Koeman has made every effort to assure the board that his exit will not be necessary, but to many, it’s become painfully clear that this great footballing period in Barcelona’s history is over. With an extra day to prepare, Barcelona will make one last-ditch effort at redemption under the reign of Ronald Koeman.
The Dutchman has been under immense pressure since his side’s 3-1 home defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League that saw them crash out at the group stage. They now lie nine points behind runaway league leaders Atletico, and it would seem as though the board feels they need a change at the head.
The Dutchman had often been tipped for the role when Gerardo Martino’s days appeared numbered, but it was Luis Enrique who eventually took over at the Catalans. Koeman is thought to have been frustrated by his lack of freedom in the transfer market and is also under pressure in the Premier League, with Saints 16th and one win in six games. So, who will be in contention for his job? Who will be the next man at the helm for Barcelona? Well, if you are from India and want to test your anticipation through online sports betting in India, you might want to read through our speculations and facts before you take a step forward. Barcelona is a big club with a rich history. One of the most important jobs associated with the biggest soccer club in the World is finding a good manager. The board has not been able to fill this need for many years, and supporters have been clamoring for a man who could bring back the glory days.
The next Barcelona manager has just got one of the toughest jobs in all of football. The Catalans expected to wrap up their third consecutive La Liga title, but an indifferent campaign means they are at risk of becoming just another part of the revolving door of Los Blancos’ trophy cabinet. And if Barcelona don’t win the league, their recruitment will be even more crucial to ensure they stay at the summit of world football.
The speculations surrounding Ronald Koeman’s success, or lack of it, opened the door to many foreign names dropping into a job many thought they would never be able to fill. It’s a thankless task, one of the most difficult jobs in European football. Who will take this job?
Xavi Hernandez
The future of Barcelona is set to be under the guidance of one of the most iconic figures in the history of the club. There were rumors last season that Xavi was being groomed for a role on the sidelines and surely nobody would be better qualified than to take over from club legend, Luis Enrique. An announcement is imminent with many media outlets leading their breaking news with “Xavi to Barcelona”. The 41-year-old has already filled coaching positions with Qatari club Al Sadd following his retirement from international football in 2014 after representing Spain for 16 years.
Roberto Martinez
While we’re not saying that Roberto is going to be the next Barcelona manager, there are a few signs that could suggest that it might be a possibility. He’s already worked as manager of the Catalan giants, and he’s already coached at some of Europe’s top clubs. During his time with Swansea City, Roberto was highly underrated but he performed miracles with their young players and turned them into a hard-working team with excellent style of play.
Antonio Conte
Antonio Conte is probably the most qualified at the moment for the managerial post for Barcelona. He is known for his pragmatic football approaches. But Conte has the confidence to unflinchingly turn his back on projects unless he is provided the required finances and autonomy that can help him rebuild his entire squad as per his convenience.
Erik Ten Hag
Ten Hag was on the verge of retiring from coaching after helping Ajax to their third Europa League win in four years when he received an unexpected call from Barcelona, who had reached an agreement in principle with Ten Hag to become the new coach of the team in June 2022. Ten Hag reached the Champions League semi finals with Ajax in 2019, and at the age of 50 years old he is seen by many as a future club legend of the Amsterdam giants, and is expected to announce his decision in the coming days.
Mikel Arteta
The prospect of Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta taking over at Barcelona is now being discussed by bookmakers online. The 40-year-old has been the surprise favorite to take over from Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde for months now. The reason behind his link to the role is that Barca is eager to appoint someone who “understands the club’s culture.” It certainly helps that Arteta was born in San Sebastian and spent five years as a youth player at the Catalan giants, playing with the likes of Edgar Davids, Guillermo Amor, and Jose Maria Bakero before returning to England with Rangers.
The next Barcelona manager would have to fit an intellectual profile. He would be a coach who would embrace the club’s model, feel comfortable with the broader sweeping overhaul that is apparently planned, and perhaps even an ideologue who could help shape a new generation of players.
