Barcelona, October 28 (BNA): Ronald Koeman was sacked as Barcelona coach after a poor start to the club’s first season without Lionel Messi in 17 years.
Financial difficulties prompted the six-time Ballon d’Or winner to leave Paris Saint-Germain, and in his absence, Koeman’s team struggled, according to the German news agency (dpa).
The Dutchman replaced Quique Setien at Camp Nou in August 2020 and led Barcelona to winning the Copa del Rey in his first season, despite finishing third in La Liga and being knocked out in the Champions League round of 16, as well as losing Supercopa de Espana in the Champions League final. Athletic Bilbao.
The surprise 1-0 loss to Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday was the last straw, and with the club in turmoil, it is imperative to choose Koeman’s successor with great care. Stats Perform takes a look at the notable competitors who have been tied for the center.
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With Koeman left out, Barcelona could turn to another club legend in Xavi, hoping the La Masia graduate could succeed where his predecessor failed with an unbalanced team of aging regulars and young talent. The former Spanish international has headed Qatar’s Al Sadd team since his retirement in 2019, and led them to win the league title and six domestic cups.
However, turning to a young coach with no experience in Europe in the midst of a period of turmoil could be seen as too risky. Plus, will Xavi see this as the right time to come back? The opportunity to manage Barcelona will likely come again at some point.
Andrea Pirlo
Another candidate who had enjoyed an impressive career as a midfielder in his playing days, Pirlo replaced Maurizio Sarri at Juventus in August 2020 and won the Coppa Italia and Italian Super Cup, but was sacked at the end of his debut season after finishing fourth. Serie A finish and another disappointing European exit, this time against Porto.
While Pirlo has experience coaching in one of the top five in the league, his time in Turin hardly shows that the Italian has the credentials at this point in his career to save ailing Barcelona.
Roberto Martinez
Martinez has a higher coaching pedigree, although the highest level he has managed to achieve came on the international scene with Belgium – a job he still holds. The 48-year-old led the Red Devils to third place at the 2018 World Cup and led them to number one in the FIFA World Rankings, although the major trophy is still a long way from them.
At club level, though, he has coached Everton and Wigan Athletic in the Premier League, won the FA Cup, but also suffered relegation with the latter, as well as Swansea City under the First Division – jobs somewhat different from those the newcomer faces. Barcelona.
Eric Ten Hag
Could Barcelona turn to another Dutch player in an attempt to change their fortunes on the pitch? Ten Hag built his reputation at Ajax, having previously worked for Utrecht and Go Ahead Eagles, as well as working with Bayern Munich’s second series. He won the Eredivisie twice, while looking set to reach the Champions League final in 2019, only for Tottenham to make a stunning comeback in Amsterdam.
Barcelona, who know what it is like to be on the wrong end of a turnaround in the second leg in Europe, have well-documented financial problems at the moment, which could pose a problem if they were to try to lure a coach under contract elsewhere. .
Antonio Conte
Conte is out of work, at least meaning Barcelona will not have to pay any compensation for his appointment. However, this does not mean that the Italian comes cheap, considering that he has a very impressive resume. The former Juventus coach quickly made an impact in his two previous jobs, having returned to club duties after his stint with the Azzurri.
He won the Premier League title in his first season at Chelsea, during which they achieved an impressive winning streak of 13 games, then ended the wait for the English Premier League last season, which led to the Nerazzurri winning the first championship since 2010. His departure from the San Siro amid Mali Inter. The cuts raise questions as to whether he would like to go anywhere near the Camp Nou at the moment, especially with Manchester United also interested.
Marcelo Gallardo
A name closely associated with the position, Gallardo began his coaching career with Nacional in Uruguay. However, he has been in charge of River Plate – a club that has had three spells during his playing career – since 2014, winning the Copa Libertadores twice among an impressive list of titles at Los Melonarios.
The last Argentine coach to hold the top position at Barcelona did not last long: Gerardo Martino spent only one season at the helm. Gallardo will have to cut short his river trip to do so, a move he suggested was unlikely after he revealed his plans for a contract that runs until the end of 2021.