Barcelona’s La Masia is still one of the best academies in world football – but they once created one of the greatest youth teams of all time.
During 2002-03, they completed their Under-15 campaign unbeaten, winning the Catalan league title, the Spanish league title and the Copa Catalunya.
A pre-match team photograph ahead of a Copa Catalunya match against Espanyol has gone down in history and we’ve taken a look back at that side to see how they all fared.
Dani Plancheria
Plancheria, who was often a spectator in this side, played for all of Barcelona’s youth teams but never made a first-team appearance for the club.
After being released at the end of the 2007-08 season, he had a brief spell with Blackburn Rovers’ Under-23s before returning to Spain in January 2009.
The goalkeeper spent most of his career in Spain’s lower leagues, representing the likes of CE L’Hospitalet, CD Montcada and UE Rubi. He moved to the outskirts of Barcelona in 2013, spending a season with fourth-tier side Santboia before hanging up his gloves.
Jose Hinojosa
Despite being part of such a talented Barcelona team, Hinojosa actually never made it as a professional footballer.
The midfielder, who used to be the room-mate of Cesc Fabregas, often played for local amateur side Martinenc and also began teaching young footballers in Catalonia.
Gerard Pique
Pique decided to leave Barcelona shortly after that famous photo was taken, joining Manchester United at the age of 17 in 2004.
But the Spain international made just 23 first-team appearances for United and could not break up the incredible centre-back partnership between Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand.
Pep Guardiola brought him back to Camp Nou in 2008 and he’s since become the most decorated defender in Barcelona’s history, winning eight La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey and three Champions Leagues.
Oh, and he also has a World Cup and a European Championship on his CV.
Barca’s Cadete (Youth) team of 2003. Can you spot Messi, Fabregas, Pique and others? pic.twitter.com/UsAn2e3jj7
— Daniel Haswell (@Dan_Hazz) March 1, 2013
Marc Valiente
Despite being club captain for most of their youth sides, Valiente made just two senior appearances for Barcelona and both of them came in the Copa del Rey.
The centre-back left Camp Nou in 2008 and had a brief stint at Sevilla before finally becoming a first-team regular at Real Valladolid, making 157 appearances in all competitions during his five years…
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