Barcelona have announced the appointment of Sergi Barjuan as interim manager following the sack of Ronald Koeman as first team coach.
The 58-year-old Dutchman was dismissed after a 1-0 defeat by Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday night with the Spanish giants sitting ninth in La Liga.
Barjuan was before now the coach of Barca B.
He will remain in the position of interim manager until the Spanish club hires a full-time manager to replace Koeman.
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“Barcelona hereby announces that Sergi Barjuan, the current coach of Barça B, shall be taking provisional charge of the technical management of the senior squad,” the club announced on its website on Thursday.
“His interim position as first-team head coach shall end as soon as the club hire a full-time head coach to replace the dismissed Ronald Koeman.
“FC Barcelona president, Joan Laporta, shall be officially introducing Sergi Barjuan to the first team squad this afternoon before the training session at the Ciutat Esportiva.
“Sergi Barjuan will be attending to the media tomorrow Thursday from 1.00 pm CEST in the press room at the Ciutat Esportiva to discuss the game against Alavés, with president Joan Laporta also appearing.”
Meanwhile, Xavi, who is currently in charge of Qatari club Al Sadd, is considered Koeman’s most likely successor and would be a hugely popular choice with the Barca fans given his glittering playing career there.
There is also the belief that the 41-year-old would instil an attractive style similar to the one played by Barcelona under Pep Guardiola.
River Plate coach Marcelo Gallardo and Ajax’s Erik ten Hag have also been linked with the post but might be reluctant to leave their jobs mid-season.
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