10 facts that the Culés don’t know about new Barça coach, Quique Setién

2/10 – At Racing Santander, he’s known as “El Maestro”

Setién started his professional football career at the Spanish club Racing Santander where he was considered one of the best players of his generation, he also wore the shirt of Atletico Madrid for 3 years.
In 1985 he represented the Spanish national team for the first time, but his international career did not last more than 3 games.
At Racing Santander, he is nicknamed “El Maestro”. He has been considered an idol since his stage as a club player, where he spent 12 seasons. He also led the team as a coach in the 2001/02 season after arriving when the season had already started.

3/10 – Apostle of Cruyff-style total football

End of the boring Barça of its last 3 years. His reputation as a fan of beautiful football, an obvious reference to the legend Johan Cruyff, was the main cause of his appointment.
His game has direct similarities with the famous Catalan “tiki-taka”, this game of pass and possession that made the glory of the Blaugrana club in the golden age of Pep Guardiola (2008-2012), even inspired of the principles enacted by Cruyff.
“I knew we could play football better, but only when I saw Cruyff’s Barca I started to understand how football really worked. I told Cruyff that I would be ready to cut my finger for playing in his Barça,” he said for Foot Mercado.

This cult dedicated to Cruyff is felt in the game of his teams, with very clear principles: “If you have the ball, nobody will score you goal. Each player has fun and benefits much more with the ball in his feet rather than running behind it.”
Setién will put the football hotspot back in the center of all thoughts after Cruyff invented it.