Laporta thrilled to have ´Gladiator´ Flick at Barcelona helm – Soccer News

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has likened head coach Hansi Flick to “Gladiator” and says he is thrilled to have him in the dugout.

Flick replaced Xavi as Barcelona boss in May 2024 and led the club to a domestic treble in his first season in charge, winning LaLiga, the Copa del Rey and the Supercopa de Espana.

The Blaugrana finished the 2024-25 league season as LaLiga’s top scorers with 102 goals, at least 24 more than any other team.

Flick has won 51 of his 70 games in charge of Barca in all competitions (D8 L11), boasting a 72.9% win rate. Overall, he has seen his side score 199 goals.

Laporta is delighted with how Flick has brought glory back to Barca, comparing him to actor Russell Crowe in the Hollywood film Gladiator.

“Flick is Gladiator, he looks just like Russell Crowe,” Laporta told 3Cat.

Setting the tone for the week. pic.twitter.com/2NzbPWLVjb

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) October 13, 2025

“He’s been a great find for us, and he is an absolutely top coach. He’s really easy to get along with; he’s sensitive with everyone.

“But he is also very demanding. You can’t make him change his plans. He’s very German in that sense, but at the same time, like I say, he’s also sensitive in how he deals with people.

“I am really comfortable with him and really happy to have him as Barca’s coach.”

Flick, who extended his Barcelona contract to June 2027 at the end of last season, is aiming to lead the club to back-to-back league titles for the first time since 2017-18 and 2018-19.

They are second in LaLiga after eight matches, two points behind leaders Real Madrid.