Official: Ronald Koeman to remain as Barcelona head coach

Martin Macdonald

Updated: 23 May 2023 08:47 CDT
2 min read

Ronald Koeman will remain as head coach of Barcelona for the 2021/22 season despite recent comments from president Joan Laporta.

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Following the tenure of Quique Setien which saw Barca win no trophies in a single season for the first time in 12 years in 2019/20, Koeman was brought in to steady the ship.

Though Barcelona would win the Copa del Rey in 2020/21, the Dutchman failed to guide his team beyond the last 16 of the Champions League, while they finished third in La Liga behind Real Madrid and eventual champions Atletico Madrid.

At a press conference this week, Joan Laporta was asked about Koeman's future and didn't exactly give a vote of confidence, saying:

“We said that we were opening a period of reflection about Koeman, we have to evaluate what went well and not so well last season.

“The wish is to respect the contract, bringing together criteria which we need to talk about still.

“We will continue with the period of reflection with Koeman then in a week or 10 days we will decide.

“We are going to see how the conversations with Koeman develop. They are going very well, but we need a little more time.”

Even when Koeman was performing well in the middle of the season when Barcelona were hanging in with Atletico and Real Madrid, there were constant rumours that he could be replaced, with legendary former midfielder Xavi reportedly being sounded out of a return.

Koeman to stay at Barcelona

Off the pitch has been just as tumultuous as on the pitch this season for the Blaugrana, as Josep Maria Bartomeu was exiled as president, with Laporta returning a couple of months later after elections.

Laporta held the role between 2003 and 2010, and it was thought he would potentially bring in his own head coach appointment this summer and get rid of Koeman, who was Bartomeu's man.

However, Koeman is now set to stay for at least another year with the option for a third should he earn it.

Recruitment drive

With or without Koeman, Barcelona had already started planning for next season with the announcement of three signings over the past few days.

Sergio Aguero and Eric Garcia joined as free transfers from Manchester City, while €9 million was spent on full-back Emerson Royal.

Koeman might have two compatriots joining him at Camp Nou soon, too, with the club reportedly working on deals for free agents Memphis Depay and Georginio Wijnaldum.