The post-Ronald Koeman Barcelona era is underway with Serji Barjuan. The 49-year-old was confirmed as the club’s interim boss on Thursday. Barjuan, who stepped up from the B team, will be in charge against Alaves. He will likely oversee the Champions League trip to Ukraine.
The Blaugrana needs a resurgence. Two wins in seven league games have left the side languishing in ninth, six points adrift of Real Betis in fourth. With just one victory in three, they risk early elimination in Europe.
Barjuan took charge of his first training on Thursday and addressed the media the following day. “I want to put some joy back into the team and get them enjoying their football again,n” he said via best Australian online casino. “I need all the players to be plugged into turning this situation around. It is important for them to be united.”
He added “The players are the same but the concepts might change. The real challenge is for the players and they have shown what they are capable of doing. They need to believe in what we want.”
What else do we know about the 49-year-old?
Catalan born-and-bred
Barjuan was born in Franqueses del Vallès, a municipality in the comarca of the Vallès Oriental in Catalonia. He had his childhood there and like every other kid, Barcelona was his boyhood club. He joined them as a teenager in 1988 and progressed superbly through the ranks under the legendary Johan Cruyff.
Playing career
Barjuan was a left-back during his playing days. After five years with the various youth teams, he finally made his senior debut against Galatasaray in the Champions League. From then on, he became the side’s undisputed first choice, winning three leagues, two cups and two super cups. Barjuan amassed nearly 300 matches for Barca. In 2002, he moved to Atletico Madrid and retired after three seasons there.
Barjuan was capped 56 times by Spain between 1994 and 2002, representing his nation at the 1994 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 1996, the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000. There were few appearances for Catalonia along the way.
Coaching career
In July 2009, after several years working in marketing and running football camps for youngsters, Barjuán returned to Barcelona as Juvenil B coach. But his first senior role was at Recreativo in 2012. He then had stints at Almeria, Almeria and Chinese second-tier side Greentown before returning to Barca to coach the B team last summer.
Do you know?
He’s a big friend of Laporta
The two have quite a warm relationship with each other and Barjuan always backed Laporta to win the election. Joan Laporta announced Sergi joining his board but there were no vacancies at the club for Barjuan. It was no surprise he brought him back to coach La Masia and ultimately the main team, and best online casino ca was pleased with his ways.
Cruyff disciple
Sergi played under Cruyff for quite some time as a player in the legendary ‘Dream Team’. Therefore, he certainly acquired some of the wisdom and knowledge that the late Dutch genius possessed. That is reflected in his coaching style, as he has always implemented a positional and heavily possession-based game.
Coaching style
Serge wants to preserve Barcelona’s DNA, which he memorizes. He plays on an attacking basis 4-3-3, supporting the midfielders with an open focus in the middle of the pitch. With two high-speed wingers and a versatile striker, he can create and score the game.
He hasn’t succeeded as a manager yet
Barjuan has managed three Spanish sides but none of these stints ended up being successful. Things got slightly better in China but it’s not something a future Barca boss should be proud of.