Barcelona have announced Sergi Barjuan, their B team boss, has been appointed as the first-team’s head coach on an interim basis.
He replaces Ronald Koeman, who was sacked on Wednesday after Barca’s defeat to Rayo Vallecano.
Club legend Xavi has been heavily linked with replacing the Dutchman on a permanent basis.
But for now, the LaLiga club have promoted Barcelona B coach Barjuan to first-team duties on a temporary basis.
The club said in a statement on Thursday: “FC Barcelona hereby announces that Sergi Barjuan, the current coach of Barca B, shall be taking provisional charge of the technical management of the senior squad. His interim position as first-team head coach shall end as soon as the club has hired a full-time head coach to replace the dismissed Ronald Koeman.
“FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta shall be officially introducing Sergi Barjuan to the first-team squad this afternoon before the training session at the Ciutat Esportiva.”
A LaLiga defeat to Rayo Vallecano proved to be the final straw for Koeman, who’s overseen a shocking start to the season.
In his place is former Barca player Barjuan, who begun his coaching career at their Juvenil B side, where he was for two years.
He then had spells at Recreativo, Almeria, Mallorca as well as Chinese side Zhejiang Greentown before going back to Barcelona B earlier this year.
However, Barjuan will be viewed as a stop-gap appointment as Barcelona look to negotiate with former player Xavi.
Xavi won eight LaLiga titles, four Champions Leagues and the Copa del Rey three times in his illustrious playing career but is now earning his stripes in management.
He’s currently in charge Qatari club Al-Sadd. The Barcelona job, especially with all the problems that are currently there, would be a noticeable step up.