Ernesto Valverde, another Cule making the swap from player to manager
Barcelona have a history of trusting their former players on the bench as coaches
It has worked to differing extents over the years
FC Barcelona's new coach, Ernesto Valverde, follows an extended tradition in Blaugrana. Writing a second chapter, now as coach, after defending the shirt as a player.
The Ant, like 28 others, has started his return. Legends and relative unknowns have done the same. The most recent, Guardiola, Vilanova, Roura and Luis ENrique, have had their own style, but with a lot of success - 24 titles from 36 possible ones.
Englishman Jack Greenwell, in 1913, was the first player chosen to take on the role of coach. However he did both at once - playing and coaching.
He explained to Publicaciones Globus that "I'd been playing for six months when Mr Gamper, my dear friend, asked me to become coach and offered me the role of looking after the training for the other players".
With him in charge until 1923 Barcelona won six Catalunya Championships, three Copas and one Copa del los Pirineos. He returned to the bench in 1931-33.
figures
The Hungarian Plattko, who shone as a player, was the first crack to take a role on the bench. He did it in 1926, when Barcelona returned to playing after a sanction on the club. Samitier was another, and he won the league both as a player and a manager. A legend, who replaced Bellamy who was suspended by the board after bad results. He was brought back in 1944-47 and shone in a dark era.
Kubala, Cesar and Cruyff did the same with differing luck. The former took over from Miro in 1961 and was sacked in 1962. He returned in 1980. Cesar was another victim of the electric chair. A 5-1 defeat at Levante in 1964 sealed his fate. Cruyff, of course, was different. He won four league titles and guided the Dream Team to the European Cup in 1992.
modest but grand
Valverde lands after a brief spell at Barcelona, two seasons 88-90, but with success at Olympiacos and Athletic Bilbao. In Greece he has three titles and two cups.
With Bilbao he ended a 31 year trophy drought by beating Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup. There are cases like Valverde's, with Enrique Fernandez not doing well on the pitch but winning league titles in 1948 and 1948, or Tito Vilanova who won the title with 100 points.
BARCA PLAYERS AND COACHES
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