Koeman named new Barcelona manager

The sudden turnover at Barcelona continues.

The club has appointed Ronald Koeman as manager Wednesday on a two-year deal after the Catalans triggered a Barcelona-specific release clause in the Dutch national team boss' terms.

"Everyone knows that Barcelona is my dream club," the former Netherlands boss told the Dutch Football Association's website, as translated by The Guardian. "It feels very special to me to be able to become a coach there.

"It was an honor to be the national coach of the Netherlands. Over the past two and a half years, I have done everything I can to achieve success. I look back with pride on what we have achieved together in that period. The Dutch national team has a bright future, I am convinced of that."

Koeman replaces Quique Setien following the Spaniard's dismissal Monday in wake of the 8-2 Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich. The personnel changes continued earlier Tuesday, when the club parted ways with sporting director Eric Abidal.

As one former Blaugrana star makes an exit, another returns. Koeman reunites with the club after it helped launch his managerial career as second in command to Louis van Gaal at the Camp Nou between 1998 and 2000.

“It was an honour to be the national coach of the Netherlands. Over the past two and a half years, I have done everything I can to achieve success. I look back with pride on what we have achieved together in that period. The Dutch national team has a bright future, I am convinced of that.”

Koeman enjoyed spells with Ajax, Southampton, Everton, and most recently the Netherlands, where his terms through the 2022 World Cup included a Barcelona-specific clause.

Koeman played for Barcelona between 1989 and 1995, capturing four Spanish titles to pair with the club's first-ever European Cup in 1992.

The Dutchman's appointment marks the end of a mutual admiration that saw the 57-year-old turn down Barcelona's advance in January to replace Ernesto Valverde. Koeman opted instead to stay on to supervise Euro 2020, which has since been moved to the summer of 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

There will be plenty of pressure on Koeman's shoulders when the 2020-21 La Liga campaign kicks off Sept. 12, especially after Barcelona were linked with former Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino. The club is reeling after its first trophyless season since 2007-08, and years of mismanagement and overspending leaves Koeman with an aging squad rife with shortcomings.