# 1995–96 FC Barcelona season

The 1995–96 season was FC Barcelona's 97th season in existence and 67th consecutive season in the top flight of Spanish football, La Liga. Barcelona again failed to follow up on their 1993-94 league title, instead finishing third in the league. In April, the team lost the chance at three trophies in 10 days. First, Barcelona reached the finals of the Copa del Rey, losing 1-0 to Atlético Madrid. They then stumbled in the UEFA Cup as they were knocked out by Bayern Munich in a 1-2 (3-4 on aggregate) loss at home, before losing definitively to Atlético Madrid at home, erasing the chance of a league win.
Barcelona were active in the transfer market, bringing in players such as Georghe Popescu, Ángel Cuéllar, Meho Kodro, Robert Prosinečki, and Luís Figo. Hristo Stoichkov and Ronald Koeman were two notable departures.
The season was head coach Johan Cruyff's final with the club, as he was sacked after the May losses. Carles Rexach served as manager until Englishman Bobby Robson was hired.

## Summary

The season is best remembered as the end of Johan Cruyff's era as Head coach after almost eight years. During the summer the club made the transfers in of Gheorghe Popescu from Tottenham Hotspur, striker Ángel Cuéllar from Real Betis, forward Meho Kodro from Real Sociedad, Robert Prosinečki from Real Oviedo and the controversial move of Luís Figo from Sporting Lisboa (a petition of Jorge Valdano to the Real Madrid) after a two years ban of Italian Federation due to a double accord of the Portuguese midfielder with both Parma and Juventus.
Cruyff took Hristo Stoichkov and Ronald Koeman out of the team with controversy for fans and President included. In this campaign, the plan of head coach was mix arrivals and a new generation known as "La Quinta de Lo Pelat" (The generation of Lo Pelat) young players such as Iván de la Peña nicked as Pelat, Oscar García, Roger García, Toni Velamazan and Albert Celades.
The team reached its climax on 7 October 1995 defeating Real Betis 5–1 in Sevilla with a memorable exhibition of La Quinta de Lo Pelat, the club were struggling in League against leader of table Atlético Madrid meanwhile competing in 1995–96 Copa del Rey where the squad reached the 1996 Copa del Rey Final and 1996–97 UEFA Cup Semifinals phase.
However, the squad lost in ten days the three trophies, first on 10 April 1996 FC Barcelona was defeated 0-1 by Atlético Madrid in the Copa del Rey Final. Six days later, in Barcelona the squad lost the semifinal 1–2 against Bayern München and was eliminated from the UEFA Cup tournament. The bizarre series of results ended on 20 April 1996 when Atlético Madrid won 3–1 at Camp Nou means that FC Barcelona could not win La Liga for second consecutive year.
The shocking 10 days of losses shattered Johan Cruyff as manager and President Jose Luis Nuñez started contacts with English trainer Bobby Robson during May to replace Cruyff for 1996–97 season. Finally, Nuñez fired Cruyff on 19 May 1996 and signed Robson as the new head coach.

## Squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | ESP | Carles Busquets |
| 2 | DF | ESP | Albert Ferrer |
| 3 | DF | ESP | Abelardo Fernández |
| 4 | MF | ESP | Josep Guardiola (vice-captain) |
| 5 | MF | ROU | Gheorghe Popescu |
| 6 | MF | ESP | José Mari Bakero (captain) |
| 7 | MF | POR | Luís Figo |
| 8 | MF | ESP | Guillermo Amor (vice-captain) |
| 9 | FW | BIH | Meho Kodro |
| 11 | MF | ROU | Gheorghe Hagi |
| 12 | DF | ESP | Sergi Barjuán |
| 13 | GK | ESP | Jesús Angoy |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 14 | FW | NED | Jordi Cruyff |
| 16 | MF | ESP | Óscar García |
| 20 | DF | ESP | Miguel Ángel Nadal |
| 21 | MF | CRO | Robert Prosinečki |
| 22 | GK | ESP | Julen Lopetegui |
| 23 | MF | ESP | Iván de la Peña |
| 24 | MF | ESP | Roger García |
| 25 | DF | ESP | Quique Álvarez |
| 26 | MF | ESP | Albert Celades |
| 28 | MF | ESP | Toni Velamazán |
| 30 | MF | ESP | Francisco Rufete |

### Transfers

In :
| Pos. | Name | from | Type |
| MF | Luís Figo | Sporting Lisboa | |
| MF | Gheorghe Popescu | Tottenham Hotspur | |
| MF | Robert Prosinečki | Real Oviedo | |
| FW | Meho Kodro | Real Sociedad | |
| FW | Ángel Cuéllar | Real Betis | |
| MF | Óscar García | Albacete | Loan ended |
| DF | Lluís Carreras | Racing Santander | Loan ended |
| MF | Goran Vučević | Hajduk Split | Loan ended |
| DF | Álex García | Palamós | Loan ended |
Out :
| Pos. | Name | To | Type |
| DF | Ronald Koeman | Feyenoord | |
| FW | Romário | CR Flamengo | |
| FW | Hristo Stoichkov | Parma | |
| FW | Txiki Begiristain | Deportivo | |
| MF | Eusebio | Celta de Vigo | |
| MF | Igor Korneev | Heerenveen | |
| DF | Iván Iglesias | Sporting Gijón | |
| DF | Xabier Eskurza | Valencia | |
| DF | Xavier Escaich | Albacete | |
| DF | José Mari García | Real Betis | |
| MF | Óscar Arpón | Real Betis | |
| MF | Sánchez Jara | Real Betis | |
| MF | Álex García | Cádiz | |
| DF | Goran Vučević | Mérida | Loan |

## Competitions
### La Liga
#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Atlético Madrid (C) | 42 | 26 | 9 | 7 | 75 | 32 | +43 | 87 | Qualification for the Champions League group stage |
| 2 | Valencia | 42 | 26 | 5 | 11 | 77 | 51 | +26 | 83 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round |
| 3 | Barcelona | 42 | 22 | 14 | 6 | 72 | 39 | +33 | 80 | Qualification for the Cup Winners' Cup first round |
| 4 | Espanyol | 42 | 20 | 14 | 8 | 63 | 36 | +27 | 74 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round |
| 5 | Tenerife | 42 | 20 | 12 | 10 | 69 | 54 | +15 | 72 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round |
* ↑ Since Atlético Madrid, winners of 1995–96 Copa del Rey, was qualified for the 1996–97 UEFA Champions League, losing cup finalists Barcelona earned a spot in the first round of the 1996–97 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.

#### Results by round

| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 |
| Ground | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A |
| Result | W | D | W | W | D | W | W | W | W | L | W | D | W | D | D | L | W | L | W | L | D | W | D | W | D | W | W | W | D | L | W | W | D | W | W | D | L | W | D | D | W | D |
| Position | 7 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Note: UEFA Cup Winners' Cup spot (in green) being non-related with a position in La Liga, does not appear until the winner is assured to not win La Liga, thus if wins La Liga has a spot in the UEFA Champions League, then 1995–96 Copa del Rey runners-up earns a spot in the 1996–97 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. Atlético Madrid won their 9th La Liga title in the last matchday, so after matchday 39 Barcelona's places are coloured in green. In light green the spot expected for 1996–97 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.

#### Matches
### Copa del Rey

Round of 16
Quarterfinals
Semifinals

#### Final
### Friendlies

* GAMES 1995–1996
* 28-7-1995 FRIENDLY SV EPE-BARCELONA 0–18
* 29-7-1995 FRIENDLY BUITENPOST-BARCELONA 1–16
* 30-7-1995 FRIENDLY PEC ZWOLLE-BARCELONA 1–4
* 1-8-1995 FRIENDLY CAMBUUR LEEUWARDEN-BARCELONA 1–1
* 3-8-1995 FRIENDLY GRONINGEN-BARCELONA 2–2
* 5-8-1995 FRIENDLY UTRECHT-BARCELONA 3–3
* 6-8-1995 FRIENDLY AJAX-BARCELONA 1–4
* 10-8-1995 CITY OF PALMA TROPHY BARCELONA-VASCO DA GAMA 0–0/2–4/ PENALTY
* 12-8-1995 CITY OF PALMA TROPHY REAL BETIS-BARCELONA 2–3
* 16-8-1995 CITY OF LA LÍNEA TROPHY OLYMPIQUE LYON-BARCELONA 2–3
* 19-8-1995 MEMORIAL MARIO CECCHI GORI AC FIORENTINA-BARCELONA 2–0
* 19-8-1995 MEMORIAL MARIO CECCHI GORI VINCENZA-BARCELONA 1–2
* 22-8-1995 Joan Gamper Trophy BARCELONA-CSKA SOFIA 4–0
* 23-8-1995 Joan Gamper Trophy BARCELONA-SAN LORENZO 5–1
* 25-8-1995 FRIENDLY SEVILLA-BARCELONA 3–3
* 28-8-1995 FRIENDLY ALCAMPELL-BARCELONA 0–10
* 28-8-1995 COPA CATALUNYA BARCELONA-TÀRREGA 4–0
* 28-8-1995 COPA CATALUNYA LLEIDA-BARCELONA 0–0
* 13-3-1996 COPA CATALUNYA ESPANYOL-BARCELONA 5–1

## Statistics
### Players statistics

| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | La Liga | La Liga | Copa del Rey | Copa del Rey | UEFA Cup | UEFA Cup |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| 1 | GK | ESP | Busquets | 52 | -49 | 37 | -33 | 7 | -7 | 8 | -9 |
| 2 | DF | ESP | Ferrer | 43 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 6+1 | 0 | 7+1 | 0 |
| 20 | DF | ESP | Nadal | 48 | 3 | 31+4 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 6+1 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | ESP | Abelardo | 43 | 3 | 25+6 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 3+3 | 1 |
| 12 | DF | ESP | Sergi | 53 | 2 | 39+1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 2 |
| 4 | DM | ESP | Guardiola | 47 | 2 | 28+4 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7+1 | 1 |
| 5 | DM | ROU | Popescu | 50 | 8 | 33+4 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 1 |
| 7 | MF | POR | Figo | 52 | 8 | 33+2 | 5 | 4+3 | 0 | 9+1 | 3 |
| 6 | MF | ESP | Bakero | 46 | 10 | 28+4 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 9+1 | 3 |
| 24 | MF | ESP | Roger | 46 | 9 | 27+6 | 5 | 2+2 | 0 | 8+1 | 4 |
| 9 | FW | BIH | Kodro | 43 | 15 | 26+6 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 3 |
| 13 | GK | ESP | Angoy | 5 | -3 | 4 | -3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 23 | DM | ESP | De la Peña | 42 | 9 | 25+6 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 2+5 | 2 |
| 8 | MF | ESP | Amor | 40 | 9 | 16+12 | 6 | 2+4 | 2 | 6 | 1 |
| 11 | MF | ROU | Hagi | 28 | 6 | 12+7 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 3 |
| 21 | MF | CRO | Prosinecki | 23 | 2 | 12+7 | 2 | 2+2 | 0 |
| 16 | MF | ESP | Óscar | 37 | 14 | 11+17 | 10 | 2+2 | 1 | 2+3 | 3 |
| 26 | MF | ESP | Celades | 25 | 4 | 11+5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6+2 | 2 |
| 14 | FW | NED | Jordi Cruyff | 18 | 2 | 11+2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2+2 | 0 |
| 19 | DF | ESP | Carreras | 24 | 1 | 10+8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3+2 | 1 |
| 28 | MF | ESP | Velamazan | 15 | 4 | 7+4 | 3 | 0+1 | 0 | 1+2 | 1 |
| 10 | FW | ESP | Cuellar | 16 | 2 | 3+9 | 2 | 0+1 | 0 | 1+2 | 0 |
| 27 | MF | ESP | Juan Carlos | 14 | 2 | 3+4 | 0 | 2+2 | 2 | 1+2 | 0 |
| 22 | GK | ESP | Lopetegui | 3 | -4 | 2 | -3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -1 |
| 25 | DF | ESP | Quique Álvarez | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 29 | DF | ESP | Roca | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 31 | MF | ESP | Setvalls | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 32 | FW | ESP | García Pimienta | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 34 | MF | ESP | Juanjo | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 35 | MF | ESP | Rufete | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
* Source: