Barcelona sack Valverde and appoint Setien Barcelona Signed until 2022

23.29. And Quique Setien will be presented to the media on Tuesday, after signing a deal until June 2022.

- 1.30pm CET contract signing in the President Sunol box in a private event.

- 2.00pm, photo session on the pitch at Camp Nou.

- 2.30pm, presentation and press conference in the Auditori 1899.

23.15. IT'S OFFICIAL, VALVERDE IS NO LONGER BARCELONA COACH

Agreement between FC Barcelona and Ernesto Valverde to end his contract as manager of the first team. Thank you for everything, Ernesto. Best of luck in the future. pic.twitter.com/zrIgB1sW2e ? FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 13, 2020

23:03. Inaki Ibanez, Valverde's representative, has left the Camp Nou offices without having agreed a settlement for his client, which makes the possibility of a statement this evening less likely.

22:18. If Valverde's dismissal is confirmed, then he will become only the third coach to be replaced while to of LaLiga Santander.

It first happened in 1935/36 when Athletic Club coach Jose Maria Olabarria was dismissed on after Round 10 and his position was taken by William Garbutt.

The second time came in 1954/55 when Real Madrid coach Enrque Fernández was fired after Round 13 to make way for Jose Villalonga.

Then the most recent was same when Radomir Antic was fired after Round 19 from Real Madrid in 1991/92, and replaced by Leo Beenhakker

22:11. Inaki Ibanez, Valverde's representative, told El Chiringuito outside the Camp Nou: Ernesto is waiting to have his contract terminated. It's not the best time for any coach.

22:04. Antena 3 Deportes have managed to catch Bartomeu hugging Barcelona CEO Grau during the board meeting at the Camp Nou.

21:24. When Barcelona do release their statement it will confirm the dismissal of Valverde as well as announce the hiring of Quique Setien.

20:09. Setien's agent is in Barcelona to negotiate a contract with the club, say RAC1.

20:04. From our very own Hugo Cerezo - If Valverde doesn't stay... then make it Quique Setien

19:53. Sources have confirmed to MARCA that Quique Setien will be the new Barcelona coach. FULL STORY HERE

19:48. Bartomeu has left the Camp Nou offices.

19:43. It is expected that the Barcelona statement at 21:00 will confirm the dismissal of Valverde after two and a half years in charge.

19:36. A tweet from Setien in 2016: I thought that football could be played in a better way, but I didn't see it until Johan [Cruyff] showed it to us.

Yo sentía que se podía jugar mejor al fútbol, pero no lo vi hasta que Johan nos lo enseñó. ? Quique Setien (@QSetien) March 24, 2016

19:27. News from Barcelona. There will be no press conference or appearance from anyone this evening, but a statement will be released at 21:00, with Bartomeu and Abidal speaking on Tuesday.

19:25. If Setien is chosen, then he would have a friend in the dressing room in Sergio Busquets.

19:16. Half an hour ago, the coach of Barcelona was still not clear and there is a lot of tension among the Barcelona board.

18:55. The last coaches to be sacked were...

Season | Out | In

2002/03 | Van Gaal | Antic

2000/01 | Serra Ferrer | Rexach

1995/96 | Cruyff | Rexach

1987/88 | Venables | Luis Aragones

It should also be noted that Valverde was sacked by Villarreal in 2009/10.

18:48. The pros and cons of the three candidates for the Barcelona job.

Quique Setien: He is a follower of the Barcelona style, and would be perfect for what the fans and hierarchy want. However, he doesn't have the experience of coaching a top tier side like Barcelona.

Mauricio Pochettino: Knows what it is like to take a club to new levels as he did with Tottenham and making the Champions League final. But he has confessed his ambition to coach Real Madrid one day, and Barcelona fans may not be happy with the appointment.

Garcia Pimienta: This is the easiest decision. Appointing the current coach of the B team. He knows the style, but doesn't have experience in LaLiga Santander or at a top side in general.

18:29. Stay tuned as there may be an official announcement on Valverde's future at around 19:30 this evening.

18:13. Abidal and Grau have left the meeting.

18:09. Barcelona have not fired a coach since 2003. MORE HERE

17:56. Bartomeu informed Valverde this morning that he will not continue as coach of Barcelona. In a meeting between the coach, president, CEO Oscar Grau, and the technical team of Eric Abidal and Ramon Planes. In addition, a three-man shortlist was drawn up to take over - Pochettino, Setien and the coach of Barcelona B, Garcia-Pimienta. FULL STORY HERE.

17:10. Valverde's hours are numbers. Every minutes that passes it seems as if his time at Barcelona has come to an end.

16.37. According to Cadena Cope, Eric Abidal and Ramon Planes have arrived at the board meeting. It's believed they will propose possible candidates to replace Ernesto Valverde for the board to evaluate.

16.34. Sergi Samper has spoken to Radio Barcelona about the potential sacking of Ernesto Valverde. "If there is somebody prepared to come in then it's Javier Garcia Pimienta," he said, referring to the B team coach. "He is pure Barcelona DNA. He has personality and a clear way of playing that can help Barcelona."

16.03. The Barcelona board meeting has been going on for more than half an hour now. Josep Maria Bartomeu is explaining his point of view after meeting with Ernesto Valverde earlier in the day.

15.34. Barcelona have announced that there will be two training sessions on Tuesday. More details here.

15.21. Even with his future in the air, Ernesto Valverde took Barcelona training this morning. It was a session in which Arthur Melo featured as he continues his return from injury. More details here.

14.57. The Supercopa de Espana could end up changing the whole 2019/20 season. More analysis here.

14.30. Here's footage of Josep Maria Bartomeu leaving the training complex on his way to the Camp Nou.

14.28. This won't be an easy meeting for Josep Maria Bartomeu. According to Luis Fernando Rojo, various members of the board are unhappy with the way the coaching situation has been managed in the past few days and they will express their feelings.

14.19. Photos from EFE of Ernesto Valverde leaving Barcelona's training complex after meeing with Josep Maria Bartomeu.

14.17. Josep Maria Bartomeu's has left the training complex and is on his way to the Camp Nou for the board meeting.

14.05. According to Radio MARCA's Carles Escolan, Barcelona haven't included an Ernesto Valverde pre-match press conference in their schedule for the week that is given out to media.

13.59 horas. The meeting between Josep Maria Bartomeu and Ernesto Valverde has finished.

13.57. Lionel Messi has left the training centre now. He has long defended Ernesto Valverde.

13.53. Luis Fernando Rojo has reported that Ernesto Valverde's future won't be decided in the current meeting between the coach and Josep Maria Bartomeu. The president is listening to the coach's thoughts and will then attend a board meeting. The decision will be taken there.

13.48. Ernesto Valverde and Josep Maria Bartomeu are meeing just now. It should finish shortly as the president has a meeting at the Camp Nou.

13.43. Andres Iniesta was present at training on Monday, for what could be the final session with Ernesto Valverde in charge.

13.27. Patrick Kluivert has also left the training complex in his car.

13.24. According to Alejandro Segura, director of institutional relations Guillermo Amor has just left the training complex in his car.

13.12. Luis Fernando Rojo is reporting that it's unclear which board member will speak following Monday's board meeting. Normally it's spokesperson Josep Vives, but today it could be Josep Maria Bartomeu himself.

13.05. If Ernesto Valverde goes, who'll replace him? Xavi has said no and that's just the latest rejection for Josep Maria Bartomeu. More details here.

12.55. A meeting between Josep Maria Bartomeu and Ernesto Valverde is expected to start soon. It should take place before the board meeting at 14:00 CET.

12.41. Footage of Josep Maria Bartomeu's arrival at the training complex.

12.33. According to Radio MARCA's Carles Escolan, Ernesto Valverde's group aren't planning on any meeting with anyone in the club. Yet it seems Barcelona's decision is definite.

12.30. Josep Maria Bartomeu has arrived at Barcelona's training complex. It appears he will sack Ernesto Valverde today.

12.19. Andres Iniesta was a special guest at Barcelona's training session.

@andresiniesta8 visita el entrenamiento del primer equipo.



Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper pic.twitter.com/LSgsESDULq ? FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona_es) 13 de enero de 2020

12.04. In the end, Ernesto Valverde did lead the day's training session. Now focus turns to the board meeting scheduled for 14:00 CET this Monday.

11.50. This is an official image from the club showing Ernesto Valverde talking to his players. It could be his final speech to the squad.

11.47. Barcelona have published some images of the training session.

Entrenamiento de los jugadores disponibles del primer equipo en el campo Tito Vilanova.



Arthur hace parte de la sesión con el grupo y Ter Stegen hace trabajo de campo.



Todibo no se entrena con permiso del club.



También entrenan Iñaki Peña, C. Pérez y Ansu Fati del Barça B. pic.twitter.com/u9VNYqX1vj ? FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona_es) 13 de enero de 2020

11.43 . Today's training session is the first of the week, with only Wednesday scheduled as a rest day. Barcelona play Granada on Sunday and it seems Ernesto Valverde won't be in the dugout.

11.35. According to Carles Escolan on Radio MARCA, there could be a replacing of Ernesto Valverde in the Barcelona dugout today.

Valverde ha llegado a las 8 a la Ciudad Deportiva (3 horas antes de la sesión). Todo apunta a que está viviendo sus últimas horas como entrenador del Barça ? Carles Escolán (@CarlesEscolan) 13 de enero de 2020

11.26. Luis Enrique defended Ernesto Valverde as he spoke during the Supercopa de Espana final on Sunday night. See what he had to say here.

11.19. Barcelona B coach Francisco Javier Garcia Pimienta is also at the training ground for his session with the B team. If Ernesto Valverde is let go, he could be a temporary bridge in the dugout.

11.11. Ernesto Valverde is leading training as normal.

11.06. According to EFE, it could be a busy day at the Camp Nou offices. A meeting between Josep Maria Bartomeu and Ernesto Valverde could take place after training. Then, at 14:00 CET, the board are due to meet. That meeting had already been scheduled for several weeks.

10.45. Training is due to start in 15 minutes and there has been no communication to say if Ernesto Valverde will or won't lead the session.

10.35. Andres Iniesta has come to Ernesto Valverde's defence, criticising the way the situation has been handled. See what he had to say here.

10.26. The players have arrived at the training centre for the day's session. Patrick Kluivert and Guillermo Amor are also in the building.

10.05. Barcelona are due to train at 11:00 CEST this morning. The players had days off after the Supercopa de Espana, but now they're back. It remains to be seen if Ernesto Valverde will lead the session.

10.00. Barcelona have already received two rejections as they look for a possible replacement for Ernesto Valverde. All the details on the search here.

9.50. This morning, Ernesto Valverde arrived at Barcelona's training centre three hours before the start of training. Shortly afterwards, his assistant arrived too.

9.45. Good morning and welcome to the start of a new week. In this blog we'll be bringing out all the latest on the future of Ernesto Valverde.