It is no longer news that Barcelona has parted ways with manager Ernesto Valverde. Although he led the club to two successive La Liga titles, Valverde was unable to achieve success in other competitions especially the UEFA Champions League where the Catalans suffered embarrassing defeats in the hands of Roma and Liverpool in the last two seasons.
The club also lost last season’s Copa del Rey final to Valencia, while their Semifinal loss to Athletico Madrid in the Super Copa de Espana ultimately led to his sack.
Two former players and club legends, Ronald Koeman and Xavi Hernandez were linked to Barcelona as a possible replacement for Valverde, but none of them is ready to take the job at the moment, and the club have subsequently appointed QUIQUE SETIEN on a contract that runs till 2022.
In this article, TOP SOCCER BLOG brings you a brief history of the new manager at the Camp Nou hot seat.
He was born on the 27th of September 1958 as ENRIQUE SETIEN SOLAR in Santander, Spain. A midfielder by trade, Setien started his playing career with his hometown club, Racing Santander before departing for Athletico Madrid. After three years with Athletico, he joined Logrones. He returned to Racing thereafter before ending his career at Levante.
Setien made three appearances for the Spanish national team and was part of Spain’s 1986 FIFA World Cup squad in Mexico but didn’t make a single appearance at the tournamentHe retired from playing in 1996.
Like his playing career, Setien also started his coaching career with Racing Santander, thereafter he managed Polideportivo Ejido, served as assistant manager of the Russian national team and as national team manager of Equatorial Guinea.
He returned to another club he represented during his playing days, Logrones, as manager. After getting dismissed at Logrones, he took over at CD Lugo in the Spanish third division and led them to a promotion to the second division(Segunda B).
Five years at Lugo, he joined Las Palmas — who were fighting against relegation in La Liga then. He steered them clear from relegation and almost led them to Europa League qualification in the following seasons.
In 2017, Setien was appointed as manager of Real Betis and secured Europa League qualification in his first season. He was dismissed by Betis in May 2019 after the club finished 10th in La Liga.
On the 13th of January 2020, he was announced as the new manager of FC Barcelona.
“El Maestro”, as he is fondly called during his playing days, believes in the Johan Cruff’s possession-based playing style known as “Total football” or “tiki-taka” which is also Barcelona’s style of play. The 61-year-old likes setting up his teams to play an exciting, attacking and possession-based football which always endears him to the fans of all the clubs he has managed.
At his last job in Betis, he left some memorable moments for the fans to cherish forever— among which is a thrilling 5-3 derby victory over local rivals Sevilla, and an incredible 4-3 victory over Barcelona at the Camp Nou (ironically, this is Barcelona’s last home defeat!)
Quique Setien said in his press conference that he will bring good football to Barcelona, give chance to the Barca B youth players and do this best to help team. Youth players like Riqui Puig and Araújo will be excited by his arrival.
Written by Muftaudeen Abdullahi Ishola
