Unveiling the History of the Catalan National Team: A Remarkable Book
Toni Closa and José Alberto Salas have compiled the history of the Catalan national team, match by match and player by player, in an exceptional 368-page volume.
Published by Base, the book meticulously chronicles the Catalan team’s journey from January 1903 to May 2022, encompassing 210 matches and featuring profiles of 961 players, along with comprehensive technical details, debutants, coaches, and federation presidents. It also includes extensive infographics showcasing uniforms, venues, decades, top players, and opponents.
Nearly five years in the making, authors Closa and Salas dedicated themselves to this project, sifting through approximately 450 matches involving Catalan selections. They meticulously selected matches that met their criteria, offering insights into why others were excluded.
The book delves into the team’s diverse evolution, reflecting on its changing name, attire, emblem, and the involvement of international players like Kubala, Cruyff, Caszely, Stoichkov, and even Di Stéfano.
Structured into eight chapters, each representing distinct periods in the team’s history, the book captures the essence of Catalonia’s footballing journey from its origins to its international projection.
For Toni Closa, a renowned historian of FC Barcelona, this marks his second exploration into this topic, building upon his previous work. Meanwhile, José Alberto Salas, an agricultural engineer and FIFA agent, brings his expertise in football history to enrich this monumental publication.
Readers can meet the authors and get their copies signed at the Editorial Base stands on Tuesday, located at Mallorca, 248, between Passeig de Gràcia and Rambla Catalunya, from 18:15 to 19:15 hours.
