Internacional
FC Internacional was a football club based in Barcelona, Spain, founded in 1901. The club competed in Catalan football competitions and played their matches at Campo de Galileo in Les Corts during their later years. Known for finishing as runner-up of the Catalan championship three times consecutively between 1904 and 1906, the club experienced an interruption in activities after 1906, resumed operations in 1910, and finally disappeared in 1922 when it merged with Center d'Esports de Sants to form UE Sants.
History
Overview
General information about the club
Initially established as Club Internacional de Football in 1901, the organization adopted the name Futbol Club Internacional from 1902 onwards. The club was notable for having some players originally from the Philippines in its early years. During the mid-1900s, FC Internacional developed into one of the most prominent clubs in Catalonia, featuring talented players who would later achieve recognition in Spanish football.
History
Early years
Founded in 1901, FC Internacional quickly established itself as a competitive force in Catalan football. The club's original playing field was located in the neighborhood of Izquierda del Ensanche (Eixample), positioned in front of the Industrial School. During this period, the team included notable players such as Paco Bru, Charles Wallace, and Enrique Peris, forming a formidable squad that challenged the top clubs in the region.
Successful period
Between 1904 and 1906, FC Internacional achieved its most successful period, finishing as runner-up of the Catalan championship three consecutive times. The club was defeated by Club Español de Football (now RCD Espanyol), FC Barcelona, and X Sporting Club respectively during these years. This consistent performance at the highest level established the club as one of the leading teams in Catalonia during the early 1900s.
Crisis and recovery
In 1906, FC Internacional faced a significant crisis when they had to suspend activities due to a lack of players. Many first and second team players, who were university students, left Barcelona to continue their careers elsewhere, with some even moving abroad. Most remaining players, including the three key figures mentioned earlier, joined FC Barcelona. Wallace subsequently helped Barça win the 1910 Copa del Rey with a goal in the final, while Peris became the first player to reach 200 official matches with the club.
The club was reborn in 1910 with the same name, relocating to Les Corts where they played at the now-defunct Campo de Galileo. In the 1910-11 season, they participated in the second category of the Catalan Championship, finishing second.
Current period
Following their revival, FC Internacional won the second category in back-to-back years, first in 1911-12 with 37 points (just one more than second-placed CE Europa), and again in 1912-13, finishing 9 points clear of second-placed CE Sabadell FC. These victories earned them promotion to the highest category of Catalan football in 1913-14, where they remained until their disappearance in 1922. On April 26, 1922, the club merged with Center d'Esports de Sants to form UE Sants, thus ending their presence in Catalan football.
Symbols and Colors
Traditional home and away kits colors
FC Internacional's uniform originally consisted of a dark green shirt and white pants. This design later evolved to feature a green and white shirt. In the club's final years, they adopted white and black pants while maintaining the distinctive green badge on the chest.
Club Traditions and Behind the Scenes
Traditions and culture
Throughout its existence, FC Internacional served as a launching pad for several great football figures, including Paco Bru, Enrique Peris, Domingo Carulla, Ramon Torralba, and Josep Samitier. These players went on to achieve significant success in Spanish football, with many joining FC Barcelona after Internacional's initial suspension in 1906.
Stadium
The club's facilities evolved throughout its existence. Initially, FC Internacional played at a field located in the Izquierda del Ensanche (Eixample) neighborhood, positioned in front of the Industrial School. When the club resumed activities in 1910, they relocated to Les Corts, where they played their matches at Campo de Galileo until their final disappearance in 1922.