Former Barcelona Coach Reportedly on the Verge of Joining Liga MX
Quique Setién has emerged as the surprise candidate to become Tigres’ new head coach. Reports from Spanish agent Franco Fernández claim the former Barcelona manager has already accepted the Liga MX club’s offer.
Tigres could be on the verge of completing a high-profile move for their bench. Quique Setién, the former Barcelona head coach, has reportedly moved ahead in the race to become the Liga MX club’s new manager.
According to reports from Spanish agent Franco Fernández, Setién was contacted by Tigres’ front office and has already given the green light to the club’s offer. Fernández even claimed that an agreement is practically complete unless there is a last-minute change.
“If nothing changes, Quique Setién will be Tigres’ head coach. Everything has been agreed. The coach has already accepted the offer presented by the club,” Franco Fernández posted on social media.
Quique Setién Could Have His First Experience in Liga MX
At 67, Quique Setién is currently without a club and has more than two decades of coaching experience. Some of the biggest teams on his résumé include Real Betis, Barcelona, Villarreal, and Beijing Guoan in China.
His most high-profile spell came with Barcelona in 2020. The Spaniard took charge of the Catalan club in January of that year, although his tenure ended months later following the historic 8-2 defeat against Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarterfinals.
Now, Setién could begin a new chapter in his career with his first experience in Mexican soccer and take over the position left vacant by Guido Pizarro.
Tigres Weigh Their Options for the Bench
Although reports from Franco Fernández place Quique Setién very close to taking the job, the Spaniard has not been the only name considered by Tigres.
Guillermo Barros Schelotto and Juan Carlos Osorio have also emerged as alternatives for the position. Osorio has experience in Mexican soccer after coaching Puebla and later the Mexico national team, while Barros Schelotto remains under contract with Vélez Sarsfield until December.
Choosing a new head coach has become a priority for the Tigres front office, especially following the results obtained during Hernán Elizondo’s interim spell.
The club intends to appoint its new manager first and then work alongside him on the necessary moves to strengthen the squad before the transfer window closes. For now, according to Franco Fernández’s reports, Quique Setién appears to be leading the race to take charge of the Monterrey-based club.
