Sergi Barjuán Esclusa (born 28 December 1971), known simply as Sergi as a player, is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a left-back, currently a manager.

Best known for his Barcelona stint, he played for the first team for nine seasons and made a major contribution to the winning of nine major titles. Having reached the Spain national team shortly after making his professional club debut, he appeared in two World Cups and as many European Championships.

In 2009, Barjuán embarked on a managerial career, leading Recreativo, Almería and Mallorca. He also had brief La Liga spells at the second of those clubs, and in interim charge of Barcelona.

Club career Born in Les Franqueses del Vallès, Barcelona, Catalonia, Sergi was a youth product of giants FC Barcelona. He had not yet appeared in La Liga when he was summoned by first-team manager Johan Cruyff to a UEFA Champions League group stage game away against Galatasaray S.K. (0–0, on 24 November 1993), and from then on became the side's undisputed first choice, never playing less than 31 matches until 1999; with Barça he won three leagues, two Copa del Rey and two Supercopa de España, adding the 1997 edition of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup and the subsequent UEFA Super Cup, partnered in the other defensive wing by another youth graduate, Albert Ferrer.

After being deemed surplus to requirements by coach Louis van Gaal, Sergi joined Atlético Madrid, where he still posted three respectable seasons although he collected 34 yellow cards and one red.

International career Shortly after having been promoted into Barcelona's main squad, Sergi made his debut for Spain on 9 February 1994, in a friendly with Poland in Santa Cruz de Tenerife in which he scored his only international goal. He went on to represent the nation at the 1994 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 1996, the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000, for a total of 56 caps.

Coaching career Barcelona (youth) In July 2009, after several years working in marketing and running football camps for youngsters, Barjuán returned to Barcelona, being named its Juvenil B manager. During his spell he coached Gerard Deulofeu, Patric and Rafinha, whom eventually starred for the senior team.

Recreativo Barjuán was handed his first job in the professionals on 22 May 2012, signing for three years with Recreativo de Huelva in the Segunda División. On his debut on 18 August, he lost 2–0 at Xerez CD.

In his second year at El Decano, Barjuán missed out on a play-off place on the final day. He then cancelled his contract in June 2014 and was replaced by José Luis Oltra.

Almería Barjuán was appointed manager of UD Almería on 6 April 2015, taking over from Juan Ignacio Martínez who had been fired. His first game in charge occurred two days later, a 4–0 away loss to former club Barcelona.

On 3 October 2015, with the Andalusians back in the second tier, Barjuán was dismissed after a 2–2 home draw against CD Tenerife.

Mallorca Barjuán resumed his career in April 2017, at RCD Mallorca. He left when his contract expired at the end of the season, with the Balearic side relegated to Segunda División B for the first time in 36 years.

Zhejiang Greentown On 26 November 2017, the 45-year-old Barjuán moved abroad for the first time in his career, taking the helm at China League One club Zhejiang Greentown F.C. for the next two seasons. He lost his job on 4 July 2019 after a run of two wins from ten left the team in sixth place.

Barcelona B In June 2021, Barjuán was appointed at FC Barcelona Atlètic on a two-year deal, replacing Francisco Javier García Pimienta. On 28 October, after the dismissal of Ronald Koeman, he was put in interim charge of the main squad. Two days later, on his debut, he oversaw a 1–1 home draw with Deportivo Alavés. In his second game, he won 1–0 at FC Dynamo Kyiv in the Champions League group stage.

After missing out on a playoff place for the 2021–22 season, Barjuán was dismissed. He remained at Barcelona and was put in charge of their global academies in October.

Career statistics Club + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupEuropeTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsBarcelona1993–94La Liga23041803511994–9534130804511995–9640060725321996–9734180704911997–9831281804731998–9935051504511999–200019160603112000–01331601305212001–021800070250Total267646369238211Atlético Madrid2002–03La Liga26040–3002003–0432050–3702004–052701030310Total85010030980Career total352656372248011

International + Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsSpain1994111199560199690199740199890199950200070200140200210Total561

Scores and results list Spain's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Barjuán goal.

Managerial statistics

+ Managerial record by team and tenure TeamNatFromToRecord Recreativo22 May 201230 June 2014 Almería6 April 20153 October 2015 Mallorca4 April 201712 June 2017Hangzhou Greentown26 November 20173 July 2019Barcelona B17 June 202128 June 2022Barcelona (interim)28 October 20216 November 2021Total —

Honours Barcelona La Liga: 1993–94, 1997–98, 1998–99 Copa del Rey: 1996–97, 1997–98 Supercopa de España: 1994, 1996 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 1996–97 UEFA Super Cup: 1997 UEFA Champions League runner-up: 1993–94

Spain U21 UEFA European Under-21 Championship third place: 1994

References

External links