Board thanks women’s and academy football teams

The FC Barcelona board of directors met on Monday for an ordinary session at the Camp Nou and discussed the following issues:

Copa de la Reina victory

The Board publicly congratulated the women’s team on winning the Spanish Cup title on Sunday after beating Atlético Madrid in the final. After reaching the Champions League semi-finals for the first time ever and finishing second in La Liga, this was arguably the team’s best ever campaign. The board also congratulated Xavier Llorens, who ended eleven years in charge of the team by celebrating the cup title.

Congratulations to youth teams

The board also congratulated the U12 team for winning the LaLiga Promises title on Sunday, while extending their praise to the academy teams in general. They have won no fewer than seventeen different league titles this term, including three for the girls teams. But it’s not just the silverware, but also the amazing work being done to provide a comprehensive education to these players that is so praiseworthy.

Call of support for Barça B

The board also encouraged supporters to make their way to the Miniestadi this Sunday at 8.15pm CET for the decisive playoff game between Barça B and Racing Santander. The reserves got a great result in the first leg, but will still need to count on strong support to hopefully see their way through to Second Division A next season. Tickets are free for members, who can also invite up to five guests to join them.

Managerial changes for women’s team

The board also revealed that Markel Zubizarreta will be taking over as the new general manager of women’s football, a job previously served by Xavier Llorens, while also coaching the professional team. The board also named Fran Sánchez as the new first team head coach.

39-year-old Sánchez was born in Barcelona and worked in the FCB academy from 1997 to 2012 before becoming technical director of the Bahrain national team and assistant coach of Maccabi de Tel-Aviv.

New basketball and roller hockey coaches

The board also confirmed Sito Alonso as the new basketball head coach in replacement of Giorgios Bartzokas. He will be officially presented on Tuesday at 12.30pm CET in the Palau Blaugrana. 

Meanwhile, Edu Castro will be the new coach of the roller hockey team in substitution of Ricard Muñoz, who shall remain tied to the club through work with La Masia.

New agreements with regional sponsors

The board also approved two agreements with regional sponsors in the Asian zone. The details of these deals, which will help raise Barça’s profile in the continent, are due to be revealed in the next few weeks.

Renewed agreement with FCBEscola Fort Lauderdale

The board also announced that its agreement with FCBEscola Fort Lauderdale in Florida is to be extended for a further three years. This was the club’s first soccer school in the United States and will help to boost the team and its academies’ profile in the country.

Gratitude to Qatar

Vives also expressed the club’s thanks to Qatar for all its support in recent years. “We must be grateful to Qatar Foundation and Qatar Airways” he said. “They have been magnificent sponsors of the club and have given important help to FC Barcelona. It is in our interest for peace and harmony to be re-established in that part of the world.”

12 new official supporters clubs

The board also announced its approval of twelve new official ‘penyas’, one in Catalonia, two elsewhere in Spain and nine in other countries, taking the overall total of international clubs to 120, which goes to show how much the club is expanding abroad in accordance with its Strategic Plan. The number of foreign supporters clubs has doubled in just eight years.

The new clubs are as follows:

• Penya Barcelonista Supporters Fan Club of Doral in Florida

• Penya Barcelonista Paredes de Nava

• Fan Club Barça Kiev

• Barça Fan Club Cluj

• Penya Blaugrana Jove de Cerdanyola del Vallès

• Penya Barcelonista Frente Lugones

• Penya Barça Dallas

• Penya Blaugrana Rabat Atlàntic

• Penya Blaugrana Tel-Aviv

• Penya Blaugrana Yerevan

• Penya Barcelonista de Kenitra

• Penya Barçamania de Moscou