The Dutchman’s departure was announced after the 1-0 loss to Rayo Vallecano in the Spanish league fixture on Wednesday.
Follow Us
Barcelona sacked head coach Ronald Koeman after 14 months in charge of the club. The Dutchman’s departure was announced after loss to Rayo Vallecano in the Spanish league fixture on Wednesday. It was the Catalan club’s fourth defeat in six games in all competitions. Earlier, on Sunday, they lost to rivals Real Madrid in the Clasico at Camp Nou. A brief statement was released by the club’s website confirming club president Joan Laporta has relieved the Dutchman of his duties as first-team coach.
It added: “Ronald Koeman will say goodbye to the squad on Thursday at the Ciutat Esportiva.
“FC Barcelona wishes to thank him for his service to the club and wishes him all the best in his professional career.”
Koeman leaves with the club placed at ninth spot in the La Liga standings with 15 points from 10 games. Pressure had been building on the 58-year-old tactician since the 3-0 defeat at Benfica in September. The defeat was their second consecutive one by the same margin as they were thrashed by Bayern Munich in mid September. It made this season the club’s worst-ever start to a Champions League league campaign.
Barcelona succumbed to a 2-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid at Wanda Metropolitano in early October courtesy of goals from Thomas Lemar and Luis Suarez, their former striker. The 2-1 defeat to Los Blancos was Koeman’s third El Clasico loss in a row. After the game, crowd of fans targeted the Dutchman after the loss as his car was attacked. The 1-0 defeat to Rayo Vallecano was the culmination of a difficult period Koeman has been going through the last few months.
After the defeat on Wednesday, Koeman said: “It [Barcelona’s league position] says we’re not well.
“The team has lost balance in the squad, lost very effective players, which shows. In recent years other clubs have strengthened every season and we haven’t, which also shows.”
Koeman, who was appointed in August last year did a decent job with the club in his first season in charge, winning the Copa de Rey and finishing third in the league. Meanwhile few questions were raised after his first season itself, as the team slipped to third spot in the league after occupying the top spot in April. However, the management decided to extend his contract as the Dutchman managed to win a title in his maiden season and also because of the financial constraints the club was going through.
The Dutch tactician was trying to rebuild a new team for the upcoming seasons but the situation at the Catalan club suddenly worsened as their talisman
Lionel Messi was forced to leave the club as a free agent because of financial problems in the summer. Messi’s departure made things extremely difficult for Koeman as the Argentine legend had almost single handedly led Barcelona to cup success and a respectable finish in the league last season.
The six time Ballon D’or winner’s departure left a big void in the team which the Dutchman never managed to fill.
As per the reports coming in from Spain, former midfielder Xavi, who is currently in charge of Al Sadd in Qatar, Belgium head coach Roberto Martinez and River Plate boss Marcelo Gallardo are the front runners for the role of Barcelona boss.
