Futbol Club Barcelona is a football club based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain that competes in La Liga, the most senior football league in Spain. Since its founding in 1899, the club has had 41 different presidents. The club is owned by the club-members of Barcelona, and similarly to a limited liability company, they elect the president by a ballot. The president has the responsibility for the overall management of the club, including formally signing contracts with players and staff. In Spain, it is customary for the president to watch the games in which the first-team participates, together with the president from the opposing team.
History
editOn 22 October 1899, Swiss sportsman Joan Gamper placed an advertisement in the Los Deportes newspaper declaring his wish to form a football club in the city. A positive response resulted in a meeting at the Gimnasio Solé on 29 November which eleven men attended, including Walter Wild, later to become the first president of the club, and Bartomeu Terradas, who became the second president. As a result of this meeting, Barcelona was formed.[1]
In 1908, Gamper became club president for the first time, taking over the presidency to save the club from extinction.[1] The club had not won anything since the Campionat de Catalunya in 1905, and as a result was experiencing severe financial difficulties. Gamper was subsequently club president on five separate occasions between 1908 and 1925 and spent 26 years with the club. One of his main achievements was to help Barça acquire its own stadium and thus a way of generating stable income.[1] An annual pre-season competition, the Joan Gamper Trophy, has been held in his honour since 1966.[2]
The team won six Campionat de Catalunya titles between 1930 and 1938,[3] but success at national level (with the exception of the 1937 disputed title) evaded them. From the formation of La Liga until 1978, Barcelona had 20 different presidents, meaning each presidential period lasted on average two-and-a-half years. In 1978, Josep Lluís Núñez became the first elected president of Barcelona, and ever since members of the club have elected the club president. The process of electing a president of Barcelona was closely tied to Spain's transition to democracy in 1974 and the end of Franco's dictatorship. Núñez's main objective was to develop Barça into a world-class club by giving it stability both on and off the pitch.[4] His presidency lasted for 22 years, making him the longest-serving president.
After the departure of Núñez in 2000, his vice-president through the 22 years of his tenure, Joan Gaspart took over the club. During his presidency of the club, the team won no trophies and, after two-and-a-half years, Gaspart resigned his position on 12 February 2003, with the team in 15th place, two points above the relegation zone.[5] Enric Reyna was elected as temporary president until the board resigned on 5 May 2003. Hereafter, an interim commission presided until the general elections were held.[6] On 15 June 2003, Joan Laporta entered office, and was the most successful president in terms of Champions league trophies. The club won the Champions League twice within three years and completed an "unprecedented sextuple" by winning the 2008–09 La Liga, the 2008–09 Copa del Rey, the 2009 Supercopa de España, the 2008–09 UEFA Champions League, the 2009 UEFA Super Cup and the 2009 FIFA Club World Cup.[7]
On 13 June 2010, Sandro Rosell was elected president of Barcelona with more than 60% of the vote of Barça's club members, and he formally took over the presidency on 1 July 2010. He resigned in 2014 as a result of a scandal involving the signing of Neymar.[8]
Josep Maria Bartomeu replaced Rosell on January 23, 2014, before resigning in October 2020. A management commission led by Carles Tusquets took over, until Joan Laporta was elected for a second time on 7 March 2021 with over 54% of the vote.[9]
List of presidents
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Below is the official presidential history of Barcelona, from when Walter Wild took over at the club in 1899 until the present day.[10]
| Name | Nationality[n 1] | From | To | Honours (total number) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walter Wild |  Swiss
|
29 November 1899 | 25 April 1901 | |
| Bartomeu Terradas |  Spanish
|
25 April 1901 | 5 September 1902 | |
| Paul Haas |  German
|
5 September 1902 | 17 September 1903 | |
| Arthur Witty |  English
|
17 September 1903 | 6 October 1905 | |
| Josep Soler | Spanish
|
6 October 1905 | 16 October 1906 | |
| Juli Marial | Spanish
|
16 October 1906 | 11 November 1908 | |
| Vicente Reig | Spanish
|
11 November 1908 | 2 December 1908 | |
| Joan Gamper | Swiss
|
2 December 1908 | 14 October 1909 | |
| Otto Gmeling | German
|
14 October 1909 | 17 November 1910 | 1 Copa del Rey (1) |
| Joan Gamper | Swiss
|
17 November 1910 | 30 June 1913 | 2 Copa del Rey (2) |
| Francesc de Moxó | Spanish
|
30 June 1913 | 30 July 1914 | |
| Àlvar Presta | Spanish
|
30 July 1914 | 29 September 1914 | |
| Joaquim Peris de Vargas | Spanish
|
29 September 1914 | 29 June 1915 | |
| Rafael Llopart | Spanish
|
29 June 1915 | 25 June 1916 | |
| Gaspar Rosés | Spanish
|
25 June 1916 | 17 June 1917 | |
| Joan Gamper | Swiss
|
17 June 1917 | 10 June 1919 | |
| Ricard Graells | Spanish
|
10 June 1919 | 27 June 1920 | 1 Copa del Rey (1) |
| Gaspar Rosés | Spanish
|
27 June 1920 | 17 July 1921 | |
| Joan Gamper | Swiss
|
17 July 1921 | 29 July 1923 | 1 Copa del Rey (1) |
| Eric Cardona | Spanish
|
29 July 1923 | 1 June 1924 | |
| Joan Gamper | Swiss
|
1 June 1924 | 17 December 1925 | 1 Copa del Rey (1) |
| Arcadi Balaguer | Spanish
|
17 December 1925 | 23 March 1929 | 2 Copa del Rey (2) |
| Tomàs Rosés | Spanish
|
23 March 1929 | 30 June 1930 | 1 La Liga (1) |
| Gaspar Rosés | Spanish
|
30 June 1930 | 22 October 1931 | |
| Antonio Oliver |  Spanish
|
22 October 1931 | 20 December 1931 | |
| Joan Coma | Spanish
|
20 December 1931 | 16 July 1934 | |
| Esteve Sala | Spanish
|
16 July 1934 | 27 July 1935 | |
| Josep Sunyol | Spanish
|
27 July 1935 | 6 August 1936[11] | |
| Managing Commission[citation needed] | N/A | 6 August 1936 | 6 May 1939 | |
| Joan Soler |  Spanish
|
6 May 1939 | 13 March 1940 | |
| Enrique Piñeyro | Spanish
|
13 March 1940 | 10 July 1942 | 1 Copa del Rey (1) |
| Josep Vidal-Ribas | Spanish
|
10 July 1942 | 13 August 1942 | |
| Enrique Piñeyro | Spanish
|
13 August 1942 | 20 August 1943 | |
| Josep Antoni de Albert | Spanish
|
20 August 1943 | 20 September 1943 | |
| Josep Vendrell | Spanish
|
20 September 1943 | 20 September 1946 | 1 La Liga, 1 Copa Eva Duarte (2) |
| Agustí Montal Galobart |  Spanish
|
20 September 1946 | 16 July 1952 | 3 La Liga, 2 Copa del Rey, 2 Copa Eva Duarte (7) |
| Enric Martí Carreto | Spanish
|
16 July 1952 | 22 September 1953 | 1 La Liga, 1 Copa del Rey, 1 Copa Eva Duarte (3) |
| Francesc Miró-Sans | Spanish
|
22 September 1953 | 28 February 1961 | 2 La Liga, 2 Copa del Rey, 2 Fairs Cup (6) |
| Enric Llaudet | Spanish
|
28 February 1961 | 17 January 1968 | 1 Copa del Rey, 1 Fairs Cup (2) |
| Narcís de Carreras | Spanish
|
17 January 1968 | 18 December 1969 | 1 Copa del Rey (1) |
| Agustí Montal Costa | Spanish
|
18 December 1969 | 18 December 1977 | 1 La Liga, 1 Copa del Rey (2) |
| Raimon Carrasco |  Spanish
|
18 December 1977 | 1 July 1978 | 1 Copa del Rey (1) |
| Josep Lluís Núñez |  Spanish
|
1 July 1978 | 23 July 2000 | 7 La Liga, 6 Copa del Rey, 2 Copa de la Liga, 5 Spanish Supercup, 1 European Cup, 4 Cup Winners' Cup, 2 UEFA Super Cup (27) |
| Joan Gaspart | Spanish
|
23 July 2000 | 12 February 2003 | |
| Enric Reyna | Spanish
|
12 February 2003 | 6 May 2003 | |
| Managing Commission[citation needed] | N/A | 6 May 2003 | 15 June 2003 | |
| Joan Laporta[n 2] | Spanish
|
15 June 2003 | 1 July 2010 | 4 La Liga, 1 Copa del Rey, 3 Spanish Supercup, 2 Champions League, 1 UEFA Super Cup, 1 FIFA Club World Cup (12) |
| Sandro Rosell | Spanish
|
1 July 2010 | 23 January 2014 | 2 La Liga, 1 Copa del Rey, 3 Spanish Supercup, 1 UEFA Champions League, 1 UEFA Super Cup, 1 FIFA Club World Cup (9) |
| Josep Maria Bartomeu | Spanish
|
23 January 2014 | 27 October 2020 | 4 La Liga, 4 Copa del Rey, 2 Spanish Supercup, 1 UEFA Champions League, 1 UEFA Super Cup, 1 FIFA Club World Cup (13) |
| Carles Tusquets (interim)[n 3] | Spanish
|
29 October 2020 | 7 March 2021 | |
| Joan Laporta | Spanish
|
7 March 2021 | Incumbent | 1 La Liga, 1 Copa del Rey, 1 Spanish Supercup (3) |
Notes
edit- ^ The information in the nationality column is according to how they were then referred to, and may not reflect their then, or current, citizenship or birthplace.
- ^ From 30 June 2006 to 22 August 2006, Barcelona was controlled by a managing commission.[12]
- ^ From 29 October 2020 to 7 March 2021, Barcelona was controlled by a managing committee with Carles Tusquets having the role of President of the Managing Committee.[13]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Origins (1899-1922)". FC Barcelona. Archived from the original on 2 July 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
- ^ Lozano Ferrer, Carles; et al. (19 February 2010). "Trofeo Joan Gamper (Barcelona-Spain) 1966–2008". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF). Archived from the original on 14 July 2022. Retrieved 9 June 2010.
- ^ Ferrer, Carles Lozano (22 October 2009). "Spain – Final Tables Catalonia". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF). Archived from the original on 27 July 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
- ^ "75th Anniversary to the European Cup (1974-1992)". FC Barcelona. Archived from the original on 4 December 2012. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
- ^ "Barca boss Gaspart steps down immediately". CNN. 12 February 2003. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
- ^ "Presidency of Eric Reyna". FC Barcelona. Archived from the original on 30 July 2012. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
- ^ "Kings, queens and a young prince". Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). 23 December 2009. Archived from the original on 24 December 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
- ^ Adriana Garcia (25 May 2017). "Ex-Barcelona chief Sandro Rosell held without bail". ESPN. Archived from the original on 21 June 2019. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
- ^ "New Barcelona president Joan Laporta pays tribute to Johan Cruyff and Lionel Messi". Football Espana. 7 March 2021. Archived from the original on 19 September 2021. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
- ^ "Presidents" (PDF) (in Catalan). FC Barcelona. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 September 2011. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
- ^ Arrested and extrajudicially executed by Francoist troops.
- ^ "Managing Commission (2006)". FC Barcelona. Archived from the original on 6 September 2011. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
- ^ "The members of the FC Barcelona Managing Committee". FC Barcelona. 28 October 2020. Archived from the original on 22 November 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
External links
edit- "List of all Presidents". FC Barcelona. Archived from the original on 4 September 2011. Retrieved 1 June 2010.