Ronald Koeman has been appointed as Barcelona’s head coach on a two-year deal.

The 57-year-old left his role as Netherlands’ national coach, with two years left on his contract, to sign a two-year deal with the Spanish giants.

He played for Barcelona between 1989 and 1995, helping them to four league titles and the European Cup.

After being confirmed as Barcelona’s fourth boss in the last three years, Koeman told the Dutch FA’s website: “Everyone knows that Barcelona is my dream club. It feels very special to me to be able to become a coach there.

“It was an honour to be the national coach of the Netherlands. Over the past two-and-a-half years, I have done everything I can to achieve success.

“I look back with pride on what we have achieved together in that period. The Dutch national team has a bright future, I am convinced of that.”

The five-point gap to champions Real Madrid and the humiliating 8-2 defeat by Bayern Munich in their Champions League quarter-final last week culminated in the dismissal of Setien on Monday.

Sporting director, Eric Abidal – also a former Barcelona player – followed Setien through the exit door after leaving his role as sporting director on Tuesday. He has been replaced by his understudy, Ramon Planes.

Koeman began his coaching career at FC Barcelona as first team assistant coach and then as coach of Barça B in the 1998-99 season.

The following season he made his way to Vitesse where he stayed until 2001 when he moved on to Ajax Amsterdam where he won two league titles, a Dutch Cup and a Dutch Super Cup. In 2005 he moved on to Portugal and Benfica where he won the Portuguese Super Cup. The former Barça player returned to Holland in 2006 when he took over at PSV Eindhoven, winning the Eredivisie title again in 2007.  

After success with PSV he returned to Spain and Valencia, winning the Copa del Rey. That was followed by a return to his native country once again where he won the 2009 Super Cup with AZ Alkmaar before coaching Feyenoord between 2011 and 2014.

Koeman headed for the Premier League for the 2014-15 season with Southampton before moving on to Everton in 2016 where he spent 18 months. In 2018 he took over as the Netherlands national team coach before he is  now returning to FC Barcelona as coach.