Ronald Koeman's final match in charge was a 0-1 loss against Rayo Vallecano, with the club stating that the Dutchman had been "relieved" of his duties as first-team coach. "Ronald Koeman has been relieved of his duties as FC Barcelona's first-team coach. Joan Laporta, the club's president, informed him of the decision following the defeat to Rayo Vallecano "A statement was issued by Barcelona.
Ronald Koeman's final match in command ended in a 0-1 defeat against Rayo Vallecano, with the club announcing that he had been "relieved" of his duties as first-team coach. "FC Barcelona's first-team coach, Ronald Koeman, has been stripped of his duties. Following the defeat to Rayo Vallecano, the club's president, Joan Laporta, notified him of the decision." Barcelona has released a statement.
Barcelona is a five-time European champion, and this was the first time the team has gone two games without scoring in Europe. Former president Josep Maria Bartomeu brought Koeman back to Barcelona after six years as a player in August 2020. New head Joan Laporta, on the other hand, made it obvious that the Dutchman was not one of his possibilities. Koeman published a statement last month seeking more time to rebuild after losing Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann in the summer window.
The 58-year-request old's was denied, and the club will now hunt for a replacement. Former player Xavi Hernandez, who is now the coach of Al Sadd in Qatar, and Belgium coach Roberto Martinez are the front-runners for the post, according to local media reports.
Following Ronald Koeman's departure, which was announced by Barcelona on Wednesday, the search for a new coach has already begun. According to 'Diari ARA,' the new coach will be Xavi, the current commander of Al Sadd in Qatar and the Blaugrana's idol. According to a notice on the club's website, Ronald Koeman has resigned from Barcelona. The Blaugrana thanked the Dutch coach for his aid in his note.
After Rayo Vallecano's defeat, the club president, Joan Laporta, notified him of the decision. On Thursday, Ronald Koeman will bid his squad farewell at Ciutat Esportiva. FC Barcelona appreciates you for your service to the club and wishes you the best of luck in your professional future, according to a statement released by the club.
The 57-year-old elected to quit five months early rather than face a vote of no confidence after receiving 20,000 signatures on a petition to remove him from his job. Since his arrival in 2014, mishandling of funds and poor transfer market performance has sparked growing resentment among supporters.
The desire of Lionel Messi, the club's greatest ever player, to quit the club where he has spent his entire professional career, was the final straw. A brighter future should be on the horizon now that Bartomeu has passed away... yet it isn't quite there yet.
With a mismatched team and financial difficulties, the next president will face a tough fight both on and off the field, while also seeking to keep supporters on board. Barcelona is one of the world's most respected clubs, and bringing them back to their previous glory will be a massive task.
There will be an election, and Victor Font, a corporate executive and media entrepreneur, is now the front-runner. Ex-president Joan Laporta is also running, though he doesn't appear to have a strategy. Font, a Barcelona member, is keen to restore the club with the help of some of the club's most prominent former players and has committed to keep the club financially sound while remaining in the hands of its supporters. His 'Si al future (Yes to the Future) initiative intends to build a new Barca by 2030 so that they can compete after their 'golden generation' retires.
It used to be said that Barcelona produced superstars while Real Madrid bought them, but that is no longer the case. Real Madrid has been bringing in new talent to help them grow, while Barcelona has been spending millions to maintain their position at the top of the Spanish and European tables.
Huge transfer fees spent for Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele have not paid off, and Antoine Griezmann has fallen short of expectations. Font wants to go back to the 'old days,' when the majority of the team was made up of La Masia graduates and feels that every job at the club should be filled by someone who understands the Barcelona model.
The club's present financial situation is regarded to be the most severe it has ever faced. This is unsurprising on many levels, given that Barcelona is owned by its fans and has also underspent in the transfer market. Font wants to boost the club's global revenue-generating so it can remain self-sufficient and not rely on billionaires and huge corporations to fund its transfer and labor costs.
Ronald Koeman, according to Font, would have no place in the White House if he were elected president. He has a clear and ambitious plan in place to restore the Catalan giants to their former glory, starting with a campaign to persuade former manager Pep Guardiola back to the club. He also wants to give Andres Iniesta, Xavi, and Carles Puyol major duties in order to construct a new dynasty that will persuade Messi to stay at the club for the rest of his career.
Messi was linked with a reunion with Guardiola at Man City over the summer, but Font is convinced that if he is elected president, he would stay.
"They're all luminaries who adore Barcelona but no longer work for the club — we need to get them back to assure a competitive project." The only thing Messi needs to know is that he is part of a competitive team that wants to win the Champions League next season. "We have no doubt that if we are given the opportunity to lead FC Barcelona, we will be able to do so (Messi staying)."
Whatever happens in the next months, it's clear that the living legend's long-term objective is to become a famous figure outside of football whenever he retires.
"The bonds between Messi and Barcelona are really strong; he moved to the city 20 years ago and has spent his entire career with the club," Font recently told talkSPORT. Messi is Barcelona, and Barcelona is Messi, therefore we must ensure that these bonds between the two remain intact even if he leaves now. "We have a strategy, and our future strategy is that the club will continue to rely on Messi even if he leaves."
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