Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman still not officially registered ahead of LaLiga start

Getty Images
Ben Hayward17 September 2020

Ronald Koeman has still not been officially registered as Barcelona coach, and the club need to sort the matter before their LaLiga kick-off later this month.

Koeman has taken charge of two friendlies – the 3-1 wins against Catalan sides Nastic Tarragona and Girona – since taking over from Quique Setien in the summer, but the Dutchman will be unable to sit on the bench in an official game until he has been registered with the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).

The problem has come about because former coach Setien is yet to sign his severance package with Barcelona and until he does so, the Cantabrian will remain registered as Blaugrana boss with the RFEF.

Setien was dismissed after the team's 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League, which brought to an end a difficult seven-month tenure at Camp Nou, but the 61-year-old believes he is entitled to be paid his salary up until the end of the 2020-21 season.

According to Cadena COPE, Barcelona have until September 26 to resolve the issue, ahead of their LaLiga start at home to Villarreal that weekend.

In the meantime, Koeman's side host Elche at Camp Nou in the Gamper Trophy on Saturday.