Barcelona have announced that they have reached an agreement to terminate Rafa Marquez’s contract.
Marquez has been managing the club’s B team and was once considered a strong candidate for the first-team head coach position.
Marquez, who extended his contract last summer after a promising first year, has been in his role for two years.
When Xavi initially declared his intention to step down as Barcelona’s head coach in early 2024, Marquez was among the top contenders to replace him, following a similar path to that of Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique.
However, Xavi later reversed his decision before ultimately being dismissed by club president Joan Laporta. Hansi Flick was then appointed to lead Barcelona in their quest to surpass rivals Real Madrid.
Recently, Marquez received an offer from Mexico to join Javier Aguirre’s staff, initially as an assistant manager on a two-year contract, with the plan to become head coach after the 2026 World Cup for a four-year term.
Barcelona, aware of Marquez’s contemplation of this long-term opportunity, have now confirmed their parting.
Marquez was praised for his “dedication and professionalism” during his tenure, having previously played for Barcelona for seven years from 2003 to 2010.
During his time as a player, the 45-year-old won two Champions League titles, four La Liga championships, and six other major trophies, including the UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup.
Mexico hopes Marquez’s experience and familiarity with Aguirre’s coaching style will help turn around the national team’s fortunes.
At the 2022 World Cup, El Tri failed to advance to the knockout stages for the first time since 1994, and they recently exited the Copa America at the group stage, finishing third in Group A behind Venezuela and Ecuador, but ahead of Jamaica.
