BARCELONA (Dispatches) - Barcelona are expected to name former Athletic Bilbao manager Ernesto Valverde as their new boss.
Valverde, who has won a Copa Del Rey with Barcelona as a player, had announced that he would step down as Bilbao manager after four years at the helm of the club.
Valverde managed Bilbao to their first trophy in 31 years when they won the Spanish Super Cup in 2015 beating Barcelona 5-1 on aggregate.
He then went on to manage Greek side Olympiacos winning league and domestic cup titles there.
He replaces Luis Enrique, who has won nine trophies in his three-year stint as Barcelona manager. The Catalan giants won a treble of the Copa Del Rey, La Liga and UEFA Champions League in his first season in charge. He has won a total of nine trophies with the club including a third consecutive Copa Del Rey in his last match as manager of Barcelona. He is hence the third most decorated manager of the club, only after Pep Guardiola and Johan Cruyff.
********Ernesto Valverde managed Bilbao to their first trophy in 31 years when they won the Spanish Super Cup in 2015 beating Barcelona 5-1 on aggregate.