Barcelona have decided to part ways with long-time manager Ernesto Valverde and have handed over the reins to Quique Setien who has been given a contract until 2022.
Ernesto Valverde joined Barcelona on 29 May 2017 replacing Luis Enrique. He led Barca on a 29 match unbeaten streak in all a competition in his first year as manager as well as an impressive 43 match unbeaten streak in the Spanish League.
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Valverde has won 4 titles for the club since during his time at Barcelona but due to the clubs downward performance in European competition and recently at home in the domestic league, the board has decided to terminate his contract and hire former Real Betis manager Quique Setien.
During his first year at Real Betis, he moved the team to their highest ever standing in the La Liga table ending the year off at 6th place and qualifying for Europa coming from a 15th place finish the year before.
Quique is seen as a devote follower of “Cruyffian football” ( named after Barcelona ex-manager Johan Cruff who led the club to 11 titles during his role as manager between 1988-1996 and is regarded as one fo the greatest footballers in the history of the game) and which is the fundamental style of football that made Barcelona the club it is today.
The club hierarchy are hoping that Quique will be able to make Barcelona an attractive brand once again to the fans as well as take the side through all the way through the UEFA Champions League finals which they last won during the 2014-15 season and continue to bring them success in La Liga
Valverde has had the guillotine hanging over his head since Barcelona’s dismal loss to Liverpool at Anfield in May 2019 but this is the first time the club has changed managers mid-season since they got rid of Louis van Gaal in January 2003.
