FC Barcelona Replaces Fitness Chief Julio Tous with Hansi Flick Ally Holger Broich
FC Barcelona is replacing first-team physical preparation chief Julio Tous with Holger Broich, a trusted associate of head coach Hansi Flick from their Bayern Munich days. Tous will remain at the club working with youth and reserve teams. The change follows reported friction between Tous and Flick over injury management, including Raphinha’s hamstring issue. Broich, credited as a key figure in Bayern’s 2020 Champions League win, is expected to improve the team’s fitness ahead of the new season.
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Holger Broich declines FC Barcelona return, chooses Schwarz Group role
FC Barcelona remains without a head of physical preparation for next season after Julio Tous left the first team. New coach Hansi Flick aimed to reunite with former Bayern Munich fitness coach Holger Broich, with whom he won a historic sextuple in 2020. However, Broich has declined the offer. His media advisor Sven Kraft confirmed to Bild that after an amicable separation from Bayern, Broich consciously chose not to join Barcelona and instead opted for a forward-looking collaboration with the Schwarz Group, a German conglomerate that owns Lidl. Broich serves on the board of its Health and Performance Division. The decision leaves a key position unfilled at Barça, especially after a season plagued by injuries.
Últimas NoticiasHolger Broich Declines Return to FC Barcelona with Hansi Flick
FC Barcelona remains without a head of physical preparation for next season after Julio Tous left the first team. New coach Hansi Flick aimed to reunite with former Bayern Munich fitness coach Holger Broich, with whom he won a historic sextuple in 2020. However, Broich declined the offer, having consciously chosen not to return to elite football after his amicable departure from Bayern Munich. Instead, he opted for a forward-looking role with the Schwarz Group, a German conglomerate that owns the Lidl supermarket chain, where he serves on the Board of Directors of the Health and Performance Division. Broich's media advisor confirmed Flick's interest and Broich's decision. The position at Barcelona remains vacant, a concern for Flick given the team's injury-plagued season.
Últimas NoticiasReasons Revealed for Fitness Coach's Rejection of Hansi Flick's Offer at Barcelona
The departure of Julio Tous as head of physical preparation for FC Barcelona's first team has prompted coach Hansi Flick to seek a replacement. German fitness coach Holger Broich, who previously worked with Flick at Bayern Munich, was considered but ultimately rejected the offer. According to Sven Kraft, Broich's brand advisor, Broich declined Flick's proposal in 2024 after their amicable separation from Bayern Munich, choosing instead a forward-looking collaboration with the Schwarz Group. Broich has moved beyond his previous role in professional football performance diagnostics. With Broich ruled out, Barcelona must find a new head of physical preparation in the coming months, with Pepe Conde, Rafa Maldonado, and Germán Fernández remaining as current physical trainers.
FútbolFlick More Demanding Than Ever: Forces Out Barcelona Physical Trainer
FC Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick has taken an uncompromising stance ahead of his third season, demanding and securing the removal of first-team physical preparation head Julio Tous. The German coach insisted on Tous's reassignment during a meeting with the club's Sports Commission led by Deco, setting a deadline before pre-season. The club was caught off guard by Flick's intransigence, especially as Tous was backed by senior figure Alejandro Echevarría. The relationship deteriorated after injuries to Raphinha, leading Flick to sideline physical trainers in rehabilitation. Tous has been reassigned to youth academy performance. The club is now seeking a replacement, cooling initial interest in Flick's former Bayern Munich colleague Holger Broich in favor of a candidate more familiar with the club's environment.
Feed MRSS-S fc_barcelona_aSpaniards Report: Hansi Flick Bringing Old Bayern Confidant Holger Broich to Barcelona
According to Spanish radio station Cadena SER, FC Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick is set to bring fitness expert Holger Broich from their mutual Bayern Munich days to the Catalan club. Broich, 51, is expected to become head of Barcelona's fitness department for the new season, replacing current fitness chief Julio Tous, who will be reassigned within the club. Flick is reportedly not on the same wavelength as Tous professionally and has pushed for Broich, with whom he shares a strong trust relationship. The duo previously won the sextuple together at Bayern Munich during Flick's tenure from 2019 to 2021. Broich left Bayern in summer 2024 amid internal doubts over injury management, and subsequently joined the Schwarz Group's health division in October 2024. The move would reunite the two at Barcelona, where they hope to replicate their past success.
BILD - SportFC Barcelona Coach Hansi Flick Loses Key Physical Preparation Expert Julio Tous
FC Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick is set to lose a key member of staff, physical preparation expert Julio Tous, ahead of the 2026/2027 season. According to Cadena SER, Tous will leave the first team group but remain at the club to work with elite La Masia youth prospects and other departments. His replacement is Holger Broich, a trusted Flick associate who worked with him during Bayern Munich's 2020 Champions League triumph. The change comes after reported friction between Tous and Flick late last season, partly linked to injury management issues, including the hamstring injury of star player Raphinha. Despite retaining La Liga and the Super Cup, Barcelona fell short in the Champions League, and Flick hopes Broich can improve the team's fitness and physical preparation.
Forbes - BusinessJulio Tous Relocated from Barcelona First Team Fitness Role
Julio Tous, head of the physical preparation department for FC Barcelona's first team for the past two seasons, is being reassigned to oversee the physical development of the reserve team and Juvenil A players, while also monitoring other sports sections of the club. The decision, reported by Cadena SER's 'Que t'hi jugues' program, was reached after months of consideration following disagreements between Tous and head coach Hansi Flick, though it also had approval from other sports management figures. Despite speculation about German coaches from Flick's network taking over, club sources told Mundo Deportivo that is not the current direction. Tous returned to Barcelona two years ago after a 20-year absence, following stints at Juventus, Chelsea, and the Italian national team, coinciding with a restructuring that brought in Rafa Maldonado, Pepe Conde, and Germán Fernández.
FútbolChanges in Barça's Physical Preparation: Julio Tous Leaves First Team
FC Barcelona will begin preseason on July 13 with few first-team players due to the World Cup. A significant change in the coaching staff led by Hansi Flick is the replacement of head of physical preparation Julio Tous with Holger Broich, who worked with Flick at Bayern Munich and is credited with key contributions to Bayern's 2020 Champions League win. Tous will remain at the club, working with young elite players from the youth and reserve teams, as well as other sports sections. The change is partly attributed to a lack of understanding between Tous and Flick, with Flick reportedly upset over player injury relapses last season. Broich was previously linked to Barça two years ago when Flick joined.
Últimas NoticiasFC Barcelona Replaces Physical Preparation Chief Julio Tous with Holger Broich
FC Barcelona will begin preseason on July 13 with a significant change in its physical preparation staff. Julio Tous, the head of physical preparation for the first team, is being replaced by Holger Broich, a trusted associate of head coach Hansi Flick from their time together at Bayern Munich. Tous will remain at the club, working with elite young players from the youth and reserve teams, as well as other sports sections. The decision stems partly from a lack of understanding between Tous and Flick, with the German coach reportedly upset by player relapses such as Raphinha's. Broich, considered a key architect of Bayern's 2020 Champions League victory, was previously linked to Barça when Flick joined two years ago. Tous' methods had divided the squad, with some players crediting him for career-best form while others were dissatisfied.
Últimas NoticiasChanges in FC Barcelona's Physical Preparation: Julio Tous Leaves First Team
FC Barcelona will begin preseason on July 13 with few first-team players due to the World Cup. A significant change in the coaching staff involves physical preparation: Holger Broich, who worked with Hansi Flick at Bayern Munich, will take over as head of physical preparation for the first team. Julio Tous will leave his role with the first team but remain at the club, working with young elite footballers from the youth and reserve teams, as well as other sports sections. The replacement is partly due to a lack of understanding between Tous and Flick in recent months, with Flick reportedly upset over player relapses such as Raphinha's. Broich is considered a key architect of Bayern's 2020 Champions League triumph and was already linked to Barça two years ago when Flick signed. Tous's work had divided the squad, with some players crediting his methods for their best form while others were dissatisfied.
Últimas NoticiasJulio Tous Removed as FC Barcelona Physical Preparation Head; Holger Broich to Replace Him
FC Barcelona has removed Julio Tous from his role as head of first-team physical preparation, replacing him with Holger Broich, formerly of Bayern Munich. The decision follows head coach Hansi Flick's dissatisfaction with the team's physical performance and injury record in the 2025-2026 season. Flick had publicly criticized the physical preparation work, and Raphinha's two relapses before the Clásico were the final trigger. Tous, who joined with physiotherapist Raúl Martínez in Flick's first season, will now lead a new high-performance group focused on the club's sections (other sports teams). Broich, who worked with Flick during Bayern's sextuple-winning campaign, is currently unemployed and will aim to improve the squad's fitness for a Champions League challenge. The report notes Tous has important supporters within the club, suggesting potential fallout.
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