Even if Barcelona is disappointed after their elimination of the Champions League against Inter, the atmosphere is very different from where it was this time a year ago. That is not least than the arrival of Hansi Flick, who turned out to be an inspired choice, turned their fortunes and improved countless players.
The name of Flick began to make ends meet for the first time around January 2024 amid doubts about the term of office of Xavi Hernandez. Those links were only strengthened after Xavi announced his resignation at the end of the month. Despite the initial ratification of the Catalan manager, Flick met director of Football Deco and assistant Bojan Krkic at the end of May, and both convinced both the man for the track.
However, Flick owes the fact that he had a foot in the door to countryman and former Manchester United manager Ralf Rangnick. Around 2020, before President Joan Laporta returned to power, he started assessing potential candidates for the job. Barca Reservat explains that Laporta had fallen in love with the 'German school' of football, and his interest was aroused after he had heard Rangnick in an interview that he would praise Johan Cruyff.
Laporta would meet Rangnick and in a few hours of football discussed football with the current Austrian boss, called the father of the Red Bull Empire in football. He interviewed Rangnick about Thomas Tuchel, Jurgen Klopp, Julian Nagelsmann and Hansi Flick, who were all influenced by Rangnick, and he told him that film was the most complete of all four.
That conversation took place a few years ago, while Flick was in Bayern Munich. When Ronald Koeman was fired in 2022, Laporta wanted to appoint him, but Flick was already working on the German national team, so Laporta focused his attention to Xavi. With Flick available and Xavi on the way out, Laporta finally got his husband last June. Flick is now ready to sign a contract extension with Barcelona, so that he will keep in the club until 2027.