FC Barcelona and Barca is also known as the Futbol Club Barcelona. This is a renowned football team and has its base in Catalonia, region of Spain. This team has become a symbol of Catalan nationalism, due its great success and of course the popularity rather its craze among the people. The team has an inspiring motto "Mes que un club" that 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 realize that his dream team would become so popular amongst the masses 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 funny name originated in the mid twenties by the Barca followers when they sat in the top row of the football stadium with their ass was apparent 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 removed from the club's shield. The stadium was the ultimate place to be during fanco's reign and the language of Catalan could be spoken freely and even the flag was displayed.
FC Barcelona and Real Madrid are the two most successful and popular Spanish teams but at the same time they are ferocious competitors on and off the stadium. The real Madrid became the symbol of nationalism and favored the regime of Franco whereas Barca opposed Franco and that was when the rivalry started. This rivalry started back in the past but still leaves its symbol. The Barcas beat Real Madrid in 1968 by a score of 1- under the coaching of Salvador Artigas.
The stadium 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 an excellent accomplishment for Barca and few wonderful matches were played at the stadium.
The club got its old name back to Futbol Cub Barcelona in 1974. From the beginning the club has stayed with its principal of not advertising on the uniform for the corporate sponsors unlike 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 announced a contract with the UNICEF that is an international group to help youngsters. The team also donates EUR1.5 million per year to the organization.
It's mandatory for all the team members to know the Catalan language as per 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 that promotes the Catalan language.
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