FC Barcelona has just announced that the club is relieving Ronald Koeman of his duties as first-team coach due to the team’s recent poor performance.
Following the 1-0 loss to Rayo Vallecano in La Liga, Barcelona dismissed Koeman with a formal notice posted to their website. The statement read,
FC Barcelona has relieved Ronald Koeman of his duties as first team coach. The president of the club, Joan Laporta, informed him of the decision after the defeat against Rayo Vallecano. Ronald Koeman will say goodbye to the squad on Thursday at the Ciutat Esportiva.
FC Barcelona wishes to thank him for his service to the Club and wishes him all the best in his professional career.
Koeman leaves just 14 months after he recorded 39 wins, 12 draws and 16 losses in his 67 games as manager for the club. In 2021, Koeman won the Copa del Rey with FC Barcelona, while he finished third in La Liga last season. However, Paris Saint-Germain eliminated Barça in the Champions League Round of 16. There were initial rumors of his departure this summer after Joan Laporta was elected president. Surprisingly, Koeman stayed on and led the team to an unbeaten start to the season for six games.
Unfortunately, after two brutal 3-0 losses to Bayern Munich and Benfica and only receiving 15 points from the first ten games in La Liga that included a home game loss to Real Madrid and recently to Rayo, the Dutchman has now found himself fired from his role as coach. There is no word on who Barça will find to replace Koeman, however, there is speculation that club legend, Xavi Hernández is ready to leave his current role with Qatar’s Al-Sadd, to take the job. Other names thrown into the ring include Antonio Conte and Roberto Martinez.
FC Barcelona has relieved Ronald Koeman of his duties as first team coach
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) October 27, 2021
In other sports news, Chicago Bulls are off to 4-0 start for the first time in 25 years.
