Five candidates to replace Ernesto Valverde as Barcelona manager

Mikel Arteta

Perhaps the biggest longshot of all the managers listed, Mikel Arteta would be an interesting choice to take over Barcelona. He’s played under a lot of experienced coaches, including Arsene Wenger, and has spent the last two seasons at Manchester City learning under Pep Guardiola.

Before Unai Emery took over at Arsenal, Arteta was heavily-linked with taking over that London-based side.

The knock on Arteta is that he lacks experience managing any side but the same could be said of Pep Guardiola. Zinedine Zidane made his name as Carlo Ancelotti’s number two when he was in Madrid and that worked out rather decent.

With all the talk of “Barca DNA” and the sort, well, Arteta has it. He’s a former Barcelona youth academy player and knows what is expected despite never playing for the actual first team. He’s undoubtedly learned a thing or two these past two seasons under Guardiola and it’s about time he goes out on his own and sees what he’s made of.

Again, he’s a longshot at best and a name that probably isn’t even on Barcelona’s radar. He does lack experience but he also brings new ideas as he’s still not long removed from retiring as a player. He knows what it takes to win and knows how to deal with high-pressure situation even as a number two. It’s an attribute that many have stated Ernesto Valverde doesn’t have following the loss to Liverpool.

Barcelona are known to take a gamble with young managers. With Mikel Arteta, they have another shot at that.