Cleveland Cavaliers
Photo: Cleveland Cavaliers

David Blatt and Sarunas Jasikevicius rumoured to be the top two candidates for the Barcelona coaching job.

Coach Xavi Pascual’s tenure at Barcelona is hanging by a thread following the club’s failure to reach the Euroleague Final Four and win this year’s Copa deal Rey. In his eight years in charge, the 43-year-old has won four Liga Endesa titles as well as a Euroleague crown.

But this season has already been considered a disappointment despite the Catalan side being in the running for the domestic title.

And as a result, Barcelona are already looking forward to next season in a bid to return to the top of the continental pile and they are looking for a new coach.

Former Euroleague champion David Blatt, who was controversially dismissed from the Cleveland Cavaliers is Barca’s top priority with relative newcomer to the coaching profession Sarunas Jasikevicius from Zalgiris the second choice.

Sarunas Jasikevicius
Zalgiris coach Sarunas Jasikevicius is a main candidate for the Barcelona coaching role

“Saras would be the people’s choice because of history but Barcelona are closer than you would think to David Blatt but he is still hopeful of a job in the NBA,” an official close to Barcelona said on condition of anonymity.

“Nothing however is concrete but Blatt is Barcelona’s first choice.”