Barcelona Appoints Hansi Flick as New Head Coach

Barcelona has appointed former Bayern Munich manager Hansi Flick as their new head coach on a two-year contract. Flick, dismissed by Germany in September 2023, now replaces Xavi, whom the club sacked last week. Flick’s tenure with Germany followed his successful spell at Bayern Munich where he led the team to a treble in 2020, winning the Bundesliga, German Cup and Champions League. Robert Lewandowski, the 35-year-old Barcelona forward, previously played under Flick at Bayern for two seasons.

On Wednesday, Flick expressed his excitement, saying, “It’s a big honour, a dream for me to sign my contract here. We won some titles with Bayern Munich, and my hunger for titles remains strong. I believe we can achieve a lot together at Barcelona, and this aligns with my philosophy of lots of possession and really attacking football.” Xavi, the departing Barcelona manager, faced dismissal a month after the club confirmed his continuation. He remarked that his successor will face challenges in the role.

Xavi led Barcelona to La Liga and Spanish Super Cup victories in his first full season, but this season the team finished 10 points behind La Liga champions Real Madrid. Barcelona described Flick as “a man known for high pressing, intense play, and success at club and international levels.” Flick has been unemployed since his dismissal by Germany eight months ago. Hansi Flick returns as a changed man. A hip replacement relieved his discomfort, allowing him to reconnect with friends like Guardiola, Rohl and De Zerbi.

While Guardiola and De Zerbi focus on ball possession and game control, Flick’s approach blends direct play with possession. Flick trusts his instincts, a trait evident when his Bayern Munich team won the 2020 Champions League. He will not face difficulty adapting to life in Spain, as he has spent many holidays on the Spanish island of Formentera over the past 15 years. Though not fluent in Spanish yet, Flick expects to learn the language quickly.