"there has only ever been one perfect man, the Lord Jesus, and we killed him. I only missed a putt."
Barca
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The illustrated history of FC Barcelona, Guillem Balague, London, Carlton 2015. ISBN: 978-1-78097-728-7
In six chapters, the book tells the story of one of the world’s great football clubs from 1899 to the present day. The format is what we have come to expect from Carlton with excellent photos on almost every page.
I once interviewed the Brazilian World Cup player, Edmilson, in the Nou Camp. Sadly the only reference to Edmilson in the book is a statement that he left the club – but not before winning League titles and a Champions’ League.
The book profiles many of the club’s legends, as they are described. Laszlo Kubala (1950s) is the first I remember. Then Luis Suarez, a star player for Spain as well as the club in the 1960s. Other legends who get there own page include Johan Cruyff , Maradona (who only stayed for 2 seasons), Miachael Laudrup, Romario, Ronald Koeman, Rivaldo, Ronaldo (The Brazilian or “fat” Ronaldo, that is), Figo, Samuel Eto’o, Iniesta, Xavi and of course Messi. Gary Lineker gets a few mentions but not the status of “legend”.
Some of the great coaches are evaluated too. I knew that Terry Venables and Bobby Robson had been head coach – but it had escaped my notice that another Englishman, Jack Greenwell, had been at the helm in the 1920s. Pep Guardiola played for the club for 11 years, was captain and later became head coach for 4 – winning La Liga and the Champions League in both capacities. Johan Cruyff played for the club for 5 years and was head coach for 8. He also won La Liga and the Champions League as both a player and a coach but not at Barcelona. His Champions League (European Cup as it then was) triumphs as a player were at Ajax. In fact his only trophies as player at Barcelona were one Liga and one Copa del Ray. As a coach he was much more successful in terms of trophies.
An excellent and informative book which is suitable to read from cover to cover, to dip into or even just to enjoy the pictures.