Barça fills the Liceo to celebrate 125 years of its history

The façade of the Teatro Grande del Liceu was painted blue. Its interior was filled with nostalgia. From memories. From the people who have been part of FC Barcelona’s 125-year history. Past and present are scattered across six floors of one of the world’s largest opera halls. Members of the dream team such as Ronald Koeman, Jose Marie Bakero and Guillermo Amor also embraced Hristo Stoichkov, Ballon d’Or winner, who stopped to talk with Alexia, another Ballon d’Or winner, and Xavi Hernandez, who was sitting near. son of Johan Cruyff, also his friend Jordi Cruyff. In front stood another former coach, Frank Rijkaard. Last to arrive was Gerard Pique, who greeted former goalkeeper Carlos Busquets, father of Sergio Busquets, who was absent from the gala as he was in Miami, as were Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and of course Leo Messi, without doubt the most notable absence. events. There was no shortage of representatives of Catalan public institutions, such as Josep Rull, President of the Catalan Parliament, and Jaume Colboni, Mayor of Barcelona. Or former Generalitat presidents Jordi Pujol, Arthur Mas, Joaquim Torra and Pere Aragones.

Read also

In attendance were former presidents Reina, Gaspar, Rosell and Bartomeu, who arrived unnoticed at the theater.

A historical journey to understand the meaning More than a club Pep Anton Muñoz began it playing Joan Gamper, the founder of the organization, on November 29, 1899, with a modest newspaper advertisement. President Joan Laporta spoke. In theory, his role was supposed to be testimony. But the president, true to his style, ultimately broke the script by serving as master of ceremonies.

To begin with, Laporta gave a 25-minute speech. Remembering. To Samitiera and Alcantara, from Barça in the 1930s, to Johan Cruyff’s Barça, with Sotil and Sadurni. “We also had Migueli, Krankl and Rexach. Those who won the Basel Cup Winners’ Cup. And the intense 80s with the Venables League,” he recalled.

It took a few seconds before he became inspired. He did this five times. The first that comes to mind is the dream team that was later coached by Johan Cruyff, the Flying Dutchman. “There was a player in this team who led us to glory at Wembley: Ronald Koeman,” Laporta said. The hero of the first European Cup and former coach of the main team responded with a greeting, burying the bitter memory of leaving the club. Just like Xavi Hernandez, who smiled when Laporta, excited again, told him: “You won the championship and the Super Cup, which gave us hope.” The president also broke down when he remembered another former coach, Frank Rijkaard. “You brought us to Paris in 2006 with legendary players like Ronaldinho.”

There was no shortage of references to Guardiola and Luis Enrique’s Barça. It was then that the name Leo Messi appeared. Laporta, emotional for the fourth time, noted that “he is the best player of all time.”

Four former presidents looked at him very seriously, almost in the front row. Barça invited Joan Gaspar (2000–03), Enric Reina (2003), Sandro Rosell (2010–14) and Josep Maria Bartomeu (2014–20). For the latter, it was his first appearance since he stepped down as president of FC Barcelona. He quietly entered the theater, almost unnoticed.

Pep Guardiola sent a video with the lyrics of Manel’s song “Aniversari” to congratulate the club.

Laporta ended almost in tears with the words: “Barça is the emotional axis of our lives. “This is a club with values ​​that represents Barcelona and Catalonia.” He then sat down for a short time.

The gala, organized by Sandra Sabatis (La Sexta) and Llorens Tarres (Barça One), was full of humor. Particularly brilliant were the jokes of comedians Tony Alba and Jordi Rios, imitating Johan Cruyff and Carles Rexac from the side of the penalty area. It was laughter that later turned into applause for videos of Iniesta, Romario, Busquets, Evaristo, Luis Enrique, David Villa, Luis Suarez, Rivaldo, Jordi Alba, Puyol, Neymar, Cholo Sotil, Zubizarreta, Ronaldinho and Aitana Bonmati, which She did not was able to attend because the RFEF did not give her permission as she was focused on the Spanish national team. There were no messages from Messi. The collection includes only the congratulations that the Argentine said in the David Caraben program on TV3.

Yes, said Alexia Putellas. “I was excited all day. The Ballons d’Or are very good, but I’ll stick to the titles. Three Champions Leagues in four years, five Leagues in a row. This year we will try again,” he promised.

The first men’s team left after 21:30 because they are playing against Las Palmas today.

Nobody talked about the first men’s team. Gavi and Lamin Yamal almost ran off stage when Laporta wanted to take a selfie of the theater with the new mascot, a cat named Cat in the colors of Barça and Catalunya. This was before Pep Guardiola used the lyrics of Manel’s song Aniversari in a video to congratulate the club. The video shows that he recorded it this week because he still had a small scratch on his nose.

And what followed was a magnificent performance from Pep Plaza, imitating Nunez, Gaspard, Laporta, Messi, Iniesta or Luis Enrique. “You must write what happens next,” he insisted. Looking at Lamine Yamal, he smiled shyly. Also, when he saw this, he closed the list of the club’s historical goals in the Champions League. From Kubala through Cruyff, Koeman, Ronaldinho, Belletti, Rivaldo, Eto’o, Messi, Iniesta, Suarez, Aitana or Alexia.

Read also

But he More than a club also includes sections. Juan Carlos Navarro, Enric Masip, Gabi Cairo and Jordi Torras remembered him as legends of basketball, handball, roller hockey and futsal respectively. It was 21:30. Hansi Flick, coach of the Barça men’s team, looked at his watch. The team is playing against Las Palmas today, so they left the theater. To replace them, Laporta improvised by calling on the club’s legends to blow out the candles on the cake prepared by Christian Escriba. He then closed the gala concert, singing virtually alone. Kant Barca.