Barcelona has finally appointed Hans Dieter “Hansi” Flick as their new manager after firing club legend Xavi. Flick, who won six trophies in 2020 with Bayern Munich and was the assistant coach of the German national team that won the 2014 World Cup, takes over the tricky Barcelona job amidst financial and leadership instability.
Barcelona’s leadership and Xavi had been at loggerheads, a situation which led the latter to announce his potential departure at the end of the season. Despite these rough patches, President Laporta seemed to have resolved things with Xavi as the club announced earlier this month that he was staying. However, things quickly took another turn, and the club decided to fire the tactician barely days after revealing his renewal.
In the Premier League, Chelsea has settled on Enzo Maresca to take charge of their young squad. Maresca has vast experience in coaching and recently gained promotion to the Premier League with Leicester City. He was also at one point an assistant to Manuel Pellegrini at West Ham United and Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. The Italian is expected to soon sign his contract with the Blues until June 2029.
Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich, on the other hand, have opted for the 38-year-old young mastermind Vincent Jean Mpoy Kompany. Kompany had an excellent season with Burnley last year, guiding them back to the Premier League before being relegated again. He is seen by many as a great prospect in football management. He will reunite with his former Manchester City teammate Leroy Sane and is expected to coach big names such as Harry Kane, Thomas Müller, and Manuel Neuer, among others.
Vincent Kompany, who takes over from Thomas Tuchel, is expected to lead a project that will help Bayern Munich get back to winning trophies after having their first trophyless season since the 2011/12 season.
Given the recent appointments by clubs like Liverpool, Chelsea, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich, there is a sense of change sweeping across Europe when it comes to football management. It feels like a new era is beginning, with the old guards hanging up their boots as the young blood takes over.
