Barça Books for Sant Jordi: Top Recommendations for Gifting
Sant Jordi 2024 brings a plethora of new releases with a Blaugrana twist. This year, books with themes centered around FC Barcelona, as well as others like the Catalan national team, are prominently featured, offering titles to suit every taste: from the history of the classics and club captains to biographies, the evolution of the jersey, sagas, and playing style.
“Barça’s DNA” (Roca Editorial)
Penned by Paco Seirul·lo, with forewords by Pep Guardiola and Jordi Cruyff, this book is presented as the ultimate Culé bible by Cruyff and Guardiola’s right-hand man. Seirul·lo was a key figure at Barça from the 1970s until 2022, both in physical preparation and teaching methodology.
“Barça. 100 Legendary Players” (Barça Books)
A volume featuring texts by Ferran Correas, a colleague at SPORT, and illustrations by Ricardo Cavolo, documenting the hundred most celebrated footballers of FC Barcelona, from Josep Samitier to Johan Cruyff, and from Pep Guardiola to Ronaldinho, Andrés Iniesta, or Leo Messi.
“Bojan Krkic. Controlling the Uncontrollable” (Columna)
Former FC Barcelona player, now coordinator of the Football Department since September 2023, Bojan Krkic reflects on the loneliness of an athlete and the torment of not being able to control the uncontrollable, a mentally draining process that led him to experience very difficult moments where he felt very alone.
“Captains” (Barça Books)
Written by journalist Guillem Balagué, the book reveals the secrets of leadership and the legacy of FC Barcelona’s captains. The author also analyzes why these players were chosen to wear the armband and guide the group to victory. The work features exclusive interviews.
“When We Were Eternal” (Barça Books)
With a prologue by Evarist Murtra, Luis Martín’s book is an anatomy of Pep Guardiola’s Barça. It’s the story, with significant updates, of the team under the Santpedor coach (2008-2012) that, in addition to winning 14 out of 19 possible titles and securing a sextuple (2009), dazzled with sublime and exquisite football.
“David and Temo: Clones and Balls” (Alfaguara)
With illustrations by Álex López and texts by Temo and David Suárez, leading sports commentators on social media. The book follows David and Temo as they use their football knowledge to solve mysteries before it’s too late.
“The Barça Family Tree” (Círculo Rojo)
An excellent compilation and investigation by Gerard Mateo delving into the sagas of FC Barcelona. It’s a historical review of the families that have coincided at Barça since its foundation to date. Numerous cases of siblings, parents and children, grandparents and grandchildren, cousins, and other relationships that have worn the Blaugrana jersey are explored.
“The Classic” (Barça Books)
Written by Frederic Porta and Manel Tomás, the book takes a journey through the most important matches between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid in the history of El Clásico, a rivalry that has marked several generations and two of the world’s most important clubs.
“Sporting Tales of Solidarity” (CaixaBank)
A classic that couldn’t be missed in this list is the book “Sporting Tales of Solidarity”, now in its 19th edition, written by sports journalists. This altruistic and non-profit volume is sponsored and prefaced by Araujo (FC Barcelona) and Stuani (Girona). All proceeds will go to the Enriqueta Villavecchia Childhood Oncology Foundation, which has been working to improve the quality of life for sick children and their families for 35 years.
“The Barça Style” (Barça Books)
Authored by specialists Ángel Iturriaga and Fermín Suárez, the book explains the tactical evolution of FC Barcelona’s game (1899-2023) and the playing systems employed by all the club’s coaches. It’s an unprecedented historical and technical analysis, offering an exciting journey into the origins of Barça’s model, even before it existed.
“The Lleidetans of Barça” (Viena Edicions)
A work by Antoni Gelonch with a prologue by journalist Miguel Rico, who has a history with SPORT. The author presents all the players from Lleida who have worn the FC Barcelona shirt, including well-known names like Carles Puyol and Bojan Krkic.
“The Treasures of Barça” (Barça Books)
Written by journalist Francesc Aguilar, the book narrates the history of FC Barcelona through its most emblematic objects. It explains and showcases the key events of the club’s trajectory through reproductions of exceptional objects from the Blaugrana’s history.
“The Ultras of Peña Ibérica” (Manifest Llibres)
A work by José Fernando Mota Muñoz that delves into the origins of Spanish nationalism and violence at RCD Espanyol between 1925 and 1931. The author, a graduate in History and a diploma holder in Library and Documentation, has written several books and articles on the subject.
“History of the Catalan National Football Team” (Editorial Base)
A spectacular work by journalist Antoni Closa, with a history at SPORT from 1979 to 2017, and José Alberto Salas, an agricultural engineer, FIFA agent, and football history researcher. The 368-page book references 210 matches played by Catalonia between 1903 and 2022, as well as the 961 players who participated in them.
“The Blaugrana Web” (Península)
Written by Roger Vinton (pseudonym), it delves into the history of power at FC Barcelona as never before. The author brings to the forefront the power struggles and pressures that have governed the club’s trajectory over 125 years. The narrative is chronological.
“The Truth Behind the Negreira Case” (La Esfera de los Libros)
Written by Xavier Estrada Fernàndez with the collaboration of Miguel Ángel Pérez, the book answers how it was possible for the number 2 of the refereeing collective to be on a club’s payroll, specifically between 2001 and 2018. During this period, FC Barcelona paid over 7.6 million euros to José María Enríquez Negreira.
“Grandpa Joan” (Editorial Base)
An emotional work by Jordi Monturiol that reviews the life of Joan Casals, a Barcelona supporter from Guardiola de Berguedà who popularized the Avi Barça figure in the 1984 Gamper, created by Valentí Castanys. The author engaged in lengthy conversations with Casals to delve into the figure of this beloved character, cherished by FC Barcelona’s fan clubs.
“The Goalkeeper’s Man” (Ara Llibres)
Written by Ramon Pardina with a prologue by Maiol Roger, the book is a journey through FC Barcelona’s 22 years under the presidency of Josep Lluís Núñez, one of the most controversial figures in the club’s recent history. Successes, mistakes, anecdotes… A truthful reconstruction of a fascinating character.
“More Than a Jersey” (Barça Books)
An outstanding work by Roger Cruz, a chronological journey through all the jerseys in FC Barcelona’s history, from its creation in 1899 to the present day like never seen before. In this exploratory journey, the author presents around 200 kits, some of them unusual. Cruz also details the brands and countless anecdotes related to the Blaugrana jersey.
“Messi. 10 Perspectives on the 10” (Tendencias)
A tribute to Leo Messi, one of the greatest footballers of all time. Coordinated by Fernando Segura M. Trejo, ten journalists offer their perspectives to understand the trajectory and consecration of the best football player of the 21st century. Among the contributors are Sergio Lewinsky, Pablo Brescia, Ana Merino, Claudio Vivas, or Ana María Espino.
“Pedri. By the Magic of Art” (Al Poste Ediciones)
Written by Roger Sabatés Ortega, the book is a portrait of the Canarian player, signed by FC Barcelona in August 2020 from UD Las Palmas at the age of 17. The work addresses the most personal aspects of Pedri’s life, featuring about twenty voices to recall the emergence and consecration of one of Spanish football’s most promising talents.
“Sergio Lozano. Goals and Scars” (Geo Planeta)
With a prologue by Andrés Iniesta, Sergio Lozano’s book, written in collaboration with journalist Llorenç Tarrés, is an emotional testimony of a champion who has made fighting against adversity his hallmark. The FC Barcelona futsal player is one of those athletes who leave a lasting impact.
