The end of the season can be a difficult time for many within football as their futures can become the subject of debate and speculation for a period.
Of course, the transfer market opens back up for players as clubs will either look to strengthen their teams or others will simply look to offload any deadwood that they deem they have been carrying and can no longer do so.
Managers and backroom staff are not exempt from the end of season merry-go-round, either, as football clubs may decide that they need to make a change following a campaign that may have been disappointing.
Naturally, there will have been plenty of speculation surrounding the role that Ronald Koeman has at FC Barcelona, as the club performed rather poorly over the course of the season and failed to pick up any of the biggest prizes, except for another Copa del Rey title; indeed, those betting on FC Barcelona using the max free bets available will have been equally disappointed with what they saw from the team throughout the campaign.
However, it seems the Dutchman is set to remain at the helm of Blaugrana for the upcoming season after “very frank and straight” talks were held between the manager, his representatives and the club president, Joan Laporta.
Koeman does only have one year left on his current deal, so there will be doubts that his stay will be extended unless FC Barcelona manages to obtain the La Liga title or the UEFA Champions League.
Laporta has revealed that the club wanted to opt for “continuity” when it came down to Koeman’s position, though, as they think it is best for the club currently.
Laporta said “very frank and straight conversations” had taken place and added: “We think it’s the best for Barca and we are very happy to be able to announce today that Ronald Koeman is staying.
“This time for reflection was necessary… to see together what didn’t work at the end of last season”.
It would seem that Koeman will get some additional help, though, with Jordi Cruyff having joined the club in what is described as a “strategic role”.
Although it is not quite clear what the son of the legendary Barca icon, Johan, will be doing, he did play for the club between 1994 and 1996, so he will know a thing or two about the goings-on at the Nou Camp.
The 47-year-old will leave his position as manager at Chinese Super League club Shenzhen FC and will team up with the Spanish outfit on 1 August.
His arrival is the first under Laporta who is looking to change things from top to bottom, including the organisational structure that is currently in place.
