Less than a year after Hansi Flick suffered the ignominy of becoming the first Germany head coach to be sacked, the 60-year-old German has restored his reputation at Barcelona and turned a fractured squad into one of Europe’s most exciting teams.

Why was Flick's appointment at Barcelona a surprise? 

Germany's disastrous 2022 World Cup in Qatar was a hit to the reputation of a coach who had previously had so much success at club level with Bayern Munich.

Flick's squad selection drew criticism, and his previously successful pressing game didn’t translate at the international level. Though Germany went undefeated in his 10 matches, the tournament in Qatar couldn't have gone worse. An opening game loss to Japan was ultimately the beginning of the end for Germany – who went on to crash out of a World Cup at the group for a second consecutive time.

Off field distraction, including the squad's decision to protest human rights issues in Qatar, did not help but for a coach who once won the sextuple with Bayern Munich, it was a dramatic fall. He was fired after a loss to Japan at home in September 2023 and a return to the dugout looked unlikely.

Why is the Barcelona job a risky one?

As one of the biggest sports teams and brands in the world, being the coach of Barcelona comes with pressure and the expectation to win. Flick also had to contend with replacing club legend Xavi and arriving into a city and a team that spoke a different language and had a different culture.

Beyond that, taking over Barcelona right now has even more challenges. The Catalan club are grappling with significant financial challenges that impacted various facets of the club's operations. They were unable to register new players, such as Dani Olmo and Pau Victor, at the start of the season due to LaLiga's stringent Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations.

The club attempted to address the issue by claiming revenue from the sale of VIP seats at the renovated Camp Nou. The long running saga looked to have come to a close in January when LaLiga officially registered the players. However, a review by LaLiga revealed the income was not reflected in Barcelona's audited financial statements, and in March led to the annulment of these player registrations.

Although Spain's Sports Council eventually ruled in favor of Barcelona in April, allowing Olmo and Víctor to play for the remainder of the season, the club's financial instability continues to pose challenges for player registrations and squad management.

In addition to financial constraints, Barcelona have also not been playing at their iconic Camp Nou stadium as it undergoes extensive renovations aimed at modernizing the facility and increasing its capacity. A return to the stadium is not expected until June 2026.

How has he changed Barcelona?

Flick's Barcelona presses higher and harder than under Xavi, carrying forward his style of play from his time at Bayern. This has overwhelmed many opponents as the high-pressing, quick-transition approach complements the club's DNA while adding much-needed intensity and verticality. The discipline of this team also extends to its defense. In the first three months of the season, Barcelona forced over 100 offside calls, leading to 13 goals being disallowed.

Doubts over the German's hiring seemed to be quickly silenced, as an impressive 4-0 victory over fierce rivals Real Madrid away from home just two months into this season proved. Following the win, former club legend Sergio Busquets admitted: "I didn’t expect everything to go so fast."

Marc Casado, the 21-year-old midfielder, has been seen as the player who best represents Flick's approach but perhaps no player has benefited more from Flick's arrival than Raphinha. The Brazilian winger admitted that he did not initially respond well to conversations with Flick regarding his position in the team. But his acceptance of being flexible saw him named as one of the club's captains and he has become one of the most in-form and impactful players this season.

Under Flick, players have clear roles and play faster, simpler football — without losing individual flair. He has successfully managed to merge Barcelona's traditional strengths (technical midfield play) with German football principles (pace, verticality, and physical dominance).

What can Flick's Barcelona achieve?

Just one year into the job, Flick has Barcelona on the verge of a treble. Barcelona face Real Madrid in the Spanish Cup Final, are leading La Liga by four points with eight matches to go and are in the quarterfinals of the Champions League. Barcelona's last treble came in the 2014-15 season under Luis Enrique, a run that included a Champions League semifinal victory over Pep Guardiola's Bayern Munich.

Flick knows how to win a treble, having done it in 2020 with Bayern Munich. However, some believe Bayern's second club treble comes with an asterisk attached to it as it happened during the coronavirus pandemic - when the Champions League quarterfinals and semifinals were only one leg, without crowds and all in Portugal. It is worth noting though, that during that run Flick's Bayern beat Barcelona 8-2 in the quarterfinals.

In a job that rarely offers coaches a second chance, especially at the highest level, Hansi Flick has already achieved more than many expected after he was removed from the Germany job. Now, he's on the verge of one of the greatest coaching comebacks of the modern era.

Edited by: Jonathan Harding