Barcelona have confirmed the return of former midfielder Thiago Alcântara, who joins the club as an assistant coach to Hansi Flick, his former manager at Bayern Munich, Softfootball reports.
The news is the follow-up to the earlier report published last Monday of Thiago’s imminent return to his boyhood club, as earlier reported by Sotfootball.
The 34-year-old announced his retirement from professional football in 2024 following the expiry of his contract at Liverpool. His next chapter begins back at the club where his senior career started, this time as part of Flick’s backroom staff at the Catalan giants. However, this was a reappointment for Thiago, who had joined Hansi Flick’s backroom crew between June and August 2024 before resigning.
As announced on Barcelona’s website this afternoon, Thiago, who was present at the club training ground overseeing the activities of the players, has been saddled with the responsibility of the first team’s tactics at the Catalonia-based club.
The statement reads thus:
Former Barça player confirmed as coach, focusing on tactics and training session preparation among other things
This move will see Thiago reunite with the Blaugrana after an 11-year absence, having departed in 2013 to join Bayern Munich, where he played under Hansi Flick and Pep Guardiola.
Thiago’s presence will help the Catalonia giants, who have been battling injuries since the new season started, hence has affected the result of the club. Last Monday, Softfootball reported how three Barcelona players, Gavi, Alejandro Balde and Frenkie De Jong, have been ruled out of their next game against Valencia this weekend.
Thiago’s playing career was decorated with success across Europe. He won multiple Bundesliga titles under Flick and Pep Guardiola in Germany, two La Liga crowns with Barça, as well as the Champions League, both with Bayern and earlier in his career at the Camp Nou. He later spent four seasons in England with Liverpool, winning the FA Cup, EFL Cup, and UEFA Super Cup.
