Barcelona name Ernesto Valverde as new head coach

The Catalan giants have announced the signing of new manager Valverde

The 53-year-old has managed top Spanish clubs including Atletic Bilbao and Espanyol

Valverde will be unveiled on Thursday, June 1, as he is expected to sign a two-year contract

Spanish giants Barcelona have appointed Ernesto Valverde as their new head coach ahead of the coming season.

Ernesto Valverde Tejedor is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a forward for Barcelona and other top La Liga clubs including Espanyol and Mallorca.

Recall that outgoing manager Luis Enrique announced that he will no longer continue as the coach of the Catalan giants, saying he will leave at the end of the current season.


Ernesto Valverde

Enrique was heavily criticized after his side's embarrassing 4-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in their Champions League round of 16 first leg tie on Valentines Day, but Barcelona unbelievably won the reverse fixture 6-1.

New manager Valverde is expected to fortify the squad ahead of the coming season with a hope to claim the La Liga title from Real Madrid.

The 53-year-old manager was a player at the club between 1988 and 1990 where he had 22 caps scoring 8 goals.

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu hints that the new manager who will be unveiled at the club on Thursday, June 1, will sign for two years, with an option for a third

"Ernesto Valverde will sign for two seasons with an option for a third," he started. "Ernesto Valverde's presentation as the new FC Barcelona coach will be this Thursday."

The club owner also described the new manager as hard worker, an a man with vast experience with the application of technology.

"He is a hard worker and he is a fan of using technology in training and in managing matches.

"Valverde has the ability, the judgement, the knowledge and the experience. He promotes the youth players and he has a Barça way," Bartomeu concluded.