Sacking coaches has cost Barça 33 million euros in compensation

Constantly changing the coach is being quite an expensive exercise for Barça, a club which has traditionally respected the fine print in the contracts it has signed with it's coaches during the 21st Century starting with Frank Rijkaard's arrival. The Dutch coach joined in 2003 and lasted until 2008; he was succeeded by Guardiola, who stayed on until 2012. Then Tito Vilanova, who sadly passed away, coached the first team until his illness made it impossible for him to continue; Gerardo Martino saw out the year of his contract as did Luis Enrique, who signed a three-year deal in 2014.

Barcelona: five coaches in four and a half years

That all changed with Ernesto Valverde. Despite guiding the team to the double in 2017-18, and winning LaLiga (after winning both Clásicos) as well as reaching the Copa del Rey final and semi-finals of the Champions League in 2018-19, he was sacked in January 2020. He kindly waived compensation for the final year of his contract but nevertheless, El Txingurri received an 11 million euro pay-off as part of the package for terminating his contract. After him came Quique Setién, who was handed his notice after the 2-8 defeat to Bayern Munich - even though he has signed a contract until 2022. Barça still owe him four million euros in compensation. And on top of that, now there is the 13 million euros which Ronald Koeman stands to receive - divided into the 7.2 million he was set to receive as part of his wages plus a further 5.8 million corresponding to the buy-out clause which the club triggered to release him from his duties with the Dutch Football Federation. At the time, Koeman paid that out of his own pocket but logically, the contract he signed with Barça included it in a future payment.

Xavi, who will be unveiled as Koeman's successor tomorrow, will be in an identical position. He paid the five million euros which freed him from his commitments with Al Sadd, but that money will somehow be included in his contract with Barça so that he is reimbursed - whether that might be this season or, to keep within the salary cap, over the next few years. In total, 33 million euros in compensation to coaches as a result of poor management - not only by Bartomeu but by Joan Laporta as well.