The widely anticipated stepping down of Luis Enrique has been confirmed, with the manager stating he’s fatigued at the helm of Barcelona and is willing to step aside for a fresh outlook at the Camp Nou.
Historically, the Catalonians have looked for coaches entrenched in the methods taught in La Masia’s classrooms and on its pitches, but with the club’s Champions League campaign reaching an inevitable last-16 exit and the threatening emergence of Sevilla, maybe it’s time for a change in approach.
Here are four potential candidates to take the reins on the Mediterranean coast:
Ronald Koeman
Barcelona’s former set-piece expert, one-man engine room, and mentor to Pep Guardiola has been unabashed in his want to return to the club one day.
Koeman’s Everton burst out the traps this season, and arrested a mid-season slump to draw the best out of Romelu Lukaku and Ross Barkley, who was beginning to underachieve following much hype when he broke into the side under Roberto Martinez. On the attack, the Toffees regularly adopt a 4-3-3 shape when Lukaku is sufficiently flanked by the wingers, but to call it Barcelona-esque would admittedly be a stretch.
Related – Frank de Boer: Ronald Koeman deserves Barcelona job
There’s no doubting that he’s well-versed in the Blaugrana ways, however, after he was the fulcrum of the legendary Johan Cruyff’s XI for six years.
Did this count as an assist as well as a goal!? @Everton manager Ronald Koeman with a beauty for Barca #efc #COYB pic.twitter.com/7CAsiQ4vEv
— LateTackleMagazine (@LateTackle) February 10, 2017
But his managerial pedigree is dubious – particularly for a post this illustrious. He’s picked up just five major honours in a 20-year coaching career, and isn’t fondly remembered in Spain after his largely limp stint in charge of Valencia between 2007 and 2008.
Still, not many have fared well as Valencia manager in recent times.
Jorge Sampaoli
A man who insists on high pressing, organised chaos, and an aesthetic, swarming attack, Sevilla boss Sampaoli could be just the man to shake up a weathering Barcelona.
He’s an assiduous handler, watching tape after tape of upcoming opponents and drilling his squads in the minute details of how to stymie individual players – ask Lionel Messi, who was nullified both times as Sampaoli’s Chile topped Argentina in back-to-back Copa America finals.
Most notably, he’s an advocate of fluid, rapid attacks, something that has seen seemingly superior sides cower in their own forward forays due to their concern at being caught on the back foot. He’s on course to deliver a better domestic performance than Unai Emery could muster in his three years as Sevilla gaffer.
Sampaoli hasn’t exactly ruled himself out of the job, either.
“If he leaves, there will be an enormous list of candidates. I see it very far away, although the good moment of Sevilla means that people look at their coach,” he said in January, as quoted by The Telegraph’s Matt Law.
Massimiliano Allegri
Allegri is strongly linked to the well-worn bum groove belonging to Arsene Wenger in Arsenal’s technical area, but the plush seats at the Camp Nou undoubtedly have a greater draw.
Unless he’s allowed to flex his financial muscles further at Juventus, Allegri may believe he’s taken the Turin giant as far as it can go. Building on the foundations that Antonio Conte laid, the 49-year-old is en route to Serie A and Coppa Italia titles for a record third straight season. And although the Old Lady is perhaps unfairly written off for the Champions League crown – currently on odds of 7/1 to win the thing – she made short work of FC Porto in their last-16 first leg.
50% – Juventus have won 50% of games they have been trailing in this season in all competitions (4 of 8). Strength. #JuveNapoli
— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) February 28, 2017
Some may point to Allegri’s underwhelming performances before taking the Juve gig, but his tactical versatility – he freely tweaks his shape and personnel before or during tilts, and often successfully so – will be seen as a huge plus in the attributes of a relatively young manager.
Gerard Lopez
Barcelona’s penchant to hire from within or from faces which adorn the alumni pages will have Gerard Lopez hoping for a sharp trajectory from the B side.
The 37-year-old was quietly efficient in a Barcelona side of the noughties that tended to fall under the shadow of Real Madrid’s Galacticos – showing the technique and accurate passes of so many La Masia graduates – and picked up the primera prize in 2005, his last season with the club as a player.
His appointment could be a crowd-pleasing decision, too, as he’s staunchly Catalonian. Hailing from Granollers, a Barcelona metropolitan area with both industrial and agricultural history, Gerard took his undeniable work ethic to the Catalonia national team in 2013. There, he’s overseen the likes of Xavi, Gerard Pique, and Sergio Busquets.
He’s been in charge of Barcelona B since 2015, honing the skills of the club’s finest progressing through its famed youth academy. His recent students include Granada loanee Sergi Samper, and current young standouts Seung-Woo Lee and Carles Alena.
(Photos courtesy: Reuters)
