Fc Barcelona-'more Than A Club'

The futbol club Barcelona as it is well known is basically FC Barcelona and barca. This is a well-known football team and has its base in Catalonia, region of Spain. Due to its great success and popularity amongst the peoples,it has become a symbol of Catalan nationalism. The team has an impressive motto "Mes que un club" which simply means "more than a club".

This successful football team was started by Joan Gamper on November 29, 1899. Joan Gamper was a football fanatic from Switzerland and he himself didn't know that his dream team would become so well-known among the people and would have such a huge fan following.

The fans of the club were known by a funny name cules which is a Catalan word and meant 'asses'. This interesting name arose in the mid twenties by the Barca fans when they sat in the top line of the football ground with their ass was visible to the passersby. In 1939 was Franco's dictatorship period when the team's name was forcibly changed to club de Futbol . Even the flag of Catalan was stripped away from the club's shield. During Franco's regime the stadium remained the ultimate place where the language of Catalan could be spoken freely and the flag could be displayed as well.

FC Barcelona and Real Madrid are the two most thriving and well-known Spanish teams but as well they are ferocious challengers on and off the ground. The rivalry started from the time of Franco's dictatorship when the Real Madrid became the symbol of nationalism and favored the regime of Franco whereas the Barca opposed Franco. This competition started back in the past but still has left its mark. Under the coaching of Salvador Artigas the barcas beat Real Madrid in 1968.

The ground of Barca, built in 1957 was known as the Camp Nou. It is Europe's largest and world's third largest stadium with a capacity of 98,000. It was a great achievement for Barca and few wonderful matches were played at the ground.

The club got its old name back to Futbol Cub Barcelona in 1974. Right from the start the club has stayed with its principal of not promoting on the uniform for the corporate sponsors in contrast to other teams. It was only in 14 July, 2006 that the team agreed to advertise on its uniform as it had a noble cause to it. The club proclaimed an agreement with the UNICEF which is an international organization to aid children. EUR1.5 million per year is donated by the team to the organization.

It's mandatory for all the team members to know the Catalan language according to the leader of the club Mr. Joan Laporta who is a proclaimed nationalist himself. From the ticket sale between the matches of FC Barcelona and real Madrid, a portion is donated to Federacio Llull. It is an institution which promotes the Catalan language.