Ronald Koeman Is Reportedly The Leading Candidate To Replace Quique Setien As FC Barcelona Coach

Ronald Koeman is the leading candidate to replace Quique Setien as the head coach of FC Barcelona, according to reports.

Following Friday’s 8-2 annihilation against Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarterfinals, Setien’s position has become untenable.

President Josep Bartomeu had previously given him his backing despite ceding the La Liga title to bitter rivals Real Madrid, but there is no way that at a club of this magnitude, a coach who has overseen such a humiliating loss can stay at the helm.

Post-match, to Spanish TV broadcaster Movistar which currently owns the rights to Europe’s premier club competition, Bartomeu remained tight-lipped on the 61-year-old’s future.

“[Gerard] Pique is right and we have to take decisions,” began Bartomeu, in reference to self-critical remarks the central defender had made minutes before. “Some we had taken before the Champions League and others we’ll take in the coming days. From now we’ll announce them as we go.”

“I can’t say right now what they are, today is a day to reflect, a pitiful day, and from tomorrow we’ll have to try and raise Culer spirits across the world, who are sad after this tough defeat,” he added.

On Saturday, it was relayed by outlets such as RAC1 that Bartomeu is to hold a crisis meeting on Monday while SPORT attest that Setien’s dismissal is “imminent”.

In the meantime, however, while the latter potential development is still yet to take shape, rumors continue to circulate in relation to who will replace him in the Camp Nou hotseat.

And over at Mundo Deportivo on Sunday morning, as part of a front page spread, they have current Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman down as the leading candidate to assume the responsibilities of one of the highest pressured roles in the sport.

A club legend due to his winner in the 1992 Champions League final against Sampdoria at Wembley, Koeman is also familiar with the ‘Cruyffismo’ that Setien was apparently hired for his love of as an integral part of the Dream Team composed by its founder Johan Cruyff.

Contacted in January to succeed Ernesto Valverde, Koeman turned down a proposal from sporting director Eric Abidal with the Euro 2020 championships approaching.

Postponed due to coronavirus, though, it is now believed that Koeman will not drag his heels a second time and finally get to work on what he has previously described as a ‘dream’ job.