Ronald Koeman favourite for Barcelona job amid doubts over Mauricio Pochettino

Koeman has spent the last few days in Catalonia
Ben Hayward17 August 2020

Barcelona are expected to announce the sacking of coach Quique Setien later today, with Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman the favourite to take over.

An emergency board meeting has been called by president Josep Maria Bartomeu, who insisted that ‘decisions would be made’ after Barca’s humiliating 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals on Friday.

Bartomeu confirmed on Sunday night that the current coach would not be continuing as he told a journalist from Spanish radio station COPE: “Setien is out.”

Former Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino and Barca legend Xavi are the other two names in the frame to succeed Setien, who was appointed in January but will be replaced as Barca end the season without a trophy for the first time since 2007-08.

Pochettino had been the early frontrunner, but there are doubts from some board members due to his past at the club’s city rivals Espanyol and negative comments about coaching Barca, even though that stance softened recently.

Mauricio Pochettino's managerial career

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Xavi turned down an offer to replace previous coach Ernesto Valverde in January and recently ruled out coaching Barca for the time being, saying now is ‘not the right moment’.

That leaves Koeman in pole position. The former Southampton and Everton manager has spent the last few days in Catalonia and is understood to have been in contact with representatives from the club before flying back to the Netherlands on Sunday night.

A Barcelona legend and European Cup winner from his playing days, Koeman has never hidden his desire to coach the Catalan club.

The 57-year-old had previously told Barca that he would only be prepared to take over after Euro 2020, which will now take place next summer, but is aware that the position is unlikely to be available in a year’s time and must now reach an agreement with KNVB to rescind his contract.

The Barca board members will also discuss the possibility of bringing forward next summer’s elections in Monday’s meeting, with January and March thought to be two possible dates.

In Pictures | Barcelona v Bayern Munich, Champions League | 14/08/2020

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Along with Setien, sporting director Eric Abidal’s position is also under threat following a series of poor signings in recent years and the club's former left-back is expected to lose his job as part of the new plans.

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