MADRID: Spanish champion Barcelona sacked its coach Ernesto Valverde and appointed Quique Setien as his replacement, the club announced on Monday (Tuesday in Manila). Valverde is the first coach the club has sacked mid-season since Louis van Gaal in 2003. “FC Barcelona and Ernesto Valverde have reached an agreement to terminate the contract that united both parties,” read a club statement released on Monday night. “Barcelona and Quique Setien have reached an agreement for the latter to become first team coach until 30 June 2022,” the club said. Barcelona play Napoli in the last 16 of the Champions League next month and Real Madrid in the league at the start of March.

Source: Manila Times January 14, 2020 16:30 UTC