Carles Rexach

In this Catalan name, the first or paternal surname is Rexach and the second or maternal family name is Cerdà; both are generally joined by the conjunction "i".
Carles Rexach
Rexach in 2008
Personal information
Full name Carles Rexach Cerdà[1]
Date of birth (1947-01-13) 13 January 1947 (age 77)[1]
Place of birth Pedralbes, Spain
Height 1.82 m (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in)[1]
Position(s) Winger
Youth career
1958–1959 Rosés
1959–1965 Barcelona
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1965–1981 Barcelona 328 (81)
1965–1967 → Condal (loan) 22 (2)
Total 350 (83)
International career
1965 Spain U18 2 (0)
1966 Spain amateur 3 (0)
1967–1970 Spain U23 7 (3)
1969–1978 Spain 15 (2)
Managerial career
1982–1983 Catalonia (youth)
1983–1984 Barcelona B (assistant)
1984–1987 Barcelona (youth)
1987–1996 Barcelona (assistant)
1988 Barcelona (interim)
1991 Barcelona (interim)
1996 Barcelona (interim)
1998 Yokohama Flügels
2001–2002 Barcelona
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Carles Rexach Cerdà (Catalan pronunciation: [ˈkaɾləz rəˈʃak]; born 13 January 1947) is a Spanish former football winger and manager.

His career was mainly associated with Barcelona, spending 44 years at the club as a player (youth levels included) and coach.[2] He formed a successful partnership with Johan Cruyff, both on and off the field,[3][4][5] and as a player appeared in 638 games and scored 197 goals, winning the Pichichi Trophy in 1971; he totalled eight titles in both capacities, including the La Liga championship in the 1973–74 season and the 1979 Cup Winners' Cup.

Rexach appeared for Spain at the 1978 World Cup, earning 15 caps in nine years.[6]

Playing career

Rexach (first row, first to left) in 1975

Born in Pedralbes, Barcelona, Catalonia,[5] Rexach made his senior debut for Barcelona on 25 April 1965 after having joined their youth system as a 12-year-old, scoring once in a 4–0 away win against Racing de Santander in the Copa del Generalísimo.[7] His first appearance in La Liga took place on 10 September 1967, and he also found the net, but in a 3–2 away loss to Real Zaragoza.[8] Additionally, he spent two years on loan to Condal, who acted as the farm team.

In the 1970–71 season, Rexach scored a career-best 17 goals to win the Pichichi Trophy alongside Atlético Madrid player José Eulogio Gárate.[9] His team finished in second position with the same points as champions Valencia, adding the domestic cup.[10]

On 5 November 1974, Rexach netted a hat-trick to help the hosts to defeat Feyenoord 3–0 in the second round of the European Cup, after three assists from longtime teammate Johan Cruyff.[11] In the final of the 1978 Spanish Cup, he was chosen Player of the match after scoring twice in a 3–1 victory over Las Palmas;[12] on 16 May of the following year, he contributed one goal to the 4–3 extra time defeat of Fortuna Düsseldorf in the decisive match of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.[13]

Rexach retired in 1981 at the age of 34 and, on 1 September, Barcelona played a testimonial match against Argentina at the Camp Nou.[14] He made his debut for the Spain national side on 23 April 1969, playing the second half of the 0–0 friendly draw with Mexico in Seville;[15] selected to the 1978 FIFA World Cup squad, he featured once in an eventual group-stage exit.[16]

Coaching career

After retiring, Rexach joined the coaching staff at Barcelona B. In 1984, he co-founded the TARR football school in his native city with fellow ex-players Juan Manuel Asensi, Joaquim Rifé and Antoni Torres.[17]

Rexach joined Luis Aragonés's staff for the 1987–88 season, and briefly became caretaker manager when the latter departed after suffering a bout of depression.[18] When Cruyff was subsequently appointed, he remained an assistant.[19][20][5]

When chain smoker Cruyff needed emergency heart surgery during the 1990–91 campaign, Rexach once again stepped up,[21] leading the side to their 11th league title – his first game in charge was on 27 February 1991, in a 6–0 home win against Las Palmas in the domestic cup.[22] He remained in the position throughout the Dream Team era[23] and, after president Josep Lluís Nuñez sacked the Dutchman in May 1996, once again became head coach, a decision which allegedly cost him the friendship of Cruyff;[24][25] after new manager Bobby Robson replaced him with José Mourinho as his assistant he became a scout, going on to be responsible for discovering Lionel Messi.[26]

Rexach then had a brief spell in the J.League with Yokohama Flügels.[27] After Lorenzo Serra Ferrer was sacked by Barcelona towards the end of 2000–01, he was named as his successor.[28] In the last matchday, following a 3–2 home defeat of Valencia and courtesy of a Rivaldo 87th-minute wonder goal, they managed to qualify for the Champions League;[29] this resulted in him being appointed coach by Joan Gaspart for the following season,[30] but after being ousted by Real Madrid in the semi-finals of the Champions League,[31] by Figueres in the Spanish Cup[32] and having lost the final of the Copa Catalunya to Balaguer,[33] he was fired and replaced by a returning Louis van Gaal, continuing to work with the club in directorial capacities.[34]

On 8 April 2010, Rexach announced his intention to run for Barcelona's presidency,[35] Nothing came of it eventually, but he was nonetheless chosen by new chairman Sandro Rosell as sporting advisor alongside Josep Maria Fusté and Migueli.[36]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[37]
Club Season League Copa del Rey Europe Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Barcelona 1964–65 La Liga 0 0 2 1 0 0 2 1
1965–66 0 0 3 1 0 0 3 1
1966–67 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1967–68 22 6 2 1 1 0 25 7
1968–69 14 2 2 1 5 1 21 4
1969–70 26 7 6 1 5 2 37 10
1970–71 29 17 9 3 4 2 42 22
1971–72 26 5 4 1 5 0 35 5
1972–73 27 7 3 0 2 0 32 7
1973–74 28 9 7 1 0 0 35 10
1974–75 31 6 1 0 7 4 39 10
1975–76 32 6 6 2 8 5 46 13
1976–77 14 0 0 0 5 1 19 1
1977–78 22 9 6 5 7 4 35 13
1978–79 24 4 1 0 7 2 32 6
1979–80 24 3 2 0 5 3 31 6
1980–81 9 0 5 0 2 1 15 1
Career total 328 81 59 16 63 25 450 122

Managerial statistics

Team From To Record[38][39]
G W D L Win %
Barcelona (caretaker) 1991 1991 9 6 2 1 066.67
Barcelona (caretaker) 1996 1996 2 1 1 0 050.00
Yokohama Flügels 1998 1998 25 12 0 13 048.00
Barcelona 2001 2002 66 31 18 17 046.97
Total 102 50 21 31 049.02

Honours

Player

Barcelona

Individual

Manager

Barcelona

References

  1. ^ a b c Carles Rexach at WorldFootball.net
  2. ^ López, Antoni (28 November 2009). "Carles Rexach y Goyo Benito recuerdan los partidos de máxima rivalidad que vivieron, 42 entre ambos" [Carles Rexach and Goyo Benito remember top rivalry matches they experienced, 42 combined]. La Vanguardia (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  3. ^ Rexach, Carles (27 March 2016). "Carles Rexach: "Con Johan habíamos paseado por el paraíso del fútbol"" [Carles Rexach: "With Johan we had walked in football heaven"]. La Vanguardia (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  4. ^ Rexach, Carles (28 March 2016). "Escribe Rexach: "Johan era un amigo que todos echaremos de menos"" [Rexach writes: "Johan was a friend that will be missed by all"]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  5. ^ a b c Blanco, Jordi (12 January 2017). "Carles Rexach, el Niño de Pedrables y alter ego de Cruyff, cumple 70 años" [Carles Rexach, the Boy from Pedrables and Cruyff's alter ego, turns 70] (in Spanish). ESPN Deportes. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
  6. ^ "¿Sabes #QuiénDijo esta frase?" [Do you know #WhoSaid this?] (in Spanish). Royal Spanish Football Federation. 9 February 2015. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  7. ^ "Figuras del fútbol juvenil" [Youth football figures]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 28 April 1965. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  8. ^ Castillo, Juan José (11 September 1967). "3–2: Dos veces por delante en el marcador, el Barcelona se confió en exceso. Rexach, Fuste, Villa e Canario (2), autores de los goles" [3–2: Twice leading the scoreboard, Barcelona were over-confident. Rexach, Fuste, Villa and Canario (2), the goal scorers]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  9. ^ a b Bravo, Luis Javier; Sillipp, Bernhard; Torre, Raúl; Di Maggio, Roberto. "Spain – List of Topscorers ("Pichichi") 1929–2015". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  10. ^ a b Lozano Ferrer, Carles. "Spain – Cup 1971". RSSSF. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  11. ^ "¡¡3–0 y... el delirio!!" [3–0 and... raptures!!]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 6 November 1974. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  12. ^ a b "Victoria clara en una final de poca categoría" [Clear win in final with little class]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 20 April 1978. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  13. ^ a b "1978/79: Barcelona win seven-goal thriller". UEFA. 1 June 1979. Archived from the original on 3 May 2010. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  14. ^ Bernardos, Manuel (29 August 1981). "Rexach se despedirá del fútbol el próximo martes" [Rexach will say goodbye to football next Tuesday]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  15. ^ López Jimeno, Emilio (24 April 1969). "0–0: Otra vez al descubierto los males de nuestro fútbol" [0–0: Shortcomings of our football again bare naked for all to see]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  16. ^ Castillo, J.J. (4 June 1978). "1–2: Para empezar, naufragio ante Austria" [1–2: For starters, shipwreck against Austria]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  17. ^ Griñán, Virginia (3 September 2009). "Qué fue de... Asensi" [What happened to... Asensi] (in Spanish). Cadena SER. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
  18. ^ "Luis Aragonés sufre una nueva depresión que le impide dirigir al Barcelona" [Luis Aragonés suffers new depression which prevents him from coaching Barcelona]. El País (in Spanish). 20 January 1988. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
  19. ^ Ger, Pedro (27 May 1988). "Rexach empieza la "revolución" sin Cruyff" [Rexach starts the "revolution" without Cruyff] (PDF). Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 October 2017.
  20. ^ Carbonell, Rafael (22 April 1992). "Rexach: "Leo se cubre mientras Cruyff decide"" [Rexach: "Leo takes shelter whereas Cruyff decides"]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 October 2017.
  21. ^ "El tabaco, la batalla más larga de Cruyff" [Smoking, Cruyff's longest battle]. La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 24 March 2016. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  22. ^ Ortiz, Fabian (28 February 1991). "¡Va por usted, míster!" [Here's looking at you, mister!] (PDF). Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 October 2017.
  23. ^ Llorens, Moisés (9 June 2017). ""El gol de Koeman es el más visto de la historia del Barça"" ["Koeman's goal is the most viewed in the history of Barça"]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  24. ^ López, José Luis (19 May 1996). "Atrapado por su barcelonismo" [Trapped by his barcelonismo] (PDF). Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 October 2017.
  25. ^ Blasco, Esther (5 October 2016). "Los duros ataques de Johan Cruyff a Núñez, Rosell y Rexach" [Johan Cruyff's tough attacks on Núñez, Rosell and Rexach]. Sport (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 October 2017.
  26. ^ "Ex-Barcelona coach Carles Rexach praised for discovering Lionel Messi". Goal. 30 April 2009. Retrieved 27 May 2009.
  27. ^ "Carles Rexach se va a entrenar a Japón" [Carles Rexach goes to Japan to coach]. El País (in Spanish). 31 December 1997. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
  28. ^ Pallàs, Joan Josep (24 April 2001). "Rexach, por tercera vez" [Rexach, third time around] (PDF). Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 October 2017.
  29. ^ "Rivaldazo de Champions" [Champions Rivaldazo] (PDF). Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 18 June 2001. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
  30. ^ "Años oscuros" [Dark years] (in Spanish). La Contra Crónica. 20 July 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  31. ^ "Madrid hold off brave Barcelona". UEFA. 1 May 2002. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  32. ^ "El Barcelona nunca había caído en primera ronda" [Barcelona had never fell in the first round]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 8 November 2001. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  33. ^ "El Balaguer fa història i guanya la Copa Catalunya davant el Barça" [Balaguer make history and win the Catalonia Cup against Barça] (in Catalan). La Xarxa. 14 June 2001. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  34. ^ Domènech, O.; Polo, F. (11 July 2002). "Rexach viajará con el equipo" [Rexach will travel with the team] (PDF). Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  35. ^ "Rexach confirma su intención de presentarse a las elecciones del Barça" [Rexach confirms intention of running for Barça elections]. La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 8 April 2010. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  36. ^ "Rexach, Migueli y Fusté serán asesores deportivos del Barça" [Rexach, Migueli and Fusté will be sporting advisors at Barça]. La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 17 September 2010. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  37. ^ Carles Rexach at BDFutbol
  38. ^ Carles Rexach manager profile at BDFutbol
  39. ^ レシャック [Carlos REXACH Serda] (in Japanese). J.League Data. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  40. ^ Ross, James M. "European Competitions 1970–71". RSSSF. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  41. ^ Muñoz, Xavier (26 February 2021). "Se cumplen treinta años del ataque al corazón de Johan Cruyff" [Thirtieth anniversary of Johan Cruyff's heart attack]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 October 2024.
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