Editorial June 2011

Soccerphile Editorial - June 2011

The greatest soccer dynasties: welcome to Barcelona's era

Barcelona have spent over 65 years on or near the top of Spanish soccer. They have also been the only ever-present team in the European cup competitions since their inception. Barca have played 17 European finals, more than any other team. If the Supercup finals are included, the number rises to 24.

Still, only their 3-1 win over Manchester United in last May's Champions League final enabled the Catalans to mark an era in European soccer. There is little doubt that in 15 or 30 years people will call the years from the middle of the past decade until now as "Barca's time".

True, their brand of soccer had been widely regarded as the most exciting in the world even before that recent Wembley night, but their previous successes had been too scattered in time for any single period to be labeled as Barcelona's.

What troubled Barcelona up until several weeks ago has continued to torment Manchester United and Sir Alex Ferguson. Despite the phenomenal collection of trophies stockpiled at Old Trafford, there is no one particular era in European soccer that belongs to the Red Devils.

In the search of an epoch

In England, by all means, United has been the dominant side since 1992/93 and the first of the 12 League titles won under Sir Alex. But on the international stage, United's triumphs had extended intervals between them - the 1991 Cup Winners Cup, the 1999 and 2008 Champions Leagues.

Ferguson first made history in the early eighties when he turned provincial Aberdeen into a European powerhouse. Since then he has won all imaginable team and personal honours with Manchester United. He has long been one of the most successful managers of all time. The only dream he has failed to fulfil is giving United an epoch of their own.

Since the formation of European club competitions nine distinct eras may be discerned, with eight unique dominant teams. Real Madrid, of course, have marked two periods.

Real Madrid (1955-1960)

Alfredo di Stefano should have been Barcelona's, but Franco's dictatorial regime pushed him towards Madrid. Between 1955/56 and 1959/60, Real amassed five consecutive European Cups and Di Stefano scored in each final. At the peak of their powers, the Royals thrashed Eintracht in Glasgow in front of an admiring Alex Ferguson by an amazing 7-3 with four goals from Puskas and three from Di Stefano.

Benfica (1960-1963)

They came from the dark and stunned Europe. The Red Eagles had a top central defender in Germano, alongside Simoes, Coluna and the Black Panther, Eusebio. Three consecutive European Cup finals, two of which were victorious, with play that was never short of spectacular.

Inter (1963-1967)

Coach Helenio Herrera aka Il Mago (The Magician) built his teams from the defense upwards, relying on ultra-fast forwards to catch rivals on the break. His innovation received the name of catenaccio (door-bolt) or stonewall in English. Until the antidote was found, Inter blitzed to three domestic titles, two Champions Cups and two Intercontinental Cups. Herrera's style was largely imitated by Jose Mourinho from 2008-2010 with similar success for Inter.

Ajax (1968-1973)

Under Rinus Michels and later Stefan Kovacs, everybody could attack and defend alike. This style was called "total football" and was transplanted to the highly successful Dutch national team as well.

Johan Cruyff made sure all the coach's ideas were implemented on the pitch. Three European Cups out of four finals and all sorts of other trophies were Ajax's prize.

Bayern Munich (1971-1976)

The footballing version of the Panzer Division scared the living daylights out of most everybody in those days. Three Bundesliga titles by 1974 were followed by three Champions Cups and an Intercontinental Cup. Bayern's backbone Maier - Beckenbauer - Muller was also the basis for the European Championship and World Cup winning German team.

Liverpool (1972-1985)

Bill Shankly created and managed the most successful English and indeed British side of all time. And just as Shanks was efficiently replaced by Bob Paisley (and Joe Fagan), so was Kevin Keegan effortlessly surpassed by Kenny Dalglish, without interrupting the fantastic string of triumphs: two UEFA Cups, four European Cups and seven league titles in Liverpool's heyday.

Milan (1987-1996)

Silvio Berlusconi took over a club in crisis in 1986. Within two years Arrigo Sacchi and Ruud Gullit brought him the first Italian title.

Reinforced by Frank Rijkaard and a recovered Marco van Basten, Milan went on to collect two European Cups, Supercups and Intercontinental Cups by the end of 1990. Fabio Capello picked up where Sacchi left off and took Milan to four league titles and another European Cup.

Real Madrid (1996-2003)

Capello, Heynckes, Hiddink, Del Bosque...the coaches came and went, as indeed the club's chairmen Lorenzo Sanz and Florentino Perez. Only Raul and Roberto Carlos were irreplaceable in Madrid's second glorious stint. Three domestic titles, three Champions Leagues, two Intercontinentals and the birth of los galacticos.

Barcelona (2004-?)

First under Frank Rijkaard's then under Josep Guardiola's guidance, the blaugranas presented the best soccer ever seen, but not at the expense of results. In the course of seven seasons, the Catalan national symbol laid in Barca's packed trophy room five league titles, one King's Cup, four Spanish Supercups, three Champions League titles, one Supercup and one World Club Cup. On top of that, eight current Barca players took part in last year's World Cup win in South Africa.

And Lionel Messi is the best and most popular soccer player on the planet to boot.

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