Ronald Koeman has agreed in principle to become the new manager of Barcelona following <a href="https://www.thenational.ae/sport/football/quique-setien-sacked-by-barcelona-after-humiliating-defeat-to-bayern-munich-1.1064895">Quique Setien's sacking</a> on Monday. Netherlands manager Koeman, who played for the Catalan giants between 1989 and 1995, has emerged as the frontrunner to replace Setien after the Spaniard was given his marching orders in a meeting with technical director Eric Abidal just days after the <a href="https://www.thenational.ae/sport/football/lionel-messi-s-heaviest-defeats-barcelona-s-8-2-loss-to-bayern-is-star-s-worst-by-some-way-1.1063827">humiliating 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich</a> in the Champions League quarter-finals. Barca officials are in talks with the Dutch Football Association over compensation, Sky Sports reported, with Koeman's contract set to run until after the 2022 World Cup. "The new coach will be announced in the coming days as part of a wide ranging restructuring of the first team," Barca said on Twitter. Koeman has been in charge of the Dutch national team since 2018 and is due to lead them at the postponed European Championship next year. Mauricio Pochettino was also considered but his previous comments dismissing Barca due to his links with rivals Espanyol have counted against him. Koeman and his agent were negotiating a two-year contract on Monday night, according to reports in Spain, with the second year dependent on the outcome of the presidential elections. He enjoys hero-status at Barcelona after starring for them as a player under Johan Cruyff and scoring the winning goal in the 1992 European Cup final. But his coaching career has been mixed and he would arrive at a club in crisis, with one of his first tasks to persuade captain Lionel Messi not to depart. The club also announced next year's presidential elections, scheduled for June, will be brought forward to March 15. Angry supporters had hoped they would be held immediately but that possibility was ruled out, meaning under-fire president Josep Maria Bartomeu will continue. "After analysing all the options, the Board considers that this [March 15] is the most viable date for holding these elections," the club said. "The Board understands that the immediate call for elections is not feasible considering the league will begin on the weekend of September 12 and due to the economic and social framework caused by the Covid-19 crisis." Setien's successor will still be under pressure to deliver quickly given a new board next year could install their own coach, with Xavi, another former Barcelona player, linking himself to rival presidential candidate Victor Font. Shortly before the board meeting began on Monday, sources at Barcelona insisted the club had not heard anything from Messi about wanting to leave. But the 33-year-old has grown increasingly frustrated in recent months and a report from <em>Esporte Interativo</em> on Sunday claimed he has made up his mind to find a new club this summer.
