Football Club Barcelona, or Barça, was founded in late 1899 by Johan (or Johannes) Gamper, a Swiss native who found his way to Barcelona and became known among Catalans as Joan Gamper.
Table of contents
- Founder Joan Gamper
- The ’40s, ’50s, and ’60s
- Glory Days
- Cruyff’s Dream Team
- The Greatest Year in Club History
- The years after Guardiola
- The new generation of Barça
- Legendary players at FC Barcelona
Founder Joan Gamper
Joan Gamper was a footballer himself, who played for FC Basel. Together with other enthusiasts of the rapidly growing sport—including Britons, Swiss, and Catalans—he decided to start a club. The very first club president was Brit Walter Wild. Gamper took on the role of captain and joined the board. Over four years, he scored more than 100 goals in 48 matches, and the club quickly became a great success.
In 1908, Gamper took on the role of club president, a position he would hold for five seasons, although not consecutively. Among his achievements was securing the club’s first official stadium, Les Corts. In 1925, Spanish dictator Primo de Rivera accused Gamper of Catalan nationalism, leading to his imprisonment and expulsion from Spain. Upon returning to Switzerland, Gamper fell into a depression and, tragically, took his own life in 1930. Since 1966, FC Barcelona has honored its founder by kicking off each season with the Joan Gamper Trophy, a tribute to his legacy.
The ’40s, ’50s, and ’60s
In the 1940s, a pro-Spanish president was appointed, and the Catalan flag on the club’s logo was even (temporarily) replaced with the Spanish flag. This occurred shortly after the Civil War, a time that had divided the country and ultimately brought General Franco to power.
From the 1950s and ’60s onwards, Barça’s success continued to grow, with the club achieving one victory after another. In 1952 alone, they won five trophies: the Spanish league title, the Copa del Rey, the Copa Latina, the Copa Eva Duarte, and the Copa Martini Rossi. A star player during this era was Ladislao Kubala, a Hungarian refugee whose skill on the field became legendary.
In 1957, Barça inaugurated the now-famous Camp Nou stadium (meaning “New Field”). In 1960, they knocked Real Madrid out of the European Cup I after Madrid had claimed five consecutive championships. Unfortunately, Barça didn’t secure the title that year either. The following years were challenging for the club until the arrival of Dutch talent in the 1970s turned the tide.
Glory days
The Dutch Rinus Michels, Johan Cruyff, and Johan Neeskens arrived in Barcelona during the 1970s, marking a turning point for the club. In 1974, Barça won the national title, and FC Barcelona captured the European Cup twice, in 1978 and 1982. While the 1980s were more challenging, top players like Diego Maradona and Bernd Schuster brought excitement to the field.
Cruyff’s Dream Team
In 1988, Cruyff returned, this time as a coach, leading the club into one of its most successful eras. He is still celebrated for this period, where Barça won four consecutive league titles (1991-1994) and claimed the European Championship in 1992, with a memorable goal by Ronald Koeman. Cruyff’s dismissal in 1996 sparked controversy among fans who believed it was unjust.
Right before the new millennium, the club quickly rebounded, winning the European Cup II, Copa del Rey, and Supercup in 1996-1997, with Ronaldo on the field. In 1997, Louis van Gaal took over as coach, leading Barça to win two La Liga titles, the Copa del Rey, and the European Supercup. Van Gaal left in 2000, shortly after club president Josep Lluís Núñez resigned.
The Laporta Era and Rijkaard’s Return
Joan Gaspart succeeded Núñez but left as the club faced financial struggles. In 2003, Joan Laporta took over, hiring Frank Rijkaard as coach and bringing in Ronaldinho as a star player. Barça won the La Liga title again in 2005, along with the Supercup, and in 2006, they captured both the Liga and the Champions League. After two less successful seasons in 2007 and 2008, Rijkaard was replaced by former player Pep Guardiola.
The Best Year in Club History
Guardiola’s debut season as head coach was immediately historic, with stars like Leo Messi, Samuel Eto’o, Andres Iniesta, and Xavi leading the team to victory in La Liga and the Copa del Rey. They also won the Champions League, the Spanish Supercup, the UEFA Supercup, and the Club World Cup, marking 2009 as the club’s most successful year with six major trophies.
In the 2009-2010 season, Barça won La Liga and the King’s Cup, and in 2010-2011, they again claimed the Champions League and La Liga titles. Although the 2011-2012 league title went to another club, Barça took home the Copa del Rey. After that season, Guardiola left, with Tito Vilanova taking over, who led them to another La Liga title in 2013. That season was managed by Argentine coach Gerardo Martino, followed by Luis Enrique and later Ernesto Valverde.
The years after Guardiola
In the years following the glory days under Pep Guardiola, FC Barcelona certainly did not stand still. The club changed coaches, and in 2013, Gerardo Martino took over. That year, Barcelona won the Spanish Super Cup but missed out on the La Liga title and the Champions League.
In the years that followed, the legendary attacking trio known as MSN—featuring Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, and the Brazilian Neymar—was formed. This trio proved to be a major success. In 2015, under the leadership of Luis Enrique, Barcelona achieved a historic treble, winning the Champions League, Copa del Rey, and La Liga. It was an extraordinary achievement for the Catalan club. In the seasons that followed, Barça continued to perform well, securing another league title and two more Copa del Rey trophies. However, when Luis Enrique departed, it marked the end of an era.
With Ernesto Valverde as the new coach, Barcelona embarked on a fresh chapter. The club had high expectations, hoping for another successful period. In the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 seasons, Barça did manage to secure the La Liga title, but their performance in the Champions League fell short compared to previous years.
The new generation of Barça
Ronald Koeman’s tenure at FC Barcelona was also short-lived. Club legend Xavi returned to take over from Koeman, bringing a fresh approach to the team. Although Xavi made significant changes, no major trophies were won in the 2021-2022 season. However, the following season proved more successful, with Barcelona claiming the La Liga title and winning the Spanish Super Cup.
In the 2023-2024 season, the La Liga title went to Real Madrid. Still, the emerging talents under Xavi’s leadership brought hope for a promising future. This season also saw Lamine Yamal make his debut with the first team. The young forward is widely regarded as one of the world’s most exciting talents and is often compared to Lionel Messi. Like Messi, Lamine Yamal came through Barça’s own youth academy, adding a special touch to his story. Alongside Lamine Yamal, stars like Pedri, Gavi, and Lewandowski continue to contribute to the team’s development and success.
The 2024-2025 season has begun with high promise. Barcelona is dominating in La Liga and achieving remarkable success in the Champions League, including a convincing win over Bayern Munich. The 17-year-old Lamine Yamal plays a crucial role, alongside top players such as Frenkie de Jong. This season, the team is led by German coach Hansi Flick, steering Barça toward what looks to be a triumphant year.
Legendary Players at FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona boasts a rich history filled with iconic players who contributed to countless titles and established Barça as a global football powerhouse. These legends, from visionary playmakers to relentless strikers, have each left their mark on the Catalan club. Below, discover some of the legendary players who played an unforgettable role in FC Barcelona’s history.
- Joan Gamper (1908-1925)
- Diego Armando Maradona (1982-1984)
- Johan Cruyff (1973-1978)
- Johan Neeskens (1974-1979)
- Gary Lineker (1986-1989)
- Ronald Koeman (1989-1995)
- Pep Guardiola (1990-2001)
- Hristo Stoichkov (1990-1998)
- Romario (1993-1995)
- Ronaldo Nazario Lima (1996-1997)
- Rivaldo (1997-2002)
- Patrick Kluivert (1998-2004)
- Xavi Hernandez (1998-2015)
- Ronald de Boer (1999-2000)
- Frank de Boer (1999-2003)
- Carles Puyol (1999-2014)
- Marc Overmars (2000-2004)
- Ronaldinho (2002-2008)
- Andrés Iniesta (2002-2018)
- Lionel Messi (2003-2021)
- Samuel Eto’o (2004-2009)
- Gerard Piqué (2008-2022)
- Sergio Busquets (2008-2023)
- Neymar Jr (2013-2017)
- Luis Suarez (2014-2020)
- Frenkie de Jong (2019-present)
