Barcelona have sacked manager Ernesto Valverde despite the club sitting top of La Liga at the halfway point of the season
The shock decision comes in the wake of last week’s Spanish Super Cup semi-final defeat by Atletico Madrid, in which Barca threw away a lead late on to lose 3-2.
That result accelerated a move for club legend Xavi to replace Valverde, but after their former midfielder turned down a return to the Nou Camp, they are now poised to appoint Setien, ahead of a potential move for Mauricio Pochettino.
Valverde has become the first boss axed by Barcelona midway through a season since Louis van Gaal 17 years ago. The club was 20 points behind leaders Real Sociedad at the time of the Dutchman’s sacking and finished the campaign in the sixth position, 22 points off champions Real Madrid.
FC Barcelona and Quique Setién have reached an agreement for the latter to become first-team coach until 30 June 2022. Below are details of his presentation on Tuesday, 14 January1.30pm CET contract signing in the President Suñol box in a private event at 2.00 pm, photo session on the pitch at Camp Nou.2.30pm, presentation and press conference in the Auditori 1899.
61-year-old Quique Setién will be the new FC Barcelona coach. The man from Cantabria in the north of Spain comes to Barça after having had spells at Racing Santander, Poli Ejido, Logroñés, Lugo, Las Palmas, and Betis, his previous club in the 2018/19 season. Throughout his career he has been a proponent of possession-based, attacking football that has been attractive to the fans.
As a player, Setién was a midfielder who excelled with Racing Santander over 12 seasons in two separate spells. He also featured for Atlético Madrid where he won the Spanish Super Cup as well as enjoying spells at Logroñés and Levante.