German Football Federation on Saturday announced that Heiko Westermann will be departing for Barcelona.
Westermann, a former German international with 27 caps, has been serving as an assistant coach for the German U-19 national team for the past five years.
He is now set to join the Catalan club as an assistant to their new head coach, who previously led both Bayern Munich and the German national team.
Rainer Zietsch will take over Westermann’s role, becoming the new assistant to Christian Worns for the German U-19 team.
Westermann, who retired in 2018, enjoyed a playing career that included stints at Schalke 04, Hamburg, Real Betis, and Ajax.
The support staff for the German head coach at Barcelona will comprise eight members, including several new additions among the coaching and fitness personnel.
Head coach, Hansi Flick, will be supported by assistant coaches Marcus Sorg, Toni Tapalovic, and Heiko Westermann, while José Ramon De La Fuente remains as the goalkeeping coach.
The fitness team welcomes Julio Tous, Pepe Conde, Rafa Maldonado, and Germán Fernández.
The new coaching staff posed for their official photograph at the Ciutat Esportiva on Saturday, July 13. The full list of staff members is as follows:
– Hansi Flick: Head coach
– Marcus Sorg: Assistant coach
– Toni Tapalovic: Assistant coach
– Heiko Westermann: Assistant coach
– José Ramon De la Fuente: Goalkeeping coach
– Julio Tous: Head of fitness training
– Pepe Conde: Field fitness coach
– Rafa Maldonado: Field fitness coach
– Germán Fernández: Gym and strength fitness coach
