Jordi Cruyff to join Barcelona board for next season
By Tom Gott
Barcelona have confirmed they have reached a deal to bring former player Jordi Cruyff back to the club as part of the technical set-up for the start of next season.
Son of Barcelona legend Johan Cruyff, Jordi came through the Barcelona academy and spent two years as part of the first team before being sold to Manchester United for £1.4m in 1996.
After hanging his boots up in 2010, Cruyff has spent time as both a director and a first-team manager. He took charge of Chinese side Shenzhen FC, but Barcelona took to their official website to confirm a deal had been reached to bring Cruyff back to Camp Nou.
There had been rumours that Cruyff was set to return as soon as president Joan Laporta was elected in March, but the Dutchman was keen to show his respect to Shenzhen and instead waited until the end of the season before returning.
Cruyff had been targeted by both Laporta and presidential candidate Victor Font and chose to remain impartial, admitting he would happily return under either president, and that has now become a reality.
?? @JordiCruyff to join the football area of the Club from August 1
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) June 3, 2021
Marca expect Cruyff to take up a role as Laporta's right-hand man, meaning he will be handed a lot of power as Barcelona embark on this new era.
What Cruyff will actually be tasked with doing is not yet clear. Laporta had not even figured out Cruyff's new role as of Thursday morning but knew he needed the Dutchman on his team in some capacity.
The 47-year-old's first backroom position came with Cypriot side AEK Larnaca, whom he helped qualify for the Europa League for the first time ever in 2011.
He was drafted in by Maccabi Tel Aviv in April 2012 and quickly turned the Israeli side's fortunes around. Cruyff helped end their ten-year run without a league title and even led them to the Champions League in 2016.
Cruyff then turned to management, taking control of Maccabi Tel Aviv before spells working in both China and Ecuador, but he has now returned to a directory role with Barcelona.