Barcelona legend and ex-Man Utd keeper Victor Valdes returns to Nou Camp as U19 boss

VICTOR VALDES has returned to Barcelona as their youth team coach, five years after leaving as a player. The La Liga champions announced on Friday the ex-goalkeeper was to take charge of their Under-19s side. Back in 2017, Valdes hung up his gloves at the end of a year in the Premier League with Middlesbrough, […]

VICTOR VALDES has returned to Barcelona as their youth team coach, five years after leaving as a player.

The La Liga champions announced on Friday the ex-goalkeeper was to take charge of their Under-19s side.

PA:Press Association

Back in 2017, Valdes hung up his gloves at the end of a year in the Premier League with Middlesbrough, where he signed after a short spell with Manchester United.

Qualifying for his UEFA A and B coaching licenses enabled the Spaniard to begin work at fifth-tier club Moratalaz.

And after winning the league with their youth team, Valdes has earned a move back to Barcelona to work with the Juvenil A squad.

One of his first games in the Barca dugout is set to be the prestigious opening match of their refurbished Estadi Johan Cruyff, against Ajax on August 27.

Barcelona have given Valdes a one-year deal with the option for a further season.

The goalkeeper appeared 539 times for the Blaugrana after coming through the famed La Masia academy.

As understudy to Iker Casillas, he won 20 Spain caps amidst the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012 campaigns, on top of six La Liga titles and three Champions League crowns.

In a club statement confirming his appointment, Barca credit the Catalan born shot-stopper as: “Always solid between the sticks, was a master at playing the ball with his feet and had an authoritative presence in his area.”

Barcelona’s U19 team play in the regionally-split Division de Honor, where they finished second in Group 3 behind Real Zaragoza last season.