Real Sociedad manager rules himself out of running for Barcelona job

Barcelona have been served a blow in their pursuit of Luis Enrique’s successor after Eusebio Sacristan ruled out leaving Real Sociedad for a return to the Camp Nou at the end of the season.

The La Liga giants will need to find a replacement for Enrique after the Spaniard announced he would be taking a sabbatical from football at the end of the season and there have already been a number of managers linked with the top job at Barcelona.

Sevilla manager Jorge Sampaoli is being considered by the board, but Athletic Club head coach Ernesto Valverde and Sociedad’s Eusebio had been the frontrunners for Enrique’s position.

However, Eusebio, who only left his role with Barcelona’s reserve team to become Sociedad manager in November 2015, has ruled himself out of the running for Enrique’s position.

“As I already said when I renewed my contract a little while ago: my mind, my spirt and my desire is to be with Real Sociedad,” talkSPORT quote the Sociedad manager as saying ahead of their trip to Real Betis on Friday.

“My head is here 100 per cent, so there’s nothing more in it and there’s not going to be. No matter what my contract says, my head, my hopes and my desire is to have an ongoing project with La Real.

“To be here for a long time, at least for the duration of my contract, with the idea of doing something important at the club. I’m happy here.”

After a few years of mediocrity, including David Moyes’ failed stint at the club, Eusebio has gone the club back on track and dreaming of Europe. La Real are currently fifth in La Liga and only one point behind Atletico Madrid, who occupy the final Champions League position, after they fell to a shock 1-1 draw with Deportivo La Coruna on Thursday night.

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