Barcelona extend manager Ernesto Valverde’s contract until the end of next season

Barcelona have extended the contract of manager Ernesto Valverde until the end of next season.

Valverde, 55, replaced Luis Enrique at the Nou Camp in the summer of 2017 and guided them to the La Liga and Copa del Rey double during his first season in charge.

His contract was due to expire at the end of this season but Valverde has now agreed a one-year extension with the option of another season.

Barcelona have extended the contract of manager Ernesto Valverde until the summer of 2020

Valverde, 55, guided Barcelona to a league and cup double during his first season in charge

Barcelona are on course for another league title – they sit top of the standings with a six-point lead over Real Madrid in second.

They drew the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final with Real 1-1 last week and are set to play Lyon in the last-16 of the Champions League next Tuesday. 

Valverde has taken charge of 96 matches as Barcelona manager, winning 65, drawing 22 and losing nine. They have scored 233 goals during that time and kept 45 clean sheets.

The team almost completed their league campaign unbeaten in 2017-18 but lost their penultimate match 5-4 at Levante.

They were knocked out of the Champions League in the quarter-finals after throwing away a 4-1 first leg lead against Roma, losing 3-0 in Italy in the return.

Barcelona are at home to Valladolid in the league on Saturday.