In lower than a 24-hour span, two of the highest managerial jobs in soccer have opened as Xavi Hernandez introduced that he’ll step down as Barcelona supervisor as of June 30. This comes on the heels of Jurgen Klopp additionally stepping down as Liverpool supervisor on the finish of the Premier League season. Whereas these two high jobs are open, the candidates for them are fairly totally different as Barcelona will not be solely a barely much less interesting vacation spot but additionally want a supervisor who can oversee a little bit of a rebuild not like a Liverpool aspect that’s already set as much as win.
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After burning by means of a membership legend in Xavi lower than a season after he lifted the La Liga title, it’s important that the following rent is the proper one. A Barcelona season is not a hit with out silverware and there’s additionally the occasion of transferring again into the Camp Nou in November as soon as the development challenge on Barcelona’s historic stadium is accomplished.
Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho are managers in the marketplace who’ve gained their justifiable share of silverware however neither are managers who can see Barcelona by means of this era of turmoil. Conte is a demanding supervisor who must be in complete sync with the board and in addition prefers to spend a big sum of money on ageing gamers to assist a staff win now.
Whereas that is one technique to function, it isn’t the cautious stewardship of bringing youth alongside that’s valued by Barcelona and that is earlier than even imaging the sparring matches that Joan Laporta and Conte would get in over potential transfers if the Italian was put in cost. After Xavi already wasn’t backed as a lot as he wanted to be, it could solely be a matter of time earlier than a public disagreement prompted a distraction.
In the case of Mourinho, there is a slight situation to take care of. Solely two managers ever have overseen each Barcelona and Actual Madrid throughout their careers, Enrique Fernandez and Radomir Antic. Every of these was in a really totally different time of soccer and it would not really feel like the answer to stability at Barcelona is to usher in a supervisor who gained practically all the pieces that there’s to win with Actual Madrid. However after entering into why just a few of probably the most achieved free agent managers will not work accountable for Barcelona, let’s take a look at who must be on Barcelona’s shortlist.
The favourite: Thiago Motta
Presently accountable for Bologna in Serie A, the previous Barcelona midfielder has the membership in putting distance of a European spot by means of cautious ways the place generally only a aim is sufficient. The person brilliance of Joshua Zirkzee has helped Motta push the staff to new heights however Motta’s pragmatism is what will get the younger Dutchman in the very best place to succeed. Think about these tactical wrinkles whereas having Raphinha and Joao Felix at his disposal and Motta might revitalize Barcelona or crash and burn.
The most important concern with an appointment of Motta is that though he understands the Barcelona ethos, would the strain of managing a membership like Barcelona be an excessive amount of for him? Motta’s earlier stops at Genoa and Spezia weren’t precisely stellar and with the eyes of the world on you, a tough patch at Barcelona can sink a supervisor. Xavi at occasions struggled to deal with a few of these public pressures however managing them and defending gamers from them is a part of the job {that a} supervisor often would not expertise till they’ve both gone on a European run or been thrust into the new seat at an enormous membership for the primary time.
The hard-to-get possibility: Andoni Iraola
After performing distinctive work with Rayo Vallecano, Iraola bought the Premier League name to hitch Bournemouth. Early on, it appeared like he was struggling to regulate to England however rapidly, he has discovered his footing and has the Cherries enjoying thrilling soccer fueled by sensible signings. The development of gamers like Dominic Solanke beneath Iraola has additionally been a vivid spot and it would not matter the stature of the opposition — he has had the Cherries nicely ready to tackle the problem.
The wrinkle is that Iraola has solely been with Bournemouth because the summer time so relying on his contract with them, it could probably require Barcelona to pay a buyout if this can be a route that they’d need to go. For a membership that’s making an attempt to curb spending, that will not be the best promote as Bournemouth will not need to lose their man this rapidly.
A possible possibility: Michel
At Girona, Michel is getting peak efficiency out of gamers who many have by no means heard of earlier than their arrival and whereas the protection could also be too open at occasions, while you rating as many objectives as Girona, that is simply wonderful. instance of Michel’s ways working is the efficiency of Artem Dovbyk. The Ukrainian is dominant within the air and is joint high of the La Liga golden boot race after seamlessly transitioning into the staff from Dinipro-1. The aggression that Girona play with can be welcome at Barcelona the place at occasions this season the soccer has gotten stale. Additionally being a member of the Metropolis Soccer Group system, Michel has had extra publicity than most managers in the same place to him. Girona blitzed Barca 4-2 again in Dec.
The inhouse man: Rafa Marquez
Presently managing Barcelona B, one of many best issues that Barcelona can do is elevate Marquez’s position. Having performed alongside Xavi together with managing within the membership system, Marquez is aware of sporting director Deco and Laporta which might enable for a easy working relationship. However equally to appointing Xavi, nearly all the pieces in regards to the soccer aspect can be unknown. The benefit of Barcelona enjoying so many youngsters proper now’s that they’ve come by means of Marquez’s system however that does not present that he can handle on the high. It might be fairly a dangerous determination.
Different choices: Francisco Javier Garcia Pimienta, Marcelo Gallardo
Las Palmas are among the best tales in La Liga this season and Francisco Javier Garcia Pimienta has been central to it. Like others on this record, he is somebody who would not have huge membership expertise however if you happen to’re selecting up on a development, it is going to be arduous for Barcelona to court docket a supervisor with that have of their present scenario. The Las Palmas protection has been stout however that’s extra as a result of distinctive performances from goalkeeper Alvaro Valles. His 12.12 objectives prevented is the highest quantity in La Liga by eight objectives which might say that the 19 objectives conceded by the ninth-place membership is much from sustainable long run so transferring elsewhere, he might have Valles to comply with.
Within the case of Gallardo, he has a bizarre managerial scenario. The 48-year-old nurtured a few of the high skills on the planet with River Plate in Argentina similar to Enzo Fernandez and Julian Alvarez however when he stepped down from managing the membership in December of 2022, it appeared like Gallardo can be destined for a high job or had one thing lined up which did not occur. He then spent nearly a yr out earlier than succeeding Nuno Espirito Santo at Al-Ittihad the place he has managed 9 video games. If a membership needed to get him away from the Saudi Professional League, it might be potential.
