Barcelona confirm Ramon Planes as new technical director after Eric Abidal's exit

Summer revamp: Barcelona have promoted from within to find a replacement for departed technical director Eric Abidal
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George Flood19 August 2020

Barcelona have confirmed the appointment of Ramon Planes as their new technical director as the summer rebuild at Camp Nou continues.

The Spaniard replaces two-time Champions League winner Eric Abidal, who parted company with Barca on Tuesday shortly after the dismissal of head coach Quique Setien.

Planes had previously served as Abidal's assistant at the club.

"LATEST NEWS - Ramon Planes, new technical director for Barça," the LaLiga giants announced in a short post on their official Twitter account on Wednesday.

News of Planes' promotion was quickly overshadowed by confirmation from Barcelona that Ronald Koeman will indeed replace Setien as manager, as anticipated.

The 57-year-old - who spent six years at Camp Nou as a player - has left his position as Netherlands national team coach to sign an initial two-year deal with his former club lasting until June 30, 2022.

Barcelona's revamp comes after a dismal 2019/20 campaign in which they lost their LaLiga crown to fierce rivals Real Madrid and were also humiliated by Bayern Munich in the Champions League, losing 8-2 in the one-legged quarter-final in Lisbon on Friday night.

They also lost in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey and ended the season without a trophy for the first time since 2007/08.