Farewell to Enric Reyna, the 82-day president who dreamed of a Barça to be proud of
This Friday, the Barça family lost one of its own. Enric Reyna, who served as president of FC Barcelona during the transitional period between Joan Gaspart's resignation and Joan Laporta's arrival, has passed away at the age of 85. He wasn't a president marked by great sporting achievements or football trophies, but in the memory of die-hard culés, he'll always hold a special place for navigating that difficult transition and for those envelopes that became the stuff of legend.
The 82-day president steering through the storm
The year was 2003. Gaspart's Barça was unravelling at the seams, and the club desperately needed an interim captain to steady the ship until elections could be held. That's where Enric Reyna stepped in. A Barcelona property developer and club member since 1965, he took over the presidency on February 12th of that year. It was only for 82 days, but they were intense. He had to grapple with a suffocating financial crisis and a football team that just couldn't find its footing. However, it wasn't all bad news: during his short mandate, the club's professional sports sections won three titles—the basketball Copa del Rey, the roller hockey Copa del Rey, and the EHF Handball Cup—something he always pointed to as proof that the club was more than just one sport.
The mystery of the 'Reyna envelopes'
If anything turned Enric Reyna into a larger-than-life figure for the fans, it was the famous 'envelopes' he left at the club just before his departure. Inside, this savvy businessman outlined his blueprint to pull Barça out of its financial hole. The first envelope contained a series of player swaps designed to generate €50 million in capital gains: names like Rochemback, Overmars, and Motta were proposed as makeweights to bring in players like Mendieta, Conceicao, or José Mari. The second envelope held technical reports on some land (Can Rigalt) and property development offers. Laporta's incoming board didn't act on them, but the legend of the 'Reyna envelopes' has endured as a symbol of a man who, in his own words, dreamed of "a Barça that members, fans, employees, players, and directors can all be proud of, proud of the colours and the way things are done."
Beyond the Camp Nou: The legacy of a man who helped build the country
Away from football, Enric Reyna was a heavyweight in Catalonia's construction and property development sectors. Those who worked with him remember him at the helm of his construction company, Amrey, and for his 35-year tenure as president of the Association of Promoters of Barcelona (APCE), leaving his mark on the city's urban development. He also presided over Fira de Barcelona and the Construmat trade show. Just a few months ago, the College of Technical Architecture of Barcelona honoured him with a Special Award for his Professional Career—a well-deserved lifetime recognition for a man who quite literally helped build the landscape we walk on today.
Those who knew him describe a low-key figure, deeply committed to Barça and its institutions. So, when news of his death broke this Friday, the sorrow wasn't confined to Can Barça. Even from their eternal rivals, Real Madrid, released a statement expressing their condolences to his family and the Barça community—a gesture that truly underscores the respect Enric Reyna commanded throughout his life.
- 1940: Born in Barcelona.
- 1965: Becomes a member (socio) of FC Barcelona.
- 2000: Joins Joan Gaspart's board of directors.
- 2003 (February-May): Serves as president of FC Barcelona for 82 days.
- 2026 (March): Passes away at the age of 85.
The visitation will be held this Saturday at the Les Corts funeral home, just a stone's throw from Spotify Camp Nou, with the funeral service taking place there on Sunday. Expect to see people from the neighbourhood, friends from the construction industry, directors from different eras, and the everyday club members who remember that transitional president who, between one envelope and the next, only ever wanted what was best for his club. Rest in peace, Enric Reyna.