*Undated
Barcelona sacked head coach Ronald Koeman on Wednesday following their 1-0 loss to Rayo Vallecano, the La Liga club said.
After the 1-0 loss to Rayo, Koeman said: "In the first 15 minutes, we had problems getting into the game. They pressed us well but after that I think we controlled the game on a small pitch against a team that runs a lot and presses hard. We had good chances but we didn't finish them."
“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,” said the club in a statement. “Ronald Koeman will say goodbye to the squad on Thursday at the Ciutat Esportiva,” it said. “FC Barcelona wishes to thank him for his service to the Club and wishes him all the best in his professional career.”
Barca are in ninth spot in La Liga with 15 points in 10 matches. Wednesday’s sacking came after the team lost against Real Madrid on Sunday. The former Netherlands boss, 58, was sacked after 14 months in charge with 39 wins, 12 draws and 16 losses in his 67 matches. He also won the 2021 Copa del Rey.
The Dutchman has not been helped by the club's significant financial problems, which resulted in Lionel Messi's exit and subsequent move to Paris St-Germain in August. Barcelona were unable to spend any money on new signings in the summer, with Memphis Depay, Sergio Aguero and Eric Garcia arriving as free transfers and striker Luuk de Jong joining on loan from Sevilla. Speaking after Wednesday's defeat, Koeman said: "It [Barcelona's league position] says we're not well. "The team has lost balance in the squad, lost very effective players, which shows. In recent years other clubs have strengthened every season and we haven't, which also shows."
Pressure had been building on the Dutchman since a 3-0 defeat at Benfica in late September, which made this season the club's worst-ever start to a Champions League campaign. They succumbed to a 2-0 away loss to Atletico Madrid in La Liga on October 2, with former forward Luis Suarez scoring the second goal at the Metropolitano Stadium, and they trail league frontrunners Real Madrid by six points in the table.
Their 2-1 loss to Real Madrid at the Nou Camp on October 24 was Koeman's third El Clasico defeat in a row, and after the final whistle, the Barcelona boss was targeted by a crowd of fans who attacked his car as he tried to drive away from the stadium.
According to local media, Barcelona’s former midfielder Xavi Hernandez is reportedly the strongest candidate to replace Koeman. Earlier this month, the club supported manager Koeman despite disappointing results. Koeman was one of the most important football players of his generation, appearing as a defender for Dutch clubs Ajax, PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord and Barcelona.
He won a European Champion Clubs’ Cup and a UEFA Super Cup triumph with Barcelona and one more European Champion Clubs’ Cup with PSV during his playing career. The Dutch legend clinched the 1988 European Championship largely known as the UEFA EURO 88 with the Netherlands, the country's only major title.
Barcelona hired Koeman in 2020 with a contract until June 2022.
Barcelona's next six fixtures:
October 30: Alaves (H) - La Liga, 10pm
November 2: Dynamo Kiev (A) - Champions League, 10pm
November 6: Celta Vigo (A) - La Liga, 6.15pm
November 20: Espanyol (H) - La Liga, 10pm
November 23: Benfica (H) - Champions League, 10pm
November 28: Villarreal (A) - La Liga, TBD