Valverde makes way for Setien

Barcelona have parted company with coach Ernesto Valverde and drafted in former Real Betis boss Quique Setien as his replacement.

Valverde guided the Catalans to two successive La Liga titles and they currently lead the Spanish top flight on goal difference this season.

However, there have been rumblings of discontent at the Nou Camp after a string of unconvincing displays under his leadership and a palpable failure to record Champions League success - Liverpool pulling off a remarkable semi-final comeback win over Barca in the last eight of last season's edition of the competition.

The 61-year-old Setien takes the reins after leading Betis to their highest finish since 2005, and to the Copa del Rey semi-finals, before leaving the club last May.

He has agreed a two-and-a-half-year deal and will be unveiled at a press conference at 13:30 GMT on Tuesday.

In a statement, Barca paid tribute to Valverde and thanked him for "his professionalism, his commitment, his dedication and his always positive treatment towards all that make up the Barca family".

♚⚽️♛⚽️♜⚽️♝⚽️♞⚽️♟ Did you know that @QSetien loves chess?

See what else you didn't know about him... https://t.co/KoOKZ1qztD

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 14, 2020