The video was shown during the Laureus Gala where FC Barcelona was crowned 2011 World Team of the Year.
Here’s a summary of the best moments of Josep Guardiola’s Barça, Laureus World Team of the Year, during 2011. The video made its debut during yesterday’s Laureus Gala.
The recap video is accompanied by phrases that go hand in hand with Barça’s values: ‘More than a Club. More than the Camp Nou. More than beautiful football. More than a team. The team of the year.' (via FCBarcelona.com)
The award for the best sports team of 2011 is the latest in a long list of awards won by FC Barcelona and its players in yet another fantastic year. It is only the second time that a soccer club has won the Laureus Award for the team of the year.
FC Barcelona was one of the big winners at the Laureus Awards ceremony last night in London. President Sandro Rosell collected the award for the best sports team of 2011. This was yet another honour bestowed on Barça in recognition for their amazing football and collection of major trophies, including the third consecutive Liga title and the Champions League at Wembley, not to mention both the Spanish and European Supercups and the Clubs World Cup in Japan. FC Barcelona therefore become only the second soccer team to collect the award after Manchester United back in 2000. The award is more traditionally given to national, Olympic or Formula One teams.
FC Barcelona have won all kinds of honours in recent times. The International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IHFFS) named Guardiola's side the best of 2011 with 367 points. Leo Messi was also named top goalscorer, Xavi best playmaker and Guardiola the best coach.
The global press has also been honouring Barça. Following the victory at the World Clubs Cup in Japan, the International Sports Press Association (AIPS) named FC Barcelona the top team of 2011, and also gave the club the fair play trophy.
But more local associations have also been honouring Barça. At the 'Festa de l'Esport Català' (Catalan Sports Fiesta), organized by the Unión de Federaciones Deportivas Catalanas (UFEC) and the newspaper 'Sport', the world champions were named best men's sports team of 2011, where Víctor Valdés also collected a prize for the best Catalan sportsperson. And at the 'Mundo Deportivo' gala, Carles Puyol collected the Fair Play award and David Villa took the Extraordinary Award.
Plenty of individual titles
Barça have a great team, but also some truly outstanding individuals, and in recent years it has become a common sight to see them collecting trophies. Messi recently won his third Ballon d'Or in Zurich, where five FCB players, Piqué, Iniesta, Xavi, Messi and Alves. were in the All Star XI, while Guardiola was named best manager. UEFA also made the Argentinian the best player in Europe at their ceremony in Monaco last August. In the domestic league, the LFP presented awards to all of Valdés, Abidal, Xavi, Iniesta, Messi and Guardiola, while Valdés also won the Zamora Award for the best goalkeeper for the fourth time. (via FCBarcelona.cat)
FC Barcelona beat out the Dallas Mavericks, the Red Bull Formula 1 team, the All Blacks, the English’ national cricket side and the Japanese women’s national football side to win the Laureus World Team of the Year award. This award, which gives FC Barcelona worldwide recognition, will be added to the Club’s athletic and social achievements.
The FC Barcelona president will attend the 2012 Laureus World Sports Awards this Monday, Feb. 6. Barça has been nominated for three prizes. “The nominations will help us keep on working and thinking about how to keep up this level in the future,” said Sandro Rosell.
Sandro Rosell will travel to London on February 6th to attend the Laureus World Sports Awards gala. The president is very proud of the Club’s three nominations and he highlights the importance of these awards as an incentive “to keep on applying ourselves and maintain this level [of excellency] in the coming years.”
Abidal, Messi and the Club could receive awards in tomorrow’s ceremony. “Abidal for overcoming a personal health issue; Messi, because he’s the best in the world, I think that’s indisputable and the whole world recognises it, and the Club because of the institution it represents,” said the Barça president. He added: “the nominations of Abidal, Messi and the Club is an honour, and it will help us keep on working and thinking about how to keep up this level in the future.” The FC Barcelona president said, “it’s very hard to achieve things in life, but it’s harder still to maintain that level [of excellence].”
FULL: www.fcbarcelona.com
