FCBARCELONA.CAT

25.09.2008 13:31

Two Catalan managers eight years on

Edgar Fornós

With Josep Guardiola and Bartolomé Márquez on the respective benches, both sides will have Catalan managers when Barça go to Espanyol. The last time that happened was when Carles Rexach and Paco Flores coincided in the 2000/2001 season.

The 2000/2001 season was the last time there were Catalans in charge of both sides for an FC Barcelona v Espanyol derby. The last two Catalans to appear together in the traditional photograph of friendship before the game were Carles Rexach of Barça and Paco Flores of Espanyol.

Respective records

Barça and Espanyol met in three league matches under that particular duo. The first encounter was in the 2000/2001 season and ended 0-0. They played twice the season after. At Montjuïc, Barça lost 2-0, and at the Camp Nou they got their revenge by winning by the same scoreline, 2-0, against Espanyol.

Four former players

The four past and present managers of FC Barcelona and Espanyol, all spent time as players for the teams they are now in charge of. Carles Rexach played the most, appearing in no fewer than fifteen campaigjns for FC Barcelona.

Josep Guardiola made his debut for Barça in 1991 and saw out a decade before departing in the 2000/01 season.

The Espanyol bosses

As for the men that managed the ‘Parakeets’, Paco Flores played 65 games for Espanyol in the seventies and the following decade, Bartolomé Marquez enjoyed nine seasons on the club’s books.