Former Bengaluru FC and Hyderabad FC manager Albert Roca will be joining FC Barcelona as fitness coach under newly appointed manager Ronald Koeman.
The 57-year-old Spaniard was appointed coach at Hyderabad FC earlier this year while the 2019-20 ISL season was still in progress. However, he was only expected to take charge in the new season which is expected to start in November 2020. Roca replaced Phil Brown who was let go after a string of poor results which left Hyderabad FC at the bottom of the table in the 2019-20 ISL. The remaining six games in the season were overseen by assistant manager Xavier Gurri López.
Before taking charge at Hyderabad FC (albeit momentarily), Roca was at Bengaluru FC. He helped the team reach the final of the 2016 AFC Cup where they were defeated by Iraqi club Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya. In the 2017-18 season, BFC finished in first place in the league and qualified for the playoffs only to lose to Chennaiyin FC in the final. They did however win the Super Cup in 2018.
Prior to his sojourn in India, Albert was assistant coach at FC Barcelona for five years under Frank Rijkaard. Later on, he followed Rijkaard as his deputy to manage Turkish club Galatasaray SK and the Saudi Arabian National Team. He also managed the El Salvador National Team before joining Bengaluru FC in 2016.
The two-year deal Roca signed with Hyderabad FC has been mutually terminated following FC Barcelona’s offer for Albert to join the coaching staff.
For me, it’s been a tough decision to make.
I am thankful to everyone at HFC for showing immense faith in me since I joined back in January. I am aware that all our fans will be disheartened but believe me, it’s not an easy goodbye for me either.
I wish HFC the very best for the upcoming season and the future and I am extremely positive that Hyderabad FC will be one of the top sides this season.
I will be assisting the management during the transition phase.
Trust me, the club is in great hands and I will be following the club this season and in the future.
Albert Roca
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