FC Barcelona News

Barça’s former manager Johann Cruyff has been appointed as the new coach of the Catalan national team after Pere Gratacòs stepped down earlier this year. The Dutch football icon will be officially unveiled as the side’s new coach in a ceremony at the Catalan parliament next Monday, according to Barcelona newspaper Sport.

In a move that will no doubt gain the approval of FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta, a keen Catalan nationalist, Cruyff has decided to return to management to take on the somewhat undemanding role of coaching a side that is not permitted to take part in official matches. The Catalan team traditionally plays a Boxing Day (26th December) match against high profile opposition as its highest profile fixture as well as one or two more friendlies when the calendar permits. There are however problems in matches apart from the December fixture in terms of calling up the best Catalan players who are usually obligated to play for Spain at the same time, meaning Catalunya has to fall back on reserve players such as Deportivo’s Verdú, Espanyol’s Luis Garcia and the likes of Victor Valdes, Oleguer Presas and Gabri all of whom have roots at FC Barcelona.

With Catalunya’s political status within Spain legally defined as a “nationality” there has been pressure on various sporting bodies including FIFA and UEFA to allow Catalunya to compete in an official status. Sports such as rugby league and ten pin bowling do recognise Catalunya’s right to compete but more high profile sports are yet to acquiesce to the demands of Catalan sporting authorities, often due to threats of withdrawl by Spain and the confused legal status of Catalunya compared to other stateless nations such as those which make up the UK.

Cruyff’s first game in charge of Catalunya will be in December with the opposition yet to be confirmed