Hansi Flick is the new coach of FC Barcelona. © APA/afp / INA FASSBENDER

Flick docks in Barcelona: “Won everything”

Hansi Flick is the new coach at FC Barcelona. The club announced this on Wednesday. The 59-year-old German succeeds Xavi, whose contract with the club had previously been terminated.

29 Maj 2024

From: dpa/sn

Flick, for whom this is his first head coaching position outside of Germany, signed a contract until 2026. After winning seven titles with Bayern between 2019 and 2021, his involvement with the German national team was not successful.

There was speculation about the coaching appointment for days, but now FC Barcelona has officially announced Flick's commitment. “We have hired a coach who is known for his high pressing and courageous style of play. He has won just about everything there is to win in the world of football,” the club said in a statement.

Hansi Flick won seven titles with FC Bayern. © AFP / CHRISTOF STACHE

“It is a great honor and also a dream to work for this wonderful club. The philosophy they have is similar to mine. Ball possession and attacking football – those are the things I love,” said Flick. According to Spanish media reports, the 59-year-old will not be officially introduced until the beginning of next week at the earliest.

Joachim Löw's assistant coach for a long time

Flick was Joachim Löw's assistant coach for the German national team for years and won the 2014 World Cup. After a few more positions in the background, he was appointed head coach of Bayern in November 2019. He won seven titles there by July 2021 before moving back to the national team as national coach. After the preliminary round exit at the 2022 World Cup and some weak results, he was dismissed in September of the previous year.

Flick's signing was preceded by months of chaos. Xavi announced his retirement at the end of the season in January, followed by a U-turn in April and declared that he wanted to fulfill his contract, which runs until 2025. After the 44-year-old criticized the club's financial situation a few weeks ago, the separation became official on Friday.