Report: Ronald Koeman set to be named new Barcelona manager

Ronald Koeman will be unveiled as the new Barcelona manager this week after leaving his current post with the Netherlands, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The former Southampton and Everton boss will be asked to pick up the pieces following Barcelona’s 8-2 humiliation against Bayern Munich in last Friday’s Champions League quarterfinal. The coach who oversaw that defeat, Quique Setien, was sacked in the wake Monday’s emergency board meeting.

Koeman, 57, won four La Liga titles and one European Cup with Barcelona during his playing days. He was also assistant to Louis van Gaal at the Camp Nou between 1998 and 2000.

Koeman has posted mixed results during his managerial career over the past decade. He was widely praised for seamlessly taking the reins from Mauricio Pochettino at Southampton and leading the Saints to seventh- and sixth-placed finishes in the Premier League. However, he failed to meet expectations during his spell at Everton following a huge outlay over three transfer windows.

His time in charge of the Netherlands can be deemed a success, though. The Dutch national team failed to qualify for Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup, but punched its ticket to Euro 2020 after Koeman placed his trust in several up-and-coming players, including defender Matthijs de Ligt and Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong.

But the job at Barcelona could be Koeman’s toughest assignment yet. The 2019-20 season marked the first time Barca has failed to collect a trophy in 12 years. They surrendered the league title to Real Madrid and fell to Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey quarterfinals.

“It has been several years since we have been able to be competitive on a European level,” said Barca defender Gerard Pique after the embarrassing loss to Bayern. “We all have to think internally and decide what is best for the club, for Barca. Tonight was unacceptable for Barcelona.”

“It was a horrible match. It leaves a bad feeling, a disgrace,” he added.