Barcelona sack Ernesto Valverde and announces a new manager

Spanish giants FC Barcelona announced yesterday that they had parted ways with Ernesto Valverde as manager of the first team.

 

Ernesto Valverde worked as the head coach of Barcelona for two and a half years winning 2 La Liga santander title, 1 Spanish Super Cup and One Copa del Rey.

The club fans have been calling for the axe for sometime now with their shocking exit from the Champions League in the two previous seasons.

 

In the 2017/18 season Valverde,’s Barcelona won 4-1 against Roma in the first leg and lost 3-0 in the second leg, sending them out of the UCL, and in the 2018/19 UCL semi final Barcelona looked to be through to the final after their 3-0 win to Liverpool in the first leg, but surprisingly lost 4-0 in the second leg.

 

Hours after sacking Ernesto Valverde, the club announced the signing of former Real Betis manager Quique Setien as their new manager.

 

The former Real Betis boss is regarded highly by the Barcelona players as Sergio Busquet once gave him his shirt after he defeated Barcelona.

 

During his spell at Las Palmas he led them to a 11th place finish in La Liga, their best finish in 40 years. While at Betis, he led them to a sixth place finish and qualification to the Europa League. In his two year tenure at Real Betis, he secured wins against Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.

 

Other names were being considered for the managerial position like ex player Xavi, former Espanyol and Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino, and current Barça B manager Xavi Garcia.

 

Quique Setien will be the first team manager of FC Barcelona until 2022.