Barcelona Appoint Hansi Flick as New Manager
In a surprising turn of events, Barcelona has appointed former Bayern Munich boss Hansi Flick as their new manager on a two-year contract. Flick, who was sacked by Germany in September 2023, takes over from Xavi, who was recently sacked by the club.
Flick’s successful stint with Bayern Munich, where he guided them to a treble in 2020, winning the Bundesliga, German Cup, and Champions League, caught the attention of Barcelona. The 35-year-old Barcelona forward, Robert Lewandowski, previously played under Flick at the Allianz Arena for two seasons.
Expressing his excitement, Flick said, “It’s a big honor, a dream for me to sign my contract here. We won some titles with Bayern Munich and my hunger is really big for titles. I would like to stay on this path with Barcelona, and I think we can achieve a lot together, which is an important thing.” Flick also mentioned that Barcelona’s philosophy aligns with his own, emphasizing possession and attacking football.
Departing Barcelona boss Xavi, who had successfully guided the team to La Liga and Spanish Super Cup glory in his first full season in charge, warned that Flick will “suffer” in his new role. Xavi’s statement reflects the immense pressure that comes with managing a club of Barcelona’s caliber.
In a statement released by Barcelona, they described Flick as a man well-known for his teams’ high pressing, intense, and daring style of play. They believe that Flick’s approach will bring success to the club, given his track record at both club and international levels.
One interesting aspect of Flick’s return is his physical transformation. After undergoing a hip replacement surgery, Flick is now pain-free and well-rested, allowing him to reconnect with old friends in the football world, including Pep Guardiola at Manchester City and Roberto de Zerbi at Brighton.
While Guardiola and De Zerbi prioritize possession and control, Flick’s ideas involve combining a direct approach with possession. Despite the increasing reliance on data in modern football, Flick strongly believes in trusting his instincts as a coach, as demonstrated by Bayern Munich’s Champions League triumph in 2020.
Flick’s familiarity with Spain, particularly the small island of Formentera where he has been vacationing for the past 15 years, will aid in his transition to Barcelona. Although he is not currently fluent in Spanish, it is expected that he will quickly master the language.
Overall, Flick’s appointment brings a fresh perspective to Barcelona, and fans can expect an exciting and attacking style of football under his leadership. With his hunger for titles and the club’s rich history of success, Barcelona has the potential to achieve great things with Flick at the helm.