Chinese club fires Lionel Messi's coach after drawing with CAHN

After a string of disappointing performances and rising tensions within the team, Beijing Guoan has chosen to relieve head coach Quique Setien of his duties.

Beijing Guoan has terminated the contract of head coach Quique Setien following a run of unsatisfactory results and prolonged internal disagreements.

According to Chinese media, Setien's dismissal was not unexpected but rather a matter of time. The club's management lost patience with the Spanish coach after numerous underwhelming displays, especially in the AFC Champions League Two.

Conflicts arose during recent continental matches when Setien defied directives from higher-ups and chose to field a reserve lineup in a crucial game. This decision angered the club’s leadership, leading to his dismissal shortly afterward.

In 32 matches coaching Beijing Guoan, Setien led the team to 19 wins, 7 draws, and 6 losses—a decent record numerically, but inconsistent performance and internal disputes quickly derailed his future.

Before moving to China, Quique Setien was a well-known figure in Europe. He managed Barcelona during the 2019–2020 season, guiding Lionel Messi and teammates to second place in La Liga, but left a negative mark with the devastating 2–8 loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarterfinals, one of Barcelona’s most painful defeats ever.

After leaving Camp Nou, Setien worked at Villarreal before trying his luck in Asia with Beijing Guoan starting in 2024. This season, he had an interesting encounter with Hanoi Police FC’s coach Mano Polking during the AFC Champions League Two group stage, a match that ended 2-2 despite the Vietnamese side taking the lead in the first half.

Although highly regarded for his attacking football philosophy and distinctive ball control style, Setien struggled to adapt to the Asian football environment, which demands greater discipline and effectiveness.

Beijing Guoan’s early termination of the Spanish coach’s contract is seen as a necessary step to prepare for the club’s rebuilding process.