HISTORY OF FC BARCELONA

FC Barcelona – often known simply as Barca, is one of the most famous football clubs in the world. Based, as their name suggests, in the Catalonian city of Barcelona in Spain, it was founded in 1899.

Well known for its passionate fans, the culés, its motto is “El Barca es mes que un club” meaning Barca is more than a club, the team play in one of the football world’s most iconic stadium – Camp Nou, which opened in 1957 and holds an amazing 98,000 fans.

FC Barcelona has a long running and notorious rivalry with Spain’s other most famous club, Real Madrid. This rivalry stems from the opposing views of the two clubs during the Spanish Civil War. The Madrid based club was a representative for Castillian Spanish, the Spanish state of Castille and as Franco himself supported them, represented fascism.

As Barcelona was, and still is, the capital of the strongly independent area of Catalonia, the rivalry runs deep. During these times, the Catalan flag and language were banned by Franco, so the football club became the only outlet for Catalan nationalism. Things came to a head when, in 1941, Barca were told to lose a match to Madrid on purpose. In protest to this, they went on to let Real Madrid win the game 11-1, and Barcelona’s goalkeeper was banned for life.

In 1973, Dutch scoring legend Johan Cruyff signed to Barcelona for a then record amount equivalent to just under £1million (a huge amount of money in those days). His style of play was fast and smart and the fans loved him. After he helped FC Barcelona beat Real Madrid 5-0 in their own stadium and winning the league, the club had over 70,000 members, making it the then, most powerful club in the world.

Other than the Intercontinental Cup, FC Barcelona has won all known football trophies, and is one of only four clubs to have won the three major European trophies. It is also the only team to have taken part in European club competitions since 1955, and has never been relegated from the Spanish First Division since its inception in 1928.

FC Barcelona is also famous for refusing to allow until recently a sponsors logo to appear on their football jerseys unlike other clubs. This refusal is a symbol of Catalonia’s independence – even the mark of the kits manufacturer on the shirts is looked down upon. In 2005, Barcelona, accepted the logo of the main Catalan television channel and a fellow symbol of Catalonia, on the left arm of the shirts. Since the 2006-2007 season, FC Barcelona is paying UNICEF € 2 million per year to display the logo of this institution.

The Barcelona fans are often referred to as “culés”. This is a derivative of the Catalan word “cul” – which means, literally, backside. Although it sounds derogatory, the name comes from the early 20 th century, where, while seated in the highest parts of the football ground stands, those outside could see the backsides of the fans. Even after the ground was restructured, the nickname has stuck with the fans.

Barca has attracted the biggest names in football to come and play for them with legends such as Johan Cruyff, Gary Lineker, Rivaldo, Ronaldhino, Stoitchkov, Laudrup, Figo and Ronaldo, all gracing the hallowed turf of the Camp Nou. The current generation of home grown stars has already made history by winning all there is to win in the 2009 season: the Leage, the Spanish Cup, The Champion’s League, the Spanish Super Cup, the European Super Cup and the World Cup for Clubs. No other football club has ever achieved this.

Under the guidance of Pep Guardiolà, the home grown stars Xaví, Iniesta and Messi have reached new heights for one of the most famous football clubs.

IKER CASILLAS

Casillias is one among the best goalkeepers in the current era. Casillas is the number one goalkeeper of European Giant Real Madrid and Spanish national team. He captained Spain to Euro cup glory in 2008 ending Spain’s 44-year drought for international trophies. Casillas is a solid presence behind the Real Madrid defence. Acknowledging Casillas’s contribution to Real Madrid, club offered him a lifetime contract, which will let him stay with them until 2017.He is one of the rare loyal one-club players.

Iker Casillas Fernandez was born on 20^th may 1981 at Mostoles, in Spain. Casillias joined Real Madrid at the age of nine and played for their various youth teams until 1998.He played for Real Madrid C during 1998/1999 season .In 1999/2000 season, Casillas initially played for Real Madrid B .Later, he made his debut for senior side of Real Madrid during that season. He played 26 matches for Real Madrid during that season. At 19, he became the youngest goalkeeper to play in UEFA Champions League, when he played for Real Madrid against Valencia in 2000 .Madrid won the Champions league 3-0.Casillas won Bravo Award as well as Premio Don Balon award in 2000.He lost the number one spot to Cesar Sanchez during 2000/2001 season. However, he regained his spot following an injury to Sanchez, during the 2002 UEFA Champions league final against Bayern Leverkusen. He helped Real Madrid to win the Champions league with some excellent saves. He won the UEFA Super cup as well as Intercontinental cup in 2002, with Real Madrid. Iker Casillas won consecutive La Liga titles in 2007 and 2008, with Madrid. IIFHS named Casillas as the Best Goalkeeper in the world for the year 2008.Its a remarkable achievement for a player who plays behind leaky Real Madrid defence. Casillas is a stellar performer for real Madrid. He has played over 472 matches for them.

Casillas started his International career by playing Spanish Youth teams. He won UEFA Under-15 championship in 1995 ,UEFA Under-16 Championship in 1997,UEFA –CAF Meridan Cup in 199 with Spanish under-15,under-16 and under -17 clubs respectively. He won FIFA world Youth Championship in 1999 with Spanish under-20 team. He made his senior team debut for Spain while playing against Sweden, at the age of 19.He played for Spain as the number one goalkeeper at 2002 world cup, following withdrawal of Canizares. He was the youngest goalkeeper in that world cup. Casillas became a permanent fixture in Spanish National team after his impressive performances for Real Madrid. He helped Spain to qualify for Euro 2004 with great performances. He played all the matches that Spain featured in that tournament. Iker Casillas played all the games during 2006 world cup held in Germany. He captained Spain in couple of matches in that tourney. Spain made it to the Knock out stage in the world cup. Casillas led the Spain to Euro cup win in 2008, as captain. Casillas kept three consecutive clean sheets during the quarter final, semi-final, as well as final. Casillas and Reina together kept 710 minutes without allowing a goal and it’s a Spanish record. FIFA named Casillas in their 2008 Team of the year. Casillas played around 96 matches for Spain and has more than 43 clean sheets to his name.

RONALDINHO

Name: Ronaldo de Assis Moreira Birth Date: 21/03/1980 Birth Place:Porto Alegre Nationality: Brazilian Height: 180cm Weight: 80kg Position: Forward Club Number: 10

Ronaldinho was born into a family of football addicts, living in a wooden house in the heart of a favela. His father, Joao da Silva Moreira who played for an amateur club made ends meet by by working as a car park attendant at Gremio Football Club. His brother Roberto was a great hope for the club but then his career was unfortunately ended by a terrible knee injury.

At the age of 8, tregedy struck as Ronaldinho's father drowned in a swiming pool at a villa provided by Gremio for Roberto. Following in the footsteps of his brother Ronnie then joined the Gremio's footballing school and wowed everyone there. He made it into the first team in 1997 and was being heralded as one of the best young hopes in Brazilan football. Meanwhile, he was already making the breakthrough with the national squad, and his six goals were fundamental in Brazil's Copa America triumph in 1999.

The goal Ronaldinho scored against Venezuela is remembered to this day as one of the most spectacular ever scored by a player wearing the famous Canarinha jersey.

In 2001, Ronaldinho moved on to PSG where he became a fan's favourite with his tremendous flair and excting style of football - also contributing tremendous amounts of goals. However his employer's still weren't happy with his atitude and looked ot get rid of him. Of course, he continued to shine in the international arena. His finest hour came at the 2002 World Cup in Japan and Korea, where he was a key member of the side that won Brazil's record fifth world title - scoring in the quarter final and playing an integral role in midfield in the final.

Ronaldinho then moved to Barcelona - arguably the biggest club in the world - for what now seems a bargain at £21,000,000. When he arrived, he said that his desire was to bring as much success to the club as so many Brazilians had done before him, such as Evaristo, Ronaldo, Romario and Rivaldo. Having won the World Footballer of the Year title it seems he has now fulfilled that desire.

LIONEL MESSI

Full name: Luis Lionel Andrés Messi
Birth day: June 24, 1987
Birthplace: Rosario, Argentina
Nationality: Argentinian
Other nationality: Spanish
EU passport: Yes
Height: 169 cm
Weight: 67 kg
Club: FC Barcelona
Position: Forward
Debut: 17 November 2003


Lionel Andrés Messi (born June 24, 1987 in Rosario) is an Argentine football (soccer) player.

Lionel Messi started playing football at a very early age in his hometown's Newell's Old Boys. From the age of 11, he suffered from a hormone deficiency and as Lionel's parents were unable to pay for the treatment in Argentina, they decided to move to Barcelona, Spain.

In the 2003-2004 season, when he was still only 16, Messi made his first team debut in a friendly with Porto that marked the opening of the new Dragao stadium. The following championship-winning season, Messi made his first appearance in an official match on October 16, 2004, in Barcelona's derby win against Espanyol at the Olympic Stadium (0-1).

With several first team players seriously injured, the services of several reserve team players were called upon, and Messi became a regular feature of Barça squads. On May 1, 2005, he became the youngest player ever to score a league goal for FC Barcelona - against Albacete when Messi was only 17 years, 10 months and 7 days old.

He was offered the chance to play for the Spain national football team, but declined, prefering to wait for the opportunity to play for the country of his birth. In June 2004 he got his chance, playing in a U-20 friendly match against Paraguay.
Lionel Messi wearing FC Barcelona's colorsIn June 2005 he starred for the Argentina U-20 team that won the Football World Youth Championship played in The Netherlands.Messi picked up the Golden Boot as top scorer with 6 goals, and the Golden Ball for the best player of the tournament. Despite his youth, Lionel has already drawn comparisons with Diego Maradona, arguably the best football player of all time.
On September 25, 2005 Messi obtained a Spanish citizenship and was finally able to make his debut in this season's Spanish First Division. He had previously been unable to play because FC Barcelona had filled up all of their quota of non-EU players.

Messi's first outing in the UEFA Champions League at the Nou Camp was on Sept 28 against Italian club Udinese. He impressed with some great passing and a seemingly telepathic relationship with Ronaldinho that earned him a standing ovation from the 70,000-odd Nou Camp faithful. On December of that year, the Italian newspaper Tuttosport awarded him the Golden Boy 2005 title for the best under-21 player in Europe, over Wayne Rooney and Lukas Podolski

In September 2005, Messi was given an improved and extended contract until 2014. 

WHAT IS SOCCER?

Soccer is one of the most popular sports in the world .In certain countries soccer ball is also known as football. The ball is made of leather or rubber.

Evolution of soccer ball

London Football Association in 1863 was the first association to set the rules for soccer ball. In 1872 England and Scotland considered soccer as one of their major sport. Soccer also became a part of Olympic Games in 1908. The first soccer world cup was played in 1930.

Rules and Regulations of Playing Soccer Game

Soccer game is played between two teams each team consists of 11 players, Two soccer goals are set in opposite ends, players are supposed to kick soccer ball against their goal keeper. In this game players should not use their hands, other than this they can use any other parts of the body .Only the goalkeeper can use hands. When one team commits a foul inside the boundary, the opposite team is granted a penalty kick.

A direct kick is made when team gets penalty shot, in this shot no other player should not touch before goal is scored. The same rule is followed for indirect kick; in these other players should touch the ball before making a goal.

In the early stages the soccer balls were produced totally of synthetic ball. But in later stages i.e., 1980’s that synthetic leather totally switched the leather ball. Soccer balls provided more of a consistent flight and bounce. Synthetics used in today’s soccer balls imitate the cell structure and quality of leather with less water absorption.

The present soccer ball is mainly consisting of 20 hexagonal and 12 pentagonal surfaces. When they are basted together and exaggerated they make a near unadulterated sphere.

Making of Soccer ball

The construction of the soccer ball includes the various materials used, sizes and types, weights of soccer balls.

The major components of a soccer ball are the concealment, the lining, the embroidery, and the bladder. These components will help you in choosing the perfect soccer ball.

Concealment

The surface of soccer balls is made of synthetic. Synthetic leather is usually made from PVC and PU. There are many variations of synthetic leather used in the construction of soccer balls. Best soccer balls used in race are manufactured by using Ducksung, Mircofiber, Cordley, AI-2000, or other types of PU synthetic leather. Promotional soccer balls are generally assembled with Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) or rubber (molded or stitched) covers. Certain indoor soccer ball concealments are made from felt material that is used on a tennis ball.

The most common and is the type used in most professional matches is A 32-panel ball. The soccer ball is essentially a Buckminster Ball consisting of 20 hexagonal and 12 pentagonal surfaces. When they are basted together and bloated they make a perfect sphere. The soccer balls were even designed in 18 and 26-panel constructions that were used in major leagues matches.

Darned

High-end balls are hand-stitched, while most mid-priced balls are machine-stitched. Hand sewn balls have tighter and stronger seams.

The soccer balls that are used for practice generally have the panels glued together onto the lining. These soccer balls are generally less expensive than stitched balls.

In hand-sewn soccer ball the quality depends up on the thickness of the material. Many layers of lining are placed among the cover and the bladder. in general soccer balls have four or more layers of lining. Lining helps the soccer ball to keeps its shape.

In soccer balls bladder keeps hold of air, they are generally made of latex or butyl. Butyl is best because it holds air for long time. Many soccer balls are made by using butyl valves for air retention. Butyl bladders are available in middle to upper priced balls.