BREAKING: Barcelona confirm Flick’s appointment

Barcelona have appointed Hansi Flick as their new coach on a two-year contract.
The German had dinner with Barca president Joan Laporta and the rest of the Barca board in the Catalan city last night, after which vice-president Rafa Yuste told waiting reporters: “Tomorrow we will make it official.”
And that confirmation duly arrived shortly after noon with a series of hints on Barca’s social media channels.
It’s our time.
Flick is here. pic.twitter.com/ysb35a6l35– FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) May 29, 2024
What is Barcelona today?
Announcing the news, Barca’s website read: “FC Barcelona and Hansi Flick have reached an agreement for the German to be the men’s team football coach until June 30, 2026. The new coach signed the contract at the offices of the Club accassociated with FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta; the first vice president in charge of the sports area, Rafa Yuste and the Club’s sports director, Anderson Luís de Souza, Deco.
“By bringing in Hansi Flick as coach, FC Barcelona has chosen a man known for his intense pressure, tenacity and style of team play that has brought great success at club and international level, winning a lot to win. in the world of football.”
Flick succeeds Xavi and takes over a team that finished 10 points behind Real Madrid in the 2023-24 season and lost to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarterfinals.
His appointment ends months of uncertainty about the Barca manager next season.
Xavi’s original plan was to leave Camp Nou at the end of the campaign, but the 44-year-old made a U-turn and decided to stay to see out his contract, which was due to expire in 2025.
However, some ill-judged remarks about the club’s dire financial situation saw him sacked by an angry Laporta, who has now turned to German Flick to fill the void.
What is Flick’s track record?
Flick began his managerial career at Hoffenheim before moving on to assistant roles with RB Salzburg, Germany and Bayern Munich.
His big break came when Niko Kovac was sacked as Bayern manager and Flick was promoted to head coach, on a temporary and permanent basis in December 2019.
In his first season in charge, he won the treble with the club claiming the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal and Champions League titles.
He added the FIFA Club World Cup and another Bundesliga crown before leaving the Allianz Arena to become Germany manager in May 2021.
A good start quickly turned sour and following a poor World Cup campaign in Qatar and disappointing results in 2023 he was sacked.