Marcus Sorg to lead Barcelona in El Clásico as Hansi Flick serves suspension.
Barcelona will travel to the Santiago Bernabéu this weekend without their manager Hansi Flick on the touchline, as the German coach serves a one-match suspension following his red card against Girona last week. Taking his place on the bench for the first El Clásico of the season will be his long-time assistant, Marcus Sorg, who will assume full managerial duties for what is arguably the most high-pressure fixture in world football.
Flick’s sending-off — for dissent towards officials during the 3-2 win over Girona — left Barcelona frustrated, particularly after their appeal was rejected on three separate occasions. Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Sorg admitted that Flick’s absence would be felt deeply. “Of course, we will miss him,” he said. “Hansi brings energy and leadership that the players feed off. But we’ve prepared together, and we know exactly what we want to do against Real Madrid.”
A deep coaching journey
At 59, Marcus Sorg’s story is one of patience, dedication, and quiet influence. A forward during his playing days in Germany’s lower leagues, Sorg hung up his boots in 1999 before turning to coaching. His early managerial career took him through SSV Ulm and SC Freiburg, where he spent several years nurturing young talent. Although his four-month spell as Freiburg’s head coach in 2011 was short-lived, it opened the door to more prominent roles — including work with Bayern Munich’s youth setup and later as Germany’s under-19 manager.
Sorg’s breakthrough came in 2014 when he guided Germany’s U-19 team to victory in the UEFA European Championship, a success that highlighted his tactical discipline and his reputation for developing young players. Two years later, he joined the senior national team’s staff, serving under both Joachim Löw and later Hansi Flick, whom he would follow to Barcelona after Flick’s departure from the German national side in 2023.
Quiet influence, strong principles
Known for his low-key demeanor and analytical approach, Marcus Sorg prefers to let his work speak for itself. Former Bayern midfielder Leon Goretzka once described him as “a meticulous and detailed coach — someone who teaches you something new every day.” Those who know him say he combines humility with intellectual precision, shaped in part by his early studies in engineering.
Though not fluent in Spanish, Marcus Sorg has previously shown a curiosity for football cultures beyond Germany, even spending two months with Argentinos Juniors in Buenos Aires back in 2008.
As he steps into the spotlight at the Bernabéu, Sorg will be tasked with guiding Barcelona against Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid, a challenge that could define his growing reputation. For a man who prefers to stay out of the headlines, Sunday’s Clásico may be his most public test yet.
