Victor Valdes

Full Name:Víctor Valdés i Arribas

Date Of Birth:14 January 1982 (age 31)

Place Of Birth:L'hospitalet de Llobregat,Spain

Height:1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)

Position:Goalkeeper

Team:FC Barcelona

Víctor Valdés is a FC Barcelona goalkeeper. He was born on January 14, 1982 in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain.

Víctor’s youth career began in 1992 when he joined the CD Tenerife academy. During three years Víctor was one of the academy’s successful students with tremendous displays at his young age. After those three years the player was offered to join the FC Barcelona academy. Valdés had new career perspectives available that led him to the FCBarcelona academy in 1995. During five years Valdés was one of the best goalkeepers in the club’s youth team playing in its main squad. However, he was not good enough for the club’s first team, so when offered a professional contract he could only join the FC Barcelona reserve team. In 2000, Valdés was only 18 and he was not afraid of never playing for the club’s main team. Since 2000 Víctor Valdés has frequently played for the club’s reserve team with the total of 77 matches. In 2002, Víctor got an opportunity to play for the club’s main squad when the team had difficulties with injured goalkeepers. After several agreeable displays in the main squad, in 2003 Víctor was promoted to the club’s first team.

Since 2003 Víctor has been the team’s main goalkeeper. Over many years Valdés has been helping his team to claim national, European and world titles under the management of different coaches. Since 2002 Víctor has played 327 matches for FC Barcelona.

In 2000-2003, Víctor was invited to play for the Spain national youth teams ranging from U-18 to U-21. Over the three years he made 26 international appearances. Since 2010 Víctor has occasionally played for the Spain national team, but generally he backs up Iker Casillas who remains the main goalkeeper.

Shinji Kagawa

• Full Name:Shinji Kagawa
• Squad No: 26
• Position: Midfielder
• Age: 24
• Birth Date: Mar 17, 1989
• Birth Place: Kobe, Japan
• Height: 1.72m
• Weight: 64 kg
• Club:Manchester United

Shinji Kagawa completed a remarkable ascent when Manchester United signed him from Borussia Dortmund in June 2012, just three years after he has been playing in the Japanese second division.

The Kobe-born playmaker's rise to the top began at just five years old with Marino Football Club before he took in junior spells at Kobe NK FC and FC Miyagi Barcelona, the latter of which acts as a feeder club for local professional side Cerezo Osaka. He signed terms with Cerezo aged just 17 and broke through into the first team in 2007, playing 35 matches in Japan's second tier. In 2009, he was top scorer in the division with 27 goals in 44 games and his performances attracted the attention of European clubs, with Dortmund eventually snapping him up for €350,000 in August 2010, halfway through Cerezo's first season back in the J-League.

His international debut came in 2008, when he was also selected to play for Japan at the Olympics, though he missed out on selection for the 2010 World Cup. Kagawa did, though, go on to become a key figure for Alberto Zaccheroni in both the 2011 Asian Cup and the 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign. The creative midfielder's most impressive performance for the Blue Samuari to date came in the 2011 Asian Cup quarter-final, when he claimed a match-winning brace against Qatar to seal progress to the last four.

Kagawa made an immediate impact in his first season at Dortmund and was named in the Bundesliga Team of the Year despite missing half of the campaign through injury. He endeared himself to the Westfalenstadion faithful when predicting he would score a brace in a derby clash with Schalke and going on to do just that in a 3-1 win.

Dortmund won the league at the end of his first campaign and the tricky midfielder, used mainly in a trequartista role, went from strength to strength after returning from injury in time for the 2011-12 season. He was instrumental in the club retaining the Bundesliga and securing a Double for the first time in their history, with his relationship with striker Robert Lewandowski proving particularly fruitful. From January 2012, speculation was rife that he would leave the club and six months later he was heading out of Dortmund for a new challenge at Old Trafford, becoming the first Japanese player to play for United.

Strengths: A confident dribbler and also accomplished finisher from midfield, with a penchant for a long-range effort. Kagawa's guile and vision are perhaps his best assets though; he boasted an average of nearly two key passes per game and a through-ball accuracy of 55.6% while at Dortmund.

Weaknesses: Not at all imposing in the air and lacks a sense of defensive discipline; he may be required to track back more at United than he was required to at Dortmund but his tackling is about as good as Paul Scholes'.

Career high: His 17 goals and ten assists in 38 starts helped Dortmund to the Double in 2011-12, with his final strike of the season opening the scoring in the German Cup final victory over Bayern Munich.

Career low: Missing out on the 2011 Asian Cup final, which Japan won, after breaking his metatarsal in the semi-final against South Korea.

Style: Technically gifted, a hugely creative playmaker who can also score goals.

Quotes: "I am delighted he has chosen to come to United. I believe he will make an impact upon the team very quickly as he is suited to United's style of play." Man Utd boss Sir Alex Ferguson, June 2012.

Trivia: Kagawa was the first Japanese player outside of the J-League, to sign a professional contract before finishing high school when he penned a deal with Cerezo Osaka at the age of 17.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Full Name: Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro

Birth date: February 5th, 1985
Age: 28 years old
Birthplace: Funchal, Madeira - Portugal
Height: 186 cm (1m 86cm)
Weight: 84 kg
Field position: Left/right winger, striker/forward
First professional club: Sporting Clube de Portugal
Career debut: October 7th 2002, against Moreirense
Current club: Real Madrid (since 2009)
International team: Portugal
International debut: August 20th 2003, against Kazakhstan
Nicknames: CR7, CR9, Ronny

Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro,OIH, (born 5 February 1985),commonly known as Cristiano Ronaldo, is a Portuguese footballerwho plays as a forward for Spanish La Liga club Real Madrid and who serves as captain of the Portuguese national team. He became the most expensive footballer in history after moving from Manchester United to Real Madrid in a transfer worth £80 million (€93.9 million/$131.6 million). In addition, his contract with Real Madrid, in which he is paid €12 million per year, makes him one of the highest-paid footballers in the world,and his buyout clause is valued at €1 billion as per his contract.

Ronaldo began his career as a youth player for Andorinha, where he played for two years, before moving to C.D. Nacional. In 1997, he made a move to Portuguese giants Sporting Clube de Portugal. Ronaldo caught the attention of Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, who signed him for £12.24 million (€15 million) in 2003. The following season, Ronaldo won his first club honour, the FA Cup.

Ronaldo was the first player to win all four main PFA and FWA awards, doing so in 2007. In 2008, Ronaldo won the Ballon d'Or.He placed second in the Ballon d'Or in 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2012. He was awarded the European Golden Shoe in both 2008 and 2011. In 2008, he won three of the four main PFA and FWA trophies and was named the FIFPro Player of the Year, World Soccer Player of the Year, Onze d'Or, and the FIFA World Player of the Year.In 2007 and 2008, Ronaldo was named FWA Footballer of the Year. Ronaldo was the inaugural winner of the FIFA Puskás Award in 2009.

Ronaldo is considered as one of the best footballers in the world and within his generation, and as one of the greatest players in the history of the game.He holds numerous former and current scoring records, including records for most goals scored in a season for Real Madrid, most goals scored per minute in La Liga, first top European league player to reach 40 goals in a single season in two consecutive years, fastest Real Madrid player to reach one hundred league goals, and the first player ever to score against every team in a single season in La Liga.In January 2013, Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 300th club goal.

Ronaldo is a Portuguese international and made his debut against Kazakhstan in August 2003. He has since participated in five major tournaments; UEFA Euro 2004, the 2006 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2008, the 2010 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2012. He scored his first international goal in the opening game of the Euro 2004 against Greece, in addition to helping Portugal reach the final. He took over the captaincy of the side in July 2008 and went on to captain Portugal to the semi-finals at the Euro 2012 and finished the competition as the joint best scorer with three goals. On 16 October 2012, Ronaldo won his 100th cap against Northern Ireland, making him the third highest capped player for Portugal and became the third youngest European to reach a century of international appearances.

Wayne Rooney

Full Name:Wayne Mark Rooney

Date Of Birth:24 October 1985 (age 27)

Place Of Birth:Croxteth,Liverpool,England

Height:1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)

Position:Forward

Tean:Manchester United

Wayne Mark Rooney (born 24 October 198

5) is an English footballer who plays as a forward for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team.

Rooney made his senior international debut in 2003, becoming the youngest player to represent England (a record since broken by Theo Walcott). He is England's youngest ever goalscorer.He played at UEFA Euro 2004 and scored four goals, briefly becoming the competition's youngest goalscorer. Rooney featured at the 2006 and 2010 World Cups and is widely regarded as his country's best player. He has won the England Player of the Year award twice, in 2008 and 2009. As of June 2013, he has won 83 international caps and scored 36 goals, making him England's fifth highest goalscorer in history.Along with David Beckham, Rooney is the most red carded player for England, having been sent off twice.

Aged nine, Rooney joined the youth team of Everton, for whom he made his professional debut in 2002. He spent two seasons at theMerseyside club, before moving to Manchester United for £25.6 million in the 2004 summer transfer window. The same year, Rooney acquired the nickname "Wazza".Since then, with Rooney in the team, United have won the Premier League five times, the 2007–08 UEFA Champions League, one FIFA Club World Cup and two League Cups. He also holds two runner-up medals from the Champions League and has twice finished second in the Premier League. In April 2012, Rooney scored his 180th goal, making him United's fourth-highest goal-scorer of all time.

In 2009–10, Rooney was awarded the PFA Players' Player of the Year and the FWA Footballer of the Year. He has won the Premier League Player of the Month award five times, a record he shares with Steven Gerrard. He came fifth in the vote for the 2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or and was named in the FIFPro World 11 for 2011. Rooney has won the 'Goal of the Season' award by the BBC's Match of the Day poll on three occasions, with his bicycle kick against rivals Manchester City winning the 'Premier League Goal of the 20 Seasons' award. Rooney is the third highest-paid footballer in the world after Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, with an annual income of €20.7 million (£18 million) including sponsorship deals.

Theo Walcott

Full Name:Theo James Walcott

Date Of Birth:16 March 1989 (age 24)

Place Of Birth:Stanmore,London,England

Height:1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)

Position:Forward

Club:Arsenal

At the age of 24, Walcott was thrust into the national spotlight when he was named in England's squad for the 2006 World Cup and became the country's youngest ever player in a pre-tournament friendly. Four years later, his shock exclusion from Fabio Capello's selection for the 2010 finals gave weight to accusations that his career has stagnated at Arsenal. Certainly, Walcott's career has not been short of incident.

Signed from Southampton as a raw 16-year-old in January 2006, Walcott had not made a senior appearance for the Gunners when Sven-Goran Eriksson, on the advice of Arsene Wenger, took him to Germany. He did not make an appearance at the World Cup but the forward broke into the Arsenal first-team squad the following season and opened his account for the club in a 2-1 defeat to Chelsea in the final of the 2007 Carling Cup.

Sporadic starts followed over the next two seasons as the youngster, once described as the heir apparent to Thierry Henry, was used largely as a winger by Wenger. However, fitness problems began to take their toll on Walcott, particularly in the 2008-09 and 2009-10 campaigns as he was restricted to only 28 league starts over the two seasons, and his development was not as rapid as expected. A tally of nine goals in 86 games from his first three seasons in the first team did not represent the excellence that some had hoped for.

Though he has shown flashes of brilliance - his famous run against Liverpool in the Champions League, a hat-trick for England against Croatia, a sumptuous finish against Villarreal and a thrilling impact in a Champions League tie against Barcelona in 2010 - Walcott has struggled for consistency and needs to cast aside his fitness problems and prove he can live up to the considerable hype.

While debate rages on over the potential of Walcott, and whether he will ever fulfil it, the forward's stats over the 2010-11 and 2011-12 season demonstrate a decent return, with 24 goals netted in all competitions. He remains susceptible to injury, however.

Strengths: Walcott has the pace of a sprinter and could have taken up athletics. He can make a real impact as a substitute and strike fear into an opposition defence with his speed, movement and dribbling, either on the wing or as a striker.

Weaknesses: His final product can be frustratingly inconsistent, whether crossing, finishing or passing, while he all too often runs with his head down and straight into opponents. Walcott has been accused of lacking intelligence on the pitch.

Career high: A remarkable performance in a World Cup qualifier against Croatia in September 2008 as he scored a hat-trick for Fabio Capello's England.

Career low: His shock exclusion from the 23-man England squad that travelled to the 2010 finals in South Africa.

Style: Pacy, direct, enthusiastic, a tricky forward/winger.

Quotes: "Theo is not only a quality player but he can have an impact when he comes on. However you have to live with the verdict. I've had a little text exchange with Theo and he will bounce back. In fact I think it will make him even more determined for next season. He is a very level-headed guy and very strong." Arsene Wenger on Walcott's World Cup disappointment, June 2010..

Trivia: Walcott's family made a cameo appearance in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, but the player himself had to withdraw due to his commitments with England Under-21s and Arsenal.

Pedro Rodriguez

Full Name:Pedro Eliezer Rodríguez Ledesma

Date Of Birth:28 July 1987 (age 26)

Place Of Birth:Santa Cruz de Tenerife,Spain

Height:1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)

Position:Forward,Winger

Club:FC Barcelona

Pedro Rodríguez is a FC Barcelona wing forward. He was born on July 28, 1987 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain.

Pedro’s youth career began in 2003 when he first joined the San Isidro academy where he played till 2004. In 2004, he got the attention of the FC Barcelona academy. Pedro completed the trial at the club and afterwards was invited to enter the Catalan club academy. Rodríguez studied at the academy and played for the club’s youth team till 2005.

Already in 2005, he was offered a professional contract which he signed and a place in the club’s third team which Pedro joined for two years. In 2005-2007 Pedro Rodríguez became one of the third team main players having appeared in 70 matches and scored 10 goals.

The young Spaniard’s impressive displays enabled him to play for the club’s second team starting from 2007. During two years he was less frequent in the starting line-up in comparison with the third team; however, he scored more goals. In 2007-2009 Pedro Rodríguez played 55 matches and scored 17 goals.

Since 2008 Pedro has made occasional appearances for the club’s first team. And since 2009 he has become a permanent member of the club’s main team where he played 98 matches and scored 28 goals.

In 2008, Rodríguez made 2 appearances for the Spain U-21 national team. Since 2010 he has played in 15 matches for the Spain national team and scored 2 goals. Honours with the national team: winner of the UEFA Euro 2012 and the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Gerard Pique

-Full name:Gerard Piqué Bernabeu

-Date Of Birth:2 February 1987 (age 26)

-Place Of Birth:Barcelona,Spain

-Height:1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)

-Position:Centre Back

-Team:FC Barcelona

Pique only burst onto the scene after failing to make his name at Manchester United in 2008, slotting perfectly into the Barcelona defence and cementing a place for his country as well.

Following in the footsteps of Cesc Fabregas when swapping the Barcelona youth programme for the Premier League in 2004, Pique did not enjoy the same stellar rise as the Arsenal midfielder and his most productive season as a United player came in 2006-07 when he impressed back in Spain during a loan spell with Real Zaragoza, often playing as a holding midfielder. With Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic in impeccable form, Pique made only five league starts the following season and was left out of the squad for the Champions League final victory over Chelsea.

But his return to the Nou Camp in the summer of 2008, despite the anger generated by his departure four years earlier, marked a rapid upturn in his fortunes and he quickly became a key figure in Pep Guardiola's six trophy winning Barcelona side. His rise was complete as he played a major part in Spain's 2010 World Cup win in South Africa.

Strengths: A commanding presence in the backline thanks to his strength and reading of the game, Pique has also demonstrated a real panache for taking the ball out of defence and was dubbed "Piquenbauer" by a Catalan paper last season when attracting flattering comparisons with legendary German sweeper Franz Beckenbauer.

Weaknesses: Not the quickest defender, Pique can be exposed by real pace on occasions.

Career high: A World Cup win, but also playing against his former employers Manchester United in the 2009 Champions League final and beating Sir Alex Ferguson's side 2-0 in Rome, securing an historic Treble in the process.

Career low: Failing to make the bench for United the previous season as they enjoyed a dramatic night in their Champions League win of 2008 in Moscow.

Style: Dominant, dangerous, stylish, a cultured defender.

Quotes: "I have always liked the boy. I did expect him to reach this level so quickly. He has fantastic qualities but most importantly, he has a good self-determination about him. He is a winner and a good professional." Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, May 2009.

Trivia: Pique is one of only three players to have represented two different clubs that have won the Champions League in successive years. The others are Marcel Desailly (Marseille and AC Milan) and Paulo Sousa (Juventus and Borussia Dortmund).

Carles Puyol

Name:Carles Puyol i Saforcada
Birth Of Date:13 April 1978(age 35)
Birth Place:Spain
Height:1.78 M(5 FT 10 IN)
Position:Defender
Team:FC Barcelona

Carles Puyol Saforcada (born April 13, 1978 in La Pobla de Segur, Lleida, Catalonia) is a Catalan Spanish footballer who is the current team captain of FC Barcelona. He has established himself as one of the best defenders in world football and is a regular in the Spanish national team.

Puyol is a tough, aggressive defender who has the versatility to play both as a full-back and in the centre. His holistic approach makes him a favourite at his club side, Barcelona. Puyol is a vital member of Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard’s team, and his tactical ability and know-how also means he is not a man to pick up many yellow cards or, indeed, injuries, both of which factors have meant that he is an ever present in both Europe and domestic competition. His attacking mentality is a result of him playing as a striker in the early years in his boyhood club La Pobla de Segur, after injury problems with his shoulders forced him from his original position of goalkeeper.

Puyol played for Spain at the 2000 Olympics, 2002 FIFA World Cup, Euro 2004 and the 2006 FIFA World Cup; Puyol has been capped over 60 times. He has also played for the Catalan football team in one unofficial friendly.

Carles Puyol went to FC Barcelona B at age 17 in 1996 and in 1999 Coach Louis van Gaal put him into the first team and his debut came on 2 November 1999 against Valladolid, a game FC Barcelona won 0-2. He started as a regular for Barcelona in the right back position but has very successfully converted to center-back, and is now regarded as one of the top center-backs in the world.

He was first chosen as the captain for Barcelona in the 2003-04 season. In the absence of Raul due to injury, Puyol has also been called upon to captain the Spanish national team.

May 17, 2006: Barcelona, with Puyol as captain, won the UEFA Champions League, defeating Arsenal FC 2-1 in the final and became the first Catalan captain to raise the UEFA Champions League Trophy.

He was awarded “Best Right-Back in Europe” by UEFA in 2002. He is currently under contract with Barcelona FC till June 30, 2010.

Puyol was awarded the title of UEFA Champions League Defender of the Year 2005-06 on Thursday 24th August 2006.

Andres Iniesta

Personal Information
-Name:Andrés Iniesta Luján

-Date of Birth:11 May 1984 (ages 29)

-Place Of Birth:Albacete,Spain

-Height:1.70 M(5 FT 7 IN)

-Position:Midfielder

-Team:FC Barcelona

Andrés Iniesta is a FC Barcelona midfielder. He was born on May 11, 1984 in Fuentealbilla, Spain.

Iniesta’s youth

career began in the Albacete Balompié academy which the young footballer joined in 1994 after a trial. During two years Andrés practiced in the club’s academy as well as played in matches for the club’s youth team. In 1996, Iniesta was spotted by FC Barcelona scouts who, in their turn, invited him on trial to the club. After a trial match scouts had no doubt Andrés should join the FC Barcelona academy. Till 2000 Andrés Iniesta has been one of the best academy students of his age which gave him an opportunity to sign a professional contract with the club.

In the summer of 2000, Andrés Iniesta officially became a FC Barcelona player after signing a long-term professional contract which has been extended a couple of times since then. Initially, Andrés took part in the reserve squad matches and was among the coach’s favorites. In 2002, Andrés played in several matches in the club’s main squad after which he was returned to the reserve. However, these matches were not played in vain as the club was trying the player for the club’s main team.

In the summer of 2003, Andrés Iniesta joined the first team where he eventually became one of the club’s key players. First, Iniesta appeared only after substitutions but gradually he became more experienced and his game level grew. Currently, Andrés Iniesta is one of the FC Barcelona key players: he played more than 265 matches for the club and scored 27 goals.

In 2000-2006, Andrés played for the Spain national teams ranging from U-15 to U-21. Overall, he played in 45 matches for the national youth teams and scored 11 goals. Since 2006 Andrés has been regularly invited to the main squad of the Spain national team.

Xavi Hernandez

Personal Information
Name:Xavi Hernandez
Date of Birth:25 January 1980(ages 33)
Height:1.70 M(5 FT 7IN)
Position:Midfielder
Nationality:Spain
Club:Barcelona
Number:6

Xavi Hernández is a FC Barcelona midfielder. He was born on January 25, 1980 in Terrassa, Spain.

Xavi began his career in the FC Barcelona academy which he entered in 1991. During 6 years Xavi was a successful player there standing out against the background of other young footballers. Xavi’s youth team occasionally won Spanish championship in youth leagues.

In 1997, Xavi signed his first professional contract with the native club. However, Hernández began playing for the reserve team. And there he became one of the best players due to his talent and desire to evolve constantly. By 2000, Xavi has played 61 matches for the reserve team and scored 4 goals.

In 1998, Xavi got his first chance to play in the FC Barcelona main squad. Having played a couple of matches Xavi returned to the reserve team. But already in the summer of 2000, he finished playing for the reserve and joined the club’s first team. Since 2000 Xavi Hernández has been one of the club’s key players to be relied on by all Barcelona head coaches at any moment. Over more than 14 years spent with the Catalan club Xavi Hernández played 409 matches and scored 48 goals.

In 1997-2000, Xavi was one of the main players of the youth national teams ranging from U-17 to U-23. In general, Xavi played 51 matches and scored 11 goals for all national teams. And since 2000 Xavi Hernández has been a main squad player of the Spain national team.

Neymar JR.

Personal Info
-Full name :Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior

-Date Of Birth :5 February 1992(age 21)

-Place Of Birth :Mogi Das Cruzes,Brazil

-Height:1.75 M(5 FT 9 IN)

-Position:Forward

-Club:FC Barcelona

Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior ; (born 5 February 1992), commonly known as Neymar, is a Brazilian footballer who plays as a forward for La Liga club FC Barcelona and the Brazilian national team, mainly as a forward.

At the age of 19, Neymar won the 2011 South American Footballer of the Year award, after coming third in 2010. He followed this up by winning it again in 2012. In 2011 Neymar received nominations for the FIFA Ballon d'Or, where he came 10th, and the FIFA Puskás Award, which he won.He is known for his acceleration, speed, dribbling and finishing. His playing style has earned him critical acclaim, with fans, media and former players drawing comparisons to Argentine forward Lionel Messi and former Brazil player Pelé, who has called Neymar "an excellent player".

Neymar joined Santos in 2003 and, after rising through the ranks, was promoted to their first team squad. He made his debut for Santos in 2009, and was voted the Best Young Player of the 2009 Campeonato Paulista. Further honours followed, with Neymar being voted best player as Santos won the 2010 Campeonato Paulista, and also being top scorer in the 2010 Copa do Brasil with 11 goals. He finished the 2010 season with 42 goals in 60 games as his club achieved the Double. Neymar was again voted best player of the year in 2011 as his side retained the state title and Santos also winning the 2011 Copa Libertadores in which Neymar scored 6 goals in 13 appearances. He also played a key role in securing aContinental Double for his team, Santos' first since 1963. He received the Bronze Ball in the 2011 FIFA Club World Cup, with Santos making it to the final, where they were defeated by Barcelona, 4–0.

Neymar is a Brazilian international, having represented Brazil at Under-17, Under-20 and senior levels. On 10 August 2010, at the age of 18, he made his debut for the Seleção in a friendly match against the United States; he scored from a header in the 28th minute, contributing to Brazil's 2–0 win. He was the top scorer of the 2011 South American Youth Championship with nine goals, including two in the final, in the 6–0 win against Uruguay, helping Brazil to win their 11th title in the competition.

Jordi Alba

Jordi Alba signed for FC Barcelona on July 5th 2012 after the Club had reached an agreement with Valencia for his transfer. The Catalan wing back was 23 when he joined the Club and was the first signing of the 2012/13 season.

Jordi Alba i Ramos was born in Hospitalet de Llobregat on March 21st 1989. After joining Barça at the age of 10, he proceeded through the various academy teams, alongside players such as Bojan Krkic, Fran Mèrida and Dos Santos.

At the end of the 2007 season, he left Barça and joined UE Cornellà, where he spent one season, before joining Valencia, who paid a €6,000 signing on fee for him. He figured for the Youth A team and then València CF Mestalla , where he was a key piece in the team which won promotion to the Segona Divisió B. During this period, he also won a debut call up for the Spain Under-19 team.

He spent the 2008/09 season on loan at Gimnàstic de Tarragona, playing 30 games in the second division and played for the Spanish Under 21 team and figured in the Under-20 World Cup in Egypt. He returned to Valencia and became a first team squad member that summer.

He made his league debut on September 13th 2009 against Real Valladolid. Although he had been signed as a left wing back, he showed his versatility by figuring in many positions and before leaving for Barça he played 108 times for Valencia – including 48 in his last season.

His great performances at Valencia won him a call up to the full Spanish squad in September 2011 and he made his debut under Del Bosque on October 11th 2011 against Scotland. He was selected for the Euro 2012 tournament where he was one of the event’s top players and on July 5th 2012 he was presented as Barça’s - and Tito Villanova’s- first signing of the 2012/13 season.

History Of Football

The beginning of the history of the emergence of the sport of soccer is still contentious. Some documents explain that football was born from the Roman period, partly explaining that football originated from China. FIFA as world football's governing body formally declare that football was born from mainland China is originated from the game of Chinese society until the 2nd century BC to the 3rd. This sport then known as "tsu chu".

In one military document states, in the year 206 BC, during the reign of Tsin and Han Dynasty, Chinese society has played ball called tsu chu. Tsu itself means "hit the ball with the foot". whereas chu, meaning "ball of skin and no content". Ball game when it uses a ball made ​​of animal skin, with a kick and dribble the rules and enter it into a net stretched between two poles.

Version of the ancient history of football the other coming from the land of Japan, since the 8th century, the people there have known the game ball. The people there call it: Come here. While the ball is used deer skin but has a hole in the middle and filled with air.

According to Bill Murray, a football historian, in his book The World Game: A History of Soccer, a football game has been known since the early AD. At that time, people already know the Ancient Egyptians brought engineering and kicking a ball made of linen cloth bundle.

Another side of history in Ancient Greece also know a game called episcuro, none other than the use of a ball game. Evidence of this history is reflected in the museum reliefs depicting young boy holding a ball and play with her ​​thighs.

History of modern football and has received recognition from various parties, aawal originally from England, who played in the mid-19th century in the schools. 1857 embryo first football club in the world, namely: Sheffield Football Club. This club is an association of schools that pursue the game of football.

In 1863, British football associations stand, which was named the Football Association (FA). The agency that issued the regulation game of football, so football became more regular, organized and palatable for the audience enjoyed.

Subsequently in 1886 formed another agency issued a rule modern football world, namely: the International Football Association Board (IFAB). IFAB was formed by the English FA with the Scottish Football Association, the Football Association of Wales, and the Irish Football Association in Manchester, England.

History of football is getting tested to date IFAB is the body that issued regulations on the game of football, both on game techniques, terms and referee duties, even to transfer the player movement.

FC Barcelona

FC Barcelona – asBarça also known, is a sports club in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain which has clubs in several sports, but the most famous is football.

Founded in 1899 by 12 men under the leadership of Joan Gasper, its motto is "Barca is not just a club" (El Barça, és mes que un club). The main stadium at Camp Nou, Barcelona.

The club entered into participants Primera División (First Division) since 1928, and together Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao became the team never relegated to the Segunda División (Second Division). The club is also a club that won the Spanish league first. By offering 20 Spanish League titles, 25 Copa del Rey, Spanish Super Cup 7 titles, three European Champions League titles, 4 UEFA Cup titles, 2 European Super Cup, Barcelona became one of the most successful teams in Spain, Europe, and the world.

Along with rivals Real Madrid, they are two football clubs of Spain's most famous in the world. Barca fans are also often called Cules.

Barça known always refused to put sponsor logos on his football uniform because Barca is considered as a symbol of Catalonia, and all sorts of links that offer "intrusive nature" will be rejected. Even so, the basketball team allowed Barca put sponsor logos on his uniform.

On 7 September 2006, the club announced a five year agreement with UNICEF, which allow UNICEF logo to be placed on the shirt. Barcelona then will donate 0.7% of total revenues per year to UNICEF over five years.

Starting the 2011-12 season, the Catalan club are reluctant to abandon tradition sponsor put on costumes. They will wear the name of Qatar Foundation are listed on the front of player jerseys. While cooperation with Unicef ​​is still running.

Barcelona is the only club in Europe whose president elected by season ticket holders (the purest supporter), nor by the board of directors and not the shareholders capital. Presidential candidates debating club on television, campaigning like presidential election program filed a country. Manuel Vazquez Montalban, a famous writer of the Spanish name Barcelona as the ultimate weapon for a nation without a state. Because the mission is considered sacred by the people of Catalonia that, Barcelona always maintain the purity of the club goals. They do not want to be equated with any other club, and would not submit to the commercial values​​. That's why until now Barcelona are the only club that does not allow costumes advertise.

The club is nicknamed 'Barca' and 'Los Azulgranas' as costumed blue and dark red, red blue supposedly deliberately taken out of the French flag as a form of resistance against the Spanish government in Madrid.

The club also had inhabited world-class players such as Johan Cruyff, Maradona, Ronald Koeman, Gary Lineker, Rivaldo, Luis Figo and also the phenomenal Ronaldo.

DATA CLUB

Full name: Foot Ball Club Barcelona
User name: Barca, Los Azulgranas
Founded: November 29, 1899
Stadium: Camp Nou, Barcelona-Spain
Capacity: 98 600 spectators
Costume: Red Blue Streaks-Blue (Cage), Red lines and yellow (Away)
President: Sandro Rosell
Coaches: Tito Vilanova

ACHIEVEMENT:

Spain Leauge: 21 times (1928-29, 1944-45, 1947-48, 1948-49, 1951-52, 1952-53, 1958-59, 1959-60, 1973-74, 1984-85, 1990-91, 1991-92, 1992-93, 1993-94, 1997-98, 1998-99, 2004-05, 2005-06, 2008-09,2009-10,2010-11)

Copa Del Rey: 25 times (1909-10, 1911-12, 1912-13, 1919-20, 1921-22, 1924-25, 1925-26, 1927-28, 1941-42, 1950-51, 1951-52 , 1952-53, 1956-57, 1958-59, 1962-63, 1967-68, 1970-71, 1977-78, 1980-81, 1982-83, 1987-88, 1989-90, 1996-97, 1997 -98, 2008-09)

Spanish Supercup: 10 times (1983, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996, 2005, 2006, 2009,2010,2011)

Liga Spanish Copa: 2 times (1983, 1986)

Champions League: 4 times (1996, 2006, 2009.2011)

UEFA Cup : 4 times (1958, 1960, 1966,1971)

Winners Cup : 4 times (1979, 1982, 1989, 1997)

European Supercup : 4 times (1992, 1997, 2009,2011)

Copa Latina : 2 times (1949, 1952)

Barcelona posted a net profit of 11.1 million euros for the season 2009/2010 on 'record' revenue of 445.5 million euros.

Increased profits of approximately nine million euros last year and 10.1 million euros for the 2007/08 season and marks the seventh consecutive year the football club is in the black.

Treasurer of the club, Xavier Sala i Martin, claimed income 445.5 million euros (U.S. $ 557.5 million) is a record for a football club.

He said the figures were even more impressive in the context of the global economic crisis we are experiencing.

Club said sales of television rights provide the largest amount of income, 38%, while 27% include marketing, reception entrance (ticket sales) 26% and only 9% sales performer.

Barcelona won the Spanish league this year for the second consecutive season, but failed to retain the Champions League crown.

The Catalan club will have a new president, Sandro Rosell, who was elected on June 13 to replace Joan Laporta, who has served since 2003.

Under the guidance of Laporta, Barcelona won the Champions League twice - in 2006 and 2009 - and the Spanish league four times - in 2005, 2006, 2009 and 2010 - making it the most successful period in the club's history.