Football in Catalonia
Encyclopedia
Football is the most important sport in Catalonia
and was introduced in the late 19th century by a combination of mostly British
immigrant workers and visiting sailors, and students returning from Britain
. Catalonia led the way in the development of football in Spain
, organising both the first association and the first league. Today football in Catalonia is organized by the Catalan Football Federation and the RFEF and teams from Catalonia compete in La Liga
, the Copa del Rey
, the Copa Catalunya and several European competitions.
is Palamós Foot-Ball Club
founded in 1898. Although Gimnàstic de Tarragona
was formed in 1886, the club did not form an actual football team until 1914. Català SC and Foot-Ball Club Barcelona
were both founded in 1899. Several clubs also emerged with a reference to Spain
in their title. These included Hispania AC and Sociedad Española de Football
, both formed in 1900, and FC Espanya de Barcelona
. On November 11, 1900 the Federació Catalana de Futbol was formed as the
Football Associació de Catalunya. It was the first football association founded in Spain
. The first president was Eduard Alesson and the original members included FC Barcelona
, Sociedad Española de Football
, Català SC and Hispania AC.
was formed in 1928, seven Catalan clubs have played in the Primera Division. These include FC Barcelona
who have never been relegated and RCD Espanyol
who have only missed out on four seasons in the top division. CE Sabadell FC played for 14 seasons in the Primera Division. CE Europa
, founding members of La Liga
have played three seasons while Gimnàstic de Tarragona
, UE Lleida
and CD Condal
all made brief appearances.
Eleven other clubs FC Barcelona B
, Terrassa FC
, CF Badalona
, Girona FC
, UE Sant Andreu
, UE Figueres
, Palamós CF
, CE L´Hospitalet
, CE Júpiter
, EC Granollers
and CFJ Mollerussa
have all played in the Segunda Division.
, a new competition for Catalan clubs was organized. The Copa Generalitat was not initially recognised by the
RFEF and only teams from the Spanish Third Division entered. After 1990 however the Copa Generalitat, now organized by the Federació Catalana de Futbol, became an official competition and Catalan clubs in La Liga
began to enter. In 1993 it was renamed the Copa Catalunya. The competition has gradually diminished in prestige and FC Barcelona
and RCD Espanyol
rarely field strong teams.
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
and was introduced in the late 19th century by a combination of mostly British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
immigrant workers and visiting sailors, and students returning from Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Catalonia led the way in the development of football in Spain
Football in Spain
Football is the most popular sport in Spain. The Royal Spanish Football Federation is the national governing body and it organizes La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Spain national football team, current champion of the FIFA World Cup...
, organising both the first association and the first league. Today football in Catalonia is organized by the Catalan Football Federation and the RFEF and teams from Catalonia compete in La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
, the Copa del Rey
Copa del Rey
The Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
, the Copa Catalunya and several European competitions.
Earliest Clubs
The oldest club in CataloniaCatalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
is Palamós Foot-Ball Club
Palamós CF
Palamós Club de Futbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Palamós, a town and commercial port in the Costa Brava, in the autonomous community of Catalonia...
founded in 1898. Although Gimnàstic de Tarragona
Gimnàstic de Tarragona
Club Gimnàstic de Tarragona, usually referred to as Nàstic, is a Spanish sports club based in Tarragona, in the autonomous community of Catalonia. Its football team currently plays in Segunda División....
was formed in 1886, the club did not form an actual football team until 1914. Català SC and Foot-Ball Club Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
were both founded in 1899. Several clubs also emerged with a reference to Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
in their title. These included Hispania AC and Sociedad Española de Football
RCD Espanyol
Reial Club Deportiu Espanyol de Barcelona is a sports club based in Barcelona, Spain. It is best known for its football team. Espanyol currently play in the Estadi Cornellà-El Prat with seats for 40,500 spectators. It was inaugurated on 2 August 2009...
, both formed in 1900, and FC Espanya de Barcelona
FC Espanya de Barcelona
FC Espanya de Barcelona, also referred to as FC España de Barcelona, was a Spanish Catalan football club based in Barcelona. They enjoyed a golden age during the 1910s and were Catalan champions three times during the decade. They were also Copa del Rey runners-up in 1914...
. On November 11, 1900 the Federació Catalana de Futbol was formed as the
Football Associació de Catalunya. It was the first football association founded in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. The first president was Eduard Alesson and the original members included FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
, Sociedad Española de Football
RCD Espanyol
Reial Club Deportiu Espanyol de Barcelona is a sports club based in Barcelona, Spain. It is best known for its football team. Espanyol currently play in the Estadi Cornellà-El Prat with seats for 40,500 spectators. It was inaugurated on 2 August 2009...
, Català SC and Hispania AC.
La Liga
Since La LigaLa Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
was formed in 1928, seven Catalan clubs have played in the Primera Division. These include FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
who have never been relegated and RCD Espanyol
RCD Espanyol
Reial Club Deportiu Espanyol de Barcelona is a sports club based in Barcelona, Spain. It is best known for its football team. Espanyol currently play in the Estadi Cornellà-El Prat with seats for 40,500 spectators. It was inaugurated on 2 August 2009...
who have only missed out on four seasons in the top division. CE Sabadell FC played for 14 seasons in the Primera Division. CE Europa
CE Europa
Club Esportiu Europa is a Spanish/Catalan sports club, based in the Gràcia district of Barcelona. The club is best known for its football team who in 1928, along with city neighbours FC Barcelona and RCD Espanyol, were founder members of La Liga. During the late 1990s they won the Copa Catalunya...
, founding members of La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
have played three seasons while Gimnàstic de Tarragona
Gimnàstic de Tarragona
Club Gimnàstic de Tarragona, usually referred to as Nàstic, is a Spanish sports club based in Tarragona, in the autonomous community of Catalonia. Its football team currently plays in Segunda División....
, UE Lleida
UE Lleida
Club Lleida Esportiu is a Spanish football team based in Lleida, Catalonia. Founded in 2011, it plays in Segunda División B, holding home games at Camp d'Esports, with a capacity of 13,500 seats.-History:...
and CD Condal
FC Barcelona B
Futbol Club Barcelona B is a Spanish football team. They are the reserve team of FC Barcelona. Reserve teams in the Spanish football league system play in the same football pyramid as their senior team rather than a separate league. However reserve teams cannot play in the same division as their...
all made brief appearances.
Eleven other clubs FC Barcelona B
FC Barcelona B
Futbol Club Barcelona B is a Spanish football team. They are the reserve team of FC Barcelona. Reserve teams in the Spanish football league system play in the same football pyramid as their senior team rather than a separate league. However reserve teams cannot play in the same division as their...
, Terrassa FC
Terrassa FC
Terrassa Futbol Club, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Terrassa, Barcelona, in the autonomous community of Catalonia. Founded in 1906, it currently plays in 3ª - Group 5, holding home matches at Estadi Olímpic de Terrassa, with a capacity of 11.500 spectators.-History:In 1914, Terrassa's...
, CF Badalona
CF Badalona
Club de Fútbol Badalona is a Spanish football team based in Badalona, in the autonomous community of Catalonia. Founded in 1903, it plays in Segunda División B - Group 3, holding home games at the Camp del Centenari, with a capacity of 10,000 seats....
, Girona FC
Girona FC
Girona Futbol Club, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Girona, in the autonomous community of Catalonia. Founded in 1930, it plays in Segunda División, holding home games at Estadi Montilivi, which has a capacity of 10,000....
, UE Sant Andreu
UE Sant Andreu
Unió Esportiva Sant Andreu is a Spanish football team based in the city of Barcelona, in the district of Sant Andreu, Catalonia. Founded in 1925, it plays in Segunda División B - Group 3, holding home matches at Camp Municipal Narcís Sala, with an all-seated capacity of 6,900.-Club background:*Club...
, UE Figueres
UE Figueres
Unió Esportiva Figueres is a Spanish football team based in Figueres, in the autonomous community of Catalonia. Founded in 1919 and refounded in 2007, it plays in Primera Catalana, holding home matches at Estadio Municipal de Vilatenim, with a seating capacity of 9,472.-History:Figueres was first...
, Palamós CF
Palamós CF
Palamós Club de Futbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Palamós, a town and commercial port in the Costa Brava, in the autonomous community of Catalonia...
, CE L´Hospitalet
CE L´Hospitalet
Centre d'Esports l'Hospitalet is a Spanish football team based in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, in the autonomous community of Catalonia. Founded in 1957, it currently plays in 2ªB - Group 3, holding home games at Estadi La Feixa Llarga, with a capacity of 6,294 seats.-History:Centre D'Esports...
, CE Júpiter
CE Júpiter
Club Esportiu Júpiter is a football team based in Barcelona in the autonomous community of Catalonia. Founded in 1909, it plays in the Preferent Territorial of Catalonia. Its stadium is La Verneda with a capacity of 6,000 seats.- Season to season :----...
, EC Granollers
EC Granollers
Esport Club Granollers is a football team based in Granollers in the autonomous community of Catalonia. Founded in 1913, it plays in the Preferent Territorial of Catalonia. Its stadium is Municipal Carrer Girona with a capacity of 2,500.- Season to season :...
and CFJ Mollerussa
CFJ Mollerussa
Club de Futbol Joventut Mollerussa is a football team based in Mollerussa in the autonomous community of Catalonia. Founded in 1930, it plays in the Preferent Territorial of Catalunya...
have all played in the Segunda Division.
Copa Catalunya
In 1984 following the restoration of the democracy in SpainSpain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, a new competition for Catalan clubs was organized. The Copa Generalitat was not initially recognised by the
RFEF and only teams from the Spanish Third Division entered. After 1990 however the Copa Generalitat, now organized by the Federació Catalana de Futbol, became an official competition and Catalan clubs in La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
began to enter. In 1993 it was renamed the Copa Catalunya. The competition has gradually diminished in prestige and FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
and RCD Espanyol
RCD Espanyol
Reial Club Deportiu Espanyol de Barcelona is a sports club based in Barcelona, Spain. It is best known for its football team. Espanyol currently play in the Estadi Cornellà-El Prat with seats for 40,500 spectators. It was inaugurated on 2 August 2009...
rarely field strong teams.