Friday, May 18th, 2012
The clock ticked down the seconds, there wasn’t much time left, soon the referee would blow his whistle and it will be over. The game, any dream of winning the European Cup, everything. Barça were in need of a miracle. Trailing 3-0 in Kaiserslautern, the overall picture read 3-2 down on aggregate, one goal was needed. It had to come from the last attack, a free-kick inside the German half with Ronald Koeman standing over it, directing it towards the back post. Time stood still, a blackout, a moment that changed the course of history.
It was a defeat, but a glorious one, the goal that came to define an illustrious career to those that see the world in blue and red. The header that floated into the back of the net by the man dubbed the ‘heart and soul’ of the fabled ‘Dream Team’, his name synonymous with courage, leadership and skill, the driving force. José Mari Bakero.
Bakero, born in Goizueta, Navarre in northern Spain had already played over 200 games with Real Sociedad before moving to the Camp Nou. His professional début with the Basque club came as a 17-year-old at the Mestalla against Valencia CF in 1980, the opening game of the campaign. Though his first season yielded no goals from 27 appearances, he did win the Primera División a feat he would achieve the following season, albeit only taking to the field twice. This was Real Sociedad at their zenith, their golden generation, with eminent names in the side such as: Luis Miguel Arconada, Jesús María Zamora, Roberto López Ufarte, Jesús María Satrústegui, Periko Alonso and Pedro Uralde Hernáez.
However Bakero would play a prominent role in the 1982/83 season, 33 appearances in total, but his side couldn’t achieve a three-peat as they would finish seventh a mere 14 points from eventual champions Real Madrid. On a personal note, Bakero who would eventually become famed for his goal-scoring from midfield, had his first taste in front of goal although would manage four all season, the first at home against Racing Santander, the only goal of the game, in January 1983.
The attacking midfielder would stay in San Sebastián for a further six seasons scoring 63 goals from 163 games. His ascent saw Miguel Muñoz call him up to win his first cap for the Spanish national team in the Euro 88 qualifier against Austria at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán on October 1987. His first goal – in fact first three – happened to be in the same qualifying campaign against Albania, in Seville, but at the Estadio Benito Villamarín.
Muñoz wasn’t his only admirer, the summer of 1988 saw him make the move to Barcelona, and he would be joined by Eusebio Sacristán, Aloísio Pires Alves and Julio Salinas. They were the first signings made by Johan Cruijff, Aloísio having the distinction of being the first. In the following seasons Cruijff would lay the foundations of the clubs unprecedented success under him during the early 90s. Bakero would play a key role.
By now he was one of the best in his position. Barça would finish runners-up in his first season by five points to Leo Beenhakker’s Real Madrid, though he did score on début salvaging a point away to Osasuna. Silverware did come in the form of the Cup Winners’ Cup, Barça winning 2-0 against Sampdoria in Bern, however he missed the final. His only goal in the run came at home against CFKA Sredets Sofia, 4-2 victory, the two consolation goals from the Bulgarian side were courtesy of future teammate Hristo Stoichkov. In what was a transitional period, Ronald Koeman and Michael Laudrup joined the following summer. Barça could still not attain the championship. Bakero though improved on his tally: 13 goals in 30 games.
A reverse experience of his first two seasons with Real Sociedad, Bakero – a key figure, playing near to the peak of his power – was unstated. What made him stand out above his peers was his fearlessness, despite playing in an advanced position, his passing game with both feet and the control he brought was equal to any deep-lying playmaker. A fan favourite, his tenacity and ingenuity coupled with impeccable finishing and famed long range shooting made him a one-of-a-kind in their eyes, even if he was never put in the same echelon of his more illustrious team-mates. Bakero, it could be easily argued, was the first among equals in the ‘Dream Team’.
Cruijff was under pressure, the club was approaching five seasons without the league title, many even speculated his job was on the line when Barça faced Real Madrid in the 1990 Copa del Rey final to be played at Mestalla. Bakero, who did not get on the score sheet, allowed Barça to be on the front foot for the majority of the game, Guillermo Amor and Julio Salinas made sure of victory. The win, in some sense, can be looked back on the moment belief entered the squad. Stoichkov and Miguel Nadal joined before the start of the following season whereas Josep Guardiola and Albert Ferrer were promoted from within.
A dawning of a new era was about to be ushered. The previous season they were 11 points of the pace, at the need of the 1990/91 campaign, the league was won by 10 points. This championship was significant for two reasons: the first since 1985 and European Cup football returning to the Camp Nou since their defeat to Steaua București in Seville final. Barça had no problems with Hansa Rostock in the first round, winning 3-1 over two legs, then the meeting with Kaiserslautern. Txiki Begiristain brace in the first leg at the Camp Nou had many suggesting the tie was done and dusted. But the German champions were about to provide a rude awakening in the return leg on November 6, 1991. Demir Hotić scored a brace of his own to level the tie at the Fritz-Walter-Stadion.
And then after an uncharacteristic error by Guardiola, Bjarne Goldbæk was put through on goal by a ball that bypassed the Catalan defence, the Dane made no mistake and the tie was reversed. Barça, in the past, had a habit of doing exactly the same: Gothenburg (1986) springs to mind. In the words of Bonnie Tyler, Cruyff was “holding out for a hero,” and he couldn’t have been given the perfect one. If Andrés Iniesta equaliser against Chelsea, 17 years into the future, was the goal heard round the world. The ramifications of what was about to happen sent shockwaves through time and space. Karl-Heinz Feldkamp, done his homework, he knew exactly the threats to his side from set-pieces inside the penalty area.
But his players let him down. They switched off at the worst possible moment, allowing one of the most dominant headers of the ball in the opposition – despite being 5ft9 – to win the ball, which flew above Gerald Ehrmann. The goal that cemented a legacy, enhancing the stature of the goal-scorer in the eyes of Culés everywhere, if it had been saved or missed there would be no Wembley 1992. Joan Laporta, former club president, called Bakero’s goal “one of the most important moments in the club’s history”. The boy from Goizueta would eventually captain his adopted club – his leadership skills even from an early age was exemplary – when he played his final game against Real Valladolid, at home in 1996, true to form among the goals in a 6-1 win, he left to a rapturous ovation.
Fondly remembered in the Basque Country and Catalonia, Bakero was a modern great, in truth symbolising everything his former teammate Pep Guardiola looks for in a player. One he would love to have despite the calibre of those already at his disposal. Even today, the great Bakero is the standard bearer.
Tags: Bakero, Barcelona, Basque Country, Cruyff, Real Sociedad
