The Trials of Barcelona

THREAD

Winning 10 La Liga titles makes things look so easy.

It was 1899, Joan Gamper watched a couple of kids kicking stones along the streets and decided to form a football club. It looked like a dream till several enthusiasts keyed on the thought and Barcelona was born.

It's inauguration was good enough, losing to Bizcaya at the Inaugural Copa Del rey final in 1902. They recovered, winning the competition eight times before 1928. They would lift the Inaugural La Liga in 1929 before a period of unrest which would spiral in the Spanish Civil...

...war and usher in Spanish Dictator, Franco.
After being deported from Spain due to Political differences, Joan Gamper committed suicide on the 30th of July, 1930.
With life under Franco worsening daily, the club was forced to change it's name to Barcelona club de Futbol,

which sounded less Catalan. The next few decades were relatively successful, with the club winning, five League titles and five Copa Del Rey trophies before 1957.

The same year, they moved to the Camp Nou, their fifth home ground.
With the appointment of Helenio Herrera, the...

...club won two league titles and a Copa Del Rey trophy in three years, with forward, Lazslo Kubala Stecz and a ballon d'or winner, Luiz Suarez(not Uruguayan) in the team.

The 60s proved too difficult for the club, after losing out Argentinian Legend, Alfredo Di Stefano...

...a transfer approved by FIFA bought was blocked by the Spanish FA, resulting in Di Stefano's transit to Real Madrid. Barcelona had to settle for two Copa Del Rey's for the rest of the decade. With Kubala leaving the club, they failed to win the title for 14 years...

...till the signing of Johan Cruyff, who would help in winning one in 1974. Another ten year ensued, till Terry Venables's team would win another.

Johan Cryuff took over the team once again in 1988, this time as manager. This ushered in a period of huge success.

He would go on to assemble a "dream team". Made up International Stars, like Stoichkov and Romario as well as homegrown talents from the La Masia Academy( which he helped found) such as Txiki Begiristain and Josep Guardiola. Most importantly, the philosophy he brought to club...

...served as a stepping stone to what would become known as Tiki Taka Football. The team went on to win Four Consecutive League titles, Two Copa Del Rey titles, as well their first European Cup in 1992. Another Dutchman, like Cryuff, Louis Van gaal, took over in 1996 and won...

Two league titles and two Copa Del reys before the turn of the Century.

The 2000s saw a huge change in personnel with no improvement, till the arrival of another Dutchman, Frank Rijkaard. His would see the addition of two La Ligas and the Champions League, followed by...

a two year period of silence. I'm 2008, the club relived Rijkaard and appointed Barcelona B team coach, Pep Guardiola, senior team coach. With his tiki taka styled football with inspiration from Cyruff's penchant for quick passing with constant movement and ball possession.

With La Masia wunderkid, Lionel Messi at the helm, Barcelona went on the decimate every team in their part winnings 14 trophies before the 2012. The club would stick to this philosophy after Guardiola's departure. Several coaches would handle the reins...

with varying levels of success.

END OF THREAD.