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Barnsley confirm very exciting appointment of new head coach

Barnsley confirm a very exciting appointment of new head coach in Poya Asbaghi, coming in to replace the departed Markus Schopp.

The Tykes have got the deal done in time for their clash away at Fulham this weekend, with the South Yorkshire outfit currently sitting 23rd in the Championship table, taking 11 points from 17 games played.

The promising young coach had been in charge of Sweden’s under 21s team but is now leaving that role for life in the second tier of English football, who we all know can be very unpredictable at times.

CLUB STATEMENT:

Barnsley Football Club can officially announce Poya Asbaghi as our new Head Coach.

The 36-year-old has put pen to paper at Oakwell following his arrival from the Swedish national set-up, where he was U21 head coach.

Asbaghi began his coaching career as an assistant at Swedish third tier outfit Dalkurd FF, before taking over the helm two years later.

After a successful spell with the Uppsala-based club, the Iranian-born coach was appointed by Gefle IF in 2017 before a two-year stint with Swedish giants IFK Göteborg between 2018 and 2020.

He led Göteborg to Svenska Cupen glory in 2020 with a 2-1 victory over fierce rivals Malmö FF before leaving his position at IFK in September that year.

Asbaghi won six of his 10 games in charge of Sweden U21s and arrives in South Yorkshire having left the young Swedes top of UEFA U21 European Championship Qualifying Group F after seven fixtures.

He will be accompanied by Ferran Sibila, who was his assistant at Göteborg. The 33-year-old Spaniard has previously coached at Swedish outfit GIF Sundsvall.

Khaled El-Ahmad, Barnsley FC Chief Executive Officer, said: “We welcome Poya and Ferran to the Club. Both are good people, talented coaches with a clear leadership and tactical philosophy.

“Poya was on the radar back in 2019 and as we went through our recruitment process it became clear to all parties that Poya and Ferran can take Barnsley FC forward.

“We would like to thank Jo Laumann and the first team coaching staff for their continued hard work and professionalism over the past few weeks during what has been a transitional period for the Club.”

Laumann will oversee Saturday’s Sky Bet Championship fixture against Fulham, with Asbaghi and new assistant coach, Sibila, expected to take first team training on Monday 22 November.

Welcome to Oakwell, Poya and Ferran.

– STATEMENT ENDS –

Twitter users gave their reaction as Barnsley confirm the very exciting appointment of the new head coach…

@Andy__Mac: Welcome Poya, and if all goes well can I congratulate you on your January move to #WBA. All the best!!

@SteveRose1968: Welcome to Barnsley Poya, wish you every success during your stay with us.

@adamsteadman83: Welcome. All the best Poya.

@tykes_blog: Not the best candidate but certainly the cheapest. Sums the club up perfectly #barnsleyfc

@MrMikeyMooshoo: Welcome Poya, someone who knows how to get youth playing right. I hope you had a good chat with Will Hondermarck last night on the plane. First team promotion for that lad please.

@jesperhaglof: Barnsley has elected Swedens most talented manager. Congrats!

@DowleBFC: Welcome to Barnsley Poya. Hope you can hit the ground running with the lads.

@TarnCait: New beginnings let’s go

@ryansenior99: Champions league in 3 years or knocked out of JPT group stage in 6 months.

@TomFHydes: Welcome Poya 🔮âšȘ⚜

@AJLimb91: Will he be playing a flat pack four? Welcome Poya.

@AlexanderHjerpe: He uses 4-2-3-1, 4-3-3 or 3-4-3. Very offensiv

@bigalbcfc: Cool appointment

@Judepaskell0411: Get behind him

@caitlindenton01: This is a relief. Hopefully good times ahead, as long as he brings the players and fans back together and shows some passion he’ll be reyt. Onwards and upwards

@NickJahnson: Very talented and a good guy!

@SamBartonScott1: Poya asbaghi’s barmy army

@SDicko83: ‘Cheap option again’, ‘He wasn’t good enough 2 year ago so why now’, ‘No experience of championship football’, ‘9 months maximum before he’s gone’, ‘But good luck Poya, we are all right behind you’. Reyt laugh Barnsley fans 😂😂 #barnsleyfc

@tombutcherr: If tha complains abart a bloke you dunt know fuck all abart then you’re a nonce. Reds

@Leigh_0282: Like the ones appointed before him I have no idea what to expect but wish him well.

MORE ON POYA

Although Barnsley’s chief executive Khaled El-Ahmad is also Swedish, their links with Asbaghi go back further with 36 year old Asbaghi having an interview in 2019 but the Reds instead went with Gerhard Struber.

Asbaghi was, at that time, manager of IFK Gothenburg who he had won the Swedish Cup with, but they got rid of him the following September.

He became coach of Sweden under 21s around a year ago and had them unbeaten at the top of their European Championship qualifying group.

Asbaghi’s record:

Dalkurd FF – 1 January 2016 until 14 May 2017 – 41 games, 20 won, 15 drew, 6 lost, 48.78 win %
Gefle IF – 29 May 2017 until 31 December 2017 – 21 games, 10 won, 4 drew, 7 lost, 47.62 win %
IFK Göteborg – 1 January 2018 until 3 September 2020 – 78 games, 24 won, 24 drew, 30 lost, 30.77 win %
Total – 140 games, 54 won, 43 drew, 43 lost, 38.57 win %

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