Barcelona sack Valverde, as the Spanish club, announced the appointment of former Real Betis coach, Quique Setien as their new manager. This not so shocking announcement came on Monday 13th January 2020, after months of speculations that he ( Ernesto Valverde) was going to be sacked and replaced by one of Barcelona’s ex-players.
The announcement of Setien as new manager almost immediately after the sacking of Valverde also erased the possibility of the likelihood of Xavi or Iniesta taking over as head coach, as the club is eager to get back to the playing style Barcelona are known for the world over.
Xavi who was strongly linked with the head coach’s role, confirmed media reports that he spoke to the club’s sporting director Eric Abidal and chief executive Oscar Grau over the weekend before he reportedly rejected the club’s offer, but could reconsider in Summer.
Other names to have been linked with the club included former Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino, who managed rivals Espanyol, and current B team manager Xavi Garcia Pimienta.
Meanwhile, Valverde’s sacking which took so long to happen has been welcomed by fans and some of the players, even though the manager helped the club to a two successive La Liga titles and are currently at the top of the LaLiga League table on goal difference.
The record under Valverde has been good, but fans have questioned his style of football, that has seen the Catalan side produced a series of unconvincing displays under his leadership and have failed to reach the Champions League final. Those results and style of play has seen him being replaced by 61-year-old Setien.
Setien led Betis to their highest finish since 2005 and to the Copa del Rey semis before leaving in May.
He has agreed to a two-and-a-half-year deal and will be presented to the media at 13:30 GMT on Tuesday.
In a statement, Barca said they had reached an agreement with Valverde to terminate his contract and thanked him “for his professionalism, his commitment, his dedication and his always positive treatment towards all that make up the Barca family”.#Setien #Valverde