Former Manchester United manager played key role in Hansi Flick appointment at Barcelona

‘The German route’ or way has become a phrase used ad nauseam in Barcelona over the last six months, ever since Xavi Hernandez’s job security came under threat. Shorthand for a wide-range of German coaches including Hansi Flick, Barcelona’s current boss, Jurgen Klopp, Thomas Tuchel and Julian Nagelsmann.

It was the route that President Joan Laporta ended up taking, electing to appoint a manager with no prior experience at the club for just the third time in the last two decades, following on from Quique Setien and Tata Martino. Ever since Laporta returned to the presidency though, there was talk of bringing in a German coach as something Laporta was interested in.

Faye and Torre are liked by Real Sociedad, and it's not ruled out that they could enter negotiations for Mikel Merino. @sport

— barcacentre (@barcacentre) June 6, 2024

During his recent interview with club media, Laporta revealed that he had spoken with a consultant in 2021 about the German school of managers coming through, and had been intrigued by it since. Sport have now revealed that the consultant in question was former Manchester United manager and current Austria boss Ralf Rangnick. Famous for his work with the Red Bull franchises, Schalke and Hoffenheim, Rangnick explained the basis of his school of thinking, of which they say Flick is a disciple.

It goes some way to explaining the firm interest from Laporta in appointing a German coach, in spite of the differences between the names mentioned. Barcelona have benefitted in the past from foreign coaches nourishing their own ideas, perhaps none more apparently than with Frank Rijkaard, but it’s also a route that has burnt them before.

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