Sergio Busquets has returned to Barcelona as an assistant coach with Barca Atletic, beginning a new chapter at the club less than a year after retiring from professional football.
The former Spain midfielder has joined Juliano Belletti’s coaching staff while completing the training course required to obtain his coaching licence. Busquets will work alongside Belletti at the Johan Cruyff Stadium as Barcelona’s reserve side develops a new identity under its current management team.
The appointment brings Busquets back to the club he left three years ago and where he spent 15 seasons as a player. During that time, he wore the blaugrana shirt with distinction and collected dozens of honours.
Busquets, 38, ended his playing career in July 2025 after two seasons with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer. He moved to the United States in the summer of 2023 following his departure from Barcelona, joining former team-mates Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba at the Florida club.
His return to Barcelona represents a significant moment both personally and professionally. Busquets was one of the defining midfielders of the modern era, forming a celebrated partnership with Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez during his long spell at Camp Nou.
He was also regarded as one of the key figures in the development and success of Barcelona’s tiki-taka style. Beyond his technical qualities, Busquets held considerable influence within the dressing room and became one of the most important figures at the club over more than a decade and a half.
Barcelona announced the move with the message: “Sergio Busquets joins Barca Atletic as an assistant coach.”
The former captain’s arrival is viewed within the club as more than the recruitment of a respected ex-player. Barcelona believe his experience can help pass on the club’s footballing principles and values to a new generation of players trying to progress through the reserve team.
Barca Atletic recorded their first victory of pre-season last week, beating L’Hospitalet 2-0 in a friendly. The goals were scored by Shane Kluivert and Ignasi Quer.
The reserve side are scheduled to play their next friendly against CE Europa on Wednesday. The match will be held behind closed doors at the Johan Cruyff Stadium.
Busquets’ coaching career is therefore starting in familiar surroundings, with the former midfielder returning to the organisation where he established his reputation and won numerous major trophies. His immediate role will be to support Belletti and help develop the club’s younger players while he works towards his coaching qualification.
Barcelona will also be monitoring how the new member of the staff develops in his first formal coaching position. His standing at the club, combined with his understanding of its playing philosophy, could eventually open the way to higher coaching roles in the years ahead.
