体坛英语新闻：Former FC Barcelona President Joan Laporta announces candidacy for club elections

MADRID, June 17 (Xinhua) -- The former President of FC Barcelona, Joan Laporta confirmed on Tuesday that he would present a candidacy to return to the position in the forthcoming elections which are scheduled to be held on July 18th.

Laporta was club president between 2003 and 2010 and his mandate coincided with the signing of players such as Ronaldinho and the arrival in the first team of Leo Messi.

It was Laporta who showed faith in Pep Guardiola as first team coach in 2008 and was rewarded when Guardiola coached perhaps the best club team Spain has ever seen.

His seven years in front of the club led to the conquest of four BBVA Primera Liga titles, one King' s Cup, three Spanish Supercups, two Champions League titles as well as one European Supercup and the World Club Championship, before internal divisions and a mounting debt led to the end of his time in office,

"As you know I am standing for the elections at Barcelona and I am doing so in order for Barcelona to once again to belong to everyone," said Laporta in a video declaring his intentions in which he said he was "more prepared than ever," to lead the club.

"I have more experience. I have my defects, as you know, but I have the same principals," said Laporta.

There are now four candidates for the Barcelona presidency although all polls point to it being a two-horse race between Laporta and Josep Maria Bartomeu, who stepped down as president a week ago in order to call the election.