Lluís Cortés announces decision to step down as manager

Lluís Cortés has announced his decision to step down as manager of the Barça women’s team after the game with Eibar. After two and a half seasons in charge he explains his ‘meditated’ decision in a video recorded for the club:

“I have been head coach for two and a half years and worked with the team for four, and I have made this decision after a success-filled season. When I took over this team, I told my friends and some of the players that I would never leave this team until it wins the Champions League, and we did it. Not only that but we have had two historic seasons, one of them marked by Covid and the current one has been affected by the consequences of the pandemic.”

“It has been a lovely period for me. We have experienced so many emotions with this group of people. Winning our first treble has made us extremely happy, but it has also been a very tough season. We started training on July 10 and until now that has been 353 days of very hard work, effort, being together … with all the conditions surrounding Covid. I think this season has worn a lot of us out, both physically and emotionally.”

“Right now I don’t feel have the energy to keep leading this team. The best team in the world needs a coach who can drive them, be contagious and transmit strength to the group and I don’t feel able to do that right now. It has been a very draining year, and the main reason for that is the time. It has been very long. What this team needs to carry on winning and competing is different changes and I am convinced one of those is for me to step aside and put the club and the team ahead of everything.”

“It is a mediated decision. I’ve been thinking about it since the day after we won the Champions League. I knew I shouldn’t make any announcement until the end of the season so as not to disturb a historic season. I wanted to get to the very last day winning every game and didn’t want the team to lose its focus. I know that waiting until the final day has had consequences, with the players and staff being asked questions but not knowing the answer. Only I knew and I preferred to keep it quiet and not give any explanations so as not to weaken the group or for them to suffer from the media impact. I’m sorry if this has bothered anyone.”

“I want to thank the players for making this possible, the staff for working so hard and so well, Markel and the Board of Directors that proposed me and the current one for continuing to believe in the project, the club staff who are the people who really make this more than a club, the fans, who have given us wings when we’ve needed them, the media for the exposure and my family and friends who have always been there for me when I’ve needed them.”

“I know that I am leaving the best club and best team in the world, but I also know that it’s the best decision for everyone because I think that when they start work again they’ll need new ideas and energy. It is the best decision. I also know that it is not so much goodbye as see you later. I am sure that my path and the club’s will cross again one day, I’m certain of that.”

“I think we have enjoyed ourselves and created enjoyment. That was always the main goal of this team, or at least the way I see things as manager. I am very proud that we achieved that.” 

The Lluís Cortés era on the Barça bench is ending with the first Champions League, two Liga Iberdolas, two Copas de la Reina and a Copa Catalunya. As head coach he has won 92 games, drawn 4 and lost 7, with 397 goals for and 53 against. 

The club thanks him for his dedication and work in these last four years and wishes him all the very best in the future.