Ernesto Valverde Set To Be Named New Barca Boss
Reuters / Henry Browne
Barcelona are set to appoint Ernesto Valverde as their new manager to replace the outgoing Luis Enrique at the end of the season.
Following the Catalan club’s 4-0 humiliation at the hands of Paris Saint Germain at the Parc des Princes, Enrique announced that he would be stepping down from his post as manager at the end of the season.
As a result, Barca have been on the lookout for a replacement for the Spaniard, and several names have been pulled out of the hat recently. One of them is Athletic Bilbao’s manager Ernesto Valverde, who, according to Spanish news outlet Don Balon, is in line to take over from Enrique.
The La Liga giants recently got rid of goalkeeper Jordi Masip, and the report in Don Balon claims that this is a sign that Valverde is on his way in to the club. Valverde is said to want only two goalkeepers next season, having successfully managed with the same amount of shot-stoppers at Bilbao this season.
The Basque club allowed 29-year-old keeper Iago Herrerin to go out on loan to La Liga club Leganes, and have managed to cope without him under the guidance of Valverde, who has guided them to sixth in the table.
Barcelona apparently have a policy of appointing former players as their manager, with the likes of Enrique and Pep Guardiola being prime examples of this. 53-year-old Valverde spent two seasons with the Catalan club during his playing career, and would seem to be an ideal appointment.
Enrique has had three very successful years as manager of Barcelona, collecting eight trophies along the way – it could yet still become nine if his side manages to pip Real Madrid to the La Liga title.
Written by Reyhan Ashley Nath 
Manchester United fan, Wayne Rooney is his role model. Passionate writer who has written for several sites in the past. He’s also an aspiring pianist and creates background music for BlameFootball’s Youtube channel.