FC Barcelona has been on a roll for quite some time now. However, the start of the decade wasn’t too rosy. It all started with Frank Rijkaard, who joined the Spanish powerhouse in 2003. Under his tutelage, the team was resurrected and reached the dizzy heights of a double by winning the UEFA Champions League and La Liga in 2005-06. After enjoying a brief stint at the top, they were knocked off the perch. Then arrived the loyal son – Josep Guardiola. The former Barcelona midfielder gifted FC Barcelona with the finest period in their history. Seven trophies in 2 years and in contention for all three in his third. Of these, 6 came in one season. An unbeatable feat to say the least. Amidst all this, the Catalan club has had a few eternally gifted footballers, who contributed in their own special way to Barcelona’s cause. TheHardTackle analyses 5 such iconic footballers, from the past decade, who etched their names in the history of football while donning the sanctimonious Blaugrana colours.
Rivaldo
FC Barcelona’s history is incomplete if Rivaldo’s contribution isn’t acknowledged. The left-footed genius can surely be regarded as one of the best players of his generation. A prophet from Brazil, who did his part in waving magic in Spain, Rivaldo signed for the Catalans in 1997 from Deportivo La Coruna for a sum of around $26 million. The sum might look extravagant, but from a Cule’s perspective, the Brazilian was well worth the money. A magician with the ball at his feet, Rivaldo usually played as an attacking midfielder or a second striker. Except for the exclusive UEFA Champions League, Rivaldo managed to lay hands on all major honours, including the FIFA World Player of The Year.
In his first season at Barcelona, Rivaldo enjoyed success domestically. Barcelona won the Copa del Rey and the La Liga. With 19 goals, Rivaldo made his presence felt. One of the most astounding moments of his Barcelona tenure was the hattrick against Valencia, when the Brazilian scored with an unbelievable overhead-kick, in the 90th minute of the final game of the season. A goal of paramount importance, not only won them the match, but also earned the Catalan giants a spot in the Champions League. Rivaldo, not only won matches, but also won hearts with his divine skills. He left Barcelona to join Italian giants AC Milan. However, the enigmatic Brazilian couldn’t exactly recapture his Barcelona-form at Milan.
Patrick Kluivert
Barcelona has a history of romancing with Dutch footballers. Patrick Kluivert was definitely one of the finest of the clan to put on the Catalan colours. Van Gaal secured the services of the Dutch striker Patrick Kluivert, in 1998, from Milan in an 8.7m pounds deal. A classical example of a Dutch attacker, Kluivert was extremely supple, had great speed and an exemplary first touch. He was also very dominating in the air, thus making him one of the best marksmen of his era. During his brief stint at AC Milan, the Dutchman proved that he has what it takes to succeed at the top tier.
Coming from the Dutch school of football, Kluivert didn’t take much time to imbibe the Barcelona-style of football and forged a strong partnership with Rivaldo. His union with his mentor – Louis Van Gaal – further helped the cause and Barcelona defended their status as Domestic League Champions in 1998-99. The striker reached the zenith of his career at Barcelona. Apart from his stunning club-form, Kluivert was also good for the Oranje. He had a fabulous Euro 2000, despite suffering heartache at the hands of Italy in the semifinals. He scored freely, including a hattrick for the Netherlands, and went on to share the Golden Boot with the then-Yugoslavian striker Savo Milosevic. Kluivert and Barcelona were surely lucky for each other. The striker left the club and joined English outfit Newcastle United, where he teamed up with Alan Shearer. With more than a 100 goals to his name, Kluivert has certainly carved out a name for himself in the Catalan folklore.
Ronaldinho
Undoubtedly this name needs no introduction. One of the biggest phenomenons of the 20th Century, FC Barcelona surely owes a part of their renaissance to the enigmatic Brazilian. Ronaldinho’s acquisition by Barcelona is nothing short of a fairytale. Ex-President Joan Laporta had resolved on acquiring iconic English footballer David Beckham, to restore the club’s fading image. In the 11th hour Real Madrid hijacked the deal and captured the Englishman. Laporta had no other option but to sign Ronaldinho and the rest as they say is history. Unconfirmed sources also claim that Ronaldinho was supposed to sign for Manchester United, following the departure of their beloved number 7. However, Peter Kenyon apparently didn’t honour his words and an infuriated PSG administration decided to sell Ronaldinho to FC Barcelona for € 32.25 million, which is supposedly less than what United actually agreed to pay. This, however, is still a mystery and hasn’t been confirmed. What happened next is history. Ronaldinho won 5 trophies with Barcelona and Beckham just 1 with Real Madrid.
Ronaldinho, one of the most gifted footballers of all time, resurrected an ailing Barcelona. Along with Rijkaard, he stymied the Catalan giant’s downward journey. Not only did he bring silverware to the club, he also earned himself the honour of the FIFA World Player of the year, not once, but twice in a row. A feat that has been achieved only twice in history – the other one being by Ronaldo, during his tenure at Barcelona and Inter Milan. Ronaldinho’s uncanny ability to change the drift of the game in a spur of a moment separated him from the rest. On numerous occasions, the opposition surrendered in front of the genius of the Brazilian. One such incident being the demolition of Real Madrid at Santiago Bernebeu, which got him a standing ovation from Madridistas present at the venue. With a little less than 100 goals, innumerable match winning performances and countless moments of joy, Ronaldinho finally bade Camp Nou adieu. Following the footsteps of his fellow Brazalian, Rivaldo, Gaucho too joined AC Milan. However, he couldn’t get back to his best at San Siro.
Samuel Eto’o
Probably one of the best African footballers in Europe, Samu’s contribution to FC Barcelona’s cause is undeniable. The Cameroonian attacker signed for the Catalan club in 2004 for €24 million and went on to justify every penny. The transfer fee and Samu’s eventual service to the Catalan club, when contrasted, sees the former pale into insignificance. Having spent his entire youth in Spain, La Liga wasn’t alien territory for the African striker. In his very first season at FC Barcelona, Eto’o helped his team win the domestic league title after a hiatus. The last decade has seen two of the best Barcelona teams – Rijkaard’s and Guardiola’s. Eto’o was a vital cog in both. Manager changed, administration changed, players changed but what didn’t change was Samu and his indomitable approach to the game and also to Barcelona’s aspirations.
Samuel Eto’o had a perfect start to his Barcelona career when he netted in his very first match. The African forward sustained his imperious form the entire season, netting 29 goals for the League Champions in all competitions. Under the tutelage of Frank Rijkaard, the triumvirate of Samuel Eto’o, Ronaldinho and Ludovic Guily formed a devastating combination. After winning the historic double in 2005-06, the Catalan club then fell from the giddy heights of the UEFA Champions League pinnacle to finishing third in La Liga, 17 points adrift of Real Madrid, who won the league that year.
Barcelona underwent a complete metamorphosis with the exodus of some of the superstars of the past and emergence of the champions of the future. Amidst speculation of an imminent departure, the former Mallorca-man stayed put, only to help re-write history. And he re-wrote history in some style. If his previous partnership with Ronaldinho and Guily was menacing to defences, his association with Lionel Messi and Thierry Henry was diabolical for the oppositions. Not only did the Catalans win their first Treble (La Liga, UEFA Champions League and Copa del Rey) but they also scored an astounding 140 goals in all tournaments. Samuel Eto’o gave his best performance for Barcelona yet, scoring 36 goals in 52 appearances, in what was co-incidentally his last season at the Camp Nou. After spending 5 seasons at the Camp Nou, the African notched up a walloping 130 goals in 200 appearances for the club. Samuel’s service towards the club goes way beyond his goals. After joining as just another talented, volatile and care-free African youth, the Real Madrid youth academy product not only matured as a footballer but also as a human being. Barcelona will be in his debt, forever.
Thierry Henry
Titi joined FC Barcelona in 2007, from Arsenal. Having won everything in his entire career, the Frenchman joined Barcelona to make one final attempt to lay hands on the coveted UEFA Champions League. An Arsenal legend, Henry was bought by Barcelona for €24 million. A steal, to say the least. Despite being the epicentre of everything at Arsenal, Henry was reduced to a left winger in Barcelona. However, he eventually went on to prove that he’s much more than that. The physical presence of the Frenchman, in an otherwise slightly built team added the impetus needed to unlock defences. Having had a relatively quiet first season, purists were of the opinion that Henry is past his prime and isn’t the missing puzzle in the Barcelona jigsaw. However, King Henry not only proved them wrong but also made them put their foot in the mouth.
With the coming of age of a diminutive Argentine, Leo Messi, Titi forged a formidable partnership with Leo and Eto’o. Such was the aggression that the trio notched up a century of goals in all competitions in all competitions. Henry not only scored 26 vital goals but also made innumerable assists, directly or indirectly and also fell back with the rest of the 9 players to defend. An extremely amiable human being, Titi also was a positive effect on the dressing room full of stars. Finally, having won everything, Titi lost his place to another rising star from the Masia – Pedro. However, he still remains a hero at the Camp Nou, just like he’s one at the Emirates. At the end of the 2009-10 season, Henry bade adieu to European football and switched to MLS to conclude a glittering career. In his short stay of 3 years, Henry netted 49 times and made 26 assists. Mere numbers might just limit his stature as a player, but he surely will remain in the hearts of Cules the world over forever.
Notable absentees: Deco, Figo (Although he played for just the first half of 2000), Ludovic Giuly.
Note: La Masia graduates have not been considered while compiling the list. Also, players such as Messi, Xavi, Alves, who are presently creating history as this piece is written have not been included. This list is purely based on ex-Barcelona players.