Barcelona fire coach Ernesto Valverde.

Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde becomes the first manager at the club to be sacked mid-season since Louis van Gaal 17 years ago.

The Spanish champions could also be top of Los Angeles Liga, but it had been their leads to the Champions League that ultimately cost coach Ernesto Valverde his job. The club has appointed Quique Setien as his replacement. Barcelona has fired coach Ernesto Valverde midway through the season, replacing him with former Real Betis head coach Quique Setien.

"FC Barcelona and Quique Setien have reached an agreement for the latter to become first-team coach until 30 June 2022," the Spanish champions said during a statement late Monday. "Setien is one of the foremost experienced coaches in Spanish football. Throughout his career he has been a proponent of possession-based, attacking football that has been attractive to the fans."Seeking top-level success

The 55-year-old Valverde, who led Barcelona to consecutive La Liga titles in 2018 and 2019, ultimately paid the worth for a scarcity of Champions League success. The Catalans famously blew a three-goal advantage against Liverpool in last season's semifinals of Europe's premier competition, a result Valverde never really recovered from.

Speculation was rife over Valverde's future throughout Monday afternoon, but he was eventually relieved of his duties after a four-hour committee meeting at the club's Camp Nou stadium. The club statement read: "Barcelona would really like to publicly express its gratitude to Ernesto Valverde for his professionalism and commitment."

The 61-year-old Setien is going to be presented to the fans on Tuesday. During his playing days he represented Atletico Madrid but famously once said: "I would have given my pinkie to possess played in Johan Cruyff's Barcelona."

Valverde leaves the club midway through the season with the side on top of the Spanish league table. Setien's first game responsible is going to be a reception to Granada on Sunday. Barca also is into the last 16 of the Champions League, where they're going to face Napoli.

Even though he had an outstanding domestic record, Valverde's standing was weakened by his failure to win the Champions League, suffering shock eliminations by AS Roma in 2018 and Liverpool in 2019 after taking a three-goal lead in each tie.

The tide seemed to turn against the coach after a 2-2 draw at struggling Espanyol which was followed by a 3-2 defeat by Atletico Madrid within the Spanish Super Cup semi-finals.

Setien, 61, coached Las Palmas from 2015 to 2017 and Real Betis last season but left by mutual consent after leading the club to a 10th-place finish.

The former Atletico Madrid and Racing Santander player is understood for his possession football and attacking gameplan, which suits the way Barcelona was known for enjoying within the iconic Pep Guardiola era.