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Ironman Enrique following in former team-mate Guardiola's footsteps

The Barca ultras behind the goal sing their anti-Madrid songs. Hurling insults, they also wave a Stone Island flag, as if brandishing the logo of an Italian designer brand confirms their hooligan authenticity.

Barca legend Luis Enrique paces up and down the touchline, as lean as the man he succeeded, his former team mate Pep Guardiola. Enrique does iron man competitions in his spare time and can often be seen running along the beach at Gava Mar, the wealthy suburb to the south of the airport which is home of many of BarçaâÂÂs biggest stars.

Pep Guardiola led BarçaâÂÂs stiffs to promotion from SpainâÂÂs regional fourth level in his first season in management, 2007/08. Enrique, the lungs of the Barca side at the turn of the century, was his replacement.

Enrique had taken a couple of years off to learn English, surf in Australia and watch some of the globeâÂÂs biggest derby matches. ItâÂÂs also a little known fact that he used to room with Kevin Moran when the gnarled Irish defender was closing his career at EnriqueâÂÂs hometown club, Sporting Gijon.


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Enrique led Barca B to promotion to SpainâÂÂs second division in his second season in charge where, this term, they joined Villarreal B as the only other reserve side in the second division. Home gates have jumped from 1,000 to 3,500, with ticket prices often reduced to â¬5. Games are timed a few hours before the first team matches so fans can watch both.

In their lofty position where they last played throughout much of the 90s with Carles Puyol captain, Barca B have been meeting â and beating â established sides like Celta Vigo and Real Betis, a great experience for future stars who could be asked to step up to the first team at any point. Several have done so far this season like Thiago, Nolito and a couple whose names donâÂÂt end in âÂÂOâ like Fontas and Muniesa.

Barca B have been in a play-off spot for much of this term, though Spanish Football Federation rules would prevent any promotion to the top flight. The first and second teams of one club canâÂÂt play in the same division. And, should BarçaâÂÂs first team be relegated, the B team would have to drop down a division too.

BerginâÂÂs love for Rayo started when he saw them play while in Madrid following a Champions League game between Valencia and United in Spain in 2001. He was attracted to the working class ideology of the club and their fans.

Along with his âÂÂManchester Rayistasâ flag, heâÂÂs now seen Rayo play 50 times, many of them at away games in provincial Spanish towns. Bergin dreams of one day owning a bar close to their ground three-sided Teresa Rivero stadium in the tough southern Madrid barrio of Vallecas.

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Andy Mitten
Editor at Large

Andy Mitten is Editor at Large of FourFourTwo, interviewing the likes of Lionel Messi, Eric Cantona, Sir Alex Ferguson and Diego Maradona for the magazine. He also founded and is editor of United We Stand, the Manchester United fanzine, and contributes to a number of publications, including GQ, the BBC and The Athletic.