Primera Division

Confirmed: Ronald Koeman named Barcelona boss

The former head coach of the Netherlands national team is the Blaugrana's replacement for Quique Setien

 
11:05am on Wednesday 19th August 2020
By
Martin Macdonald

Ronaldo Koeman has been announced as the new head coach of Barcelona, replacing the dismissed Quique Setien.

On Friday, the Blaugrana suffered a humiliating loss at the hands of Bayern in the Champions League quarter-final in Lisbon, suffering one of the heaviest defeats in their history as the German side won 8-2 to progress to the semi.

It seemed inevitable that Setien would be sacked as boss and Barcelona have reacted quickly to the loss, with former player Koeman set to come in for the 2020/21 campaign.

The Dutchman was in charge of the Netherlands national team after a disappointing spell with Everton between 2016 and 2017.

On Sunday evening, the news broke that Barcelona had sacked Setien via Spanish radio station Cadena COPE.

Spanish football reporter Guillem Balague confirmed the news.

"The board will meet tomorrow and [Setien] will be sacked," Balague told the BBC 5 Live Euro Leagues podcast.

Barcelona announced on their official site on Wednesday that Koeman had been hired.

"FC Barcelona and Ronald Koeman have reached an agreement for the Dutchman to take over as first team coach until 30 June 2022," the statement read.

"The Blaugrana legend, hero of Wembley, the man who handed Barça their first ever victory in the European Cup returns to Camp Nou. This time, however, he will do so as coach as the Dutchman brings more than 20 years of experience as manager and eight trophies on his CV.

"Ronald Koeman comes to FC Barcelona after coaching in the Premier League, La Liga, the Dutch league, the Portuguese league and also on the international stage with the Netherlands.

"Koeman began his coaching career at FC Barcelona as first team assistant coach and then as coach of Barça B in the 1998-99 season."

Another name previously in the frame to take over was former Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino, but although the board was keen on the move it would not have been a popular move among the club's fans due to Pochettino's past as a player and head coach of Espanyol.

He famously said he would rather work on a farm than for Barcelona.

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