Following the departure of club legend Xavi, Barcelona made the somewhat left-field appointment of Hansi Flick. But Culers were forced to temper their expectations upon his arrival.
The German had masterminded a historic treble with Bayern Munich in 2019–20 but performed disastrously with the Germany national team. Flick’s stock had fallen drastically since his Bavarian stint but Barcelona deemed it a gamble worth taking. They have been rewarded emphatically.
The 60-year-old made an immediate impact in Catalonia as Barcelona looked to rediscover themselves and it was swiftly evident that 2024–25 could be special. With trophies galore and La Blaugrana comfortably the most enjoyable team in world football to watch, such premonitions have come to pass.
An extraordinary debut season has restored Barcelona to the loftiest heights and etched Flick’s name into the history books, but how does his first campaign compare to the club’s two greatest managers: Pep Guardiola and Johan Cruyff?
