Spanish football giants, Barcelona, have appointed former Real Betis coach Quique Setien, 61, as the new head coach.
Setien was appointed Barca boss on a two-and-a-half-year deal on Monday following Ernesto Valverde’s sacking.
Addressing the media at his first press conference in the Catalonian Capital, Setien said:
I want to thank this institution for giving me the chance.
Not even in my wildest dreams could I have imagined this. I have to thank the club. I’m excited about this challenge and this project.
Yesterday, I was walking around my home town with cows around me and now I’m here at Barcelona managing the best players in the world.
According to Spanish football expert Guillem Balague, Barcelona approached former players, Xavi Hernandez and Ronald Koeman to take over the reins but both declined, preferring to come on board at the end of the season.
Former Tottenham coach Mauricio Pochettino was also approached but having coached Barca’s cross-town rivals Espanyol, it was highly unlikely that he was agreeable to the offer.