Hansi Flick, the father figure to Barcelona’s young stars

AlavésAthletic ClubAtlético MadridBarcelonaCelta de VigoElcheEspanyolGetafeGironaLevanteMallorcaOsasunaRayo VallecanoReal BetisReal MadridReal OviedoReal SociedadSevillaValenciaVillarrealPodcastsCopa del ReyHansi Flick, the father figure to Barcelona’s young starsHansi Flick's Barca won a domestic treble last season Scott Heppell /AFP via Getty Images) Share full articleIt was Hansi Flick in microcosm. On February 28, Barcelona beat Villarreal 4-1 in La Liga. As Barca’s German manager finished answering the final question of his post-match press conference, his eyes fixed on the back of the room. He smiled, and gave a little nod. Seconds later, one of his young grandchildren darted out of the darkness and towards him. Flick scooped him up, a beam breaking across his face. It was a lovely moment that revealed much about the personality and outlook of a man who seems very settled in his job, his sense of ease reflecting the great success he has had at Barca. About a month later, the subject of Flick’s future came up in another press conference. It was on the agenda because club president Joan Laporta had told the media he planned to offer an extension on his contract, which runs until June 2027. Speaking the day before Barcelona played Newcastle United in their Champions League last-16 second leg, Flick said it was “not the right moment” to discuss that. But he certainly gave signs that it was likely to happen. “Everyone knows I am really happy,” he said. “I need to speak with my family first, but we have enough time to discuss it. “I love to work here. But the most important thing is that I have a fantastic family, I am proud of that, and feel the support of everyone in Barcelona. This is football and we know how this world works, but we have no thoughts of leaving. “This will be my last job and I am really happy about that.” Whenever 61-year-old Flick retires, he wants to devote himself to being a grandfather. That is how he already spends his free time in Barcelona, including on strolls through the part of the city where he lives, and it is something he has thought about carefully. Based on his first two years as Barca manager, that shouldn’t come as a surprise. When Flick arrived in June 2024, he took charge of a very young squad and instantly knew how to connect with them. He took on a fatherly role with many of the players. Several examples demonstrate this and help show how Flick has been a key part of the team’s transformation. Flick’s appointment came during probably the toughest period in Gavi’s career. In November 2023, the midfielder suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury that would keep him out until the following October. At that point, Flick knew very little Spanish, and Gavi, then 19, did not speak a great deal of English. Yet they still developed a close relationship, with Flick paying special attention to Gavi’s recovery. It is still common to see the mutual affection they share on Barca’s social media channels. After Gavi suffered another knee injury last August, tearing his meniscus in training, he underwent surgery on the area for a second time. The day after his operation, it was not his family or the doctor who woke him up in hospital at 8am, it was Flick. “Flick has been like a father,” Gavi told DAZN after he made his most recent return, in Barca’s 5-2 home win over Sevilla in La Liga on March 15. “He’s always supported me. I’m very grateful to him because he’s always believed in me, and I’ve really felt that. I hope he stays here for many more years.” Then there is the example of Marc Bernal. Part of the same generation from La Masia as Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi, who both broke into the first team before Flick arrived, Bernal was promoted from the academy by the German coach for his debut campaign in the 2024-25 season. Bernal, then 17, started Barca’s first three Liga games of the season. In the third match, he tore his ACL and had to have surgery. When Flick went to visit him in hospital, he brought a gift: the self-help book Supera tus limites (Overcome Your Limits) by Jordi Gil. Inside the front cover was a heartfelt note, in which Flick told him he was the defensive midfielder of Barcelona’s future. In a recent interview with local newspaper Sport, Bernal said that helped him a great deal. He was a relative unknown, but Flick’s faith in him is now easy to understand, and his patience was key to helping him flourish. Bernal returned in September this season, in a comeback scaled carefully to minimise risk. When the winter transfer window opened, there was significant interest from clubs wanting to take him on loan, because the player was still not getting many minutes at Barca. Rumours of a temporary switch to Girona intensified in the Spanish media. Flick saw this and decided to send a message to the midfielder. “I’ve read about Girona and I want you to stay. You’re a player for the club’s next 15 years,” he told him. Flick had wanted to shield Bernal from Barca’s various injury crises, knowing there would be a risk in rushing him back given what he had been through — and the fact he was still growing (he is 2cm/0.8 inches taller than before his injury). Bernal’s role in the team has developed significantly since February, with his physical condition now able to support that. When he scored his first Barcelona goal, against Mallorca on February 7, his manager celebrated effusively on the touchline. “There are many gestures where you can tell that Flick is genuinely happy for the good things that happen to his players, as if he were their father, and the players pick up on that,” said a dressing room source who, like all those consulted for this article, asked to speak anonymously as they did not have permission to comment. “He is very methodical and demanding,” said a club source, also highlighting his “typical strict German character”. “Flick doesn’t give you anything for free,” they added. “But he’s a very good person.” In December, the Uruguayan was granted a leave of absence from the squad, stepping away due to anxiety. Flick sat down with him to tell him that he understood and to take the time he needed. Other examples can be seen in the deliberate way Flick sprung to Raphinha’s defence back in December, taking up the topic of the Brazilian’s lack of individual recognition despite not having been asked about it. “The FIFPro Team of the Year thing struck me as a bad joke,” he said at a press conference, after Raphinha was not included in the XI. “It’s not a big deal because I don’t think much about what the best team is, but when I saw that Raphinha wasn’t in it, I found it unbelievable. “He was very important to us last season. When you look at the goals he scored, the assists, the influence he has on the team, it’s very unfair on him. It’s a joke.” A few weeks later, Barca beat Real Madrid to win the Supercopa de Espana on January 11 and Raphinha was awarded the player of the match. After the game, he told reporters, “Hansi Flick changed my life. I was leaving the club, I had one foot out the door… but he arrived, told me I was going to be an important player, and that’s what a player and a person needs. The confidence to do your job.” Flick has got the very best out of Raphinha, turning him into one of the team’s most important players just when it seemed his time at Barcelona was over. There has been a similar situation with Gerard Martin, who has really impressed as a centre-back this season, converted from his previous role as backup left-back. The key attributes in it all seem to be Flick’s ability to convey confidence and trust, and the humane way he communicates with his players. Flick’s man-management skills have been a breath of fresh air for a team that was in a sporting and institutional crisis when he arrived. Flick was the glue that held everything together on the way to a domestic treble last season. With Barca leading La Liga by seven points and into the Champions League quarter-finals against Atletico Madrid, they can hope for more success this term and beyond. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Before joining The Athletic as a football writer, Laia Cervelló worked at Diario Sport reporting on FC Barcelona for four years. She has also worked for another four years for BeIN SPORTS Spain and GOLTV. She began her career as a journalist at 'betevé', the public television station in Barcelona, where she spent almost nine years. Follow Laia on Twitter @Laia_Cervello