Ronald Koeman, two Copa del Rey wins from two finals
Barça coach Ronald Koeman begins an important week as FC Barcelona boss with Saturday seeing the final of the Copa del Rey against Athetic Club in La Cartuja stadium in Seville.
Victory would hand the Dutch coach his first trophy as Barça coach in his first season in the job. It would also be his third success in the cup competition after winning it as a player in 1990 with the blaugranes and again in 2008, this time as coach of Valencia.
1990 and the Dream Team
Valencia's stadium, then called the Luis Casanova stadium, now known as Mestalla, was the venue for the 1990 Copa del Rey final between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. Johan Cruyff was coach for the blaugranes as his team were beginning to be known as the 'Dream Team', a name that was reinforced by their victory in the final against a strong Real Madrid team.
Goals from Guillermo Amor and Julio Salinas gave Barça a 2-0 victory against a Real Madrid side who had won four league titles in a row. Cruyff's 'Dream Team' had claimed the European Cup Winners' Cup but the win against their big rivals in the final announced their coming of age as a force in European Football.
The following season Cruyff's team claimed the first of four consecutive La Liga titles and in 1992 their first European Cup triumph came thanks to Ronald Koeman's goal against Sampdoria at Wembley Stadium in London.
2008. A stormy season that ended with the Copa del Rey
Ronald Koeman came to Valencia in November 2007 to replace Quique Sánchez Flores as coach. It was a difficult time for the Dutch coach as los che were immersed in a battle against relegation for most of the season.
Respite came in the Copa del Rey final and after knocking out Atlético Madrid and Barça amongst others in the previous rounds they faced Getafe in the final. A 3-1 victory in that game handed Koeman his a Copa del Rey title as coach to go along with his victory as a Barça player and he now has the chance to add another on Saturday against Athletic Club.
