Barcelona have announced the appointment of Jordi Cruyff as the club’s new sporting director via their official website.
The 48-year-old son of Barca legend Johan Cruyff has returned to join the Blaugranas over two decades after his first departure as a professional player.
Cruyff first joined Barca’s U16 set-up from Ajax in 1988 and progressed through the club’s youth ranks before his eventual promotion to the first team six years later.
He made 54 appearances over his two-year stay with the Catalan giants winning the Spanish Super Cup in the 1994/95 campaign before joining Manchester United in 1996.
Cruyff has returned to Barca after leaving his managerial position at Chinese Super League club Shenzhen FC just one year into the job.
He will serve as a sporting advisor to club president Joan Laporta.
Cruyff was brought back to the Spotify Camp Nou by Laporta last year and has been working with the club ever since.
However, his appointment as sporting director has now been made official.
Cruyff has played a pivotal role in Barca’s transfer business over the last two windows, where Laporta splurged heavily to back Xavi with as many as seven new players.
Barca announced the appointment of the former Maccabi Tel Aviv and AEK Larnaca sporting director with a club statement.
“Jordi Cruyff has signed his contract as FC Barcelona’s new sporting director of football,” the statement said. “He has already been serving in the role since July 1.
“An FC Barcelona player from 1993 to 1996, he returned to the club last season as director of the international area of the football section and played a key role in the two most recent transfer windows as a member of the Sporting Commission.”
Barca head coach Xavi was also delighted with the appointment of the dutchman and hailed the club’s decision as a great one.
“First of all, I’m going to ask if he can invite me for dinner to celebrate this,” he said. “I’m very happy for him but also for us.
“He is a very capable person, very intelligent – he knows a lot about football. He is very loyal to me personally, but also to the entire staff.
“It is a great decision from the club – I back it 100 percent. I’ve always said many times, whether it’s me here as a coach or not, both Mateu and Jordi are fantastic in the role and for the club.”
