Hans Gamper's Los Deportes advertisement leads to the founding of Futbol Club Barcelona (October–November 1899)

Background. Hans Gamper, a Swiss-born athlete, moved to Barcelona in 1899 to visit his uncle. Having previously founded clubs in Switzerland, he sought to establish a well-organized football club in his new city. He initially contacted Jaime Vila, director of the Tolosa gym, but was rejected due to Vila's reluctance to include foreigners. Consequently, Gamper turned to Narciso Masferrer, who hosted the Los Deportes newsroom.

The Advertisement. On 22 October 1899, Gamper placed a legendary advertisement in the sports magazine Los Deportes, declaring his wish to form a football club. This public call for players generated a positive response, setting the stage for the subsequent organizational gathering that would define the club's early structure and membership.

Founding Meeting. The positive response to the advertisement resulted in a meeting on 29 November 1899. Eleven players gathered to form Futbol Club Barcelona. While sources cite the Gimnasio Solé as the meeting site, legacy hints suggest the Sociedad Los Deportes. The club was founded by a group of Swiss, Catalan, German, and English footballers led by Gamper.