Barcelona sack Valverde, new coaching appointment still to be announced

Barcelona have announced the dismissal of head coach Ernesto Valverde, with Quique Setienreportedly set to charge of the Spanish champions in the coming hours.

Barca made the decision to extend Valverde’s deal for an additional season in February of last year, which preceded an embarrassing Champions League capitulation at the hands of Liverpool just months later, having done similar against Roma in the previous campaign.

And while the 55-year-old has delivered back-to-back Primera Division titles and currently has the Blaugrana sitting at the top of La Liga – albeit on goal difference – European disappointment is not the only black mark next to Valverde’s name.