Barcelona have appointed Hansi Flick as their new manager on a two-year contract, succeeding Xavi who was sacked last week. Flick’s appointment follows a challenging period with the German national team, which ended in September 2023.
The German coach previously achieved significant success with Bayern Munich, including a treble in 2020, which saw the team win the Bundesliga, German Cup, and Champions League.
Flick’s familiarity with some of Barcelona’s current players, notably Robert Lewandowski, who played under him at Bayern, could provide an advantage. Lewandowski, 35, had a productive season with Barcelona, scoring 26 goals in all competitions in 2023-24.
Upon signing his contract, Flick expressed his excitement and ambition: “It’s a big honour, a dream for me to sign my contract here. 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.”
Flick emphasized a shared philosophy with Barcelona, particularly in terms of possession and attacking football.
Despite a successful first full season that included La Liga and Spanish Super Cup victories, Xavi’s tenure ended with Barcelona finishing 10 points behind La Liga champions Real Madrid. Xavi commented on the challenges his successor might face, saying the role involves significant “suffering.”
Barcelona highlighted Flick’s high pressing, intense, and daring style of play as key factors in their decision.
Flick’s recent hip replacement surgery has left him pain-free, allowing him to reconnect with colleagues and maintain an active lifestyle, which includes frequent visits to Spain.
Flick’s coaching philosophy combines direct play with possession, and although he is not fluent in Spanish, his past holidays in Formentera suggest a comfort with the culture and a readiness to adapt to the language quickly.