One is an accident, two is a trend. If there's any truth to that saying then the job as manager of Barcelona B would be one of the most sought-after jobs in football. After all, the last two managers of the B team have gone on to high-profile jobs. Pep Guardiola spent a season coaching the B team in the Tercera Division and helped it win promotion to Segunda B. The next season, he was handed the keys to the senior team. Luis Enrique replaced him as the B team coach and in two seasons, guided them to the Segunda Division and a subsequent third-place finish in the second division this past season. Now, Eusebio Sacristan gets the task of replacing Luis Enrique, who is off to the hot seat at AS Roma.
Like Guardiola, Eusebio is a disciple of Johan Cruyff, having played seven years in Barcelona and being an integral part of the Dream Team. He was a central midfielder by trade, but could just as easily slot into the wings or oddly, at right back, because Cruyff had stated that "it's where the football starts". He was never a star, but a kind of selfless player every team needed to win. And no surprise, he won eleven trophies while playing for Barcelona. He also had 15 caps for Spain. After his time in Barcelona, he went back to his boyhood club Real Valladolid to finish his career.
Now this is not Eusebio's first foray into coaching. He was an assistant to Frank Rijkaard during Rijkaard's time as manager of the Blaugranas, and he was the manager of Celta Vigo during the '09-'10 season, when Vigo ended up finishing 12th in the Liga Adelante. He was eventually dismissed by the Galicians last year after Celta finished mid-table.
Overall, he's got some tough shoes to fill. Luis Enrique took the B team as high as it can go (3rd in Liga Adelante), so unless he can win the second division he's not gonna surpass Luis Enrique's accomplishments. And there's also the matter of losing players. Nolito and Jonathan Soriano are off to cash in on spectacular seasons, and Thiago Alcantara and Andreu Fontas are off to play for the senior team full time.
Nevertheless, good luck Eusebio.
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