FCBARCELONA.CAT

09.07.2008 14:06

Three keepers in the squad

Sandra Sarmiento

Josep Guardiola will start the season with three goalkeepers in the FC Barcelona squad and it is the first time for five years that this has happened at the club.

Víctor Valdés, Jose´Manuel Pinto and Albert Jorquera will all be on the Barça books this term, giving the new coach a whole variety of options between the posts in the various competitions that the team will play in. Last term, three B team goalkeepers were called up to lend their support to the first team, with Oier Olazábal, Pau Torres and Dani Plancheria all gaining valuable experience. For the new season, Guardiola wants three regular top flight keepers.

Rijkaard’s era

In the last few seasons, Frank Rijkaard maintained his faith in just having Valdés and Jorquera. But at Christmas he was forced to sign Pinto from Celta after Jorquera picked up a serious knee injury. Up until that moment, the third choice goalkeeper for the club was Rubén Martínez, who spent last term with Racing Ferrol. In Rijkaard's first year at Camp No he had three keepers as Rustu Recber was still there, along with Valdés and Jorquera.

Van Gaal again and Antic

During the 2002-03 campaign, Louis van Gaal, in the first phase, and Radomir Antic, in the second, had three goalkeepers with Roberto Bonano, Valdés, who was given his but that year by Antic, and Robert Enke.

Rexach and Serra Ferrer

Carles Rexach was in charge for the 2001-02 season and he had Bonando, Pepe Reina, who had come up through the youth ranks at the club, and Frenchman Richard Dutruel. The year before Francesc Arnau had spent a season in the first team squad under Llorenç Serra Ferrer.

Van Gaal’s first time

In his first spell in charge at the club, Van Gaal emplyed Ruud Hesp, Carles Busquets and Vitor Baia and he also gave debuts to Arnau and Hesp.

Robson and the Dream Team

In his one year at the helm, Sir Bobby Robson won three trophies and used a hat-trick of keepers with Baia, Busquets and Arnau all being part of his squad. In the Dream Team year, Johan Cruyff had Andoni Zubizarreta and Busquets, while Mariano Angoy and Julen Lopetegui played during the 1995-96 season.