Hansi Flick starts his longest spell in an elite dugout with Barcelona
Hansi Flick has entered his third season in charge of Barcelona, surpassing for the first time the length of his two previous elite projects with Bayern Munich and the German national team. The German coach has won five trophies with the Catalan club in two campaigns and now has his sights set on the Champions League, the big prize that has eluded him so far.
Byvarela5 min read
Hansi Flick has started his third season in the Barcelona dugout and, in doing so, has reached a milestone in his career: he has never before spent this long in charge of a maximum-pressure project. The German coach, who kicked off the new campaign on 13 July, has now surpassed the length of his spells at Bayern Munich and with the German national team, the other two elite destinations of his career.
- Flick is beginning his third campaign as Barcelona head coach, his longest spell in elite football.
- At Bayern Munich he only completed two seasons, despite winning six trophies.
- He was dismissed as Germany manager in September 2023 at the start of his third season.
- He has already lifted five trophies with Barcelona in two years.
- The main target this season is to win the Champions League, which has slipped away in the previous two.
Flick's third season at Barcelona breaks new ground in his career
Before arriving in Barcelona, Hansi Flick's elite coaching career had been defined by short cycles. At none of his previous top-level jobs did he manage to string together three full campaigns. The Barcelona bench now offers him a continuity he was unable to enjoy either in Munich or with the German national side.
His time at Bayern Munich: two years packed with silverware
Flick took charge of Bayern in November 2019 as interim head coach following the departure of Niko Kovac. His impact was immediate: in his first season he won the Bundesliga, the German Cup and the Champions League, completing a historic treble. In his second campaign he added the Bundesliga, the German Supercup, the UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup to his collection.
Despite having a contract until 2023 and a remarkable run of results, he decided to end his time at the Bavarian club in the summer of 2021. His final account was two full seasons, not enough to make that adventure the longest of his career.
Germany job ended before he could complete a third year
Weeks after leaving Munich, the German Football Association announced that Flick would replace Joachim Löw as head coach of the national team. He made his official debut in September 2021. The coach took on the challenge with the aim of restoring Germany to the path of titles, but his tenure came to an abrupt end.
On 10 September 2023 he was dismissed after a heavy defeat against Japan. His sacking came right at the start of his third season, in the first friendly of the new campaign, preventing him from going beyond two full years in the role.
Barcelona's backing and the instant connection with Laporta
After a few months away from the dugout, Barcelona turned to Flick in the summer of 2024. The understanding with Joan Laporta was total from the very first conversation, a decisive factor in sealing his arrival. For the German coach, managing the Catalan club meant fulfilling one of the biggest objectives of his professional career.
His adaptation was immediate. Despite a difficult economic landscape, he quickly connected with the club's footballing philosophy. In just two seasons, the results speak for themselves: Barcelona have lifted five trophies under his guidance and recovered a clearly recognisable competitive identity.
The big target of Flick's third season: winning the Champions League
The main objective of Flick's third campaign at Barcelona is the Champions League, a trophy that has slipped away in his first two seasons in the Catalan dugout. The German coach already knows what it takes to win Europe's top club competition, having done so with Bayern in 2020, and he is aiming to repeat that success with Barcelona.
This season carries special weight for the German manager: it will become his longest project at the highest level, surpassing any previous experience in an elite dugout. The only longer spell of his coaching career came in the early 2000s, when he managed TSG 1899 Hoffenheim for five seasons, although at that time the club played in the German third division and its competitive and media profile was nowhere near that of Barcelona, Bayern or the German national team.
Frequently asked questions about Hansi Flick and his Barcelona spell
Frequently asked questions
How many seasons has Hansi Flick been at Barcelona?
Hansi Flick began his third season in charge of Barcelona on 13 July. It is also his longest spell in an elite dugout, surpassing his stints at Bayern Munich and with the German national team.
How many trophies has Flick won with Barcelona?
In his first two seasons at the helm of the Catalan club, Hansi Flick has won five trophies. The big goal of his third campaign is to win the Champions League, which has eluded him in the previous two seasons.
Why did Flick leave Bayern Munich and the Germany job?
Flick chose to leave Bayern in the summer of 2021 despite having a contract until 2023 and an impressive haul of six trophies. With Germany, he was dismissed on 10 September 2023 after a heavy defeat against Japan at the start of his third season.