Farewell to Enric Reyna, the 82-day president who dreamed of a Barça to be proud of
This Friday, the Barcelona 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 hardcore Barça fans, 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 leaking like a sieve, and the club needed a temporary hand on the tiller to steady the ship until elections could be held. That's where Enric Reyna came in. A Barcelona property developer and club member since 1965, he took over the presidency on February 12th that year. It was only 82 days, but they were intense. He had to grapple with a financial crisis that was strangling the club and a football team that couldn't seem to get anything right. However, it wasn't all bad news: during his brief time at the helm, the club's professional sports sections lifted three trophies—the basketball Copa del Rey, the roller hockey Copa del Rey, and the EHF Cup in handball—something he always pointed to as proof that the club was much more than just one sport.
The mystery of the 'Reyna envelopes'
If anything turned Enric Reyna into something of a cult figure for the fans, it was the famous 'envelopes' he deposited at the club just before he left. Inside, this businessman with a sharp eye for deals laid out his plan to pull Barça out of its financial hole. The first envelope contained a series of player swaps designed to generate a capital gain of 50 million euros: 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 take them up on the ideas, 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, supporters, employees, players, and directors can be proud of, for the colours and for 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 major figure in the construction and property development scene in Catalonia. Those who worked with him remember him at the helm of his construction company, Amrey, and for 35 years as president of the Barcelona Promoters' Association (APCE), leaving his mark on the city's urban development. He also presided over Fira de Barcelona and the Construmat trade fair. 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 see today.
People who knew him describe a man who kept a low profile, had a deep love for Barça, and was deeply committed to its institutions. So when news of his passing broke this Friday, the sorrow wasn't confined to Can Barça. Even from their eternal rivals, Real Madrid, an official statement was issued expressing condolences to his family and the Barcelona community – a gesture that really underscores the respect Enric Reyna commanded throughout his life.
- 1940: Born in Barcelona.
- 1965: Becomes a member (soci) 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.
A visitation will be held this Saturday at the Les Corts funeral home, just a stone's throw from the Spotify Camp Nou, with a funeral service on Sunday at the same location. 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, envelope after envelope, just wanted what was best for his club. Rest in peace, Enric Reyna.