Barcelona appoint ex-Bayern Munich manager as new head coach

Barcelona has appointed former Bayern Munich manager Hansi Flick as their new head coach on a two-year contract.

Flick, who was dismissed by Germany in September 2023, replaces Xavi, who was sacked last week.

Flick’s tenure with Germany followed his successful stint at Bayern Munich, where he led the team to a treble in 2020, winning the Bundesliga, the German Cup, and the Champions League.

Barcelona forward Robert Lewandowski, 35, played under Flick at Bayern Munich for two seasons.

“It’s a big honour, a dream for me to sign my contract here,” said Flick on Wednesday.

“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 and this is an important thing.

Departing Barcelona boss Xavi, who was sacked a month after the club had confirmed he would stay, stated that his successor will “suffer” in the role.

Xavi led Barcelona to La Liga and Spanish Super Cup victories in his first full season in charge, but this season, the Catalan giants finished 10 points behind La Liga champions Real Madrid.

In a statement on Wednesday, external Barcelona said it had “chosen a man well known for his teams’ high pressing, intense and daring style of play which has brought him great success at club level and international level, winning pretty much all there is to win in the world of football”.

Flick has been out of work since he was sacked by Germany eight months ago.

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— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) May 29, 2024