The new coach of FC Barcelona is Ronald Koeman
Dutchman Ronald Koeman is the new coach of FC Barcelona and signed a contract until 2022, the club announced on Wednesday in a statement, following the announcement by president Josep Maria Bartomeu on Tuesday.
"FC Barcelona and Ronald Koeman have reached an agreement for his incorporation as coach of the first football team until June 30, 2022," said Barça in a statement published on Wednesday, two days after the dismissal of Quique Setién.
The presentation ceremony and subsequent press conference of the new Barcelona coach will take place on Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. local time (11:00 a.m. in Ecuador).
"The Dutchman already has great experience as a coach, with over 20 years of experience and eight titles won, and now comes to FC Barcelona after being in several leagues such as the Premier League, the Spanish League, the Eredivisie, or the Portuguese League, in addition to coaching the Netherlands national team," which Koeman had been leading since 2018 and was supposed to lead until the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, added the Catalan team.
"Ronald Koeman is leaving his post as coach of the Dutch national team. The 57-year-old coach is going to lead FC Barcelona. Koeman was at the KNVB (Dutch Football Federation) since February 2018 and the 'Oranje' have played 20 matches under his command," the Dutch federation said in a statement on Wednesday.
Koeman, who was supposed to coach the 'Oranje' during the postponed Euro 2020 to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic, leaves his position to his assistant Dwight Lodeweges, who will become the interim coach while the KNVB looks for a coach to take charge of the national team.
The Netherlands is scheduled to play against Poland (September 4) and Italy (September 7) at the Johan Cruyff ArenA in Amsterdam, as part of the UEFA Nations League.
"It has been an honor to be the national coach of the Netherlands. For two and a half years, I have given everything to succeed with the 'Oranje'. When I look back, I am proud of what we have achieved together during this period. The Dutch national team has a bright future, I am convinced of that," said Koeman in the KNVB statement.
"Everyone knows that Barcelona is the club of my dreams. For me, it is very special to become a coach there," explained the coach. (D)