Former Barça Athletic coach reveals ambition to lead Barcelona’s first team

Rafa Marquez, the former coach of Barça Atletic, has recently shared that he still harbours a significant aspiration: to manage Barcelona’s main team in the future. 

It must be noted that after a successful stint at Barça Atletic, Marquez made the bold decision to return to his home country to take on a new challenge with the Mexican national team. 

The primary goal for this partnership is to prepare for the 2026 World Cup, a major tournament that Mexico have been aiming for over the past several years.

Marquez’s new role will see him collaborating with Javier Aguirre, who is expected to eventually hand over the coaching responsibilities to Marquez. 

This collaboration marks an important step for Marquez, offering him valuable experience as he works towards achieving his long-held dreams.

A dream return to Barcelona

In a recent interview, Marquez openly discussed his aspirations, revealing that he has two major dreams in his coaching career. One is to become the head coach of the Mexican national team, and the other is to one day return to Barcelona as the head coach of the first team. 

“I have two dreams: one is to be the national team coach and the other is to return to Barcelona one day as a coach as well,” said Marquez as quoted by SPORT.

Rafa Marquez wants to return to Barcelona one day. (Photo credit should read YURI CORTEZ/AFP via Getty Images)

Interestingly, Marquez was particularly hopeful about the chance to take over Barcelona’s first team after Xavi was dismissed. 

At that time, the club had assured Marquez that he would be considered for the role if Xavi left. However, despite Deco’s support, the position was eventually filled by Hansi Flick.

When the opportunity to join the Mexican national team arose, Marquez did not hesitate to accept it. He saw it as a chance to learn and grow by working alongside one of the best coaches in the country. 

This new role represents a significant opportunity for Marquez, offering him a chance to further develop his coaching skills.

For him, this move to Mexico signifies a temporary departure from Barcelona, but not a permanent farewell. 

His passion for the game and his connection with Barcelona suggest that he may one day return to fulfil his dream of managing the first team. For now, Marquez is focused on his new role with the Mexican national team and the exciting challenges that lie ahead.