Comparing the most successful FC Barcelona teams over the years

Barcelona supporters have been blessed over the years with some wonderful talent pervading throughout their squads. Brazilians, Dutchmen, Argentinians....they’ve all left an indelible mark on the history of this great club.Once Johan Cruyff took over in the late 1980s, it would only be a matter of time before this forward thinker would bring the glory days back to Catalonia. And so it proved to be; the “Dream Team” era remains one of the finest ever for Barcelona, a time when their first European Cup would be secured amongst a plethora of La Liga titles.Louis van Gaal couldn’t quite match the success of his countryman, but his team was efficient if not stylish. Frank Rijkaard, another Dutchman, can be credited with giving Lionel Messi his debut in the first team and bringing home the second of Barca’s four European Cups / Champions League titles.Pep Guardiola’s time at Barcelona will not be repeated anywhere. Ever. He borrowed Cruyff’s template and took it to a whole new level.14 trophies in four years and losing just 21 games in all competitions – that’s something that might never be matched.And now Pep’s ex-colleague Luis Enrique has led his team to a treble, a feat that only a selective few managers have been successful in pulling off, and his team did it in spite of the transfer ban.Let’s take a look at the five most successful Barcelona teams from across the last few decades:

#1 Johan Cruyff\'s Dream Team

When Johan Cruyff was persuaded to return as manager, he did so under no illusions. Barcelona had under-achieved since his retirement as a player, and the club was looking for that injection of invention and genius that Cruyff had sprinkled liberally throughout his playing career.

A Copa del Rey and a Cup Winners Cup in his first two seasons weren’t a bad way to start, but the haul still wasn’t enough to please the locals. Cules had waited long enough, and success at the highest level was demanded.

They didn’t have to wait long. Four successive La Liga titles were won with a swagger and confidence not seen in a long, long time. Playing the 4-3-3 that Barca readily identify with nowadays (switching to a 3-4-3 when required), luminaries such as Michael Laudrup, Pep Guardiola, Hristo Stoichkov and Ronald Koeman were instrumental not only in the team’s success but also in the style that Cruyff wanted the club to adopt.

Indeed, it was Koeman’s extra-time thunderbolt at Wembley in 1992 that would bring Barca their first ever European Cup, and thus Cruyff’s legend was assured.

Whilst the success of Cruyff’s team stood alone at that point, it should be remembered that the comedown was swift. A humiliating 4-0 defeat to AC Milan in another European final was the pre-cursor to the Dutchman’s long, slow goodbye.

The team lost its lustre and, eventually, so did Cruyff.

#2 Louis van Gaal\'s Dutch contingent

Louis van Gaal arrived at Barcelona in 1997, taking over from Bobby Robson who was “moved upstairs.” That phrase didn’t have quite the same connotation in those days as it does now. Robson was effectively being pushed aside but in the process, he at least made sure that the Dutchman took Jose Mourinho as his third assistant, to give the team some continuity.

The Dutchman’s impact though was instant. Ronaldo had left after just one record-breaking season, but international teammate Rivaldo was brought in to replace him. The Brazilian was imperious as Barca strolled to the La Liga title by nine points. Mallorca were defeated in the Cup, giving Van Gaal a double in his first season.

The Champions League was, however, a write-off, as it was the following season when the Catalans went out at the group stages. Quite how they won the league by a cavernous 11 points in 98-99 is anyone’s guess as they started the season with four successive defeats, meaning that they were playing catch up from the very beginning of the campaign.

Aside from an expected influx of Dutch players, Van Gaal has to be credited with beginning to shape the Barcelona of recent times. Xavi Hernandez, Carles Puyol, Victor Valdés, and Andrés Iniesta were all handed their debuts by him, and look at the narrative that they have written since!

#3 Frank Rijkaard\'s Samba Beat

When Joan Laporta was elected on the promise of bringing David Beckham to Barcelona, supporters expected success to be just around the corner. That Ronaldinho would be secured instead proved to be a blessing in disguise.

Frank Rijkaard’s appointment was a strange one but followed the Dutch narrative that seemed interwoven with the club at that point. With half a dozen losses before Christmas, things quickly turned sour. Fortunately, the Catalans got their act together just after the winter break and would stabilise to such an extent that they would only narrowly lose out on the title to Valencia.

Samuel Eto’o, Deco and others were added to a heady mix and the club started going places with Ronaldinho at his brilliant best. Somewhat against the grain, there was a distinct lack of youth promotion during Rijkaard’s time in the hot seat. A loss to Chelsea in the Champions League was something of a setback, but the Dutchman persisted with his belief of a mobile 4-3-3 and eventually, the rewards came the following year.

The league was sewn up and a second Champions League was secured on a memorable night in Paris. Rijkaard’s legend should’ve been secured, but the way in which Barca tailed off in his final season, finishing third and a massive 18 points behind Real Madrid, meant that his achievements were sullied to some extent.

#4 Pep Guardiola\'s all-conquering Blaugrana

Pep Guardiola, fresh from a stint in charge of Barcelona B, was selected by Laporta and sporting director Txiki Begiristain ahead of Jose Mourinho, something that quite obviously still affects the Portuguese to this day.

Pep’s immediate decision to dispense with a fading Ronaldinho and a less than effective Deco wasn’t universally appreciated, and a loss and a draw in his first two games sent the local media into meltdown. But one of Barca’s favourite sons soon had everyone eating out of the palm of his hand.

Although the style of the team mirrored much of what Rijkaard had done before him, the pressing and intensity of Guardiola’s sides are what marked them out from their contemporaries.

Lionel Messi was given carte blanche by the manager, and he was the fulcrum of the side along with Xavi and Iniesta, The team’s three main protagonists had cost practically nothing, while Real Madrid continued to spend cash like water. There was a clear satisfaction in knowing that Barca’s best team for years had mostly homegrown players.

Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets and Victor Valdes made up a magnificent La Masia spine, and the local talent were very well supplemented by some astute purchases. The “sextuple” will remain the barometer by which all other Barca sides will be judged.

It was not just that trophies were won, but the manner in which they were achieved that made the real statement. In short, Pep Guardiola made everyone fall in love with football again.

#5 Luis Enrique\'s treble winning team

It’s hard to believe that Luis Enrique has been in charge of Barcelona for less than 60 games. After a shaky first half-season, Lucho has completely stamped his authority all over the current side, in much the same way he used to do as captain.

For the first time in years, Barcelona now have a manager prepared to take a game by the scruff of the neck and totally change the dynamic. Not constrained by having to play “the Barca way,” Enrique has even implemented the counter attack, something previously unheard of in this part of Spain (sorry, Catalonia).

Enrique has been successful in not only leading his team to a treble winning season, but he has managed to do what which Cruyff and others said was impossible – gelling Messi, Neymar and Suarez together as a cogent attacking machine. 122 goals between them speaks volumes of what he’s done.

4-3-3, 3-4-3 and 3-5-2 have already been utilised this season and the signing of Ivan Rakitic has been amongst the best the club has ever made. His versatility and verticality are what oil the wheels of this particular side.

The rotation that Enrique was roundly criticised for before Christmas has left the playing staff fresh, fit, razor sharp and ready to continue their assault with the new season to come as it is quite possible that the best for this team could be yet to come.

#6 Ranking the teams in order

1. At this point, Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona just edges out the current crop. Arguably Lucho’s could go on and usurp the 2008-12 vintage but Pep’s achievements stand alone. 14 trophies in four years is a record that is unlikely to ever be beaten, at any club.

Guardiola also managed all that while playing a brand of mesmerising attacking football rarely seen, and with many youth players brought through from La Masia – particularly Sergio Busquets and Pedro Rodriguez, who were playing in the Tercera the year before.

Of the 247 games he was in charge of, only 21 were lost, with an astonishing win percentage of 72.47 %. An average of almost three goals a game is the best of the five managers bar Enrique.

2. Cruyff’s dream team will always be remembered with fondness, despite its eventual faults. Four successive leagues and a European Cup would be enough to place that early 1990’s side right at the pinnacle until Pep’s variant pitched up.

For someone so fond of youth development, Cruyff under-utilised La Masia during his tenure, preferring to buy talent more often than not. In a sign of his famed pig-headedness, Cruyff preferred to see his team die a long, slow death rather than exit stage left once it was clear that the dream was turning into a nightmare.

3. Luis Enrique, after a shaky start to his Barca managerial campaign, has well and truly won over the Catalan populace. Right on the cusp of three goals per game is as good as it gets, and let’s not forget that he heads Guardiola in terms of the amount of wins in his first season to this point.

A confident performance in the Champions League, adding to their consistent record in the domestic league and domestic cup tournament, Enrique's Barcelona is what you can call a fresh breath of air for a team which has always been associated with a particular style of football.

A lack of trust in youth is perhaps the one downside to his tenure, particularly as the likes of Bartra and Montoya came up with him at Barcelona B.

4. Although Frank Rijkaard sowed the seeds which Guardiola eventually saw bloom, and the Dutchman brought a much-needed second European Cup to the club, in context it could be argued that he did the minimum expected.

The style of football was good but not ground-breaking, and turning a blind eye to the antics of Ronaldinho and Deco deservedly saw him eventually fall on his sword.

5. Bringing up the rear is the unfortunate Van Gaal. His two league wins can’t be downplayed, nor the way in which he focused on youth. However, the football wasn’t the best.

With Barcelona, you have to win yes, but you have to do it with a certain style. Van Gaal was far too straight for that. His way or no way was acceptable for a while, but the eventual fiasco with Rivaldo and a lack of authority in Europe sees him at the bottom of the deck here.