Barcelona handed boost in pursuit of Hansi Flick - report
- Barcelona looking for new manager with Xavi standing down at end of season
- Former Germany and Bayern Munich boss Hansi Flick linked to role
- Flick said to be open to Barca job and is already learning Spanish
By Sean Walsh
Barcelona managerial candidate Hansi Flick is currently learning Spanish and is open to the possibility of succeeding Xavi, according to a report.
La Blaugrana are on the hunt for a new head coach following Xavi's decision to stand down at the end of the 2023/24 season.
Barcelona have a tendency to appoint managers who spent time at the club in their playing days, with two of the names linked to the role this time around being ex-midfielder Thiago Motta and former defender Rafa Marquez. Motta is currently flying high and challenging for a Champions League place in Serie A with Bologna, while Marquez is the coach of Barca's B team.
One high profile name said to be in the running for the Barcelona job is Flick, who left his role as Germany national team manager in September 2023 and is currently out of work.
Christian Falk of BILD reports Flick is learning Spanish ahead of his return to management and the Barcelona job "would appeal to him", while he is also "looking for a new challenge".
Flick's stock has fallen a little after a disastrous spell in charge of Germany. He won only 12 of his 25 matches and oversaw a terrible 2022 FIFA World Cup campaign in which they were eliminated at the group stage. In his final game, Flick's side lost 4-1 at home to Japan and he became the first Germany manager to ever be sacked from the national team job.
Prior to taking on the Germany job, Flick did enjoy a hugely successful one-and-a-half-year stint with Bayern Munich. Having replaced Niko Kovac midway through the 2019/20 season, Flick led Bayern to the treble within months of taking charge. The Bavarians retained the Bundesliga title in his only full campaign at the helm.
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