Written by FC Barcelona’s 2024/2025 season, the first under Hansi Flick’s coaching, is undoubtedly a symbol for the impact great coaching can have on a struggling team. The beginning of the 2024/2025 season was marked with great uncertainty from a once-dominant team. Specifically, several players who were expected to leave at the beginning of Flick’s inaugural season with the team became key players, leading to a very successful first season for them.
Raphinha, who admitted to considering a departure from the team in 2024, received a call from Flick informing him that he was interested in seeing what he could do at the team (Bhopatkar, 2025). In just 15 matches, he scored more goals than in 37 appearances in the previous season, highlighting his development under Flick (Yahoo Sports). Across the team, there are several players with similar stories.
Last season’s success at Barcelona can be partially attributed to coaching changes, but what exactly did Hansi Flick do at Barcelona to help them reach success?
Flick constantly allowed players to prove their abilities and their value to the team. By giving Raphinha a chance to prove his value to the team, Flick helped him develop into a player who went on to contribute significantly to Barcelona’s very successful season. Furthermore, Flick regularly gives unseasoned players opportunities by allocating them playing time and even allowing them to start in high-stakes games (Marsden & Llorens, 2025). Players such as Gerard Martin, Pau Victor, and Marc Bernal all made their debuts under Flick (Marsden & Llorens, 2025). This showed the youngsters that they were trusted by their coach and made a statement to the rest of the team that everyone would be treated fairly. The team’s success, despite the inclusion of young and newer players, sets an example that allowing new players to join in big matches can enhance creativity and develop these youngsters into great players.
In addition to making players feel trusted in big moments. Flick has also placed an emphasis on player fitness and discipline, which has allowed several players who spent previous seasons recovering from injuries to play more minutes in his first season coaching the team. With disciplinary action being taken fairly across the team, for example, benching goalkeeper Inaki Pena as a result of arriving late to a training session has been cited by players as one of the key contributors to their growth and success as a team (beIN Sports, 2025; Fleming, n.d.).
What can coaches take from Hansi Flick’s Approach at Barcelona?
Hansi Flick’s coaching practices at Barcelona can serve as a guide for coaches seeking to strengthen their teams, starting with Flick’s willingness to give players opportunities to prove their skills and commitment to the team by granting them playing time in high-stakes games. This approach demonstrates to these unseasoned players that if they perform well on the pitch, they will be given playing time regardless of their level of experience. Finally, instituting clear rules and unbiased disciplinary action when rules are not followed can improve player confidence and team dynamics (Han & Ha, 2025). Flick’s commitment to fairness in disciplinary action and playing time is supported by findings that player perception of procedural justice increases their commitment to the team and their trust in the coach (Han & Ha, 2025).
There is no doubt that Barcelona has seen a large improvement since the appointment of Hansi Flick as their coach, and while this can be attributed to player improvement, this success shows the importance of supportive and strong coaching.
References
beIN SPORTS. (2025a, January 11). Hansi Flick admits disciplinary action against Iñaki Peña for tardiness. beIN SPORTS. https://www.beinsports.com/en-us/soccer/articles-video/hansi-flick-admits-disciplinary-action-against-i%C3%B1aki-pe%C3%B1a-for-tardiness-2025-01-11
Bhopatkar, S. (2025, April 16). Flick’s first 50 games at Barcelona: A detailed statistical breakdown. Barca Universal. https://barcauniversal.com/flicks-first-50-games-at-barcelona-a-detailed-statistical-breakdown/
Fleming, R. (n.d.). Hansi Flick’s discipline drives FC Barcelona’s resurgence. Vodacom Soccer. https://vodacomsoccer.com/news/hansi-flicks-discipline-drives-fc-barcelonas-resurgence
Han, K., & Ha, J. (2025). Student-Athletes’ Perceptions of Procedural Justice, Coach Trust, Organizational Support, and the Impact on Team Commitment in Collegiate Sports. Youth, 5(2), 48. https://doi.org/10.3390/youth5020048
Marsden, S., & Llorens, M. (2025, May 16). How Hansi Flick took Barcelona back to top with LaLiga title. ESPN. https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/45174655/how-hansi-flick-took-barcelona-back-top-laliga-title
Yahoo Sports. (n.d.). Hansi Flick favourite Barcelona star. Yahoo Sports. https://sports.yahoo.com/hansi-flick-favourite-barcelona-star-063000126.html