Next Barcelona Manager Odds: Hansi Flick Favourite as De Zerbi Shortens

Despite winning both La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup last season – his first full season in charge – the pressure under Xavi was too much at Barcelona. The legendary midfielder announced he will be leaving the club in the summer after the team's 5-3 defeat to Villarreal at the end of January. Alongside the market, there will be a major managerial shakeup at two of Europe's biggest clubs this summer.

The best in the UK have priced up a new manager market in anticipation of a move away from Xavi. have a number of familiar faces in the running for the job for when it becomes available. After starting out as the favourite for the role, Mikel Arteta has drifted in the market to be replaced by former Barcelona defender Rafael Marquez with most football betting sites. However, it is now former Bayern Munich boss Hansi Flick who is at the top of the betting market this week as Marquez starts to drift.

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Rafa Marquez a Possible Appointment From Within

Rafael Marquez had an extremely extinguished career with Barcelona in the 2000s, where he was part of te all-conquering team under Pep Guardiola and beyond. In his seven years as a player with La Blaugrana, he won 12 trophies, including four La Liga titles and two  

He returned to Barcelona in 2022 to take over the reins of the B team, with a possible view towards him being ready to charge of the first team in the future. The hope would have bene that Xabi lasted longer than a couple of years, but will the powers that be think he has sufficient experience to take on the role? He is likely to be in the running with most when a market comes live, even if as an outsider.

Another La Masia Graduate to Take Charge in Arteta?

Mikel Arteta has done a superb job in making a relevant force in the Premier League and beyond again, but the lure of playing for the team who grew up playing for could be too much to say no to if the opportunity arose. The Gunners would likely put up stiff opposition to a move for Arteta, and whether Barcelona have the finances to pay such compensation is another matter, but Arteta is sure to be among the names in the hat for the job. He has distanced himself from the role but remains favourite with most betting sites.

Pep Guardiola the Romantic Option For Barca

Pep Guardiola, as he likes to remind us every once in a while, is Barcelona through and through. He spent 17 years with the club as a player and then embarked on a four run as manager for the ages. They won 14 trophies in that short timeframe, as he cemented himself as one of the best managers in the world. 

Of course, Guardiola Is now winning every trophy under the sun with But he may be coming towards the end of his run with the team after winning five of the last six titles, and the team are favourites with for every competition they are in this season.

Jurgen Klopp a Huge Name On The Market

Managers who are untouchable are few and far between, but Jurgen Klopp was certainly seen as that at given his huge success at the club. However, he has announced he is leaving the Reds at the end of the season, which would make him the biggets name available on the market.

Would he be interested in a move to the Camp Nou if Xavi departs? It's easy to see why there would be mutual interest, and he is likely to be one of the favourites for the role with football betting sites if and when the market opens.

Roberto De Zerbi Making Waves at Brighton

Managers at Barcelona are expected to ensure their teams play a certain way, and there have been fewer teams more exciting in Europe this season than Robert De Zerbi’s Having performed brilliantly with Sassuolo for three seasons, the Italian moved to Shakhtar Donetsk in May 2021 before leaving just a year later. 

It wasn’t until he took over from Graham Potter, who left for Chelsea, in September 2022 that he became known to a wider audience. His teams have been thrilling viewers far and wide since, it would be no surprise if a bigger team came sniffing around sooner rather than later.

Nagelsmann a Big Name to Fill Big Role

Julian Nagelsmann has been a manager tipped for greatness since he took his first role with Hoffenheim at the age of 29 in 2016. He made Hoffenheim into contenders with a style of play that attracted admiring glances from elsewhere and a two-year spell at RB Leipzig preceded the big move to giants Bayern Munich. 

A title win and two German Super Cups were not enough to prevent him being sacked last season, He has taken on a role as the interim manager for Germany to lead them into Euro 2024, but a big job is sure to beckon once again for the 36-year-old. His name will likely be near the top of any betting markets when they open.