World Soccer - UK (2022-01)

Women’sWorldManageroftheYear,Women’sWorldTeamoftheYear

LLUIS CORTES

& BARCELONA

herehasn’t beenmuch
forfansofBarcelonaMen’s
teamtocelebrate over the
past 1 2 months.Thedepartureof Lionel
Messiandthe financialwoeshisexit
emphasised,combinedwiththefailure
toproperlycompete forLaLiga or the
ChampionsLeague,hasmeantthatthe
NouCamphasbeena fairlydepressing
placein 2021. ForBarcelonaFemeni,
however, it’s beenanentirelydifferent
story.
Theirnear-perfectyearsawthem
becomethe first Spanishsideto winthe
Women’sChampionsLeague,doingso
bydemolishingWSLchampionsChelsea
4-0.Barcelona thusbecamethefirst
clubinhistorytowina Champions
Leaguetitlefor both itsmenand
women’s sides.
Theywerejustas devastating
domestically. LluisCortes’team
endedthe 2 020- 21 leagueseason
with 3 3 winsoutof34,finishingthe

title-winningcampaignwitharecord-

breaking 99 pointsfromthe maximum

10 2.A sole4-3defeattoAtletico

Madridpreventedthemfrom

endingthe seasonunbeaten.

Theirtotalof1 67 leaguegoals

wasmorethandoublethe tallyofthe

league’ssecond-mostprolificside,rivals

RealMadrid ( 75 ).Byconcedingjust 15

times,theyendedthe seasonwithan

astonishinggoaldifferenceof+152.

Asifthatwasn’talreadyimpressive

enough,theythenbeatLevante 4 -2in

thefinaloftheCopadelaReinainMay

tobecomethefirstSpanishwomen’s

sidetocompletethecontinentaltreble.

Perhapstheironlyrealblow of 2 021

camejust undera monthaftertheir

Copasuccess;Cortesannouncedhis

decisiontostepdownasmanager of

Barca Women’s teamafter twoanda

halfseasonsincharge,citingphysical

andemotionalstrainashisreasons.

“WhenI tookover,I toldmyfriends

andsomeofthe playersthatI would

never leaveuntilthisteamwinsthe

ChampionsLeague,and we didit,” he

saidina videorecordedforthe club.

“Ithasbeena lovelyperiodfor

me.Wehaveexperiencedsomany

emotionswith thisgroupofpeople.

Winningourfirst treblehasmadeus

Managerofthe

Year...Lluis Cortes

Teamofthe

Year...Barcelona

2021 AWARDSR ESULTS

T

C O A C

H / T E A M