FC Barcelona

Founding and Early Years

FC Barcelona was founded on 29 November 1899 by a group of Swiss, English, German and Catalan footballers gathered around Joan Gamper, a young Swiss businessman based in Barcelona who had put out a call through an advertisement in the newspaper Los Deportes. The club played its first matches at the Bonanova ground before moving to the Camp de la Indústria in 1909, its first proper stadium.

Club Evolution

After decades at the Les Corts stadium, the club opened Camp Nou in 1957, then one of the largest stadiums in Europe, which became a symbol of its ambitions. FC Barcelona navigated the Franco dictatorship while embodying Catalan cultural resistance, summed up in the motto "més que un club" (more than a club). Since 2023, the stadium has been undergoing a major renovation under the name Spotify Camp Nou, with a final capacity of 105,000 expected by 2027.

Great Managers

Johan Cruyff left a lasting mark on the club's history, first as an iconic player in the 1970s, then as manager of the "Dream Team" that won the club's first European Cup in 1992. Frank Rijkaard revived the club in the mid-2000s with two La Liga titles and a Champions League crown in 2006. Later, Pep Guardiola, a product of the club's academy, led the most successful side in its history between 2008 and 2012, including the historic sextuple of 2009. More recently, Hansi Flick returned the club to the top of Spanish football in his very first season.

Iconic Players

Some of the greatest players in football history have worn the Barcelona shirt: Johan Cruyff, Diego Maradona, Ronaldinho, Xavi Hernández, Andrés Iniesta and Carles Puyol among them. Lionel Messi spent the bulk of his career at the club (2004-2021), becoming its all-time top scorer and collecting most of his individual honours in the blaugrana shirt. Today's new generation, led by Lamine Yamal and Pedri, continues that academy tradition.

Major Achievements

2009 remains a high point in the club's history: under Pep Guardiola, FC Barcelona became the first Spanish club to win six trophies in the same calendar year (La Liga, Copa del Rey, Champions League, Spanish Super Cup, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup). The club's full trophy list is available further up this page.

The Club Today

After a period of financial and sporting turbulence following Lionel Messi's departure in 2021, FC Barcelona has returned to the summit of Spanish football under Hansi Flick, against its historic rival Real Madrid, while completing the renovation of its historic stadium. Powered by a generation of young talents developed at La Masia, the club aims to reclaim a leading role on the European stage.