Koeman Opens Up: Managing Barcelona Takes a Toll on Mental Health

Former Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman voiced his support for Xavi following the latter’s decision to step down from the club, shedding light on the mental toll of managing Barcelona. Koeman, who led the team for a year and a half, faced challenging times during his tenure.

Taking charge in the summer of 2020 amid the aftermath of pandemic-induced disruptions, Koeman encountered a tumultuous period. Barcelona had relinquished LaLiga under Setién and suffered a devastating 2-8 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarterfinals in Lisbon. On top of that, Koeman navigated through two crises involving Lionel Messi’s uncertain future—one marked by Messi’s burofax requesting an exit during Bartomeu’s presidency and another with the heartbreaking failure to renew the club legend’s contract a year later.

Koeman was also at the helm during the ‘Barçagate’ scandal and the subsequent club elections that saw Joan Laporta return to the presidency. Despite these off-field challenges, Koeman struggled to meet expectations on the pitch. In his first complete season, Barcelona faltered in the final stretch of LaLiga, finishing third when they seemed poised for the title (ultimately claimed by Atletico Madrid). In the Champions League, they suffered a humiliating exit in the round of 16 against PSG, led by Mbappé. While victorious in the Copa del Rey, Koeman’s side faced a semifinal comeback defeat in the 2021 Supercopa against Athletic Club.

In his second year, Koeman and the team experienced a downward spiral without Messi and Griezmann, finding themselves almost out of the Champions League group stage and languishing in ninth place in LaLiga by November. Xavi took charge after Koeman’s dismissal:

“Being the coach of Barcelona is an attack on mental health. It’s much more enjoyable to be a player for Barcelona than the coach, and Xavi, being a Catalan and a club legend, surely felt that,” Koeman stated in an interview for Good Morning Eredivisie. He added, “It’s the most difficult job I’ve ever done.”

Xavi, referencing Koeman during a press conference, noted how little the media appreciated the former coach. Koeman, acknowledging the stress and pressure, expressed support for Xavi, emphasizing the media’s tendency to point fingers at the coach when things go wrong.