F.C Barcelona - Giants of Europe
He picked up the paper that was lying on his desk on that fine sunny morning...
Quote:
FC BARCELONA KINGS OF EUROPE!
The mighty Barcelona triumphed in Europe again after last season's dissapointing quarter final exit... the Catalan side had to overcome many obstacles to win the grand prize of europe, including Lyon and Manchester United. The success comes after the Catalans were crowned Spanish Cup and League Champions recently, making them complete the season triple, a success that is not easily overshadowed. The Fans celebrated all night well into the early hou....
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the newspaper from the 19th of May 2008 had been sitting on his desk for the past two months and he never ever skipped a day without reading it and re-living the glory days. Since then his side had secured the Spanish Super Cup and the European Super Cup, adding the number of silverware won that year to a glorious 5. It truely was his year, despite being crowned league and cup champions the year before, this year was different, more fitting and furthermore meaningful. Sir Emir "Az" Karakurt had come from very humble origins, dating back to 2004 when he had taken command of Sheffield United when they were a mid-table championship team. Since then Emir "Az" Karakurt has managed Real Sociedad, Real Madrid and now... the mighty F.C Barcelona.
Karakurt had joined Barcelona at the start of the 2006/2007 season from Real Madrid after a mass falling out with the then Assistant Manager of Real Madrid. He had found a much warmer and stable home here in barcelona, and Intended to stick around for as long as he could, for he was managing, argueably, the best team in Europe... nay, the World. Karakurt did not really have to do much upon his arrival to F.C.B seeing as the squad already had Ronaldinho, Messi, Deco, Eto'o, Puyol, Valdes and furthermore stars. The only real problem he faced was that half of the 25 man squad was near or past their 30's and they would most definately kick the bucket very very soon. The first season had very little transfer activity going on, the purchase of
Anthony Vanden Borre Being the only purchase in the summer window as a replacement for the aging defense line. Karakurt had to start somewhere and he decided to start with the right side of the Defense line. As Barcelona had a fairly irregular ride towards the winter window,
Marcelo and
Vidic were purchased to replace the aging Sylvinho, Gio and Thuram. The first season ended with a tremendous double, with Karakurt securing both the domestic title and the domestic cup over a thrilling final with Betis.
The Summer window of 2007/2008 was the real deal.
Klose was purchased for 30m from a rather tight and reluctant Werder Bremen with stiff competition from Valencia as the bidding wars ravaged on. All around him Karakurt faced the pressure of his follow managers purchasing young, cheap and deadly talent, but he was the Mighty Barcelona, he had no money to spend on cheap talent... he had to keep the fans happy and therefore, the floodgates opened and soon after Miroslav Klose's arrival,
Ribery,
Tuncay,
Kerlon,
Anderson,
Urby Emannuelson and
Vincent Eneyema all joining the team as replacements for the aging veterans of the Catalan dream team. Guily, Thuram, Sylvinho, Saviola, Iniesta, Ezquerro and Motta all leaving the squad with Iniesta going for the highest recieved fee at 16.5m to Tottenham Hotspur.
The season of 2007/2008 saw Barca doing the triple, Klose winning the European and Spanish Golden Boot, Ronaldinho winning the best player of the year award as well as several other positional and national awards. It truely was a glamorous season seeing the best of Barca's Squad. Valencia was always at Barca's Tail, Mr.Orhun being Karakurt's biggest rival in terms of prestige, budget and stature, but after the Famous 2-1 CL final win the Season's champion was decided.
The Summer window of 2008/2009 saw Barca bring in names such as
Vincent Kompany,
Wesley Sniejder and the young Turkish phenonomen
Nuri Sahin. The team was now adequately backed up by a young and fit generation full of the best stars and prospects, Kerlon, Anderson and Marcelo being the true gems that have excited everyone involved with the world of football.
Nobody knows what's in store for F.C Barcelona this season, every empire has a rise, and a fall. Barca are now surely at their peak but how long it will last and how bad it will drop remains yet to be seen, but they are certainly well beyond enjoying it at the moment and so is everyone else who have given their hearts and souls to the mighty Catalan Giants... Karakurt has yet to make a single press conference since his arrival at the Nou Camp but he surely cannot stay in the shadows much longer, especially if success continues to follow.
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