Sergio Busquets has returned to Barcelona Atlètic as an assistant coach under Juliano Belletti. Less than a year after his retirement from professional playing, the Catalan midfielder joins the reserve coaching staff while completing the training requirements for his official coaching license.
Walking back through the same doors he left three years ago, Sergio Busquets has officially started his post-playing career at the club where he defined a generation of modern football. The 38-year-old former midfielder joins coach Juliano Belletti inside the Johan Cruyff Stadium, where the reserve squad is building a new identity under the current staff.
From Tiki-Taka Legend to Reserve Staff
Busquets is no passing figure in the club’s history. Alongside Andrés Iniesta and Xavi Hernández, he formed one of the most celebrated midfields in the history of the sport, anchoring the tiki-taka era across 15 seasons with the first team. During that remarkable career, Busquets played 722 matches, placing him third on the all-time appearance list for the club.
His trophy cabinet from his playing days includes 32 titles. That haul features 9 La Liga championships, 7 Copa del Rey trophies, 7 Spanish Super Cups, 3 UEFA Champions League titles, 3 UEFA Super Cups, and 3 FIFA Club World Cups. Beyond club football, he also lifted the World Cup with the Spanish national team in 2010 and the UEFA European Championship in 2012.
The American Chapter and Retirement
After departing Europe in the summer of 2023, Busquets moved to Inter Miami in the American league. There, he spent two and a half seasons playing alongside Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, and Jordi Alba before announcing his retirement in July 2025. Returning to the institution where he grew up in the La Masia academy marks a natural progression for the Catalan legend.
Inside the club, staff view his arrival as a quality addition designed to pass Barcelona’s values and tactical style on to the next generation of players. While completing the training course required for his coaching license, Busquets works side by side with Belletti at the reserve team facilities.
Recent Form and What Lies Ahead
The coaching transition comes as the reserve team navigates its early-season schedule. Barcelona Atlètic claimed their first friendly win of the season by beating Hospitalet 2-0, with goals coming from Shane Kluivert and Ignasi Coll. The side followed up that performance with a closed-door friendly against CE Europa at the Johan Cruyff Arena.
With his coaching journey officially underway, attention now shifts to how the former midfielder’s vast experience influences the reserve squad. Whether this role serves as a stepping stone toward higher technical positions within the club remains the compelling long-term question for observers following the club’s youth development structure.
