Barcelona have named Hansi Flick as their new head coach on a two-year deal.
The German had dinner with Barca president Joan Laporta and the rest of the Barca board in the Catalan city last night, after which vice-president Rafa Yuste told waiting reporters: “Tomorrow we will make it official.”
And that confirmation duly arrived shortly after midday with a series of hints on Barca’s social media channels.
It’s our moment.
Flick is here. pic.twitter.com/ysb35a6l35— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) May 29, 2024
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What have Barcelona said today?
In announcing the news, Barca’s website read: “FC Barcelona and Hansi Flick have reached an agreement for the German to become men’s first team football coach until 30 June 2026. The new coach has signed a contract at the Club’s offices accompanied by FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta; first vice president responsible for the sporting area, Rafa Yuste and the Club’s sporting director, Anderson Luís de Souza, Deco.
“By bringing Hansi Flick as coach, FC Barcelona have chosen a man well known for his teams’ high pressing, intense and daring style of play which has brought him great success at club level and international level, winning pretty much all there is to win in the world of football.”
Flick succeeds Xavi and takes over a side that finished 10 points behind Real Madrid in the 2023-24 season and lost to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-finals.
His appointment ends months of uncertainty regarding Barca’s boss for next season.
Xavi’s original plan was to leave the Camp Nou at the end of the campaign, but the 44-year-old performed a U-turn and decided to stay and see out his contract which was due to expire in 2025.
However, some ill-judged remarks relating to the club’s precarious financial situation then saw him dismissed by an angry Laporta, who has now turned to German Flick to fill the void.
What is Flick’s track record?
Flick started his managerial career at Hoffenheim before moving into an assistant role with RB Salzburg, Germany and Bayern Munich.
His big break came when Niko Kovac was sacked as Bayern boss and Flick promoted to head coach, initially on an interim basis that became permanent in December 2019.
In his first season in charge, he won the treble with the club claiming the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal and Champions League titles.
He added the FIFA Club World Cup and another Bundesliga crown before leaving the Allianz Arena to become Germany boss in May 2021.
A good start quickly turned sour and following a poor World Cup campaign in Qatar and some disappointing results in 2023 he was sacked.
