Instead of going out and finding a manager elsewhere, someone thinks that Barcelona should look at an assistant that is already on the Barca staff.
When Juan Carlos Unzue was at Racing Santander, he had a tough time finding his footing. With the ongoing problems with his contract, he wasn’t able to coach the team. This led to Unzue resigning from his position. Since then, he has found a new and bigger home. As an assistant under Barcelona manager Luis Enrique, he’s done everything to stay in good standing with the Barca staff and players. However, he won’t be Lucho’s assistant at the end of the season.
Luis Enrique will be leaving Barcelona to take a break from coaching the sport he loves. This means Barca are beginning the search to find a manager. Names like Sevilla manager Jorge Sampaoli, Everton manager and former Barca player Ronald Koeman, and Athletic Bilbao manager Ernesto Valverde have been linked to one of the biggest jobs in the sport. However, according to Juan Carlos Unzue’s former assistant Jimmy Alvarez, Barca shouldn’t look far away. He thinks Unzue is the right man for the job.
"“It doesn’t surprise me that he’s among the options. The benefits of hiring him are huge, I think he’s the most logical replacement for Luis Enrique. He is a capable coach and knows the demands of Barcelona. Seeing in the last few years what Barcelona has done, the most fitting person to follow his footsteps is Juan Carlos.”More from Everything BarcaFC Barcelona tracking Belgian WonderkidFC Barcelona vs Betis Player RatingsBarça boss Xavi to get contract extensionFC Barcelona planning swoop for Arsenal midfielderBarcelona interested in €30 million wonderkidAlvarez To Cadena SER On Unzue"
It’s easy to think in the same way that Alvarez is thinking. It could be intriguing if Barca decide to promote from within their own club rather than look at other clubs managers. However, there are some really good candidates in Europe. These managers have led their respective clubs to new heights and it could land them the biggest job in Europe.
"“His talent and cordiality he has with the players fits perfectly, so too does his tactical knowledge. He’s very close to all the players. As well as this he has the character to be able to correct what he doesn’t like, but he also has a soft touch too, he also knows how to manage the psychology of the players. If he takes over the team he could be one of Barcelona’s best ever coaches.”Alvarez On The Potential Of Unzue As Barcelona Manager"
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Overall, Alvarez has a lot of confidence in Juan Carlos Unzue. He would be familiar with all of the players from Messi to Ter Stegen. It would likely be a long shot to hire Unzue, but he presents interesting qualities that other candidates don’t have. Lucho’s replacement will be a tough decision to make for the board. Hopefully, they make the right decision in the end. Unzue could be on the list of candidates soon.