Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that former Barcelona goalkeeper Andoni Zubizarreta is at this moment the main candidate to replace Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain, who would leave the club in June. At least three candidates would think that Zubizarreta is a good candidate for the job.
Andoni Zubizarreta was a Barcelona player from 1986, when he arrived from Athletic Bilbao, until 1994, when he left for Valencia. With Barcelona, the 48-year old won four consecutive Spanish leagues from 1991 to 1994, two Spanish cups in 1988 and 1990, two Spanish supercups in 1991 and 1992, one Champions league 1992, one Cup winner's cup in 1989 and one European supercup in 1992.
Since his retirement as an active player, Zubizarreta, who reportedly has a close relationship with Guardiola, has been acting as radio and television pundit. From 2001 to 2004, he was the sports director of Athletic Bilbao.
Zubizarreta was also, together with - among others - Real Madrid general director Jorge Valdano, one of the founders of makeateam, a company that focuses on human resources training and consulting, of which he is currently still the vice-president.
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Begiristain proposes Zubizarreta as his successor
Ex-players Amor and Migueli linked with Rosell
Zubizarreta: "No candidate has contacted me"
Former Barcelona goalkeeper Andoni Zubizarreta gave an interview to Catalan sports paper Sport.After seven years in office, your former teammate Txiki Begiristain seems ready to leave the post of sports director, and your name has been mentioned as a possible substitute...I already learned long ago not to comment on rumours and speculation. Txiki has done a great job, the remarkable results are there to prove that. Everything else will be talked about after the "next game".The bar is very high, but with your experience at Barça and after having been the general director of Athletic Bilbao you are ready for the challenge...The bar in a big team like Barça is always high because the expectations are maximum, it's not enough to win, you should also play well. The style is there and that's a small advantage for anyone who takes over. One can only think about how to improve it, but that will be the task of the one who will be in charge.Has a presidential candidate contacted you?None told me anything, and I have the feeling that the election campaign has not yet begun, because the sporting results and the close league finish postpone the election issue a bit. There's nothing.Read more:Zubizarreta is an option to replace BegiristainEx-players Amor and Migueli linked with RosellBegiristain proposes Zubizarreta as his successor
Catalan newspaper La Vanguardia claims that former Barcelona economic vice-president Ferran Soriano will soon officially announce at a press conference that he will be a candidate in the elections for president of FC Barcelona in June of this year (read more here).
Soriano would have started to inform the main shareholders of Spanish airline Spanair, of which he is the chairman, and several important people of the Catalan society and politics about his decision. The public announcement would be planned after the holy week, the week before Easter, that is celebrated on Sunday 4 April.
Former Barcelona marketing and sports vice-president Marc Ingla would become the right-hand man of Soriano, who is reportedly open for agreements with other candidates such as current Barcelona vice-president Alfons Godall and Jaume Ferrer under the condition that he will keep on leading the final candidacy.
Soriano would continue to count on Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola and Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain, although the latter would get another role at the club. Former Barcelona goalkeeper Andoni Zubizarreta could replace Begiristain as sports director (read more here).
Read more:
Soriano preparing candidacy Begiristain proposes Zubizarreta as his successor Soriano carrying out election poll
Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain has postponed the renewal of his contract, that expires at the end of this season, to give the next president the free hand.If the new president would want him to continue, Begiristain could be willing to consider the otpion, although his intial plan would be to leave the club in the summer.
The Basque former player would already have told his closest entourage that he wants to close an era and start something new after a sabbatical period.Begiristain has reportedly said during talks with current Barcelona board members who will run for president that former Barcelona goalkeeper Andoni Zubizarreta [picture] would be the best candidate to replace him as sports director as of next season.Read more:Zubizarreta is an option to replace BegiristainPoll result: Begiristain has to stay?Rosell wants to cancel sports director
Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that former Barcelona goalkeeper Andoni Zubizarreta could become the new sports director of FC Barcelona this summer. At least three presidential candidates would see Zubizarreta as an option to replace current sports director Txiki Begiristain.
Begiristain would have decided to leave the club at the end of June and would publicly announce that decision in April, although current Barcelona vice-president and candidates Alfons Godall and Jaume Ferrer would still be hoping to convince him to stay. Godall would want Begiristain to continue for one more year to support the change of presidents.
Presidential candidates Jaume Guixà and Agustí Benedito have already said in an interviews that they don't wish to continue with Begiristain and the same is believed to be the case with former Barcelona sports vice-president Sandro Rosell.
The latter would have planned to offer Guardiola a role as general manager but would now have to change these plans because Guardiola has said he prefers to continue as coach. Therefore basically all candidates would at this moment be looking for a new sports director.
Andoni Zubizarreta was a Barcelona player from 1986, when he arrived from Athletic Bilbao, until 1994, when he left for Valencia. With Barcelona, the 48-year old won four consecutive Spanish leagues from 1991 to 1994, two Spanish cups in 1988 and 1990, two Spanish supercups in 1991 and 1992, one Champions league 1992, one Cup winner's cup in 1989 and one European supercup in 1992.
Since his retirement as an active player, Zubizarreta, who reportedly has a close relationship with Guardiola, has been acting as radio and television pundit. From 2001 to 2004, he was the sports director of Athletic Bilbao.
Zubizarreta was also, together with - among others - Real Madrid general director Jorge Valdano, one of the founders of makeateam, a company that focuses on human resources training and consulting, of which he is currently still the vice-president.
Read more:Txiki will leave at the end of season Poll result: Should the sports director disappear? Godall: "Txiki will be my sports director"
Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that former Barcelona goalkeeper Andoni Zubizarreta is at this moment the main candidate to replace Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain, who would leave the club in June. At least three candidates would think that Zubizarreta is a good candidate for the job.
