La Masia graduates who went on to become head coach of FC Barcelona
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La Masia, the football academy of FC Barcelona has been one of the biggest football academy in the entire World and it has produced some great footballers and some legends generation after generation. In 1979 La Masia opened it’s gate to the entire world so as to house and train some great footballers not only from spain but also from all over the world.
There have been some players who have proved themselves to be some of the exceptional graduates of La Masia but that did not seemed to have ended their achievements as they went on to become managers in the future and even take over FC Barcelona as the head coach. Let us have a look at the La Masia graduates who went on to become the head coach of FC Barcelona.
#1) Ramón Llorens
Ramón Llorens Pujadas was the very first La Masia graduate who went to become the manager of the Spanish club FC Barcelona in 1950. He played as a goalkeeper during his time in the Catalan club from 1926 to 1938 and is still to date recorded as the shortest goalkeeper in the history of the club. He has won nine Catalonia cup, one Copa del Rey, one Mediterranean League, one Spanish League and one Catalan League.
#2) Luis Miró
Luis Miró Doñate was another La Masia graduate who went on to take on the managerial duty of FC Barcelona later on in his career. The Catalan born player used to play in the Goalkeeper position for FC Barcelona from 1939 to 1943 and also won a Copa Del Rey during his short stint. He was the manager of FC Barcelona in 1961 and later on went on to become the president of the Coaches’ Association.
#3) Joaquim Rifé Climent
Joaquim Rifé was one of the most versatile player in literal sense to have graduated from La Masia as he had the talent and the ability to play both as a defender and as a striker. He played in Barcelona from 1963 to 1976 during which he won two Copa Del Rey, one Fairs Cup, one Fairs Cup Trophy playoff and one Spanish League. He managed FC Barcelona for one season from 1079 to 1980 during which, he had very little success.
#4) Carles Rexach
Carles Rexach was one of the brightest academy graduates of FC Barcelona who had great partnership with the Dutch legend Johan Cruyff in the frontline. Rexach currently comes in the ninth position position of the highest appearances by any players for FC Barcelona as he has 638 appearances in the Blaugrana colours with 197 goals, winning the Pichichi Trophy in the 1970/71 season.
He has won the Copa Del Rey four times, Spanish League once and UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup once. He had been part of the FC Barcelona team throughout his life and also dedicated his life in managing the club from 1983-1996 playing as the interim or assistant manager of the club whenever needed. He also became the head coach of the club for a season from 2001 to 2002.
#5) Pep Guardiola
Pep Guardiola one of the academy graduate of FC Barcelona is one of the greatest name in the history of the club. Guardiola has played 316 matches during his time with FC Barcelona from 1988-2001 and has achieved many honours like the Copa Del Rey, Spanish League, European Cup, UEFA Cup Winners Cup and many more.
His greatness became golden in the history of the club when he became the most successful manager in the history of the Catalan Club. Guardiola has won everything with FC Barcelona as a manager from 2008-2012 with 14 titles in his tally. He won six titles with FC Barcelona in a single Calender year in 2009.
#6) Tito Vilanova
Tito Vilanova was another academy graduate of FC Barcelona who was part of the greatest time of FC Barcelona’s history. Tito was the assistant coach of Pep Guardiola and was a major part of the squad which delivered the greatest time and titles to the Catalan club. He was appointed head coach of FC Barcelona after the departure of Pep Guardiola in 2012 although he was not able to continue for much time as he succumbed to his illness and died of throat cancer. He won the La Liga with FC Barcelona as a manager in 2012-13 season.
#7) Xavi Hernández
One of the greatest midfielders in the history of football, if not the greatest, Xavi Hernández. He was one of the most brightest prospects of the La Masia who went on to create history not only for the Catalan club but also for the Spanish National team. He has 767 appearances for FC Barcelona during his career and was the highest until Lionel Messi took over before leaving the club in 2021.
Xavi has created history and has won 4 Champions league for FC Barcelona alongside many other titles. He also lead the Spanish National team to win the Euro in 2008 and the World cup in 2010. He is the newly appointed manager of FC Barcelona as he takes over the club during a time of crisis when the club suffers to provide any positive performance. With time we will have to see what Xavi brings on to the table as the manager and if he can become as great a coach as he was a player.
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Raunak Bose
(485 Articles Published)