Who Managed Barcelona in 2006?

By Michael Ferguson

In 2006, FC Barcelona was managed by none other than Frank Rijkaard. This Dutch football manager and former player took over as the head coach of Barcelona in 2003 and went on to lead the team to some of its greatest victories.

Rijkaard’s Background

Before joining Barcelona, Rijkaard had a successful career as a player, including winning the European Cup three times with AC Milan. He also represented the Netherlands in three World Cups.

After retiring from playing, Rijkaard began his coaching career with the Dutch national team before moving on to manage clubs like Sparta Rotterdam and Ajax Amsterdam.

Barcelona under Rijkaard

Rijkaard’s tenure at Barcelona is widely regarded as a successful one. During his time at the club, he led them to two La Liga titles (in 2005 and 2006), as well as their first Champions League victory in 14 years (in 2006).

One of the key factors behind Rijkaard’s success was his ability to bring together a talented group of players and form them into a cohesive team. Under his leadership, Barcelona became known for their fluid attacking style of play, which relied heavily on players like Ronaldinho, Samuel Eto’o, and Lionel Messi.

Notable Matches

Some of the most memorable matches during Rijkaard’s time at Barcelona include:

  • The 2006 Champions League final against Arsenal, which saw Barcelona come from behind to win 2-1.
  • A La Liga match against Real Madrid in November 2005, which ended in a thrilling 3-0 victory for Barcelona.
  • The famous “Remontada” match against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League round of 16 in 2017, which saw Barcelona overturn a 4-0 deficit from the first leg to win 6-1 and progress to the quarter-finals.

Rijkaard’s Departure

Despite his success at Barcelona, Rijkaard’s time at the club came to an end in 2008. After a disappointing season in which Barcelona finished third in La Liga and were knocked out of the Champions League in the semi-finals, Rijkaard was replaced by Pep Guardiola.

However, Rijkaard’s impact on Barcelona cannot be overstated. He helped lay the foundation for the team’s future success under Guardiola and beyond, and will always be remembered as one of the club’s great managers.