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Cruyff Set For Barcelona Return?
Lucas Brown
Goal
Monday 14 July 2008
Joan Laporta is set to appoint
Johan Cruyff as Barcelona's sporting director in order
to win over doubting fans who could oust the president
in September. The question is: will that turn the tide?
After a dismal showing in a recent
vote of no confidence, the current supremo held on but
then saw eight of his board resign in protest that he
would not step down.
Calls were made for Laporta to go after more than 60
per cent of voters supported the motion of no confidence,
but due to their failure to reach the necessary 66.66
per cent he stayed on.
That may have only been a temporary reprieve for the
beleaguered president, who will now face another test
in September when he could still be dethroned at an
assembly of the club's long-term members.
Cruyff is still revered by Barça fans after
his incredible stints as both a player and as a coach
and he has been associated with the Laporta regime since
they took power in 2003.
The latest problems arose when two supporters tried
to bring down the board with a vote of no confidence
and managed to entice only a third of eligible voters
to show up for the ballot.
Barcelona have not won a trophy for two seasons and
that has caused concern, but Cruyff has been a vociferous
supporter of the president, who oversaw two league title
triumphs and the club's second European Cup success
in his first three years in charge.
Now the Dutchman, dubbed El Salvador (The Saviour)
during his previous spells at the club, could step in
to help save Laporta and finally come out of the shadows
after years of speaking through the media.
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