A Catalan Dream: Football Artistry and Political Intrigue

In 2003, Barcelona was in full crisis on and off the pitch with the team struggling in the league and the protests of fans leading to the resignation of the president. A new radical board led by the charismatic Joan Laporta was ushered into power with a landslide election victory and a dramatic recovery unfolded. With enterprising new marketing strategies, Barcelona fully exploited its potential financially, while the club returned to the pinnacle of the European game with their unique brand of swashbuckling football, forged from Johan Cruyff's innovative approach as coach in the early 1990s. The enigmatic Ronaldinho instigated the turnaround and helped the club to European success before he was superseded by homegrown players like Leo Messi and Andres Iniesta, led by coach Pep Guardiola, the iconic figure of Cruyff's side. Problems were never far away, though, as Catalan politics threatened to sidetrack the team and vendettas came to the fore. Barca had a major impact on the Spain national team, which adapted their style of quick passing football and they had eight players in the World Cup winning squad in South Africa.