Barcelona Super Soccer

Barcelona Elections Set To Be Held On June 13

2010-01-29T11:57:00.000-08:00

Spanish and European champions Barcelona to elect a new chairman in June 13 to replace Joan Laporta, the club announced Friday.Under the club's rules, Laporta, 47, can no longer stand for election again after holding the post since 2003.Several candidates have already come forward, including vice chairmen Alfons Godall and Jaume Ferrer. Former vice chairman Sandro Rosell is also expected to stand.

Laporta said earlier this month that he was considering creating a political party to seek independence for Spain's Catalonia region and running for office himself to appoint his successor.“The board has decided that elections will be held on June 13,” Laporta told Spanish daily Marca.

Ex-Barcelona vice-president Sandro Rosell is one of the candidates in the upcoming springtime elections for the club's presidency and has announced that he wants "to be the Blaugrana's president for Barcelona, not to have more power," according to Marca.

Rosell also spoke of the contagious love his father had for football which created his love for Barca, but admitted that his family tried to convince him not to run in the elections because of the great responsibility required to govern the club.

Barcelona have lifted eleven titles since Laporta’s arrival, equalling the most successful period in the club’s history when, under Johan Cruyff, the Blaugrana lifted the same number of trophies between 1989-94."The date is right to hold elections in view of the sporting reasons. Laporta has already offered his backing to current vice-president Alfons Godall who is the clear favourite to succeed his current boss.

Gudjohnsen Decide to Choose Spurs for His New Club

2010-01-29T11:20:00.000-08:00

The former Barcelona star joined Tottenham on loan from Monaco until the end of the season following a medical at White Hart Lane on Thursday. Harry Redknapp has hit back at West Ham after Hammers' new owner David Sullivan accused Spurs of hijacking their deal for striker Eidur Gudjohnsen

Sullivan was outraged and said he hoped Spurs got their come-uppance one day but Redknapp said the decision as to which club Gudjohnsen would sign for was down to the player himself and nobody else. Don't blame me: Redknapp

The player joins an attacking line-up which already includes Robbie Keane, Jermain Defoe, Peter Crouch and Roman Pavlyuchenko.And Redkanpp said: 'He's player I've always admired. Team-mates: Former Barcelona ace Gudjohnsen could now find himself playing upfront alongside England striker Jermain Defoe (left) at White Hart Lane

The Tottenham boss also confirmed that Birmingham were in talks for Russian striker Pavlyuchenko but claims he was not desperate to get rid of him. He added: 'We're not keen to sell him. The 31-year-old Icelander, who also attracted interest from London rivals West Ham, underwent a medical and agreed terms on the move on Thursday.

"He's a player I've always admired," said boss Harry Redknapp. "He can play several positions and is very clever. West Ham had been confident of arranging a deal after Gudjohnsen underwent a medical at the club.But Spurs, who BBC Sport understands have been negotiating a deal for the player for several weeks, convinced him to opt for north rather than east London.

Gudjohnsen will provide cover for a number of positions as they look to push for a top-four finish.Your thoughts on Gudjohnsen's move. Gudjohnsen had got as far as having a medical at West Ham, and his decision to choose Spurs upset West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola, a former Chelsea team-mate of the Icelandic player.

"I am disappointed with Spurs and disappointed with Gudjohnsen. Gudjohnsen has won League titles in England, Holland and Spain, and was an unused substitute for Barcelona when they won the Champions League final in 2009.

Barcelona Increase their Income Nearly 20% Over Same Period

2010-01-28T08:45:00.000-08:00

The newest News of Barcelona closed its record-breaking 2009 with a net profit of eight million euros (C$11.9 million). The Spanish champion said Thursday it earned 222.8 million euros (C$330 million) between July and December, an increase of nearly 20 per cent over the same period last year.

Barcelona increase their income by Champions League profits, a pre-season tour of the United States, an exhibition game in Kuwait and new sponsorship deals all added income. Much of the increase came from player signings - with 45 million euros (C$66.7) paid to Inter Milan for striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic - and team bonuses after the club won all six competitions it competed in.

Income increased across all parts of the club's activities to 222.8 million euros, from 186 million in the same period a year earlier, a gain of 19.7 percent, Barca said on their website (www.fcbarcelona.com). New sponsorship deals with TV3, Etisalat and Turkish Airlines helped boost revenue, as well as a tour of the United States and a friendly in Kuwait, while the club also earned more from gate receipts, they added.

The club spent more on player salaries due to new signings such as striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, as well as on improved contracts and bonuses for the three titles won in the period, the Spanish and European Super Cups and the Club World Cup. "The figures highlight that Barcelona is consolidating year after year a self-financing and sustainable business model," the club said. Barcelona proof that they not just a football club but also a company.

Dani Alves Shine as Barcelona Players

2010-01-27T03:55:00.000-08:00

Barcelona’s midfield maestro Xavi has praised the performance of colleague Dani Alves in the wake of their 3-0 win versus Valladolid which extended their lead at the Primera Division summit. Both Xavi and Alves netted on the way to the comfortable win, and the pair combined on numerous occasions during the match on the right hand side.

Barcelona are currently 8 points clear of rivals Real Madrid, who face Malaga tonight at the Santiago Bernabeu. Right back Dani Alves was the star performer as FC Barcelona cruised to a 3-0 away win to Valladolid. The win means that Barcelona has opened up a temporary eight point lead over Real Madrid at the top of the Spanish La Liga table.

It also means Barca has reached the midway point of the Spanish top flight season unbeaten for the first time in its history. The game was played on a greasy pitch in the Nuevo Zorilla Stadium. Despite a bright start from Valladolid, the result was never in doubt from the moment Barca opened the scoring after 21 minutes.

Once again Barcelona caught Valladolid flat footed on the break and although Alves looked to cross to the far post, his center flew over Justo Villar and into the back of the Valladolid goal. Zlatan Ibrahimovich wasted a chance to make it 3-0 before the break for a poor control from a Xavi pass.

Valladolid's only chance was a Borja's free kick, which was well blocked by the impressive Victor Valdes. Alves had a hand in Barcelona's third goal, which arrived 10 minutes into the second half. Ibrahimovich controlled the ball and gave Leo Messi a pinpoint pass for him to sidefoot home his 15th goal of the campaign.

Barcelona Maintain Their Lead

2010-01-26T21:28:00.000-08:00

FC Barcelona aims to take good advantage of the positive mood of the club and reach the halfway point of the season with an unbeaten record in Spain's BBVA Primera Liga.The Catalan side travels to struggling Valladolid five points clear of Real Madrid and with its morale sky high. Pep Guardiola's announcement that he will continue as first team coach for another year has calmed down worries about his future and stopped any rumors of a possible departure.

Guardiola will be without injured central midfielder Sergio Busquets, but can count on Seydou Keita, who returned to training on Thursday after Mali's early exit from the African Nations Cup. Valladolid meanwhile is struggling one place above the relegation zone and coach Jose Luis Mendilibar will have to adapt his tactic of pushing his defense forward to the half way line otherwise his side could have real problems against the neat passing of Xavi and Andres Iniesta and the pace of Leo Messi.

Barcelona moved eight points clear of Real Madrid at the top of the Spanish league with a 3-0 win at lowly Valladolid to finish an impressive first half of the season. Two goals in as many minutes from Xavi (20 min) and Dani Alves (22) on Saturday set the tone before Lionel Messi scored his sixth goal in three games to take his tally to 15.

Real, beaten 1-0 by Athletic Bilbao last time out, are now under extreme pressure to respond with a home win over Malaga on Sunday or risk Barcelona running away with the title. It is halfway through the season and Barca are still unbeaten and their tally of 49 points from 19 games is just one less than their record last season. Barcelona become only the fifth team to go unbeaten for the first half of the season, joining Real Madrid, Athletic Bilbao, Espanyol and Real Sociedad in the elite club.

Barcelona Made A New Record

2010-01-26T21:18:00.001-08:00

Barcelona became only the fifth team to be unbeaten at the midway point of 19 games, joining Real madrid, Athletic Bilbao, Espanyol and Real Sociedad in the elite club. No Spanish team has ever gone the whole season unbeaten over a 38-game season with Real the last side to go the whole campaign unbeaten back in 1932 although there were only 18 games.

A record of 15 wins and four draws has produced 49 points just one less than their record-breaking 50 point total at this stage last season. "We got 50 last season and 49 this season so we are on the same track but there are lots of games left in the season," said coach Pep Guardiola.

Last season Barca streaked 12 points clear of their rivals Real but then let their guard down and had to produce a title winning 6-2 win at the Bernabeu to all but clinch the title. "I still don't think the (points) difference is an issue, there's plenty of games left to play," added Guardiola. As well as going unbeaten Barca have the best attack in the league with 49 goals and the meanest defence conceding just 10 goals.

Barca's 3-0 win over Valladolid meant a third consecutive clean sheet in the league and a lot of that was down to goalkeeper Victor Valdes who pulled off some key saves. Iniesta also defended striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic who has hit a dry patch with his last goal coming back in December. Goals have not really been a problem for Barca of late with Lionel Messi scoring six in the last three games to take his season's tally to 15 while the team has plundered 12 in the last three outings.

Preview Match Against Valladolid

2010-01-22T07:52:00.001-08:00

Toiling just above the relegation zone of La Primera, Valladolid have the misfortune to have to welcome Barcelona to the Jose Zorrilla, doubtless mindful of the excellence of the side they will entertain on Saturday night. Prior to Christmas, Jose Luis Mendilibar’s unit were at least the proverbial tough nut to crack. Against Barcelona, winning even a point would have to be considered an unexpected bonus.

With just 90 minutes to be played before the season reaches its half-way mark, Barcelona have already been crowned winter champions in Spain, having assailed Real Madrid by five points, enjoying a record unbeaten run from the start of the campaign.

In addition, Lionel Messi became the youngster Barcelona player to score 100 goals for the club last weekend when the Blaugrana exerted revenge upon Sevilla for their Copa del Rey exit. Having scored twice in the midst of the 4-0 rout, the diminutive Argentine actually reached 101 goals.

Though wounded by their Copa del Rey exit, Barcelona are still a side that feel good about themselves, taking comfort in their brilliant second half blitz of Sevilla last weekend. FC Barcelona aims to take good advantage of the positive mood of the club and reach the halfway point of the season with an unbeaten record in Spain's BBVA Primera Liga.

The Catalan side travels to struggling Valladolid five points clear of Real Madrid and with its morale sky high.Guardiola will be without injured central midfielder Sergio Busquets, but can count on Seydou Keita, who returned to training on Thursday after Mali's early exit from the African Nations Cup.

Real Madrid has the advantage of playing its game after Barcelona finishes and is favorite against Malaga.Manuel Pellegrini's side is still without the injured Gonzalo Higuain and Karim Benzema will continue in attack.Preparations for the match were not helped by playing a midweek friendly in Albania, but that game did allow Kaka to score his first goal of 2010.

Malaga meanwhile climbed out of the relegation zone last weekend thanks to a 1-0 win at home to Getafe and Juan Muniz' s side has become increasingly tough to beat in recent weeks.Finally Sevilla coach Manolo Jimenez had good news this week after a tough start to 2010. Both Kanoute and Luis Fabiano will be available for the home game against an Almeria side that is unbeaten in three since Juanma Lillo took over as first team coach.

Sergio Busquets Will Miss League Match Against Valladolid

2010-01-20T12:59:00.000-08:00

Barcelona will be without midfielder Sergio Busquets for next weekend's match with Real Valladolid due to injury.Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets will miss the Spanish leader's upcoming league match against Valladolid with a bruised kidney. The Spain midfielder spent Saturday night in hospital after suffering the injury during a 4-0 win over Sevilla at the Camp Nou.The 21-year-old Busquets was released from hospital Sunday afternoon and has been ordered to rest for one week. Busquets has been a regular under coach Pep Guardiola, making 24 appearances this season.

Barcelona will have to do without the services of Sergio Busquets for the trip to Real Valladolid this weekend. According to Marca, Busquets suffered a renal contusion in the match against Sevilla, and had to spend some time under observation at the hospital. With Yaya Toure also unavailable on African Nations Cup duty, may force Guardiola to rely on a substitute in the defensive midfield and youth product Jonathan dos Santos or Mexican international Rafa Marquez seem to fit the bill.

Barcelona currently lie on top of La Liga, five points ahead of Real Madrid. Reports in Spain now suggest Busquets will miss the La Liga match against Valladolid next Saturday.In preparing for their next league match against Valladolid, Pep Guardiola was without Spanish international Sergio Busquets, who is out injured with a contusion in his leg. Youngster Jeffren Suarez also returned to training today after recovering from injury and Thiago, Jonathan dos Santos, Gai Assulin and Victor Vazquez also joined the first team in training today.

New Barcelona Sponsor

2010-01-20T12:41:00.001-08:00

Turkish Airlines (THY), Turkey’s national carrier, signed a sponsorship deal with Spanish first division soccer club FC Barcelona on Monday.THY General Manager Temel Kotil and FC Barcelona President Joan Laporta signed the sponsorship deal at a ceremony at the club’s stadium Nou Camp, which was also attended by THY’s Executive Board members Orhan Birdal and Mehmet Büyükekşi, along with Control Board members Naci Ağbal and İsmail Gerçek. THY will carry Barcelona players to tournaments and camps outside Spain.

THY is the third foreign company to become the official sponsor for FC Barcelona. The club currently has four other sponsorship deals, which were previously signed with La Caixa Bank, Estrella Damm, Nike and Audi. THY sponsorship does not include charter flights. As part of the promotion, five FC Barcelona fans earned free THY return tickets from Barcelona to İstanbul.

The airline currently flies to 37 points within the country and 156 points worldwide.Turkish Airlines has signed a three-year sponsorship deal with FC Barcelona football club in a ceremony in Barcelona.As the result of this sponsorship Turkish Airlines will transport the players of Barcelona to all the tournaments and training camps as well.

The Board Member of Turkish Airlines, Mr. Mehmet Buyukeksi, the Inspector Board Members of Turkish Airlines, Mr. Naci Agbal and Mr. Ismail Gercek have attended ceremony along with the players of Barcelona football club and more than 100 media members from Spain, Turkey and the countries that Turkish Airlines operates.Turkey's national carrier Turkish Airlines (THY) has signed a sponsorship deal with Spanish FC Barcelona.

THY General Manager Temel Kotil and FC Barcelona President Joan Laporta initialed the agreement and among those present were THY’s Executive Board members Orhan Birdal and Mehmet Büyükeksi and Control Board members Naci Agbal and Ismail Gerçek. THY covers 156 destinations around the world and 37 cities inside Turkey.

THY will be Barcelona's official carrier for tournaments and camps outside Spain. Barcelona currently has four sponsorship deals with La Caixa Bank, Estrella Damm, Nike and Audi and THY becomes third foreign company to sign a deal with the famous club. The deal allows for THY to make a commercial with Barcelona players and to use the sponsorship relationship in promotional material.

THY's recent promotional film starring Kevin Costner was screened during the during a first division league match between FC Barcelona and Sevilla on Sunday. Five FC Barcelona fans earned free promotional THY return tickets from Barcelona to Istanbul.

Barcelona Target in Next Transfer

2010-01-20T12:24:00.000-08:00

Manchester United's uncertain financial future has prompted Spanish giant Barcelona to try to unsettle Old Trafford’s most valuable asset, Wayne Rooney. With the Premier League champions more than £700million in debt and unable to guarantee significant spending on transfers, Europe’s biggest club are wondering if players such as Rooney may become available.

Barcelona appeared to kick off a campaign to attract his attention on Tuesday by apparently leaking a story to Daily Star newspaper claiming that the striker has told former United team-mate Gerard Pique now at the Catalan club - that he ‘would love to play for Barcelona’.

Last week’s bond issue is aimed at raising £500m to alleviate the club’s debt and the prospectus that accompanied the issue revealed United may one day have to sell players, possibly even Old Trafford, if things get worse. According to the Daily Star newspaper in England, Pep Guardiola has his eye on England striker Wayne Rooney.

The Daily Star claims that Barcelona is prepared to meet the England star's financial demands to make him part of the Catalan team. Rooney's contract with Alex Ferguson's Manchester United is up for renegotiation after the World Cup in South Africa, at which point he would have two seasons left with the English club.

The news follows recent revelations about the state of United's finances. Huge debt interest payments have raised the prospect that manager Sir Alex Ferguson could be forced to sell his best players to raise funds. The La Liga giants are aware that United would resist a move for their star asset but are encouraged by the fact United may be forced to listen.

Guardiola Agress New Barcelona Deal

2010-01-20T11:54:00.000-08:00

Guardiola led Barca to six trophies in 2009, including the Spanish league and the Champions League."Guardiola told me he was committed to staying for at least one more season," said Barcelona president Joan Laporta.Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola on Wednesday agreed to a one-year contract extension that ties him to the European champions through 2011.

“It was an unanimous decision that Pep should continue as coach,” Barcelona club president, Joan Laporta, told a packed press conference.The club said the deal would be signed by Guardiola and whoever wins the club’s presidential elections scheduled for this spring.

Guardiola led Barcelona to an unprecedented six major trophies in one year after replacing Frank Rijkaard at the start of the 2008-09 season, winning the Champions League, Spanish league, Copa del Rey, European and Spanish Supercups and the Club World Cup.

Laporta said the club aimed to keep Guardiola for many more seasons but Guardiola said he preferred to sign short-term contracts.“I believe you should for sign for short periods in which, as coach, you have to win things, win the players, win the fans,” he said.

Guardiola became only the sixth man to win Europe’s top competition as a player (1992) and coach when Barcelona beat Ferguson’s Manchester United 2-0 in the Champions League final in Rome last May.

Barcelona won last year’s league title with a record points haul and added a record 25th Copa del Rey title after two seasons without silverware. In his first season in charge Guardiola helped Barca become the first Spanish team ever to win the treble of Champions League, Primera Division and Copa del Rey.

The Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola Renew Contract

2010-01-19T21:53:00.000-08:00

Barcelona midfielder and IFFHS Player of the Year Xavi Hernandez gave a press conference today after training, in which he demonstrated his support for coach Pep Guardiola, who has been subject of much press of late with the coach's contractual future still uncertain."Pep is the best coach in the world and the best that this team could have. I cannot imagine Barca without Guardiola," declared the Spanish midfield wizard.

If a contract extension presents itself, he will take it, but if not he will wait."Xavi also had comments about Lionel Messi reaching the 100-goal mark with Barca. Finally, the Catalan midfielder analysed the past weekend in La Liga as Barca extended their lead in the table to five points over rivals Real Madrid, a difference that Xavi views as important but not sufficient enough to relax. Valencia are also playing very well."

Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez said Tuesday he was confident that coach Josep Guardiola will renew his contract with the European champions before it expires at the end of the season."I can't imagine Barca without Guardiola. Guardiola, who turned 39 on Monday, took over from Dutchman Frank Rijkaard in June 2008 after being promoted from his job as coach of Barcelona's B side.

Under his guidance during the 2008-09 season the Catalan side won the Champions League, Spanish league, the Kings Cup, the Spanish Supercup and the European Supercup.Last month Barcelona also won the Club World Cup final with a 2-1 win over Argentine side Estudiantes.

The Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola should agree a contract extension that would keep him with the Spanish and European champions beyond this season, midfielder Xavi said yesterday.Guardiola has yet to commit to a new deal and president Joan Laporta said on Monday the La Liga club were resigned to rivals trying to lure away the 39-year-old, who led Barça to an unprecedented six trophies in 2009.

Camp Nou Stadium History

2010-01-17T12:34:00.000-08:00

In the early days, the club constantly switched between different grounds. In the second stage, the club was consolidated by finding a permanent home at Les Corts. The need for a new stadium The architects of the new stadium were Francesc Mitjans Miró, cousin of Miró-Sans, and Josep Soteras Mauri, with the collaboration of Lorenzo García Barbón.

The date on which the stadium was to be inaugurated was September 24, 1957. In the Barcelona City Council’s Salón de las Crónicas, on Saturday September 21, José María de Cossío, a member of the Real Academia Española, solemnly declared the celebrations of the inauguration of the new stadium open.

That same September weekend, a series of international matches were played at Les Corts and the Palacio Municipal de Deportes involving the club’s different sports teams. The celebrations continued with the holding of a solemn mass and the blessing of the stadium by the Archbishop of Barcelona, Gregorio Modrego.

Although work on the stadium was not yet complete, more than 90,000 spectators were able to witness the event, which continued with representatives of all the major football clubs in Catalonia parading on the pitch, as well as members of the club’s other sports teams and the supporters clubs. FC Barcelona played a friendly against Polish side Warsaw.

The first Barça line-up ever to appear at the Camp Nou featured: Ramallets, Olivella, Brugué, Segarra, Vergés, Gensana, Basora, Villaverde, Martínez, Kubala and Tejada. Barça won the match 4-2 with goals from Eulogio Martínez (whose 11th minute strike was the first goal ever at the Camp Nou), Tejada, Sampedro and Evaristo. At half time, 1,500 members of the Agrupación Cultural Folclórica de Barcelona danced a huge sardana and freed 10,000 doves. Camp Nou is the home of Barcelona FC, and is the third largest football stadium in the World after the stadiums in Sao Paulo, Brazil and Mexico City.

The improvements are planned to establish Camp Nou as a European architectural landmark.Other major rivals are Barcelona's second team, Espanyol, and Atletico Madrid, Valencia, Mallorca and Zaragoza.

When the unfinished Nou Camp was inaugerated in 1957 it was packed with more than 90,000 people. Enlarged to its present capacity for for the 1982 World Cup, the Nou Camp can empty in 5 minutes, despite the large number of spectators.

The FC Barcelona Centre for Documentation and Studies

2010-01-17T05:14:00.000-08:00

The FC Barcelona Centre for Documentation and Studies, located on the second floor of the Club Museum, is devoted to the history of the Club. It is divided into four sections: a newspaper and periodicals section, a library, historic archives and a photographic archive. Club founder Joan Gamper first had the idea of setting up a Barca museum in the 1920s, but for a number of reasons, it was not until 1984 when President Josep Lluis Nuñez was in charge of the club that his vision came to fruition. Not only is it the best footballing museum in the world, it is also the most popular museum of any kind in Catalonia, regularly receiving more than 1,160,000 visitors a year, and is a reference point for many other such museums around the world.

In 2000, the ex president Gaspart helped ensure that the museum would be named after the man who was the main driving force behind its creation, ex president Nuñez.

The Centre for Documentation and Studies was inaugurated on 20th October 1994, comes under the control of the Clubs Communications Dept. and is funded by the FC Barcelona Foundation.

It is divided into four sections: a newspaper and periodicals section, a library, historic archives and a photographic archive. The cultural heritage contained on these shelves is extraordinary and includes the original Statutes of 1911 signed by Joan Gamper himself.

The Centre for Documentation and Studies was inaugurated on 20th October 1994. It comes under the control of the Club’s Communications Dept. and is funded by the FC Barcelona Foundation. Use of the Centre is free to all and it is an essential source for journalists and fans who wish to research the history of the Club.

Since January 2006, the Centre for Documentation and Studies has embarked on an ambitious project to digitalise the catalogue and research new material. In addition, the Centre, directed by the historian Carles Santacana, organises activities designed to bring its resources to a wider audience and forms part of the network of archive material of Catalonia through agreements with other organisations. The first practical result of this new phase was the acquisition of the Horaci Seguí photographic collection, more than a million and a half photographs related with Barca in the period from 1963 to 2003.

Barcelona TV

2010-01-17T04:55:00.000-08:00

First, broadcasts of matches. The other great parts of Barça TV’s schedules are the entertainment, magazine and club history programmes. These include ‘Infopenyes', aimed at supporters clubs, and ‘Histories del Camp Nou'.

Barça’s television channel also includes exclusive interviews, the broadcast of first team footballers’ press conferences, and live transmissions of training sessions before Champions League games. But more than anything, Barça TV is about information, because Barça comes alive on Barça TV.

The programmes focus in particular on the football first team but also cover the club’s other sports sections and its social initiatives.

Information, entertainment, live matches featuring the football first team, academy teams in all categories, historic Barça games and specific programmes about the club’s social fabric have been and remain the core themes of the station’s programmes.

In February 2004 Canal Barça changed its name to Barça TV, after the club regained the exclusivity rights previously held by Telefónica Sports.

Since 13 December 2008, the station has been broadcast free-to-air all over Catalonia on programme 2 on DTT in order to enhance services for members and fans alike. On DTT Barcelona’s TV station seeks to be the reference channel for Barça fans. The club’s official TV channel is based at Barça’s ground, with sets in the mixed area – in the changing room area – and in the main Camp Nou stand. In addition, Barça TV also broadcasts from the Miniestadi, the Ciudad Deportiva sports complex and the Palau Blaugrana arena.

The Barcelona Veterans Association

2010-01-17T04:15:00.001-08:00

At present, the association has 800 members, the majority of whom are former players from the entire range of Club sports sections. The rest of the membership is made up of Barca fans who wish to help the development of the association.

Nowadays, the main work of the ABV revolves around guaranteeing dignified social, working, economic and medical standards of living for all veterans. In addition, the association promotes contact between former players and has become a link with the living history of FC Barcelona. For this reason, apart from promoting and spreading the Barca spirit, the ABV also contributes to the promotion of the values of football based on the experience of its members.

Ramon Alfonseda has been the president of the ABV since 2003 and works together with 4 vice-presidents: José Antonio Zaldúa, Txiki Begiristain, Josep M. Fusté and Eusebio Sacristán.

Among the activities organised over the year, the numerous football matches played around Catalonia are of particular note. There are also various round table debates between former and current players and an annual meeting of former FC Barcelona players. In addition, there are a variety of events held to recognise and celebrate the contribution of personalities from the Barca family, including Josep Carreras, Àngel Mur and Joaquim M. Puyal.

The ABV has also been a leading voice in the Sports Group of Former Football Players Associations (EPFA) (link: www.efpafootball.com ). This body aims to be a meeting point for former players throughout Europe. It reflects on the role of former players in society and also organises sporting and social activities.

Every Tuesday and Friday, a group of FC Barcelona veterans gathers at the Club’s Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper in Sant Joan Despí to play football. These faithful, most of them over 60, have embraced the bi-weekly session as a way of maintaining their connection to the storied football club as well as exorcising some of their competitive demons.

The group is a mixed assortment of ex-players, from Barça greats such as Eduard Manchón and Pepito Ramos, to reserve players who were never called up to the first team. Nevertheless, on this field, the aura of Barça football transcends personal accomplishment, and each proud player is united by the tradition of one of football’s greatest clubs.

The matches are taken quite seriously. Some players arrive early to stretch and warm up. Some jog laps around the pitch, briefly stopping every now and then to adjust their knee braces. Others form circles and begin passing drills, reenacting the pre-game rituals of years before. Former goalie Alberto Maiquez stands in front of a net, eyes and gloves ready to defend practice shots. Conversation is at a minimum—the focus is on playing, not socialising.

After enough veterans arrive to form teams, positions are taken and the match begins. At first, the old men appear slow and cumbersome. However, the pace of play increases, and it becomes clear that while age has surely slowed and dulled capability, the skill to formulate an attack remains. Carefully setting up possible scoring opportunities, passes are directed with precision.

The game is competitive, as several players push and shove during a corner kick, jockeying for better position. The long passes are powerful and the shots on goal remarkably accurate. A header by the 77-year-old Manchón sends Maiquez diving. The former first team goalie extends his body in mid-air to punch it away, landing hard on the ground. He gets up slowly with the help of his teammates, claps his gloves together, and resumes his stance.

After 45 minutes of play, the veterans start to show signs of wearing out. Arguments break out over fouls being committed, and several players walk off the field in disgust. The game comes to a gradual end when players begin falling to the ground with various minor injuries. The final score is 6-5, which is heavily disputed by the losing side. Weary and battered, the players head to the locker room to shower and dress for lunch, which takes place after every match at a nearby restaurant.

The matches and other events are organised by the Barça Veterans Association, which was founded in 1959 to promote the quality of life for retired players after their careers ended. The Association has over 800 members, according to FC Barcelona, comprised mostly of ex-players and a small contingent of supportive fans. Besides the bi-weekly matches, the Association also organises trips to football events throughout the region, as well as providing a meeting lounge at Camp Nou.

The Camp Nou Football Stadium

2010-01-15T18:27:00.001-08:00

The Camp Nou is a football stadium in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. The stadium has been the home of Football Club Barcelona since its construction in 1957. It is a UEFA 5-star rated stadium, and has hosted numerous international matches at senior level, and UEFA Champions League finals, the most recent being in 1999. It has a capacity of 98,787, making it the largest stadium in Europe, and the tenth largest in the world, Its official name was Estadi del FC Barcelona (FC Barcelona Stadium) until 2000, camp nou facilities inside camp nou :

Barca veterans association : The ‘Agrupació Barça Veterans’ (ABV) was founded in 1959 with the main aim of helping former players that, having retired from professional football, had not made a success of their new profession

b. Barca TV : Barça’s TV station first broadcast on 27 July 1999 under the name Canal Barça.

en Centre documentation and studies : The FC Barcelona Centre for Documentation and Studies, located on the second floor of the Club Museum (in the Camp Nou grandstand area), is devoted to the history of the Club.

d. Kindergarten : This service, located in the Lateral zone of the stadium (gate 65), opens its doors one hour before kick off and closes when the last child leaves.

e. Grandstand and lateral boxes : The boxes, located on the second tier of the grandstand and lateral zone of the Camp Nou, offer services and comforts including the FCBarcelona VIP service, an exclusive service for companies.

f. Presidential box : The Camp Nou Presidential Box is the area where different personages from the worlds of politics, sport and entertainment meet whenever they come to watch the football first team in action at the stadium.

g. Press room : The Camp Nou press room is a modern, spacious area of 225 sq. metres designed in the format of an auditorium with 135 seats.

h. Press room and mixed zone : The Press Room, designed in the form of an auditorium, measures 225 square metres and contains 135 seats and chairs.

i. Medical services and dispensary network : The Camp Nou contains a main dispensary and network of small health care centres to cater for any medical needs arising on match days.

Pr Press gallery : The press gallery is located on the third tier of the main grandstand of the Camp Nou and has an unbeatable view of the pitch.

k. Changing rooms : The first team changing rooms cover a total area of 850 square metres and are divided into four differentiated zones.

l. Mixed zone : The mixed zone is an area where reporters can have direct access to the players after matches and training sessions and is located next to the press room.

m. Vip area : The Camp Nou’s VIP area contains special seats located in the first tier of the grandstand, the box of honour (row 0), and the seats of honour located next to the Presidential Box.

When the club membership voted to change the official name to the popular nickname, Camp Nou.The stadium capacity has varied, opening at 106,146, but growing to 121,749 for the 1982 FIFA World Cup. With the outlawing of standing sections at the stadium in the late 1990s, its capacity settled to just below 99,000.One of the stands displaying Barcelona's motto, "Més que un club," meaning "More than a club."

Xavi Hernandez Has Been Vote 'Best Plamaker'

2010-01-14T19:35:00.000-08:00

Barça's Xavi Hernández has been voted 'best playmaker' by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS), beating his team mate, FIFA World Player Lionel Messi, into second place. Widely considered among the finest playmakers in world football, Xavi was named the official Man of the Match of the 2009 Champions League Final as he helped Barcelona defeat Manchester United to win their third Champions League-title.

The Catalan midfielder, who was voted best player in Euro 2008 and came third in this year's FIFA's World Player awards, got just one of the several awards give to Barcelona by the IFFHS, with Pep Guardiola being voted 'Best Coach' and the team winning 'Best Club Team', reflecting the club's success in the 2008-09 season. FC Barcelona became the first football team ever to win six out of six competitions in a single year thus completing the sextuple, comprising the 2008–09 La Liga, 2008–09 Copa del Rey, 2009 Supercopa de España, 2008–09 UEFA Champions League, 2009 UEFA Super Cup and 2009 FIFA Club World Cup.

Real Madrid's Kaká came in third, just one vote ahead of another Barcelona player, Andrés Iniesta.

The top ten also included Steven Gerrard (Liverpool, Cesc Fàbregas (Arsenal, Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Andrea Pirlo (Milan) and Juan Sebastian Verón (Estudiantes).

Xavi Hernandez, winner in 2008 as well, will collect his award in London on February 1st from the IFFHS, who said they were impressed by his "intelligent play". As well as the Barça contingent, he will be joined by two more Spaniards - Iker Casillas (Best Goalkeeper) and Vicente del Bosque (Best National Coach).

Ranking:

.1. Xavi Hernández (ESP/Barcelona) 164

.2. Lionel Messi (ARG/Barcelona) 143

.3. Ricardo Kaká (BRA/Real Madrid) 99

.4. Andrés Iniesta (ESP/Barcelona) 98

.5. Steven Gerrard (ENG/Liverpool) 54

.6. Cesc Fábregas (ESP/Arsenal) 45

.7. Cristiano Ronaldo (POR/Real Madrid) 41

.8. Frank Lampard (ENG/Chelsea) 35

.9. Andrea Pirlo (ITA/Milán) 26

10. Juan Sebastián Verón (ARG/Estudiantes)13

11. Diego Ribas da Cunha (BRA/Juventus) 10

12. Michael Ballack (GER/Chelsea) 9

.+. Yoann Gourcuff (FRA/G. Burdeos) 9

13. Andrey Arshavin (RUS/Arsenal) 8

15. Xabi Alonso (ESP/Real Madrid) 7

.+. Franck Ribéry (FRA/Bayern Múnich) 7

Lionel Messi Wins World Player Of The Year

2010-01-14T18:49:00.000-08:00

Lionel Messi claimed the World Player of the Year award on Monday to nearly complete his collection of football's greatest honors. Lionel Messi tacked on the prestigious award to his growing list of accolades at a FIFA gala ceremony in Zurich, easily outdistancing the last two winners — Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka — along with his Barcelona teammates Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta in voting among national team captains and coaches.

It caps a perfect year for the winger, who won an unprecedented treble of titles with Barcelona — the Spanish league and cup, and the Champions League — and received the Ballon D'Or as the best player in Europe. He also sealed Barcelona's first Club World Cup on Saturday with an extra-time goal to beat Estudiantes 2-1.

Ronaldo was second with 352 points, followed by Xavi with 196 points.Messi scored 38 goals in 51 matches in all competitions during 2008-2009 season, and has continued with 15 goals in 22 games this campaign as Barcelona have surged to the top of La Liga and back to the Champions League knockout phase.

Maradona has labeled Lionel Messi his "successor" on the field, and Lionel Messi has already surpassed the former great in terms of successes at club level. The late England player and manager Bobby Robson received FIFA's fair play award, while the presidential award for contributions to football and society went to Jordan's Queen Rania.

The world football body also announced its first World XI men's team — which included six players from the Spanish league and five from the Premier League. Real Madrid's Iker Casillas was chosen as goalkeeper, with Manchester United's Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra joining Chelsea's John Terry and Barcelona's Dani Alves in defense. Xavi, Iniesta and Liverpool's Steven Gerrard were picked as midfielders, with Lionel Messi , Ronaldo and Liverpool striker Fernando Torres in attack.

"Xavi and Iniesta also deserve the award," Ronaldo said. The duo may reap an even bigger reward if Spain wins its first ever World Cup next year in South Africa. All that eludes the 22-year-old Argentine now is a World Cup title.