La Liga giants FC Barcelona are nearing another coaching change, according to multiple reports. Sources close to the club told ESPN that Barca brass is losing patience with manager Ronald Koeman and might be looking to replace him in the near future.
Koeman was on the verge of exiting the club during the offseason but ended up receiving a vote of confidence from president Joan Laporta. However, the 58-year-old Dutchman failed to justify that so far, with Barca delivering one unconvincing performance after another.
After a somewhat strong start of the 2021-22 season, Barca stumbled in the last four games and managed to get only one win. The slipups included 3-0 defeat against Bayern Munich in the Champions League and 1-1 draw against Granada over the weekend, with the latter proving to be especially worrying for Laporta.
The only thing stopping the club from firing Koeman at the moment is the lack of alternatives, according to reports. The club isn’t interested in finding an interim solution and would like to replace Koeman with someone who can be part of the club’s long-term future.
Barca’s advisor Jordi Cruyff is believed to be pushing for Roberto Martinez, who currently helms the Belgium national team, while the club legend Xavi Hernandez is also among the candidates.
Ronald Koeman, who played for Barcelona between 1989 and 1995, took over the Catalan club in August 2019. He managed to win the 2020-21 Copa Del Rey during his time at Camp Nou while posting a 36-11-12 record.
