To the many people who are familiar with soccer, FC Barcelona may stand as nothing more than a dominant force in the sport. Having dominated La Liga and the Champions League for several decades, FC Barcelona, also known as Barça, has become one of the most popular teams across the world. What may not meet the eye of a typical viewer is that Barça is not just about soccer but rather they stand as a symbol that is of great importance in Catalonia. In 1968 former FC Barcelona president Narcís de Carreras coined the term “Més que un club“, or otherwise known as “More than a club”.
Loyalty is one of the most important things in sports when it comes to fanhood, but few teams have the dedicated following that FC Barcelona does. The differences between Catalonia and the rest of Spain run deep and have historically created a significant wedge for many years. The Franco dictatorship sought out to destroy FC Barcelona’s social significance but as time went on this only fueled Catalan pride even more. Barça has always supported the beliefs of Catalans and has stood to defend their language and culture. Becoming “More than a club” meant that this soccer team would become a symbolism of democracy and anti-centralism.
This past weekend, on April 2nd, the display of affection that fans have towards FC Barcelona was put on display thanks to El Clásico. The slogan of “More than a club” is often amplified during this time of year when the rivalry is at it’s peak. The hatred and differences between these two clubs symbolizes the fighting attitudes of Catalans against the rest of Spain that has been present for decades. While the play on the pitch is intense, it is merely a fraction of the social and political attitudes of the fans. When an entire city shuts down to culminate and witness the action of their team against Real Madrid for two hours, it is evident that Barça is more than a club. El Clasico, and the ever lasting rivalry between Barcelona and Madrid is lightyears ahead of any other rivalry in sports. No other matchup contains the same social, political, cultural and historical factors that El Clasico possesses, thus making it that much more important.
While the differences between Catalonia and the rest of Spain are what influence the “More than a Club” slogan, there is much more to it. It is impossible to walk through Barcelona without seeing stands, shops and markets selling FC Barcelona apparel or memorabilia. Barcelona is a city that is so affectionate of their sports team that it is cemented into the normalcy of their everyday life. Even in New York City, where two sports teams exist in every major US sport, the obsession and presence of sports faith pales in comparison to Barcelona. Men, women and children all don the apparel of FC Barcelona on an everyday basis after a win, loss or a draw. Few sports teams in the world can say they have a following that is at all similar to Barça’s. Another large component of what makes FC Barcelona more than a club is the home of the team. Camp Nou is one of the most important symbols in all of European soccer. With a current capacity of 99,000 plus, Camp Nou stands as the largest European stadium. Having the largest stadium across an entire continent says plenty about the loyalty behind FC Barcelona, definitely making it “More than a club.”
If one were to attend an FC Barcelona game at Camp Nou they would experience two very special moments. In both the first and second half, when the game clock strikes 17:14, another level of fandom is reached. That time, signifying the year 1714, is important to the fans because of the National day of Catalonia on September 11th, 1714. While it may last just one second in each half, it may feel like an entire lifetime for fans because it means so much. If Barça was just a club or just another soccer team then they would not symbolize so much in a single instant. Fans of FC Barcelona are not just soccer fans. They take pride in their cultural upbringing, their generational traditions and family history. Few, if any, sports fans of other teams can say that their club means as much to them as Barça means to each of their fans.
Consistent success plays a huge role in making FC Barcelona into “More than a club”. In terms of overall official titles, Barcelona is the most successful club in Spanish history. Winners of 22 La Liga trophies, 26 Copa Del Rey titles, and five UEFA Champions League finals. Barça has also been known as home for several soccer legends like Johan Cruyff, Ronaldinho, Diego Maradona, and now Lionel Messi. The rich talent and success of FC Barcelona is a huge component to it’s popularity worldwide. The club is attractive and appealing to fans of all ages and all backgrounds. Barça has an effect on fans that brings them closer to the game and helps build the worldwide soccer community.
The 48 year-old slogan “Més que un club” is the perfect way to shortly describe the importance of FC Barcelona. Barça stands a sports team that represents an entire culture’s beliefs, history and politics. They are important to Catalans in unimaginable ways because they sum up everything they believe and pride themselves on. Barça will never stop inspiring fans of all ages worldwide because of their success and their symbolism. When a sports team has this much influential power across the globe it is clear that they stand as more than a club.
Focal Point Sports 