After days of speculation and controversy, it ended up happening overnight: Ernesto Valverde is out and Quique Setién is in as the coach of Barça's Men's first team. Setién was presented today in a fifty-minute event with a press conference then the traditional photos on the field.
"Not even in my best dreams could I have been able to imagine being able to be here," he confessed to the assembled journalists. That, despite days of his name being put forward as one of the favourites. He said the club phoned him yesterday and he didn't take "even five minutes to accept".
The 61-year-old was born in Santander, Cantabria, on Spain's north coast. He had a 19-year career as a midfielder, most notably at Racing Santander, and played for Spain's national side three times. His coaching career started in 2001, back at Santander. His longest stint was six years with Lugo, during which he led them to promotion from the second league. He's also trained Logroñes, Las Palmas and even the Equatorial Guinea national side. Most recently he was at Betis, leaving last May.
Photo: Sergi Alcàzar
Setién is "excited" by the opportunity and has a clear plan, being an avowed fan of Johann Cruyff and the positional style. "The important thing is the philosophy," he said. In a message to fans, he said: "I only guarantee that Barça will play well, like when I trained Lugo, Las Palmas or Betis."
There was no easing in for Setién with a double training session with the team the day of his presentation. His first match will be on Sunday, welcoming Granada in La Liga.
Valverde out
Barça president Josep Maria Bartomeu noted today that although the team's results have been good, the odd notable exception apart, they felt it was "necessary to give a push" to the season. So Valverde was out by the back door. He bid farewell to the club's fans in a short letter posted on its website. In it, he describes the "intense two and a half years" he has had at Barcelona which has seen "some joyful moments celebrating victories and trophies but also others that have been tough and difficult". He also gives the reglementary thanks to various groups and wishes of luck to his successor.