Romà Forns
Encyclopedia
Romà Forns was a former Spanish
/Catalan
footballer and manager. He made his debut as a footballer in late 1902 playing one season for Irish FC but spent the rest of his career with FC Barcelona
and the Catalan XI
, always as a forward. He later served on the FC Barcelona
board of directors and then coached the club between 1927 and 1929, guiding it to the first ever La Liga
championship. He was the first manager from either Spain or Catalonia to take charge of the club.
During his playing career, Forns helped FC Barcelona
win the Championat de Catalunya on five occasions and the Copa del Rey
once. Among his team mates at the club were Ernest Witty
, Francisco Bru, Paulino Alcántara
and Jack Greenwell. Between 1910 and 1912 Forns also played at least 4 times for the Catalan XI
. However records from the era do not always include accurate statistics and he may have played more games. On December 12, 1912 he played against France
in the Catalan XI’s first game against an international team. After serving on the FC Barcelona
board of directors, Forns was appointed club coach in 1927 and with a team that included Josep Samitier
, Sagibarba
and Franz Platko
he won a Championat de Catalunya and a Copa del Rey
before winning La Liga
.
FC Barcelona
Manager
FC Barcelona
Football in Spain
Football is the most popular sport in Spain. The Royal Spanish Football Federation is the national governing body and it organizes La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Spain national football team, current champion of the FIFA World Cup...
/Catalan
Football in Catalonia
Football is the most important sport in Catalonia and was introduced in the late 19th century by a combination of mostly British immigrant workers and visiting sailors, and students returning from Britain. Catalonia led the way in the development of football in Spain, organising both the first...
footballer and manager. He made his debut as a footballer in late 1902 playing one season for Irish FC but spent the rest of his career with FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
and the Catalan XI
Catalonia national football team
Catalonia national football team is the official football team of Catalonia. It is organized by the Catalonia Football Federation. The team has been referred to by various names including Selecció Catalana, Selecció de Barcelona and the Catalan XI...
, always as a forward. He later served on the FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
board of directors and then coached the club between 1927 and 1929, guiding it to the first ever La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
championship. He was the first manager from either Spain or Catalonia to take charge of the club.
During his playing career, Forns helped FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
win the Championat de Catalunya on five occasions and the Copa del Rey
Copa del Rey
The Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
once. Among his team mates at the club were Ernest Witty
Ernest Witty
Ernest Witty Cotton, , was an Anglo-Spanish footballer, tennis player and businessman. In 1899 Witty, a Spanish national tennis champion, became a founding member of the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona and in the early 1900s he played for FC Barcelona. He was also a successful trader and his family...
, Francisco Bru, Paulino Alcántara
Paulino Alcántara
Paulino Alcántara Riestrá was a Filipino–Spanish footballer and manager. He spent most of his playing career at Barcelona and was the first Filipino and Asian player to play for a European club. He also played for Catalonia, the Philippines and Spain...
and Jack Greenwell. Between 1910 and 1912 Forns also played at least 4 times for the Catalan XI
Catalonia national football team
Catalonia national football team is the official football team of Catalonia. It is organized by the Catalonia Football Federation. The team has been referred to by various names including Selecció Catalana, Selecció de Barcelona and the Catalan XI...
. However records from the era do not always include accurate statistics and he may have played more games. On December 12, 1912 he played against France
France national football team
The France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...
in the Catalan XI’s first game against an international team. After serving on the FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
board of directors, Forns was appointed club coach in 1927 and with a team that included Josep Samitier
Josep Samitier
Josep Samitier Vilalta , also known as José Samitier , was a Spanish footballer, manager and scout who played for FC Barcelona, Madrid CF, OGC Nice, the Catalan XI and Spain...
, Sagibarba
Emilio Sagi Liñan
Emilio Sagi Liñán , was a former footballer who played as a left-winger for FC Barcelona, the Catalan XI and Spain during the 1920s and 1930s. He was the son of, Emilio Sagi Barba, the Catalan baritone singer, and as a result, was widely referred to as Sagibarba...
and Franz Platko
Franz Platko
Ferenc Plattkó also known Franz Platko Kopiletz, Francisco Platko , also known as Ferenc Platko or Francisco Platko, was a Hungarian footballer and manager...
he won a Championat de Catalunya and a Copa del Rey
Copa del Rey
The Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
before winning La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
.
Honours
PlayerFC Barcelona
- Copa del ReyCopa del ReyThe Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
: 1- 1910
- Catalan Champions: 5
- 1904-05, 1908–09, 1909–10, 1910–11, 1912–13
Manager
FC Barcelona
- Catalan Champions: 1
- 1927-28
- Spanish ChampionsLa LigaThe Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
: 1- 1928-29
- Copa del ReyCopa del ReyThe Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
: 1- 1928