Barcelona is set to welcome Hansi Flick as their new head coach, replacing Xavi Hernández who recently managed his final game with the team. Flick, 59, has been inactive since his departure from the German national team last year, but is now in Barcelona with his agent, Pini Zahavi, finalizing the details of his new role. It has been reported that Flick will be signing a two-year contract, pending the official confirmation after Xavi’s departure is settled.
Barcelona’s president, Joan Laporta, has been an admirer of Hansi Flick for quite some time. Back in 2021, Laporta had already considered Flick as a potential replacement for Ronald Koeman. However, at that time, Flick was committed to taking over the German national team while still coaching Bayern. Negotiations for Flick to join Barcelona picked up pace earlier this year when Xavi announced his intention to step down in the summer. Despite initial signs of Xavi fulfilling his contract until 2025, Laporta’s decision to seek out a new coach led to a renewed interest in Flick.
Having previously worked as Joachim Low’s assistant with the German national team, Flick achieved significant success with Bayern Munich, including a treble-winning season in 2020. However, his stint with the German national team did not yield the same results, leading to his dismissal in 2023 following a string of poor performances and an early exit from the 2022 World Cup. Regardless of his past setbacks, Flick’s coaching capabilities have not gone unnoticed, with Barcelona now entrusting him to lead the team forward.
In addition to the coaching changes, Barcelona has also secured the services of young defender Héctor Fort, who has signed a new contract with the club that will keep him until 2026. Despite being only 17 years old, Fort has already showcased his talent in 10 first-team appearances since his debut earlier this season. The combination of experienced leadership with Flick and emerging talent like Fort signals a new chapter for Barcelona as they aim to build on their past successes and strive for further achievements in the future.