Barcelona S.C. facts for kids
 |
||||
| Full name | Barcelona Sporting Club | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) |
|
|||
| Founded | 1 May 1925 | |||
| Ground | Estadio Monumental Banco Pichincha | |||
| Capacity | 59,283 | |||
| Manager | Ariel Holan | |||
| League | Ecuadorian Serie A | |||
| 2023 | Serie A, 2nd of 16 | |||
|
||||
Barcelona Sporting Club, often called Barcelona de Guayaquil, is a famous sports club from Guayaquil, Ecuador. It's best known for its professional football team. They play in the Ecuadorian Serie A, which is the top football league in Ecuador. Barcelona SC is the only club in this league that has never played in the lower Serie B.
This club is one of the most successful football teams in Ecuador. They have won the Serie A title a record 16 times. Their most recent win was in 2020. They also won six regional titles. Barcelona SC was the first Ecuadorian club to reach the finals of the Copa Libertadores, which is a huge South American tournament. They made it to the finals twice but didn't win.
Barcelona Sporting Club was started on May 1, 1925. A Spanish immigrant named Eutimio Pérez founded the club. He named it after his hometown, Barcelona, in Spain. Since then, Barcelona Sporting Club has become the most popular club in Ecuador. They have a big rivalry with Emelec. Matches between these two teams are called "El Clásico del Astillero" and are the most important derby in Ecuador. The club plays its home games at Estadio Monumental Banco Pichincha, which is the biggest stadium in the country.
Besides football, Barcelona SC also has teams in other sports. These include basketball, bowling, boxing, swimming, volleyball, baseball, athletics, and tennis. In 2008, their basketball team won the Ecuadorian National Basketball League championship.
Contents
Club History: How Barcelona SC Grew
Starting Out: The Early Years (1925–1969)
|
Aguirre
Sangster
Guzmán
Murillo Moya
Franco
Márquez
Zevallos
Moría
Criollo
Pacheco
Viteri
|
| Barcelona Sporting Club's 1st squad of 15 June 1925. The coach was Eutimio Pérez. |
Barcelona Sporting Club was founded on May 1, 1925. Eutimio Pérez, a Spanish immigrant, named the club after his home city of Barcelona, Spain. The team's crest, which looks like FC Barcelona's, was adopted later. The team first played in an amateur tournament in the Guayas Province.
In the 1940s, Barcelona became very popular. This was partly because they played exciting matches against strong Colombian teams. They even beat Millionarios, one of Colombia's best teams, twice in Guayaquil.
Interestingly, Barcelona was formed in the same area of Guayaquil as its biggest rival, Club Sport Emelec. Both clubs started in the "Astillero de Guayaquil" neighborhood.
In 1950, Barcelona SC won its first amateur title. The next year, the league became professional. Between 1951 and 1967, Barcelona won five professional regional titles. They also finished second six times, tying with Emelec for the most titles.
In 1957, Barcelona was invited to play in the new Serie A de Ecuador. This league would decide the national champion. Barcelona finished second in their first national tournament. They won their first national title in 1960. This made them the first Ecuadorian team to play in the Copa Libertadores.
- First match: June 15, 1925, against Ayacucho (Barcelona won 1–0).
- First international match: March 19, 1931, against
Deportivo Cali (a 4–4 draw).
Rising to Fame: The 1970s
By the 1970s, Barcelona was one of Ecuador's most popular teams. They had won many championships in their region and nationally. However, they hadn't done well in the Copa Libertadores.
This changed in 1971. Barcelona reached the semi-finals with a team full of stars. These players included Brazilian Jose Paes and Ecuadorian legend Alberto Spencer. Even though they didn't reach the finals, they made history. They defeated Estudiantes de La Plata, a team that had been undefeated at home for four years in the Copa Libertadores. This famous win was called La Hazaña de la Plata (The Feat of La Plata). In 1972, they reached the semi-finals again, showing their strength on the international stage.
After 1972, the club went through a tough period. They didn't win a national title or qualify for the Copa Libertadores for nine years.
Coming Back Strong: The 1980s
In the 1980s, Barcelona made a big comeback. They started winning again both in Ecuador and internationally. In 1980, they won their first national title since 1971. They went on to win four more titles before the end of the decade. This made the 1980s their most successful period for national championships. Barcelona became the first Ecuadorian team to win 10 national titles.
During this time, Barcelona played in the Copa Libertadores six times. They reached the semi-finals twice, in 1986 and 1987. In 1988, they played a special friendly match against FC Barcelona from Spain. The Ecuadorian Barcelona won 2–1!
In 1987, Barcelona opened its new home stadium, the Estadio Monumental. It was built to hold almost 90,000 fans. The Monumental is still the largest stadium in Ecuador. It was once the second-largest in South America.
The Golden Age: The 1990s
In 1990, Barcelona SC aimed to win the Copa Libertadores for the first time. They brought in top international players. These included Argentine World Cup winner Marcelo Trobbiani and Uruguayan Marcelo Saralegui. With these stars and talented Ecuadorian players, they had an amazing tournament.
In the 1990 Copa Libertadores, Barcelona beat River Plate from Argentina in a penalty shootout. This sent them to the long-awaited final! Sadly, they lost to Olimpia from Paraguay. They lost the away game 2–0 and tied the home game 1–1. Many fans felt the referee's decisions affected the outcome.
In 1992, they built another strong team. They beat the previous champions, Colo-Colo from Chile. They reached the Libertadores Cup semi-finals again. But they lost to the powerful Brazilian team São Paulo, which had stars like Cafu and Raí.
This decade also had a sad moment. On December 26, 1993, Ecuadorian striker Carlos Muñoz passed away in a car accident. He was only 26.
Barcelona won the Ecuadorian league title in 1997. This was their last until 2012. They had great players like Marco "El Diablo" Etcheverry and Anthony "El Pipa" De Avila. In the 1998 Libertadores Cup, they reached their second final. However, they lost both games to the Brazilian team Vasco Da Gama.
1998 was Barcelona's last appearance in a Copa Libertadores final. Many fans were disappointed they didn't win a continental title. Their rivals, L.D.U. Quito, became the first Ecuadorian team to win the Copa Libertadores in 2008 Copa Libertadores. This made Barcelona's fans feel even more what could have been.
A Dry Spell: 1998–2012
Barcelona didn't win a national title for 15 years after 1997. They only played in the Copa Libertadores twice in the 2000s. Even without titles, they remained one of the most successful teams. They finished as Serie A runners-up three times during this period.
Barcelona continued to provide many players to the Ecuador national team. They also remained one of the most popular teams in Ecuador. The derby against Emelec stayed the most popular football rivalry.
New Leaders: The Maruri and Harb Eras (2007–2011)
In November 2007, Eduardo Maruri became Barcelona's President. He promised to bring in top players and fix the club's problems. However, the 2009 season was Barcelona's worst ever in the Serie A. Other teams worried that if Barcelona was relegated, it would hurt their finances. This was because Barcelona had the most fans, and their games always sold out.
On October 3, 2009, over 70,000 fans came to the Estadio Monumental Banco del Pichincha. They wanted to support El Idolo del Ecuador and keep them from being relegated. Barcelona won 2–0 against LDU Portoviejo. This win meant Barcelona remained the only Ecuadorian team never to have played in Serie B.
Eduardo Maruri resigned as president in December 2010. Alfonso Harb Viteri took over. He announced new presidential elections for June 2011.
The Noboa Era (2011–2015)
Antonio Noboa won the election and became the new president on June 11, 2011. Under his leadership, Barcelona won the 2012 Serie A title. This ended their 14-year wait for a championship!
The Cevallos Era (2015–Present)
Former goalkeeper José Francisco Cevallos became Barcelona's president on December 13, 2015. His term was renewed in 2020. During his time, Barcelona won the 2016 Ecuadorian Serie A title. This qualified them for the 2017 Copa Libertadores. They reached the semi-finals for the first time since 1998. They beat strong Brazilian teams like Palmeiras and Botafogo. They eventually lost to the champions, Grêmio.
In 2020, Barcelona won the 2020 Ecuadorian Serie A Championship. The next year, they reached the semi-finals of the 2021 Copa Libertadores again. They topped a tough group with Boca Juniors and Santos. In the knockout rounds, they beat Vélez Sarsfield and Fluminense. They then lost to Flamengo in the semi-finals. In the 2022 Ecuadorian Serie A, they won the first phase but lost the championship to Aucas.
Team Colors and Badge
The crest, or badge, of Barcelona SC has changed over the years. The first crest looked like a modified version of the city of Barcelona's Coat of Arms. It had dark blue borders and was used for two years.
In 1935, a big change happened. They used Barcelona's flag inside a circle, with a triangle behind it. This triangle had the team's initials. In 1955, after winning their first Guayas Championship, the team adopted its current crest. It looks similar to FC Barcelona's badge. They changed things like the number of spikes, the color of the ball, and the initials.
Uniform History
|
|
|
|
The team's main colors are yellow and red. Since 2015, their home uniform has been all yellow. Before that, the team used to play in black and white kits. For a short time early on, they even wore a uniform similar to FC Barcelona's. But after many losses in those colors, the team president decided never to wear them again. In the 1940s, yellow was added and became the main color. Red became the second color, used for their away uniforms.
Home Stadium
Barcelona has played in three different stadiums. Their first home was Estadio George Capwell. They shared this stadium with their rival Emelec, as it was the only stadium in Guayaquil.
In 1959, they moved to the new Estadio Modelo. This was where they played during their "golden years." For several years, Barcelona shared this stadium with Emelec and Patria.
After the success of Estadio Modelo, Barcelona's president, Isidro Romero Carbo, wanted the club to have its own stadium. He got help from Guayaquil's mayor, Jaime Nebot, and Ecuador's president, León Febres Cordero. Both were Barcelona fans. Nebot donated a large piece of land, and Febres Cordero helped with money.
Construction started in 1986, and in 1987, the Estadio Monumental opened. It was the first stadium in Ecuador to have special suites. It became the largest stadium in the country, holding nearly 90,000 fans.
Recently, the stadium added a large LED screen around the field. This was installed in September 2008 and was the first of its kind in an Ecuadorian football stadium. A cable car system is also being built to connect the stadium to downtown Guayaquil.
Fans and Supporters
Barcelona SC has the biggest fanbase of any club in Ecuador. According to CONMEBOL, they have over 7 million fans as of 2016. When Barcelona SC plays away games, many of their fans travel to support them.
Barcelona's most passionate fans are called La Sur Oscura (The Dark South). During home matches, they gather in the southern part of the Estadio Monumental. In Quito, Barcelona's ultras are known as Sur Oscura Quito. Another group of fans is called Zona Norte (North Zone).
Big Rivalries
El Clásico del Astillero is the famous match played against Barcelona's old rival, Emelec. These two teams first played each other on August 22, 1943. Barcelona, wearing their yellow jerseys, won 4–3. This match is remembered as "The Derby of the Posts" because Emelec's players hit the goalposts so many times.
In 1948, a newspaper called the match "El Clásico del Astillero" (The Shipyard Derby). This name stuck forever.
The year 1990 was very special for this rivalry. The two teams played each other in a Copa Libertadores quarter-final. Barcelona de Guayaquil won 1–0 and moved on to the semi-finals.
The rivalry between these two teams is huge in Ecuador and even internationally. In 1973, a movie called "El derecho de los pobres" was made about it. It starred famous actors and Ecuadorian football legend Alberto Spencer.
On social media, the rivalry is very active. Fans often create funny memes and videos about the other team, especially after a game. A common phrase used by Barcelona fans is "Barcelona, tu papá" (Barcelona is your father). This means Barcelona is seen as having a more important position than Emelec.
This rivalry has become even more exciting recently. Barcelona won the Serie A in 2012, and Emelec won in 2013 and 2014. The 2014 championship was decided when Emelec beat Barcelona 3–0.
Club Achievements
National Titles
- Serie A
- Winners (16): 1960, 1963, 1966, 1970, 1971, 1980, 1981, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1995, 1997, 2012, 2016, 2020
International Competitions
- Copa Libertadores
- Runners-up (2): 1990, 1998
Regional Titles
- Campeonato Amateur de Guayaquil
- Winners (1): 1950
- Campeonato Amateur División Intermedia
- Winners (1): 1941
- Campeonato Amateur Serie B
- Winners (2): 1940, 1946
- Campeonato Amateur Serie C
- Winners (3): 1934, 1936, 1938
- Campeonato de Fútbol del Guayas
- Winners (5): 1955, 1961, 1963, 1965, 1967
- Copa de Reservas AsoGuayas
- Winners (1): 2006
- Copa Fedeguayas
- Winners (1): 2004
Team Players
Current Squad
|
|
Players on Loan
|
|
World Cup Players
These players were part of their country's team at the FIFA World Cup while playing for Barcelona SC:
- Antony de Ávila (1998)
Nicolás Geovanny Asencio (2002)- José Francisco Cevallos (2002)
- Luis Oswaldo Gómez (2002)
- Iván Jacinto Hurtado (2002)
- Iván Kaviedes (2002)
- Edwin Tenorio (2002, 2006)
- Máximo Banguera (2014)
- Juan Carlos Paredes (2014)
- Luis Saritama (2014)
Team Managers
Current Coaching Staff
| Position | Staff |
|---|---|
| Manager | Diego Lopez |
| Assistant Manager | Rolando Azas |
| Fitness Coach | Marco Conenna |
| Goalkeeping Coach | Carlos Caicedo |
Last updated: 7 January 2020
Source: El Universo
Famous Managers
Here are some notable managers who have won titles with Barcelona SC:
Julio Kellman (won the 1960 Serie A title)
Francisco Ferreira de Sousa "Gradim" (won the 1963 Serie A title)- Pablo Ansaldo (won the 1966 Serie A title)
- Otto Vieira (won Serie A titles 1970, 1971 and 1980)
- Hector Morales (won the 1981 Serie A title)
Luis Santibáñez (won the 1985 Serie A title)- Roque Gastón Máspoli (won the 1987 Serie A title)
Miguel Brindisi (won the 1989 Serie A titles)- Jorge Habegger (won the 1991 Serie A titles)
- Salvador Capitano (won the 1995 Serie A title)
- Rubén Insúa (won the 1997 Serie A title)
- Gustavo Costas (won the 2012 Serie A title)
- Guillermo Almada (won the 2016 Serie A title)
- Fabián Bustos (won the 2020 Serie A title)
See also
In Spanish: Barcelona Sporting Club para niños
