Hansi Flick will be named the new Barcelona head coach today and tasked with the job of regaining the Liga title.
Flick 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.”
Flick, who is expected to sign a two-year deal at Camp Nou, will take 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.
The 59-year-old’s appointment ends months of uncertainty regarding Barca’s boss for next season.
🔵🔴🇩🇪 Hansi Flick’s era at Barça has just started as he had dinner with Joan Laporta, Rafa Yuste and the board.
Contract until June 2026 to be signed tomorrow, as reported.
🎥 @victor_nahe pic.twitter.com/MPN8ZUnx9n
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 28, 2024
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.
How has Flick got to this point?
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.