Barcelona have confirmed the appointment of Hansi Flick as the club's new head coach.
As recently as April, the Catalan giants had worked to convince Xavi to remain at the helm for another season, reversing his decision to resign from his post.
However, just weeks later, the club legend made comments regarding Barcelona's ability to challenge Real Madrid for next season's La Liga title that allegedly angered the club's hierarchy.
The consequence was the former midfielder being removed from his position, and it was made official on Wednesday with Flick the man to succeed him in the dugout.
🤠pic.twitter.com/loe98rHocR
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) May 29, 2024
Within minutes of thanking Xavi and his coaching staff for their contributions since November 2021, Barcelona were teasing the imminent arrival of the former Bayern Munich and Germany boss.
What followed was a 17-second clip of Flick telling Barcelona fans that "it's our moment", a far more positive message than Xavi had expressed earlier this month.
It's our moment.
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) May 29, 2024
Flick is here. pic.twitter.com/ysb35a6l35
How long is Flick's contract?
Barcelona have chosen to hand 59-year-old Flick a contract that runs until the end of the 2025-26 campaign.
On the club's official website, the Spanish side have made a point of talking up Flick's style of play as "high pressing, intense and daring".
Between 2000 and 2005, Flick held managerial positions with Victoria Bammental and Hoffenheim, but his most notable work has been with Bayern and Germany since 2019.
Barcelona hope for repeat of Bayern reign
Flick delivered an incredible 70 wins from 86 matches in charge of Bayern, losing just the seven times and lifting seven pieces of silverware.
That included two Bundesliga titles and one Champions League crown, while Barcelona also made a note on their website of their 8-2 defeat to Bayern in the 2019-20 Champions League quarter-finals.
© Reuters
The German football association had hoped that Flick would deliver similar results on the international stage, but just 12 wins came from his 25 matches.
Germany were eliminated in the 2022 World Cup group stages, failing to progress from a group that contained Spain, Japan and Costa Rica.
While Flick retained his job after that tournament, a three-match losing streak - the last being a 4-1 reverse to Japan - led to his departure in September 2023.
Darren Plant
