Former Barcelona manager ‘interested in joining growing contingent of Spanish bosses in the Premier League’ after visiting three clubs

A former Barcelona manager has revealed that he is interested in coaching in the Premier League.

There are currently five Spanish managers in the Premier League – Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, Mikel Arteta at Arsenal, Unai Emery at Aston Villa, Andoni Iraola at Bournemouth and Julen Lopetegui at West Ham.

The ex-Barcelona boss recently visited three Premier League clubs and was left very impressed.

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca prepared a video showing the tactics he had learned from the manager.

In addition, Brentford manager Thomas Frank and West Ham boss Lopetegui also welcomed him.

The coach was hugely impressed with various aspects of the Premier League, including the passion shown by supporters. 

Former Barcelona boss Quique Setien admitted that he ‘fell in love’ with the Premier League during his trip. 

Setien said: ‘Obviously. I have been out for a year and in Spain I didn’t have the feeling.

‘We follow all the Premier League. In Spain you watch one or two teams on TV, in England we watch all of them.

‘We came here last year for seven days but this week has been a huge surprise. I fell in love with people, the passion.

Former Barcelona manager Quique Setien was left hugely impressed by the Premier League

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca was amongst the Premier League bosses to host Setien

‘The supporters are doing their best and the game wasn’t exciting.’ 

Setien was appointed Barcelona manager in 2020 but lasted just 25 games in charge and was sacked following the 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals.

He has been without a club since September 2023, when he was sacked by Villarreal.

Aside from his brief spell as coach of Equatorial Guinea in 2006, all of his managerial jobs have been in Spain.