Presidents

In Spanish football it is the club’s president that wields the power, although they are generally elected by the socios (membership) and supported by a governing board. I don’t think it can be denied that from an achievement perspective Joan Laporta has been the most successful in FC Barcelona’s history, possibly in footballing history. No other can claim to have won all six available cups in one season, with the addition titles in other presiding seasons – especially in such style.

I like Laporta. He took over a club riddled with debt that threatened to drift through the decades. He and his board refinanced the club with a robust finance plan. They overhauled the merchandising element, capitalising on the many non-European markets and offering the fans plenty of opportunity to part with their cash (as I well know). On the sporting side they signed Ronaldinho as a ‘marquee’ signing, brought in Frank Rikjaard and the project took off.

I don’t believe the club would be where it is now without the involvement of Laporta and his board. He has supported the manager and staff whenever required. The reputation of FC Barcelona in both sporting terms and the way it conducts business is at a high. I expect the attempts to unsettle players (Fabregas etc) are press generated rather than by the club. The same cannot be said of ‘The Other Team’.

I am not privy to club politics, other than those promoted through the press, but I would not like to see Laporta leave under a political cloud. David Villa has been signed and the British press are also suggesting the signings of Torres and Fabregas. At the same time the prime presidential candidate, Sandro Rosell, has made comments about the affordability of such signings. I do not want Laporta’s ambition to leave FC Barcelona with a legacy turn into the ‘Other Team’ circus of last season where the team were undoubtedly improved but at extreme cost and debt.

FC Barcelona is in a healthy state. That should not be put at risk, even to sign quality good players.