Spanish giants FC Barcelona announce Hansi Flick as new manager

FC Barcelona stated on Wednesday that former Germany national football team and FC Bayern Munich manager Hansi Flick has been appointed as head coach on a two-year contract, the LaLiga club announced. Hansi Flick, who has been away from club management after being fired from the German national team in September 2023, was named the new manager of FC Barcelona. 

The change comes as the Catalan giants had a poor season with no trophies, prompting the departure of Xavi Hernandez on Friday night. Barcelona revealed their decision to sign Flick in a statement, complimenting his track record of deploying sides with high-pressing, strong, and adventurous styles of play. 

The club highlighted his significant achievements both on club and international levels, stating that, "We have chosen a man well known for his teams' high pressing, intense and daring style of play which has brought him great success at club level and international level, winning pretty much all there is to win in the world of football."

What brought about the change for FC Barcelona?

Flick's management abilities were most evident during the 2019-20 campaign with Bayern Munich, when he led the club to a record sextuple. Under his leadership, Bayern won the Bundesliga, German Cup, Champions League, German Super Cup, UEFA Super Cup, and Club World Cup. Xavi's time at Barcelona ended following a disappointing season in which the club finished 10 points below La Liga winners Real Madrid. 

In addition, they lost the Spanish Super Cup final against their archrivals and were knocked out of the Champions League in the quarter-finals by Paris Saint-Germain. This trophyless season was a severe setback for the team, requiring new leadership.

Joan Laporta, the president of Barcelona, has always liked Hansi Flick, and media reports in 2021 suggest that he sought him as an alternative to Ronald Koeman. At the time, Flick was determined to take charge the German national team following his great stint at Bayern Munich, when he achieved the treble in 2020. Negotiations with Flick started earlier this year, after Xavi Hernandez declared in January his intentions would be departing during the summer.