Luis Enrique announced last month that he would be leaving the Catalan side after this season ends. Soon after, Barcelona president, Josep Maria Bartomeu revealed that they would be appointing a "super coach" in the summer.
"This summer, we'll get a super coach. We'll continue to work with total discretion, calmly and normally, until June 30 and then we will announce who it will be. We will try to announce his successor on July 1 and focus on the trophies at hand for now." said the president while talking to Barça TV.
Mundo Deportivo reports now suggest that Barcelona have shortlisted four managers as the ideal replacements for Enrique. Here are the four managers who have made it:
#1 - Ronald Koeman
Barcelona have circled in on the Everton manager out of the three rumours Premier League managers they were interested in. Mauricio Pochettino and Arsene Wenger were reported to be the other managers that the club had an eye on.
Pochettino played and managed arch-rivals, Espanyol so he ruled out a move to Camp Nou straight away. Wenger is set to sign a new contract at Arsenal and stay at the club for yet another season.
Koeman is said to be a respected figure among the current players. The board is impressed with what he has done at Southampton and Everton in the Premier League. Moreover, knows the club well as he was a key member of Cruyff's Barcelona side. He was also the assistant manager at Camp Nou for 2 seasons 1998 to 2000.
#2 - Ernesto Valverde
Sources close to Pep Guardiola have reportedly informed the media that Ernesto Valverde would be the next Barcelona manager. Sky Sports' La Liga expert, Guillem Balague has also reported that Valverde will be the next Barcelona.
He said, “Athletic Bilbao manager Ernesto Valverde, whose contract at the San Mames Stadium expires at the end of the season, is the top priority. He [Valverde] has said no to the job twice. To say no a third time would be very difficult and with his contract up at the end of the season the timing is good too.”
Valverde is someone who knows the club well and has also played for Barcelona. He has the Barcelona DNA and understands the club well so; he's someone who the board are extremely keen on.
His contract at Bilbao expires at the end of this season, and reports say that talks with the manager have already begun. He has done a brilliant job at San Mamés, and the Barca board want him to repeat the same at Camp Nou.
#3 - Eusebio Sacristan
Eusebio has played over 200 times for Barcelona, was Frank Rijkaard's assistant at the club between 2003-08 and coached the 'B' team for four years, before being sacked in 2015. He had taken over from Luis Enrique at Barcelona 'B', and history could repeat itself if he is to be appointed as the next Barcelona manager.
However, his reputation has was restored thanks to his impressive spell at Real Sociedad. He took over from David Moyes who was sacked after he won 12 games out of 38 altogether.
He has since then built Sociedad to become a strong team and is challenging for a Europa League place this season. They are level on points with 5th placed Villarreal and are just 7 points behind 4th placed, Atletico Madrid.
Sacristan has the backing of Barcelona legend, Luis Suarez as well. In January, the former player was quoted saying that he wants the Sociedad manager to take over should Enrique decide to leave. "I gave my name months ago, when we played against Real Sociedad: Eusebio. He deserves it. He knows the club and he's doing well in San Sebastian.” said the legend.
#4 - Juan Carlos Unzue
The current favourite to be the next manager is Luis Enrique's assistant - Juan Carlos Unzue. The players have asked him to take over at the club, and the right hand of the current Barcelona manager is considering it.
Unzue has been with Enrique since his Celta Vigo days and knows players and the club well. He was at Barcelona for two years during his playing days too but only managed to make five appearances.
Just like Eusebio Sacristan, Unzue was also a part of Frank Rijkard's staff. He was the goalkeeping coach and continued at the club even after the Dutchman left. He stayed in the same position under Pep Guardiola.
He left when he got the chance to become the manager of Segunda División team CD Numancia. He returned to his previous position a year later before heading to Racing de Santander as their manager in 2012.
He got sacked a year later and has been working with Enrique ever since. Despite his lack of experience as a manager, he is said to be the favourite to be the next Barcelona manager!
