• About Us
  • Privacy Policy
Sunday, June 7, 2026
Citi Sports Online
  • Home
  • News
  • Football
    • Premier League
    • Local Football
  • Ghana Premier League
  • Livescores
  • Sports Panorama
  • Videos
  • World Cup
  • AFCON
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Football
    • Premier League
    • Local Football
  • Ghana Premier League
  • Livescores
  • Sports Panorama
  • Videos
  • World Cup
  • AFCON
No Result
View All Result
Citi Sports Online
No Result
View All Result

Barcelona sack Ernesto Valverde and appoint Quique Setien

Nathan Quao by Nathan Quao
January 14, 2020
Reading Time: 2 mins read
Ernesto Valverde left his position at Athletic Bilbao to become Barcelona coach in 2017 (Image credit: Getty Images)

Ernesto Valverde left his position at Athletic Bilbao to become Barcelona coach in 2017 (Image credit: Getty Images)

Barcelona have sacked coach Ernesto Valverde and replaced him with former Real Betis coach Quique Setien.

Valverde, 55, helped the club to two successive La Liga titles and they lead on goal difference this season.

However, the Catalan side have produced a series of unconvincing displays under his leadership and have failed to reach the Champions League final.

Setien, 61, led Betis to their highest finish since 2005 and to the Copa del Rey semis before leaving in May.

He has agreed to a two-and-a-half-year deal and will be presented to the media at 13:30 GMT on Tuesday.

In a statement, Barca said they had reached an agreement with Valverde to terminate his contract and thanked him “for his professionalism, his commitment, his dedication and his always positive treatment towards all that make up the Barca family”.

Setien’s success at Betis

Valverde was under pressure towards the end of last season following the ignominious Champions League semi-final defeat by Liverpool, having led 3-0 after the first leg, and the Copa del Rey final loss to Valencia.

The defeat by the Reds particularly rankled, because it was reminiscent of the collapse at the hands of Roma in the competition the previous season and suggested he had failed to correct a weaknesses in his team.

Valverde did guide the Catalans to the top of the table at the halfway stage of this season, but the fluid displays that fans had become accustomed to during the past 15 years were only sporadic.

Their away form was especially disappointing with losses at Athletic Bilbao, Granada and Levante plus draws at Osasuna, Real Sociedad and Espanyol.

Setien arrives at the Nou Camp as a highly-regarded coach.

After managing lower-league sides, he led Las Palmas to 11th in La Liga – their best finish for 40 years – and enjoyed further success at Betis, where in his first season he led them to sixth place and qualification for the Europa League.

Betis also secured wins over Barca, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid during his two-year tenure. He left the Seville outfit by mutual consent in the summer.

Former Barcelona midfielder Xavi had been strongly linked with the head coach’s role. He confirmed media reports that he spoke to the club’s sporting director Eric Abidal and chief executive Oscar Grau over the weekend, before he reportedly rejected the club’s offer,.

Other names to have been linked with the club included former Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino, who managed rivals Espanyol, and current B team manager Xavi Garcia Pimienta.

Source: BBC
Previous Post

GFA slaps Kotoko with a temporary home ban

Next Post

GHPL Week 4: Kwesi Arthur to perform at Legon Cities FC vs AshGold

Related Posts

Ernest Nuamah of Ghana shoots for goal during the international friendly match between Wales and Ghana at Cardiff City Stadium on June 02, 2026 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Huw Fairclough/Getty Images)
Black Stars

Why Ernest Nuamah could be Ghana’s breakout star at the 2026 World Cup

June 6, 2026
A close up of adidas FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Soccer Ball and bottle of water, Glaceau Smartwater at press conference at Hard Rock Stadium on June 13, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. Photo by Sebastian Frej/Getty Images
Football

FIFA reverses controversial World Cup water bottle ban after backlash

June 6, 2026
Caleb Yirenkyi celebrates after scoring goal against Wales Photo Courtesy: GFA
Black Stars

2026 World Cup: Ghana holds 6.8% chance to make quarters; 0.2% to lift title- Opta

June 6, 2026
Laryea Kingston
Football

“I was just doing my job”- Laryea Kingston reflects on beating Ghana at U-17 AFCON

June 5, 2026
Jersey of Andy Robertson after signing
Premier League

Robertson completes Tottenham move after Liverpool exit

June 5, 2026
Antoine Semenyo of Ghana in action during the international friendly match between Germany and Ghana at MHP Arena on March 30, 2026 in Stuttgart, Germany. Photo by Christian Kaspar-Bartke/Getty Images
Black Stars

2026 World Cup: How Antoine Semenyo became Ghana’s main man

June 5, 2026
Jordan Ayew (with ball) in action against C.A.R.
Black Stars

I’ve never wanted to be like Abedi Pele or Dede Ayew- Jordan Ayew [VIDEO]

June 5, 2026
Jordan Ayew-Black stars
Black Stars

Ayew retains No.9 as Ghana unveil squad numbers for 2026 FIFA world cup

June 5, 2026
Load More
Next Post

GHPL Week 4: Kwesi Arthur to perform at Legon Cities FC vs AshGold

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

RSS Citi Podcasts

Citi Sports Online

© 2024 Citi Sports Online

  • Home
  • News
  • Football
  • Ghana Premier League
  • Livescores
  • Sports Panorama
  • Videos
  • World Cup
  • AFCON

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Football
    • Premier League
    • Local Football
  • Ghana Premier League
  • Livescores
  • Sports Panorama
  • Videos
  • World Cup
  • AFCON

© 2024 Citi Sports Online