MADRID - Former Bayern Munich and Germany national team coach Hansi Flick was named as FC Barcelona's new head coach on Wednesday, replacing Xavi Hernandez.

The 59-year-old has signed a two-year contract until June 2026, which is also the end of the current mandate of Barca president Joan Laporta.

Flick's announcement had been expected after he was pictured in Barcelona having dinner with Laporta on Tuesday, after the president and sporting director Deco had flown to London to talk with him last week.

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Flick joins Barcelona after an unsuccessful spell with Germany's national team, who failed to survive the group stage of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, but before that, he had won two league titles, the Champions League, the European Super Cup and the Club World Cup with Bayern Munich.

Flick also had six years as assistant to Joachim Low with Germany's national team.

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Flick arrives at a club that finished second in La Liga last season, but trailed winners Real Madrid by 10 points. Barcelona's debts and financial fair play demands mean that any new signings will have to be financed by sales of key players.