Champions League-winning coach learning Spanish to replace Xavi at Barcelona

Robin Bairner

• 8 Mar 2024 11:50 GMT
• 3 min read

Barcelona are seeking a new coach for the 2023/24 season, with Xavi having announced his intention to step down at the end of the current campaign, and one Champions League-winning manager appears extremely keen for the post.

Former Bayern Munich boss Hansi Flick is showing his commitment to getting the post by taking Spanish lessons to prime him for the position, having been out of club football since stepping down from the Bundesliga giants in June 2021.

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He subsequently experienced a difficult time with the Germany national side, but his win percentage of 81.4% while at FCB is nevertheless attractive.

It appears that he is also confident of landing the post, with Florian Plettenburg confirming on the Daily Briefing: “Flick is already learning Spanish.”

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Flick to replace Xavi?

Flick has several allies pushing for the move, not least agent Pini Zahavi, who is a close friend of Barcelona president Joan Laporta.

And as Plettenburg explains, there are several Barcelona players hoping that the 59-year-old is given the role.

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“Flick himself would also prefer to take on the job at FC Barcelona, where Xavi is leaving in the summer,” he said.

“The commitment of star consultant Pini Zahavi could pay off for Hansi Flick. The Israeli, who has his office in London, doesn't just have the best contacts in the Premier League. One of his closest friends is Joan Laporta, president of FC Barcelona.

“Zahavi recently spent several days in Barcelona and met Laporta to talk to him about Flick.

“With Ilkay Gundogan, Marc-André ter Stegen and Robert Lewandowski, he knows some key players from the DFB and Bayern Munich. With Lewandowski he has a great advocate internally.”

Barcelona are currently third in LaLiga, eight points back for league leaders Real Madrid and also sitting behind Girona.

The Blaugrana tackle Mallorca at the Estadi Olimpic on Friday.