A big comeback in the game. Barcelona have approached the coach who led them before Guardiola, but he’s been out of work since 2013

Barcelona must look for a new coach. Xavi has announced that he will leave the club of which he has become a legend at the end of the season. So what’s next? President Joan Laporta is casting his nets and it has to be said that there are some interesting options in play. Reportedly, there could be a big comeback.

The Catalan big club did win the Spanish league last season. But would it be able to defend it? Not even the most positive supporters seem to be thinking about that anymore. Barcelona is in a tailspin. Game-wise it’s creaking, results-wise it’s not the same either, there’s more and more speculation about the mood in the cabin.

Currently, the Blaugranas are 10 points behind the first Real Madrid after 22 rounds of the top Spanish competition. It is worth mentioning that Barcelona is struggling with extensive illness, moreover, it is plagued by problems in defence, having the ninth highest number of goals conceded.

In short, the traditional big club is far from ideal. Financial difficulties are not helping. Coach Xavi is therefore under a lot of pressure. As he himself admitted, it is extremely difficult to coach such a big club. That is why he has decided to finish the 2023/24 season and leave the club to which he has dedicated most of his life in the summer.

What’s next? Club president Joan Laporta has a difficult task. He must find at least an adequate replacement. What about it, some interesting names will be up for grabs. But the question is whether Barcelona will be able to afford them and whether they will want to work in such difficult conditions.

This is also why, according to Spanish Radio Marca, the unexpected has happened. Laporta has reportedly approached the Dutch legend, who has already successfully managed the club once.

Will Barcelona make a spectacular comeback?

According to foreign media, Barcelona is considering various options for who could take the helm. The press mentions names like Hansi Flick, Robert De Zerbi or Thiago Motta. But it could also turn to an old friend.

Joan Laporta has reportedly approached Frank Rijkaard, a former outstanding footballer and also a successful coach in the first decade of this millennium. Rijkaard led Barcelona from 2003 to 2008 before Pep Guardiola took over the club.

Under the Dutch coach, the Catalans did not do badly at all. They won the league or the Spanish Super Cup twice, and in 2006 they dominated the Champions League. Overall, Rijkaard has coached 272 competitive games at Camp Nou with an average of 1.99 points scored per game.

The Dutchman subsequently took charge of Turkish side Galatasaray, but most recently led the Saudi Arabia national team from 2011 to 2013. Since then, he has been without a commitment. His return would therefore be very interesting. If only from the point of view that it is not at all clear how he would perform in the current situation and in a difficult period. Moreover, after such a break.

Source: Radio Marca, Transfermarkt