Flick extends Barcelona deal to 2027 after title triumph
Barcelona's German coach Hansi Flick waves as he celebrates their 28th Liga title (MANAURE QUINTERO)
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick has extended his contract until June 2027, the Spanish champions said Wednesday.
The German led Barca to a domestic treble of La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup in his first year at the helm.
Advertisement
"Barcelona and Hansi Flick have reached an agreement for the renewal of his contract which will tie him to the club until 30 June 2027," said Barcelona in a statement.
Flick replaced Xavi Hernandez after Barcelona finished last season without a trophy and has made a quick impact in Catalonia.
The former Bayern Munich and German national team coach originally signed a deal until 2026.
Flick's Barca have thrilled both in Spain and in the Champions League, where they reached the semi-finals but were knocked out by Inter Milan in a blockbuster tie.
The Catalans have scored 99 goals in 37 La Liga matches on the way to winning the title, with the final game of the season on Sunday at Athletic Bilbao.
rbs/jc
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Associated Press
8 minutes ago
- Associated Press
'Dream come true' for Alexander-Arnold as he is introduced by Real Madrid
MADRID (AP) — Trent Alexander-Arnold was officially introduced by Real Madrid on Thursday, saying he was fulfilling his dream to play for the Spanish powerhouse. The 26-year-old England back was the latest reinforcement on defense for Madrid after a season in which the back line struggled following injuries. Madrid moved forward with signing Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool — for a reported fee of up to 10 million euros ($11.5 million) — to get him on June 1 instead of for free at the end of the month. That allowed Madrid to count on the defender to play for Xabi Alonso's team at the Club World Cup in the United States. Madrid opens its Club World Cup group-stage campaign against Saudi club Al-Hilal next Wednesday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. Alexander-Arnold was accompanied by his parents and relatives in the capital. After signing the contract alongside Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez, he was introduced with a video of his highlights and then spoke briefly, in Spanish. 'Thank you for this opportunity,' he said. 'To sign with a club like Real Madrid doesn't happen very often. It's a dream come true. I'm very happy and proud to be here. I'm very excited to show my game to Madrid fans but I'm aware that it's a great responsibility to play for Real Madrid. I'm ready to give my all for this team and for the fans.' Madrid also this week introduced central defender Dean Huijsen. Alexander-Arnold, who will wear the No. 12 jersey, arrived on a six-year contract through June 2031. He will join fellow England international Jude Bellingham. Alexander-Arnold won nine titles with Liverpool, including one Champions League and two Premier Leagues. 'We welcome a player who has won everything and who marked an era in a prestigious club such as Liverpool,' Pérez said. 'You could have continued playing in any other club but you chose to continue your career with our club and we will never forget that.' Madrid and the other 31 teams playing in the Club World Cup are allowed to make early signings in FIFA-approved special transfer windows from June 1-10 and June 27-July 3. Alexander-Arnold had already announced he was leaving his boyhood club with Madrid the expected destination. He made 354 appearances for Liverpool and scored 23 goals. By its own high standards, Madrid had a disappointing season, finishing runner-up to rival Barcelona in La Liga and being eliminated in the quarterfinals of the Champions League despite having signed France star Kylian Mbappé last summer. ___ AP soccer:
New York Times
17 minutes ago
- New York Times
Trent Alexander-Arnold gives speech in Spanish during Real Madrid unveiling
Trent Alexander-Arnold spoke in speech in Spanish during his unveiling as a Real Madrid player on Thursday. The 26-year-old went through the formalities of signing his new six-year contract alongside Madrid club president Florentino Perez at the club's Valdebebas training gronud before the unveiling ceremony to media and his family. Advertisement The full-back will wear No.12 and 'Trent' on the back of his shirt as a Madrid player, leaving behind the No. 66 and surname he had at former club Liverpool. Speaking in Spanish, Alexander-Arnold said: 'Thanks to president Florentino Perez and this club for this opportunity. To sign for a club like Real Madrid does not happen every day, it is a dream come true, I am happy and proud to be here and I am really looking forward to showing madridistas my play. 'I know it is a big responsibility to play for this club but I am ready to give everything for this club and these fans. I really want to show them how I play, and to win many trophies, and improve among the best players in the world.' Alexander-Arnold is the second new signing from the Premier League to be unveiled by the Spanish side this week following Dean Huijsen's unveiling at the training complex on Tuesday. The 20-year-old Spain international joined Madrid from Bournemouth in a £50million ($64.8m) deal on a contract through to 2030, making him the Spanish club's most expensive defender. England international Alexander-Arnold agreed to join Madrid as a free agent after his contract at Liverpool expired, although the Spanish giants paid €10million (£8.4m; $11.4m) to sign him ahead of his Anfield contract expiring on June 30, ensuring the full-back would be available for the entirely of their Club World Cup campaign. He was booed by Liverpool fans in his first appearance after announcing his departure in May — a 2-2 draw against Arsenal at Anfield — as many reacted strongly to the decision of the homegrown talent to leave his boyhood club. Alexander-Arnold spent 20 years at Liverpool, first joining the academy at the age of six. He made his debut as an 18-year-old in 2016 and registered over 350 appearances, winning the Champions League, two Premier League titles, the FA Cup, two League Cups, UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup. Madrid are set to play their first Club World Cup fixture against Al Hilal at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium on June 18.
Hamilton Spectator
24 minutes ago
- Hamilton Spectator
PSG aims for Club World Cup glory after historic Champions League win
Just weeks after winning the Champions League for the first time in its history, Paris Saint-Germain's eyes are now fixed on FIFA's shiny new Club World Cup. The newly-crowned European champion can add the world title to a trophy haul that also included a French league and cup double this season. 'We want to finish the season in style with the cherry on the cake,' coach Luis Enrique said. PSG had already qualified for the rebooted Club World Cup in the United States, but its Champions League triumph may still have come as a relief to FIFA. That's because, while the winner of the bumper tournament will officially be crowned the best club soccer team in the world, there are some notable absentees from the 32-team roster. Some big names are missing The Club World Cup will be without the champion of the most popular league in the world — the Premier League — given Liverpool's failure to meet the qualifying criteria. The same goes for Barcelona and Napoli — champions of Spain and Italy, respectively. No place either for current Asian champion Al-Ahli from Saudi Arabia or Pyramids — the African champion from Egypt. FIFA likely breathed a sigh of relief then when PSG and Inter Milan advanced to the final of the Champions League, with both teams having already secured their place at the Club World Cup via ranking points for recent runs in Europe's top club competition. Had either of the losing semifinalists — Barcelona or Arsenal — gone on to lift the trophy, then the flagship new tournament would have been without the reigning champion of Europe as well. The qualifying criteria were based on winners of continental trophies in the four years prior to the tournament, but not including the season directly before it. That's why Chelsea — Champions League winner in 2021 — has a seat at the table despite finishing fourth in the Premier League last month. Chelsea is arriving at the Club World Cup with a new team, coach and even owners since it won the Champions League four years ago. The club is one of 12 from Europe, including stellar names like Real Madrid, PSG, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Inter and Juventus. South American clubs are Europe's top rivals Some of Latin America's biggest teams are in the tournament — including reigning Copa Libertadores champion Botafogo from Brazil. Three other Brazilian teams have qualified: Palmeiras, Flamengo and Fluminense. Argentina's famous rivals River Plate and Boca Juniors will also be there — and are expected to be backed by thousands of fans traveling to the U.S. It is the Latin American contingent that likely will likely present the biggest challenge to the European teams. 'Everyone wants to compete — the question is how you prepare to win, to try to win. That's what challenges me,' said Marcelo Gallardo, River Plate head coach. 'I want to win. I don't want to just go and see what happens.' Will it work? FIFA president Gianni Infantino believes the tournament is what the sport has been waiting for — a world championship for club soccer. 'For the first time in history, the 32 best clubs in the world will compete in a tournament to determine finally who is the best club in the world,' he said this week. In its previous format, which involved a mini-tournament of just seven teams instead of 32, it never fully captured global interest. Played in the middle of the season for Europe's top leagues, it had the feel of an exhibition, rather than a serious tournament. European teams dominated the modern era, winning all but one of the last 17 editions. The new format will be a much more exacting examination of the eventual winner — not least because there are so many teams from Europe, but also because there has been a marked drive to improve levels in countries like the U.S. and Saudi Arabia following a slew of star signings such as Lionel Messi, who has transformed Inter Miami. However, it remains unclear how much of an appetite there is among fans for another elite tournament in a calendar that is already saturated. Details on ticket sales have not been released, but prices have dropped as the tournament has drawn closer and seats for the opening game between Al Ahly and Inter Miami on Saturday were still available this week. Marriott Bonvoy, a U.S. Soccer Federation partner, has been offering free tickets to some of its elite members for some games. It also remains to be seen what the television viewing figures will be, with the tournament broadcast globally on streaming service DAZN, which has also made 24 matches available with English-language commentary to TNT in the U.S. Eye-catching matches Al Ahly vs. Inter Miami, June 14, Miami Five years after its MLS debut, Inter Miami — the team owned by David Beckham — will kick off in the first game of the Club World Cup. Its opponent in the opener is Egypt's Al Ahly — the winner of a record 12 African championships. It's likely to be party time at the Hard Rock Stadium, but the chance of Al Ahly spoiling Miami's big day is very real. PSG vs. Atletico Madrid, June 15, Los Angeles It will be an early test for PSG against Atletico. This is the type of match that could grace the later stages of any Champions League campaign between two of Europe's finest. Chelsea vs. LAFC, June 16, Atlanta LAFC got in through the back door via a playoff against Club America of Mexico and its reward is an opening game against two-time Champions League winner Chelsea. Real Madrid vs. Al-Hilal, June 18, Miami The anticipation around this one would have been so much more intense had Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal not released Neymar in January, but it still has other star signings like striker Aleksandar Mitrovic. Madrid has a new coach in Xabi Alonso, who can get off to a flying start by winning the world title. PSG vs. Botafogo, June 19, Los Angeles Champions League winner against the reigning Copa Libertadores champion. This is the type of match that would have been the final in the tournament's previous guise — the best of Europe vs. the best of Latin America. Bayern Munich vs. Boca Juniors, June 20, Miami Two soccer giants from different continents clash at the Hard Rock Stadium. This is what this tournament is all about. Expect an electric atmosphere with Boca's fans likely to massively outnumber those cheering on German champion Bayern. Inter Milan vs. River Plate, June 25, Seattle Another clash of continental titans. Champions League runner-up Inter takes on Argentine giant River Plate. Juventus vs. Manchester City, June 26, Orlando City may have relinquished its Premier League title and ended the season empty-handed for the first time eight years , but there's still chance for Pep Guardiola to salvage the campaign with the world title. ___ James Robson is at ___ AP soccer:
