FC Barcelona needs to find a successor for its head coach Xavi. Numerous names are being traded, from national coach Julian Nagelsmann to his predecessor Hansi Flick. Now one candidate has canceled.
Imanol Alguacil is not interested in swapping his current employer Real Sociedad for FC Barcelona. The Spaniard made this unmistakably clear at the matchday press conference before the game against Girona.
On the contrary: Imanol hopes to be able to extend the Basques’ contract early.
Asked about recent speculation that the 52-year-old could move to the Catalans in the summer, he replied: “I can say that Xavi is the ideal coach to lead Barcelona and that it will be difficult to find a coach like him to find. Everything else is superfluous.”
He is already at the best possible club for him. “I’m very valued here and I’m happy that I’m at Real. I want to continue making history here, because that’s what we’re currently doing. My contract ends in 2025 and I hope to be able to extend it again.”
However, Imanol also knows that the results have to be right. “I have to earn the contract. I don’t think I can be better than here,” said the coach.
Numerous coaches at FC Barcelona in the running
The Basque has been head coach of Real Sociedad since December 2018. He had previously coached the northern Spanish second team. He also started his playing career in San Sebastián. In the current season he is still on course for the European Cup with the club.
Who will be the new coach at FC Barcelona is still entirely up in the air. Club boss Joan Laporta recently confirmed on “RAC1” that an internal solution is definitely being discussed. Then ex-professional Rafael Márquez could be promoted; he is currently coaching the second team.
However, much more experienced coaches are also featured in the Spanish media, including Julian Nagelsmann, Hansi Flick, José Mourinho, Michel (FC Girona), Sergio Conceicao (FC Porto) and Thiago Motta (FC Bologna).