FC Barcelona Femení — The Team That Outgrew Permission

FC Barcelona Femení, Liga F, the UEFA Women’s Champions League and the rise of women’s football in Spain are the focus of this episode of Why We Love This Club, tracing how a team once denied Barça’s shirt became one of football’s dominant institutions.

The story begins in 1970, when Immaculada Cabecerán recruited players through a magazine advertisement and a women’s side played at Camp Nou without permission to use the club’s name or colors. Chris follows the long road from those white shirts to formal incorporation into FC Barcelona in 2002 and full professionalization in 2015.

The episode explores defining figures including Alexia Putellas, Aitana Bonmatí, Caroline Graham Hansen, Patri Guijarro, Salma Paralluelo and Ewa Pajor, along with Barcelona’s transformation after the painful 2019 Champions League final against Lyon.

Chris also revisits the club’s European titles, domestic dominance, record crowds of more than 91,000 at Camp Nou, and the importance of Estadi Johan Cruyff.

It’s a story about access, identity and a women’s team that stopped waiting for permission and eventually helped redefine what FC Barcelona itself could be. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Check out the show's website for an interactive map with all current teams, and suggest a club.

If you enjoyed this show, you may like these other soccer podcasts by Chris.

The Beautiful Game: Unfiltered The Underdog Football Show

Thanks for listening! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.