Barcelona would need to activate a release clause to get Koeman out of his current role as Netherlands head coach. /VCG
Days after their notorious 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League, Spanish giants Barcelona are set to confirm Ronald Koeman as their new head coach after Quique Setien was relieved of his duties.
"The board of directors have agreed that Quique Setien is no longer the first-team coach," read a statement. "This is the first decision within a wider restructuring of the first team which will be agreed between the current technical secretary and the new coach, who will be announced in the coming days."
Setien was only appointed in January and his expected departure was sealed during an emergency board meeting on Monday, when Barca also announced that next year's presidential elections, scheduled for June, will be brought forward to March 15.
Quique Setien was appointed as Barca coach in January and took charge for just 25 matches. /VCG
According to several media outlets, Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman, who played for Barca between 1989 and 1995, will be tasked with the job of rejuvenating his old club that repeatedly suffered humiliation in European nights.
The Guardian revealed that Koeman has a release clause that allows him to leave the Dutch national team for Barcelona. The daily Spanish newspaper Marca said the 57-year-old is going to be given a two-year deal.
It is understood that Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu's preference has been the former Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino, but the Argentinian's history as a former Espanyol player and manager complicates matters, given Barca's feud with their city rivals.