FC Barcelona icon Gerard Pique stunned the world on November 3rd by announcing his retirement from professional football. The 102-time Spain international has confirmed that his sides’ fixture against Almeria at Camp Nou will be his final appearance for the Blaugran and the sport. The club will no doubt give one of their greatest centre-backs of all time the send-off he deserves, and hopefully three points to boot.
A new crop of centre-halves in Catalonia – namely, Jules Koundé, Ronald Araújo, Andreas Christensen, and Eric García – have limited the 35-year-old to just six starts this season, and it is thought that the lack of time on the pitch may have played a part in Pique’s decision.
But with three of those four players recently injured, and with the huge amount of fixtures on the modern footballing calendar – especially difficult this season due to the upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup – manager Xavi would have certainly liked to retain the services of his veteran central defender.
FC Barcelona. Photo by Unsplash
It seems, however, that Pique’s decision is final. He will bring the curtain down on a stellar career on November 5th. And what 18 years he has had in the sport.
Pique has racked up an almighty 768 appearances for club and country and, during that time, won everything there is to win. A World Cup, European Championship, three Champions Leagues, eight La Ligas, seven Copa Del Reys, a plethora of different Super Cups, even the Premier League with Manchester United, who he also made three appearances during their triumphant European campaign of the same year.
But it’s Gerard Pique’s debut campaign with his hometown club that we’re focusing on. Let’s take a look back at that iconic season of 2008.
Barcelona.Photo by Unsplash
A Rebuilding Process in Catalonia
Despite Pique’s evident qualities, Sir Alex Ferguson had the best defensive duo in the world in Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand and, as such, deemed him surplus to requirements at Old Trafford. Barcelona were only too happy to pay just €5m to bring the then-21-year-old home.
And his first campaign in Catalonia was a special one. It coincided with the promotion of Pep Guardiola from managing Barca’s B Team to the top job at the club. Pep has since paid tribute to his former player since the retirement announcement.
Guardiola came in and out went the big names. Ronaldinho was shipped off to AC Milan, and Deco left for Chelsea. The focus was instead placed on young La Masia graduates. The starting eleven contained Victor Valdes, Carles Puyol, Sergio Busquets, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Lionel Messi, and Pique himself. The squad was supplemented by foreign stars such as Thierry Henry, Samuel Eto’o, and Dani Alves.
Barcelona swept all before them.
A Golden Campaign
Barcelona romped to the top of the league, securing the title with a nine-point lead. In the process, they defeated Real Madrid both home and away, with a particularly impressive 6-2 victory in the Bernabeu. Pique even managed to get on the scoresheet. Braces from Henry and Messi, as well as a rare goal from captain Puyol, meant that the old enemy were demolished on their own territory, allowing Barcelona to all but wrap up the title with four games to spare.
11 days after that triumph, the Spanish Cup was sealed. Goals from Yaya Toure, Messi, Bojan, and Xavi were enough to defeat Athletic Bilbao 4-1 in the final emphatically.
Victories over Bayern Munich and Chelsea in the Champions League quarter and semi-finals, albeit with some more than dubious officiating assistance, would seal their place in the UEFA Champions League final. Barcelona would meet reigning champions and Pique’s former club Manchester United in the Rome showdown. But even the Red Devils were no match for Pep’s side. Goals from Messi and Eto’o ensured a 2-0 victory and the trophy rested in Camp Nou for the third time.
But Guardiola’s winning machine wasn’t done. They would also lift the Spanish and European Super Cups and the Club World Cup, meaning that they won every trophy in 2009. No club in the history of European football has ever replicated such a feat. Not a bad debut campaign for Gerard Pique.
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