Cruyff offered job of managing Catalonia football team

The Catalan football federation has offered the job of managing their regional team to former Barcelona coach Johan Cruyff, who will give his response within a few days, Catalunya Radio reported late Sunday. Cruyff, 62, has not coached at all since being sacked by Barça in 1996, after guiding the Catalan giants to four Spanish league titles and one Champions Cup in a successful eight-year spell.He played for Barca between 1973 and 1978, after leading Dutch club Ajax to three successive Champions Cup triumphs.

The national team of Catalonia, which has existed since 1984, does not compete in international tournaments but does play several prestigious friendlies every year. Opinion polls demonstrate that more than half of all Catalans would like their team to be able to play in FIFA and UEFA tournaments. Jordi Casals, the new president of the Catalan national federation, is keen to raise the profile of the team by bringing in a high-profile coach such as Cruyff.

Casals has not given details of the offer made to Cruyff, nor has he made it clear whether the job will continue to be a part-time post or become full-time. According to Catalunya Radio, if Cruyff turns the offer down the job will then be offered to current Barca coach Josep Guardiola, who was a pivotal figure in Cruyff's 'Dream Team' in the 1990s, or to Espanyol boss Mauricio Pochettino.

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