Barcelona appoints Ernesto Valverde as new head coach
Barcelona has selected previous Athletic Bilbao, Valencia and Espanyol manager Ernesto Valverde as its new head mentor. He had been broadly anticipated that would assume control at Barca from the withdrawing Luis Enrique. The 53-year-old played for Barcelona as a striker, scoring eight objectives in 22 appearances in the vicinity of 1988 and 1990 under the direction of the unbelievable Johan Cruyff. Valverde declared he would leave Athletic a week ago following four years in control at the Basque club. At a public interview, Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu said the club had delegated Valverde for "some reasons." "Valverde has the capacity, the judgment, the information and the experience," he said. "He advances the young players and he has a Barca way. He has a logic that is like our own. He is a diligent employee and he is a fanatic of utilizing innovation in preparing and in overseeing matches." Valverde will be authoritatively ...