaced]

This is a lovely write up! I'm going to do a journeyman save to start and my goal is to end up at Barca; so see you around 2021!

[dngrs]

maybe because he's in AMC he looks for the pass more than supposed to? which is normal imo

[yonko]

Hi yoonko

here are his settings, haven't changed them since fm12

He gets in scoring positions quite often but willl rather pass the ball than attempt to score

I see, pretty much default Trequartista settings with slight tweaking of his Mentality.

Like I said get used to the idea that FM13 has a different ME than FM12. Some things may work the same, others may work differently. TBH, 35 goals from some who plays in the AMC position is a very nice return. A lot of things in the ME from FM12 were unrealistic, as well as training or any performance gains perceived from training.

I'd say that if you want Messi to score more goals you would have to change your tactics, his instructions or both. It's not the training. If you like to keep playing this striker-less formation, keeping Messi as AMC, then perhaps you should consider changing his role or changing some of his instructions. For example, try setting RFD to sometimes, lower his TTB to sometimes, lower his passing to very short. It's also important how the rest of your team is set up, specifically your wingers (I see that you have your right footed AML set as Winger-attack and right footed AMR as Inside Forward-attack). Is Messi selected as Target Man? Is he set as Playmaker?

Perhaps you can post a question in the Tactics forum and see what others (like Cleon, Rashidi1) will suggest.....

[el duderino]

Good start, will participate in this thread.

[ReggaeBwoy]

Hi yoonko

here are his settings, haven't changed them since fm12

He gets in scoring positions quite often but willl rather pass the ball than attempt to score

Rarely run from deep? This is what all his game is about, running from deep and gliding through challenges.

[tommonufc]

Rarely run from deep? This is what all his game is about, running from deep and gliding through challenges.

I'm fairly sure on this, but forgive me if I'm wrong, but... rarely run from deep would see him stay deep as play is being built up in midfield, instead of charging up to join the striker and onto the defenders toes too early. So in doing this, he can pick the ball up deeper and then run and attack at defenders, instead of already being up with him when he would recieve the ball.

[ReggaeBwoy]

I'm fairly sure on this, but forgive me if I'm wrong, but... rarely run from deep would see him stay deep as play is being built up in midfield, instead of charging up to join the striker and onto the defenders toes too early. So in doing this, he can pick the ball up deeper and then run and attack at defenders, instead of already being up with him when he would recieve the ball.

Hmm, I wonder, hope someone has an explanation to this. Would be useful.

[preben]

Just started the game and I also play Messi as a Trequartista. Have him on default settings except for 'Run With Ball' which I changed to 'Often' and 'Cross Ball' which is changed to 'Rarely'. Didn't get of to the best of starts but now he has 8 goals in 5 matches (including 5 in one game, against Valencia). Often he gets the ball close to the center circle and just runs trough the whole opposition defence. Away to Puta Madrid in the second leg of the Supercopa he did this two times - very resembling of his second goal in the 10/11 Champions League semi-final. I wonder what his PA is on this version - 200?

[preben]

And yeah; great start to the thread tommo

[yonko]

I'm fairly sure on this, but forgive me if I'm wrong, but... rarely run from deep would see him stay deep as play is being built up in midfield, instead of charging up to join the striker and onto the defenders toes too early. So in doing this, he can pick the ball up deeper and then run and attack at defenders, instead of already being up with him when he would recieve the ball.

Messi's game IRL is about dropping deep and taking part in the midfield build up, but he also then suddenly makes late runs into the penalty box (without the ball) to finish off moves which he has started. This is very hard to replicate in FM. We can recreate him dropping off deep, picking up the ball and running with it past defenders to score, but we can't recreate the late runs into the box without the ball.

Still, I feel that playing him on FM as ST in either the Trequartista role or Deep Lying Forward (support) is the closest to how he plays IRL.

[tommonufc]

I think due to his high 'off the ball' 'anticipation' he will, if possible make clever runs into the box - if he's coming from a deep position, say as the ball is being squared back from the byline he will make those late runs. To further emphasise this part of this game would be the 'arrives late in the box' ppm - not sure if he has it, but if not, it may be advised to get him to learn this ppm.

[gipsy]

tommonufc, your thread is great but if it is not to difficult, could you increase the size of the font you are using? There is a lot of info which is great but it's difficult to read. Thanks

[Ben_reeson]

Wow, What an opening first post...

Has actually made me want to start a game with Barcelona instead of the Dortmund game i had planned.

As an Arsenal fan im not always keen on Barcelona as they pinch a few of our players, But there is no denying there quality

and History.

[yonko]

Wow, What an opening first post...

Has actually made me want to start a game with Barcelona instead of the Dortmund game i had planned.

As an Arsenal fan im not always keen on Barcelona as they pinch a few of our players, But there is no denying there quality

and History.

Likewise, Arsenal has taken a few of our youth talents over the years. The difference being that the players you take from our youth system cost you very little money, while the players we have bought from Arsenal have made quite a bit of money for Wenger and the Gooners. Wenger is always sniffing around our youth prospects....I wouldn't be surprised to see him in the delivery room, while Antonella (Messi's GF) gives birth any day now to his son...LOL

[Sapačko]

This thread is just amazing, cannot wait for further updates.

Also when i got my fm im gonna start Barca save absolutely

Visca !

[kamikaze_josh]

Great start Tommo! Very much looking forward to being part of this thread.

[tommonufc]

Thanks for the feedback guys - appreciated. Will have the rest of the player information up this evening, finishing the midfielders and forwards - and probably move on to look at Barca B too.

Stay tuned