2009–10 FC Barcelona season

In 2009–10, Futbol Club Barcelona started the new season with the prospect of winning six major competitions in the 2009–2010 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 Internazionale in exchange for Zlatan Ibrahimović, along with €49 million, bringing the total to €69 million, which currently makes it second on the highest transfer fees in football history.

On 16 May, Barcelona claimed its 20th league title^[1] with a record 99 points via a 4–0 victory over relegated side Valladolid to finish their 2009–10 season with four titles.^[2]

Overview

Over the summer of 2009, along with Ibrahimović, Barcelona reinforced their squad with the signings of Internazionale 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 Chygrynskiy. Continuing its tradition of using canteranos on the first team, Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola also promoted four players from the youth reserves, Jonathan dos Santos, Jeffrén Suárez, Andreu Fontàs, and Marc Muniesa.^[3] Barcelona player Henrique, previously on loan with German side Bayer Leverkusen, briefly rejoined the squad for the pre-season but was again loaned out, this time to Spanish side Racing Santander.

Off the field events

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’s 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, Vice President for Sport Rafael Yuste between late March and early April 2009.^[4] 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."^[5]

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."^[6]

On 11 November, Vice-President Joan Franquesa handed in his resignation for "personal reasons". Continuing the turmoil in the Barcelona Board-Room.^[7] 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."^[8]

Ballon d'Or & FIFA World Player of the Year

On 1 December, France Football Magazine announced Lionel Messi was the winner of the 2009 Ballon d'Or, thus making him the 9th player while playing at Barcelona and the first Argentine & canterano from La Masia to win the coveted footballer prize.^[9][10][11] 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 team-mates 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."^[12]

On 21 December, Messi was named 2009 FIFA World Player of the Year at the Kongresshaus Zürich in Zürich, Switzerland. Messi claimed the prize by a record vote with a considerable wide margin, receiving 1,073 votes to Real Madrid Cristiano Ronaldo 352 votes, who finished second after winning the year before. Team-mates Xavi and Iniesta finished in third and fifth respectively, closing out 2009 as one of the most memorable years in FC Barcelona history.^[13]

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." ^[14]

On 16 May, Messi completed the 2009–10 as the Pichichi Throphy and the European Golden Shoe winner with 34 league goals.^[15] While Víctor Valdés won the Zamora Trophy for the best La Liga goalkeeper of the season.

IFFHS Awards

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. Along with Xavi, manager Pep Guardiola received the World Club Coach 2009. Further increasing the honors received by Barcelona players in 2009. ^[16]

FIFA Club World Cup & season friendly

On 6 November, director general Joan Oliver confirmed that Barcelona would play a friendly in Kuwait on 21 December against Kuwaiti club Kazma Sporting Club at Al-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.^[17] 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.^[18] Barcelona received €1.7 million to participate in the match.^[19]

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.^[20]

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.^[21]

Players

Squad information

Last updated: 14 May
Source: FCBarcelona.cat, Players in / out, Wikipedia players' articles, ESPN (for appearances and goals) and footballdatabase.com (for EU passport)
Ordered by Last season starting 11 and position on pitch (from back right to front left).

Total squad cost: €200 million

From youth system

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

Players in / out

In

Total spending: €85.5 million + Samuel Eto'o

Out

Total income: €2 million.

Player statistics

Starting XI

4–3–3 Formation

Squad stats

Last updated: 18 May
Source: FCBarcelona.cat
Ordered by position
0 shown as blank
¹ Other Competitions: Supercopa de España, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup

Disciplinary records

Last updated: 16 May
Source: Competitive matches
Only competitive matches

Y = Number of bookings;  YY = Number of sending offs after a second yellow card;  R = Number of sending offs by a direct red card.

Club

Coaching staff

Last updated: 02 December
Source: [http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/english/futbol/temporada_08-

Competitions

Overall

As in nine out of the last ten seasons,^[23] 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 European Super Cup and the Supercopa de España. The side will also be present in the Copa Catalunya.

Last updated: 16 May
Source: Competitions

La Liga

Standings

Updated to games played on 16 May
Source: LFP and Yahoo! Sport
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head goals scored; 5) goal difference; 6) number of goals scored.
(C) = Champion; (R) = Relegated; (P) = Promoted; (O) = Play-off winner; (A) = Advances to a further round.
Only applicable when the season is not finished:
(Q) = Qualified to the phase of tournament indicated; (TQ) = Qualified to tournament, but not yet to the particular phase indicated; (DQ) = Disqualified from tournament.
Head-to-Head: used when head-to-head record is used to rank tied teams.

Results summary

Last updated: 8 May
Source: Competitive Matches

Results by round

Last updated: 04 May.
Source: Competitive Matches
Ground: A = Away; H = Home. Result: D = Draw; L = Lose; W = Win; P = Postponed.

Competitive

La Liga

Kickoff times are in CET.

Supercopa de España

Barcelona 5–1 on aggregate.

UEFA Super Cup

UEFA Champions League

Group stage