BARCELONA, May 30 (Reuters): Ernesto Valverde's appointment as Barcelona coach has been a long time coming and he has been chosen as Luis Enrique's successor due to his wealth of experience, but he faces a huge task to rejuvenate a side showing signs of decline. Valverde is one of many former Barcelona players who was inspired to go into management by visionary coach Johan Cruyff, who worked with the striker between 1988 and 1990, and declared his admiration for his former pupil when he was starting out. "He was a very intelligent player and always transmitted to me his interest in football and his enthusiasm to learn," said Cruyff when Valverde was in his first job at Athletic Bilbao. "He is one of the most outstanding and promising coaches in Spain." Valverde, 53, has had success in almost every job he has had, reaching the UEFA Cup final in 2007 with Barca's city rivals Espanyol and winning three Greek league titles with Olympiakos Piraeus. Barca tried to convince him to take over in 2013 when Tito Vilanova was forced to leave the role due to illness but Valverde had agreed to coach Athletic again, prompting the Catalans to opt for the relatively unknown Gerardo Martino. He helped Athletic qualify for European football in five out of six seasons in Bilbao, where he was the longest-serving coach, and they hammered Barcelona 4-0 on their way to winning the Spanish Super Cup in 2015. NURTURING YOUNGSTERS Valverde's track record for nurturing youngsters such as Inaki Williams and Aymeric Laporte is also highly valued at Barca, with their proud tradition of homegrown players such as Andres Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez and Lionel Messi. When Luis Enrique was asked if he had any advice for his successor, he remarked: "He has far more experience than me so he should enjoy it." Yet even Valverde's impressive career path will be scant preparation for the demanding Barca job, which consumed predecessors Guardiola and Luis Enrique, who needed to take a sabbatical year after being drained by the pressure. Valverde is seen as a safe pair of hands who will not try to impose his character too forcefully on a tempestuous dressing-room, although his quiet, relaxed character will be put to the test if he decides wholesale changes are required to revive their fortunes.
