11.05.2010 13:06
Fifteen years of European success
www.fcbarcelona.cat
FC Barcelona has the unique distinction of winning the European Cup in one of the Club’s sports sections every season for the last 15 years.
This amazing record started with the handball European Cup in 1996 and continued this season with
the Euroleague basketball championship won by Navarro and co last Sunday in Paris.
18 European Cups
In
fact, FC Barcelona has won 18 European Cups in the past 15 years. Top of the Club’s sports
sections comes the roller hockey section, who have won Europe’s top club honour on no fewer
than 8 occasions. The section also holds the Club record for the most European Cups – 18
altogether.
Next comes the handball section, which has lifted the European Cup six times in the 15-year
period, the last time being against BM Ciudad Real in 2004-05.
Barcelona, Paris and Rome
The basketball section won the Euroleague for the first time in 2003 in a Final Four
held in the Palau Sant Jordi here in Barcelona. Last Sunday, Paris witnessed the section’s
second triumph in Europe’s top basketball competition, proving that the French capital brings
the Club good fortune!
In 2006, the football team won the Champions League final against Arsenal in Paris while last
year, Barca picked up their third trophy against another Premier League team, Manchester United, in
Rome.
22 consecutive seasons of European triumph
If we include all European competitions then FC Barcelona has been represented by at least
one of its sports sections on the roll call of winners every season since 1988-89.
This incredible run of success began with the football Cup Winners Cup won against Sampdoria
en Berne in 1989. This has been followed by a flood of European honours in sports as diverse as
football, basketball, handball and roller hockey, giving FC Barcelona an unparalleled record in
European club sport.
On the verge of making history
But this year could be even more spectacular if the handball team win the Final Four
in Cologne and the roller hockey team do the same in Valdagno. Added to the Euroleague already won
by the basketball team, it would be the first time the Club has won the European Cup in three
different sports in the same season.
So far the Club has won the European Cup in handball and roller hockey in the same season on
three occasions: 1996-97, 1999-00 and 2004-05.