FC Barcelona legend, Anderson Luis de Souza, simply known as Deco has returned to the club as the club’s sporting director.
The 45-year-old Portuguese-born former Brazil international will succeed Mateu Alemany who is expected to leave the role formally on September 2, 2023.
However, a statement from FC Barcelona explained that Deco and Alemany will continue to work together until the ongoing summer transfer window closes.
Based on the contract the former Brazil international signed with FC Barcelona, Deco is expected to remain the sporting director of the club for three seasons which means that he might exit the role in 2026.
The Spanish giants revealed that Deco will work closely with head coach Xavi and the rest of the coaching staff to develop their “sporting philosophy”.
“Deco will be in charge of setting FC Barcelona’s sporting philosophy and putting together the squad with the coach and the coaching and becoming head of the football section”, the club’s statement added.
“This incorporation is in line with the statement released on 2 May in which the President and the director of the Football Area, Mateu Alemany, agreed his release from his duties once the current transfer window comes to an end on 2 September.”
Deco spent four seasons at FC Barcelona after joining the club from Benfica in 2004. While at the club, the Brazilian footballer helped the Spanish giants to win the 2006 UEFA Champions League and two La Liga titles.
He also spent two seasons at Chelsea before he ended his professional football career at Fluminense in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2013.
