Barcelona on Thursday have appointed Sergi Barjuan as interim coach following the sack of Ronald Koeman.
The announcement by the Catalan club is coming 14 hours after the sack of Koeman.
Koeman was sacked on Wednesday following a 1-0 loss to Rayo Vallecano in La Liga, which left the club ninth in the standings, five points off the top four.
Although it is widely expected that Xavi will be the Catalan side’s next coach, Barjuan will act as stopgap.
The club in a statement on its official website on Thursday said that Joan Laporta, the club President, will introduce the manager on Thursday.
The statement reads said, “Joan Laporta to introduce the new manager to the first team before the Thursday afternoon training session at the Ciutat Esportiva.
“FC Barcelona hereby announces that Sergi Barjuan, the current coach of Barça B, shall be taking provisional charge of the technical management of the senior squad.
“His interim position as first team head coach shall end as soon as the club has hired full-time head coach to replace the dismissed Ronald Koeman.
“FC Barcelona President, Joan Laporta, shall be officially introducing Sergi Barjuan to the first team squad this afternoon before the training session at the Ciutat Esportiva.
“Sergi Barjuan will be attending to the media in the pressroom at the Ciutat Esportiva to discuss the game against Alavés, with President Joan Laporta also appearing.”
