When I
started this blog I intended to write about NZ & Scottish
football, in particular my team Dundee United. However I have only
managed one post on them
(See Ivan Golac's Magic) The main reason for this is because this season is terrible, we are
bottom of the league, 11 points behind Kilmarnock, the team directly
above us (although we did beat them 5-1 on Saturday) and it is just
too depressing to write about.
So what
do we do, well going off my Dundee United related Facebook groups, we
look back at the good times and celebrate that March 2016 marks the
19th anniversary of the beating of Barcelona home and away
in the UEFA Cup.
Played 4 Won 4
But what
is it about Barcelona? We have beaten other teams in Europe such as
Monaco, Borussia Mochengladbach, PSV Eindhoven, & Roma (OK we
lost to them in the 2nd leg but they did cheat by bribing
the ref!), but none have the mystique and romance of Barcelona.
Formed
in 1899 by Hans Kamper (later known as Joan Gamper) a Swiss
footballing pioneer who had already founded FC Basel & FC Zurich
in Switzerland.
Barcelona have grown to be one of the biggest and
most successful clubs in the world, but as their motto “Mes Que
un Club” states they are more than a club.
The club is a symbol
of Catalonia, Catalanism and Catalan Culture.
Owned by their
supporters, FC Barcelona have won 23 La Liga titles, 27 Copa Del Rey
(Spanish Cup), 11 Supercopa de Espana, 5 European Champions League's,
4 European Cup Winner's Cup's, 3 Fairs Cup's, 5 European Super Cups
and 3 Club World Cup's.
But it's
not just the success that makes Barcelona great, the club has a philosophy on how they play as Xavi Herdanez says “It about doing
something extra, not just winning”
If only
Dundee United had learned from them, they may not be bottom of the
league now!!!
One club
that is learning from them is New Zealand's Auckland City FC. The
club with the record appearances at the Club World Cup have used these
opportunities to build relations with the club whose 3 Club World Cup Titles are also a record. Also helped by the
fact that their head coach, Ramon Tribulietx, is a native of Barcelona.
As part
of this growing relationship, FC Barcelona's Director of Methodology,
Joan Vila Bosch in currently in NZ to run a couple of clinic's as a
guest of Auckland City.
Joan
Vila Bosch played for Barcelona B & C and also made 7 appearances
for the first team and winning the Copa Del Rey and European Cup
Winners Cup in the late 70's. In 1985 he started a coaching career at
EC Granollers before Barcelona recruited him in 1987 to train the
youth players. In hs time he has coached among others Andres
Iniesta, Xavi Herdandez and Cesc Fabregas. He has also been Technical
Director for the Catalan Football Federation.
There
are 2 coaching clinics being run by him when he is here.
The first is at
Auckland City's Kiwitea Street on Thursday 28th January
(before the Auckland City v Team Wellington game)
The second is in Christchurch at ASB Football Park on Saturday 30th January
(before the Wellington Phoenix A-League game)
If you
are interested in going contact Kerry@maritimeevents.co.nz
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