Rosell's Barca reign commences
Sandro Rosell has officially taken over as president of Barcelona.
Rosell won a landslide vote on June 13 to succeed Joan Laporta and has been working alongside his former colleague for the last two weeks in a transitional period.
Laporta took over in 2003 with Rosell as his vice-president, but the latter stepped down in 2005, saying the lawyer was failing to stick to his original plans for the club.
Nevertheless, Laporta went on to become the club's most successful president in terms of trophies, as Barca won 12 pieces of silverware in his seven-year tenure, including four Primera Division titles and two Champions League crowns.
Laporta said he was happy with what he has achieved during his time in charge.
"As the outgoing president, I have to say on behalf of myself and all of the board that we leave here happy with the work we have carried out," he said.
Laporta spoke only briefly, wishing Rosell the best before handing over the podium to the new president.
"With all my heart, I wish him the maximum success and good luck in the next six years," the outgoing Barca boss said.
Rosell says he hopes his tenure will be a successful era for the club.
"We want these six years to mark a new golden era for Barcelona," he said.
The new president says he is honoured to have the chance to lead the club.
"Today it is an honour to be presented before all of the socios as the new president," he said.
"I put myself at your service to make this Barca a reflection of your desire and at the same time a point of reference for all clubs across the world.
"The challenge is a very big one, but we are Barca. We won the league, we can win a title next month (the Spanish Supercup) and we are the club with the greatest representation at the World Cup."
Former club presidents Joan Gaspart, Enric Reyna and Agusti Montal were present at the ceremony, along with Barca's honorary president Johan Cruyff and coach Pep Guardiola.
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