As the rivalry between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid more and more looks like a rivalry for world domination than “just” the Spanish League it makes sense to examine more closely what brought the current holders of the throne, FC Barcelona, to their place of prominence on the world football stage. When Barcelona tore down Real Madrid 5-0 at home in their fabled stadium Camp Nou on the 29th of November 2010 many commentators and fans alike started talking about the best football match of all time. When what is deemed the best team in the world knocks off the second best with style and nonchalance, big words tend to be used. No doubt, the Barca team of the season 2010/11 might have had more talent than most any team in football history, yet the word that occurs to explain the success it is; tradition. Tradition mixed with a sprinkle of innovation. The club was established 29/11 1899 by Swiss entrepreneur Hans Gamper, and won the first major trophy winning the Spanish league in 1929. Even though the club enjoyed a row of triumphs in decades to come, the tradition that today’s Barca style is rooted in, has its wellspring in the Dream Team when Dutch legend Johan Cruyff was skipper from 1990 to 1994. Cruyff teamed up with FC Barcelona as a player in 1973 winning the Spanish league on the first try. At his peak Cruyff was maybe the best European player of his generation and his name regularly features when considering the all time greats of football. While he was at the wheel as manager between 1988-1996 the club won four league titles and one European cup title. But, maybe his longest enduring heritage is the philosophy of football that he was instrumental in deploying. Cruyff was a product of the 70s Dutch school of Total Football. The central idea was to lose the traditional separations between defenses and attackers. All players had to be equally skilled with the ball. These days this includes the goalie who must be comfortable with the ball at his feet partaking in the elaborate passing game of the team Total football demanded that all players in all positions be equally skilled with the ball, and always seek to attack spaces the opponent leaves unguarded, and close down the space around attacking rivals. This philosophy was central to the success of the Dutch national team in the 70s, of the Barca dream team on the early 90s and of the Barca we see today. Today’s coach Josep Guardiola is a true product of the club’s youth academy, La Masia. This academy is another key factor in the club’s success, and the pivot of the new dream team was reared here with players like Xavi, Puyol, Iniesta, Valdes, Fabregas (a short while ago returned home from Arsenal) and even Argentinean Leonel Messi were all drilled in the Barca way of total football. Leo Messi is naturally another crucial factor. The tiny magician is breaking records (and opponents’ confidence) on a regular basis, and before reaching his mid 20s is already being hailed as one of the greatest footballers of all time. In a football team that accent the collective, the individual techniques of the one team player is still quintessential. FC Barcelona has always had extraordinary talent in the team: Cruyff, Maradona, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Rivario and Romario. And, many of these legends have been on top of their games during their years at Camp Nou. The FC Barcelona success formula is to have a framework and a pattern rooted in a sound tradition with years of training and education of their young talents. Far more importance is given to individual skills and compatibility with team-mates than to physical strength and height. This tradition and reputation are what draws in young talents (like Messi) from all over the world and lets the coach to pick and choose his team from the most promising local talent and some of the foremost talents from all over the globe. The foundation of FC Barcelona’s success is this; tradition, collectivism and individual inventiveness! As the season 2011/12 is on its way newbies Alexis Sanches, Cesc Fabregas, Thiago and Isaac Cuenca will add more talent and more innovation to the proud history of FC Barcelona!