Barcelona: FC Barcelona was founded 121 years ago on this day — November 29, 1899. The club was founded by Joan Gamper and a group of Swiss, Spanish, English, and Catalan footballers. This club is a symbol of Catalanism.
On 22 October in 1899, Hans Gamper displayed an advertisement in Los Deportes stating his wish to form a football club. His advertisement got a massive positive response and it ultimately led to a meeting that was held at Gimnasio Solé and the same was attended by eleven players.
After the meeting on 29 November 1899, FootBall Club Barcelona was born. Among the eleven players who attended the meeting was Walter Wild, who in Catalan was known as Gualteri Wild. He was the first-ever President of FC Barcelona. He was re-elected three times.
Campo de la calle Indústria was initially used as the stadium for FC Barcelona. With a new stadium the way for stable income was generated. During the same time, a logo competition was held, which was eventually won by Carles Comamala. The club still wears the same crest with a very few minor changes.
Hans Gamper who also known as Joan Gamper became the President of the club on five occasions between 1908 and 1925. By 1922, almost 20,000 club members were accounted for. With more members and more finance, the club moved to Les Cortes.
Jack Greenwell became the first full-time manager of FC Barcelona hired by Joan Gamper. Since the day of inception, FC Barcelona has won 74 trophies domestically and 20 European and worldwide titles. This humongous feat includes 26 La Liga, 30 Copa del Rey, 13 Supercopa de España, 3 Copa Eva Duarte, and 2 Copa de la Liga trophies, 5 UEFA Champions League titles, a record 4 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, a joint-record 5 UEFA Super Cup, a record 3 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, and 3 FIFA Club World Cup.
Barcelona hold the record of being one of the three founding members of Primera Divison who have never been relegated from the top division along with Athletic Bilbao and Real Madrid. One of the most interesting aspects of Barcelona is that the supporters own and operate the club.
In 1940, the club came up with “penyes” which means a mix between the fan club and a financial support club. The first Penya Solera, was formed in 1944,later in 1953 the penyes proposed the building of Camp Nou thereby exhibiting their financial powers. Till date the penyes politically influences the club.
In 1979, a farmhouse called La Masia de Can Planes was used to house young talented players who were scouted from outside of Barcelona. The idea was proposed by Jaume Amat. In 2010, La Masia became the first youth academy who trained all the three finalists of Ballon d’Or – Andres Iniesta, Lionel Messi and Xavi Hernandes.
“The player who has passed through La Masia has something different to the rest, it’s a plus that only comes from having competed in a Barcelona shirt from the time you were a child,” said Pep Guardiola former FC Barcelona coach and player.
FC Barcelona stands right now after 121 years since its foundation as the fourth most valuable sports team and the world’s richest football club in terms of revenue.
