FCB Feminine - A New Approach to Women's Football in Europe
October 29th 2019
Markel Zubizaretta, FCB Women’s General Manager opens with “We HAVE to become Champions of Europe”. A bold statement for a professional team that has been in existent for only 4 years.
With that said the Barcelona Women’s team has some impressive facts. They reached the final of the UEFA Champions League last year (incidentally playing against a former TTi Bluebonnet, Tori Paterson!). The team won the domestic “Queen’s Cup” but did not win the league. A trophy that has evaded them since turning professional a few years ago.
The group is made up 24 Players, 18 of which represent their countries. The team boasts great individual success having Balon D’or Winners in the U17, U19 and Full Team categories. Also, it should be noted that they have their International players gone for periods of the year for up to 10 days (Notre during World Cup and UEFA Cup) resulting in the women playing 5-10 more matches than their male counterparts.
The piece that takes me back the most is the mirror to the men’s team and their immediate efforts with La Masia (Barcelona’s Youth Academy). Zubizaretta makes no qualms - they want players form La Masia first.
La Masia has to play in local boys leagues ignorer to compete as the female leagues are not yet developed enough. They are working hard to change the perspective of people externally about the women’s game, but also internally. La Masia’s records and development profile is helping this transition.
The scouting system is critical for La Masia. Players going through months of scouting prior to even being contacted. In the end the process makes sure that no less then 4-5 people from FCB have seen the player prior to approach.
The backdrop of Johan Cruyff Arena is further testament to the serious nature of FCB’s new approach to the women’s professional game. The La Masia and FCB Feminine 6,000 seat specific stadium is incredible and, in ym opinion, NWSL teams could learn from this deliberate stadium build.
I watched FCB decimate Logrono 5-0 with Spanish Born and La Maisa product Leila at left, who may be the finest player I have ever seen live. The team, without superstar Balon D’or winner Lieke Martens ran possession rings around their 4th placed opponents
What resonates with me is the passion with which Markel speaks. His knowledge is driven by years in the game and a background in the business world (he played professionally) and his professionalism is only second to his humility.
I willl finish by saying that it is easy to be enamored by the approach FC Barcelona has towards development and towards the game in general. There are many speakers I have not mentioned that has just the same quality as this I have. All in all, they believe in the right direction and, with passion.
Mes Que Un Club.