Contents

2009–10 FC Barcelona season

Barcelona

2009–10 season
FC Barcelona celebrating the La Liga win in 2009–2010
President	Joan Laporta
Head Coach	Pep Guardiola
Stadium	Camp Nou
La Liga	1st
Copa del Rey	Round of 16
Supercopa de España	Winners
UEFA Champions League	Semi-finals
UEFA Super Cup	Winners
FIFA Club World Cup	Winners
Top goalscorer	League: Lionel Messi (34) All: Lionel Messi (47)
Home colours Away colours Third colours
← 2008–09 2010–11 →

In2009–10, FC Barcelona started the new season with the prospect of winning six major competitions in the 2008–2009 season. They contested for the Supercopa de España, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, Copa del Rey, La Liga, and the UEFA Champions League. During the summer transfer window, the club swapped their top league goal scorer during the treble season, Samuel Eto'o to Italy's Inter Milan in exchange for Zlatan Ibrahimović, along with €48 million, bringing the total to €69 million. On 16 May, Barcelona claimed its 20th league title^[1] with a then-record 99 points via a 4–0 victory over relegated side Valladolid to finish their 2009–10 season with four titles.

Overview[edit]

Over the summer of 2009, along with Ibrahimović, Barcelona reinforced their squad with the signings of Inter Milan defender Maxwell, Brazilian club Palmeiras forward Keirrison (sent on loan with Portuguese club Benfica, then loaned out during the winter transfer window to Italian side Fiorentina), and Ukrainian team Shakhtar Donetsk defender Dmytro Chyhrynskyi. Continuing its tradition of using canteranos on the first team, Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola also promoted four players from the youth reserves, Jonathan dos Santos, Jeffrén, Andreu Fontàs and Marc Muniesa.^[2] Barcelona player Henrique, previously on loan with Bayer Leverkusen, briefly rejoined the squad for the pre-season but was again loaned out, this time to [Racing de Santander].

Off the field events[edit]

On 23 September, it was discovered by Catalan newspaper El Periódico of an investigation into the daily lives of four possible candidates for the Barcelona presidential election in 2010. The investigation was authorized by FC Barcelona director general, Joan Oliver, who hired investigating company Metodo 3 to gather daily information on vice president of institution and assets administration Joan Franquesa, vice president for marketing and media Jaume Ferrer, vice president for finance and treasurer Joan Boix, and vice president for sport Rafael Yuste between late March and early April 2009.^[3] Oliver stated in a press conference the next day at the Camp Nou that "Barça did no spying but were just protecting the entity of the club".^[4]

President Joan Laporta stated that "this happened five months ago. Certain events happened and when I found out about them, the corresponding explanations were given. These explanations were understood and accepted since no law was broken." He added that "it was understood that the reports that were asked for were within the limits of legality and were to protect the affected parties and the club. Therefore, the page was turned and the case was closed." Laporta also said that "we are better than we have ever been in our entire history in our methods of operation, and now, because they want to destabilise us, people drag up issues like these. We will continue the same way, because everyone does it as well. We are used to living under pressure and people trying to destabilise us… Barça is united and united we are unbeatable."

Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola stated that "he has shielded the squad from the scandal of the investigation" and that "the subject has not been spoken of in the locker room and even the captains have not mentioned it, there's total concentration."^[5]

On 11 November, vice-president Joan Franquesa handed in his resignation for "personal reasons". Continuing the turmoil in the Barcelona Board-Room.^[6] President Joan Laporta took action by restructuring the board of directors and making Albert Perrín, the new vice-president. Laporta stated "He was making changes for these individuals to get to know the best club better."^[7]

Ballon d'Or & FIFA World Player of the Year[edit]

On 1 December, France Football magazine announced Lionel Messi was the winner of the 2009 Ballon d'Or, thus making him the ninth player while playing at Barcelona and the first Argentine and canterano from La Masia to win the coveted footballer prize.^[8][9][10] Messi dedicated his triumph at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper to "my family, who have always been by my side and my teammates at Barça who've done everything to ensure I could win the award". He also addressed his teammates Xavi and Andrés Iniesta, who finished third and fourth respectively: "They've given everything for Barça and they deserve their recognition. If I'd had a vote I would have voted for any of the Barça players."^[11]

On 21 December, Messi was named 2009 FIFA World Player of the Year at the Kongresshaus ZürichinZürich. Messi claimed the prize by a record vote with a considerable wide margin, receiving 1,073 votes to Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo's 352 votes, who finished second after winning the year before. Teammates Xavi and Iniesta finished in third and fifth respectively, closing out 2009 as one of the most memorable years in Barcelona history.^[12]

On 16 January, Messi became the youngest player to score 100 official goals for the Catalan club. He achieved the feat by scoring a brace in a league match vs Sevilla at the Camp Nou. He stated, "It was a relief to get the goal" and "the truth is that with all the big things that have happened to me, well I’m not giving them too much importance. I just try and live quietly and normally and keep my eye on achieving more."^[13]

On 16 May, Messi completed the 2009–10 as the Pichichi Throphy and the European Golden Shoe winner with 34 league goals.^[14] Víctor Valdés won the Zamora Trophy for the best La Liga goalkeeper of the season.

IFFHS Awards[edit]

On 13 January, the International Federation of Football History & Statistic named Xavi the 2009 World's Best Playmaker and both teammates Lionel Messi and Andrés Iniesta received second and fourth place respectively. Lastly, manager Pep Guardiola was named 2009 World Club Coach.^[15]

FIFA Club World Cup & season friendly[edit]

On 6 November, director general Joan Oliver confirmed that Barcelona would play a friendly in Kuwait on 21 December against Kuwaiti club Kazma Sporting ClubatAl-Sadaqua Walsalam Stadium. It took place after the FIFA Club World Cup which was being hosted in the same region by the United Arab Emirates.^[16] The match finished 1–1 with both goals coming in the last 10 minutes of the match in front of a sold-out crowd that gathered 45 minutes ahead of the kick-off time.^[17] Barcelona received €1.7 million to participate in the match.^[18]

On 16 December, Pedro became the first player in history to score in six different club competitions during a single season. He scored in La Liga, Copa del Rey, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, Supercopa de España and the FIFA Club World Cup.^[19]

On 19 December, Barcelona was crowned FIFA Club World Cup champion with a 1–2 win over Argentine club Estudiantes in the final, making it the sixth title they've won in 2009 and the first club to accomplish that feat within one calendar year known as The Sextuple.^[20]

Squad[edit]

N	Pos.	Nat.	Name	Age	EU	Since	App	Goals	Ends	Transfer fee	Notes
1	GK		Víctor Valdés (VC)	28	EU	2002	362	0	2014	Youth system
2	DF		Dani Alves	27	EU	2008	102	8	2012	€29M	Second nationality: Spain
3	DF		Gerard Pique	23	EU	2008	94	7	2012	Youth system
4	DF		Rafael Marquez	31	EU	2003	242	13	2012	€5M
5	DF		Carles Puyol (captain)	32	EU	1999	488	8	2013	Youth system
6	MF		Xavi (VC)	30	EU	1998	527	53	2014	Youth system
8	MF		Andrés Iniesta (VC)	26	EU	2002	310	24	2014	Youth system
9	FW		Zlatan Ibrahimović	28	EU	2009	45	21	2014	€46M
10	FW		Lionel Messi	22	EU	2004	213	126	2014	Youth system	Second nationality: Spain
11	FW		Bojan	19	EU	2007	124	33	2013	Youth system
13	GK		José Manuel Pinto	34	EU	2008	16	0	2010	€0.5M
14	FW		Thierry Henry	32	EU	2007	121	49	2011	€24M
15	MF		Seydou Keita	30	EU	2008	86	12	2012	€14M	Second nationality: France
16	MF		Sergio Busquets	21	EU	2008	93	4	2013	Youth system
17	FW		Pedro	22	EU	2008	68	23	2014	Youth system
18	DF		Gabriel Milito	29	EU	2007	59	1	2011	€17M	Second nationality: Italy
19	LB		Maxwell	28	Non-EU	2009	77	1	2014	€4.5M
20	FW		Jeffrén	22	EU	2009	21	2	2014	Youth system
21	DF		Dmytro Chyhrynskyi	23	Non-EU	2009	14	0	2014	€25M
22	DF		Eric Abidal	30	EU	2007	109	0	2011	€15M
24	MF		Touré Yaya	27	Non-EU	2007	118	6	2012	€9M	Under Bosman ruling

Total squad cost: €200 million

From youth system[edit]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 26 DF  ESP Marc Bartra 28 MF  MEX Jonathan dos Santos 29 MF  ESP Víctor Vázquez 30 GK  ESP Rubén Miño 31 FW  ISR Gai Assulin 32 DF  ESP Andreu Fontàs

No. Pos. Nation Player 33 DF  ESP Marc Muniesa 34 MF  ESP Thiago 36 FW  ESP Jonathan Soriano

Transfers[edit]

In[edit]

No.	Pos.	Nat.	Name	Age	EU	Moving from	Type	Transfer window	Ends	Transfer fee	Source
9	FW		Ibrahimović	27	EU	Internazionale	Transfer	Summer	2014	€46M + Samuel Eto'o[21]	FCBarcelona.cat
19	LB		Maxwell	27	Non-EU	Internazionale	Transfer	Summer	2014	€4.5M + €0.5M in variables	FCBarcelona.cat
—	FW		Keirrison	20	Non-EU	Palmeiras	Transfer	Summer	2014	€14M + €2M in variables	FCBarcelona.cat
21	DF		Chyhrynskyi	22	Non-EU	Shakhtar Donetsk	Transfer	Summer	2014	€25M	FCBarcelona.cat
17	FW		Pedro	22	EU	Barcelona B	Promoted	Summer	2014	Free
20	FW		Jeffrén	21	EU	Barcelona B	Promoted	Summer	2014	Free

Total spending: €85.5 million + Samuel Eto'o

Out[edit]

N	Pos.	Nat.	Name	Age	EU	Moving to	Type	Transfer window	Transfer fee	Source
—	DF		Botía	20	EU	Sporting Gijón	Loan	Summer	N/A
16	LB		Sylvinho	35	EU	Manchester City	Contract Termination	Summer	Free	FCBarcelona.cat
9	FW		Eto'o	28	EU	Internazionale	Swap	Summer	Free	FCBarcelona.cat
21	MF		Hleb	28	Non-EU	VfB Stuttgart	Loan	Summer	N/A	FCBarcelona.cat
2	DF		Cáceres	22	Non-EU	Juventus	Loan	Summer	N/A	FCBarcelona.cat
—	FW		Keirrison	20	Non-EU	Fiorentina	Loan	Summer	N/A	FCBarcelona.cat
—	DF		V. Sánchez	22	EU	Xerez	Loan	Summer	N/A	FCBarcelona.cat
25	GK		Jorquera	30	EU	Girona	Contract Termination	Summer	Free	FCBarcelona.cat
23	DF		Henrique	22	Non-EU	Racing Santander	Loan	Summer	N/A	realracingclub.com
7	AM		Guðjohnsen	30	EU	Monaco	Transfer	Summer	€2M	asm-fc.com

Total income: €2 million.

Expenditure: €83.5 million + Eto'o.

Player statistics[edit]

Squad stats[edit]

				Total				UEFA Champions League		La Liga		Copa del Rey		Others1
N	Pos.	Name	Nat.	GS	App	Gls	Min	App	Gls	App	Gls	App	Gls	App	Gls	Notes
1	GK	V. Valdés		55	55		4200	12		38				5
13	GK	Pinto		4	4		360					4
2	DF	Dani Alves		47	48	3	3767	11		29	3	3		5
3	DF	Piqué		43	49	4	3198	11	2	32	2	1		5
4	DF	Márquez		14	23	1	1179	4		15	1	3		1
5	DF	Puyol		47	48	1	3556	9		32	1	2		5
18	DF	Milito		12	16		931	5		10		1
19	DF	Maxwell		32	36		2229	7		25		3		1
21	DF	Chyhrynskyi		12	14		942			12		2
22	DF	Abidal		27	31		2337	8		17		2		4
32	DF	Fontàs			2		38			1		1
40	DF	Bartra			1		29			1
6	MF	Xavi		47	53	7	3814	11	1	34	3	3	2	5	1
8	MF	A. Iniesta		31	43	1	2838	9		30	1	3		1
15	MF	Keita		36	44	6	2539	10		29	6	1		4
16	MF	Busquets		36	51	1	2941	10		33		3		5	1
24	MF	Touré Yaya		30	36	1	2041	8		22	1	1		5
28	MF	Jonathan		2	6		186	1		3		2
34	MF	Thiago		1	2	1	83			1	1	1
9	FW	Ibrahimović		35	45	21	2980	10	4	29	16	2	1	4
10	FW	Messi		43	53	47	3636	11	8	35	34	3	1	4	4
11	FW	Bojan		16	36	12	1080	5	1	23	8	4	2	4	1
14	FW	Henry		22	32	4	1805	6		21	4	1		4
17	FW	Pedro		31	50	23	2638	8	4	33	12	4	3	5	4
20	FW	Jeffrén		8	18	2	498	2		12	2	2		2
31	FW	Assulin		1	1		57					1
36	FW	Soriano			1		6					1

Disciplinary records[edit]

N	Pos.	Nat.	Name				Notes
1	GK		V. Valdés	2
13	GK		Pinto
2	DF		Dani Alves	11	1
3	DF		Piqué	11		1
4	DF		Márquez	4		1
5	DF		Puyol	11		1
18	DF		Milito	3
19	DF		Maxwell	6
21	DF		Chyhrynskyi	3
22	DF		Abidal	2
6	MF		Xavi	4
8	MF		A. Iniesta	3
15	MF		Keita	9
16	MF		Sergio	8	1
24	MF		Touré Yaya	6
34	MF		Thiago	1
9	FW		Ibrahimović	8		1
10	FW		Messi	6
11	FW		Bojan	3
14	FW		Henry	4
17	FW		Pedro	5
20	FW		Jeffrén	2

Last updated: 16 May
Source: Competitive matches
Only competitive matches
= Number of bookings; = Number of sending offs after a second yellow card; = Number of sending offs by a direct red card.

Club[edit]

Coaching staff[edit]

Position	Staff
Head coach	Pep Guardiola
Assistant coach	Tito Vilanova
Goalkeeping coach	Juan Carlos Unzué

Pre-season and friendlies[edit]

Game	Date	Tournament	Round	Ground	Opponent	Score1	Report
1	24 July	Wembley Cup	1 day	N	Tottenham Hotspur	1 – 1	Report Report link Kick off 21:00 CEST Attendance 57,932 Referee Mark Halsey Barcelona Tottenham Hotspur Bojan 32' 83' Livermore
2	26 July	Wembley Cup	2 day	N	Al Ahly	4 – 1	Report Report link Kick off 14:15 CEST Attendance 64,562 Referee Chris Foy Barcelona Al Ahly Bojan 15' Rueda 40' Jeffrén 55' Pedro 66' 30' El-Agazy
3	1 August	USA Tour	—	N	LA Galaxy	2 – 1	Report Report link Kick off 20:00 PST Attendance 93,137 Referee Baldomero Toledo Barcelona LA Galaxy Pedro 11' Touré  43' Jeffrén 66' 44' Beckham  53' Gordon
4	5 August	USA Tour	—	A	Seattle Sounders FC	4 – 0	Report Report link Kick off 19:30 PST Attendance 66,848 Referee Mark Geiger Barcelona Seattle Sounders FC Messi 21', 40' Busquets  31' Jeffrén 74' Pedro 89'  81' Fucito Guadalajara v Barcelona 9 August 2009 US Tour Guadalajara 1–1 Barcelona Chicago, United States 20:00 PST Morales 49' http://www.fcbarcelona.cat/web/catala/futbol/temporada_09-10/arxiu_partits/pretemporada/chivas-FCB/partit.html09/arxiu_partits/pretemporada/chivas_barcelona/partit.html Report] Bojan 63' Stadium: Soldier Field Attendance: 61,572 Referee: Ricardo Salazar }}
6	19 August	Joan Gamper Trophy	—	H	Manchester City	0 – 1	Report Report link Kick off 22:15 CEST Attendance 94,123 Referee David Miranda Torres Barcelona Manchester City 28' Petrov

Last updated: 26 November
Source: FC Barcelona
¹Barcelona goals come first.
National flags for Ground and Opponent columns are only shown when different from that of Barcelona.
M = Match; Ground: H = Home, A = Away, N = Neutral, HR = Home replacement, AR = Away replacement.

Kazma Sporting Club v Barcelona

21 December 2009 Friendly	Kazma Sporting Club	1–1	Barcelona	Kuwait City, Kuwait
17:15 CET	Abdullah 90+3'	(Report)	Bojan 80'	Stadium: Al-Sadaqua Walsalam Attendance: 21,500 Referee: Abdul Salow

Competitions[edit]

Overall[edit]

As in nine out of the last ten seasons, Barcelona is going to be present in all major competitions: La Liga, the UEFA Champions League and the Copa del Rey. The previous season's treble success means that Barcelona will also contest the FIFA Club World Cup, the UEFA Super Cup and the Supercopa de España. The side will also be present in the Copa Catalunya.

Updated to match played 16 May
Source: Competitions

Supercopa de España[edit]

Athletic BilbaovBarcelona

16 August 2009 First leg	Athletic Bilbao	1–2	Barcelona	Bilbao
22:00 CEST (UTC+02:00)	De Marcos 44' Gurpegui  69' Koikili  78'	Report	Piqué  52' Xavi 58' Pedro 68' Alves  89'	Stadium: San Mamés Attendance: 40,000 Referee: Antonio Rubinos Pérez (Community of Madrid)

BarcelonavAthletic Bilbao

23 August 2009 Second leg	Barcelona	3–0 (5–1 agg.)	Athletic Bilbao	Barcelona
22:00 CEST	Puyol  20' Touré  33' Messi 49', 67' (pen.) Bojan 72' Xavi  77'	(Report)	Etxebarria  15' López  43' Toquero  63' Ustaritz  66'	Stadium: Camp Nou Attendance: 61,803 Referee: Carlos Velasco Carballo (Community of Madrid)

UEFA Super Cup[edit]

Barcelona v Shakhtar Donetsk

28 August 2009 Final	Barcelona	1–0 (a.e.t.)	Shakhtar Donetsk	Monaco
20:45 CEST	Messi  89' Pedro  108', 115'	(Report)	Ilsinho  54' Srna  64' Kucher  89'	Stadium: Stade Louis II Attendance: 18,000 Referee: Frank De Bleeckere (Belgium)

FIFA Club World Cup[edit]

Atlante v Barcelona

16 December 2009 Semi-finals	Atlante	1–3	Barcelona	Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
17:00 CET (UTC+01:00)	Rojas 5' Solari  8' Chepe  40' Velázquez  61'	Report[dead link]	Busquets 35' Messi 55' Ibrahimović  65' Pedro 67' Piqué  90+2'	Stadium: Sheikh Zayed Attendance: 40,955 Referee: Carlos Eugênio Simon (Brazil)

Estudiantes v Barcelona

19 December 2009 Final	Estudiantes	1–2 (a.e.t.)	Barcelona	Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
17:00 CET (UTC+01:00)	Boselli 37' Díaz  45+2' Rodríguez  58' Pérez  65' Sánchez  94' Rojo  112' Braña  119' Desábato  119'	Report	Messi  23', 110' Henry  82' Pedro 89' Valdés  118'	Stadium: Sheikh Zayed Attendance: 43,050 Referee: Benito Archundia (Mexico)

La Liga[edit]

League table[edit]

Results summary[edit]

Last updated: 8 May.
Source: Competitive Matches

Results by round[edit]