This may be interesting Blue's
Man who helped Barca rise could help Manchester City become Euro force
Mike Whalley January 28, 2012 Share Article
He helped turn Barcelona from under-achievers into world-beaters off the field – so Ferran Soriano could be just the man to take Manchester City to the next level. Soriano has emerged as the front-runner to replace Garry Cook as the Blues close in on a new chief executive. Cook resigned in September over a scandal that saw an e-mail sent from his account to Nedum Onuoha’s mother Anthonia. Director John MacBeath has filled in as acting chief executive during City’s long search for a permanent successor. And Soriano, the president of Barcelona-based airline Spanair, may just be the man for the job. When he joined Barca’s board in 2003, the club were by their high standards in the doldrums. Under the trigger-happy presidency of Joan Gaspart, Barca had just completed three years without a trophy, going through five managers in the process. Soriano, who is 44, came in under new president Joan Laporta, and played a significant part during a period that brought both success and stability to the Camp Nou. On the field, manager Frank Rijkaard was given time to make an impact, despite a slow start, and ensured a return to the glory days with the club winning the Spanish title twice and beating Arsenal in Paris to lift the Champions League trophy in 2006. Soriano certainly had a role to play in that success.
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