Sergi Barjuán Esclusa (born 28 December 1971), known simply as Sergi as a player, is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a left-back, currently a manager. Best known for his Barcelona stint, he played for the first team for nine seasons and made a major contribution to the winning of nine major titles. Having reached the Spain national team shortly after making his professional club debut, he appeared in two World Cups and as many European Championships. In 2009, Barjuán embarked on a managerial career, leading Recreativo, Almería and Mallorca. He also had brief La Liga spells at the second of those clubs, and in interim charge of Barcelona. Playing career Club Born in Les Franqueses del Vallès, Barcelona, Catalonia, Sergi was a youth product of giants FC Barcelona. He had not yet appeared in La Liga when he was summoned by first-team manager Johan Cruyff to a UEFA Champions League group stage game away against Galatasaray S.K. (0–0, on 24 November 1993), and from then on became the side's undisputed first choice, never playing less than 31 matches until 1999; with Barça he won three leagues, two cups and two supercups, adding the 1997 edition of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup and the subsequent UEFA Super Cup, partnered in the other defensive wing by another youth graduate, Albert Ferrer. After being deemed surplus to requirements by coach Louis van Gaal, Sergi joined Atlético Madrid, where he still posted three respectable seasons although he collected a total of 33 yellow cards. International Shortly after having been promoted into Barcelona's main squad, Sergi made his debut for Spain on 9 February 1994, in a friendly with Poland in Santa Cruz de Tenerife in which he scored his only international goal. He went on to represent the nation at the 1994 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 1996, the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000, for a total of 56 caps. Coaching career Barcelona (youth) In July 2009, after several years working in marketing and running football camps for youngsters, Barjuán returned to Barcelona, being named its Juvenil B manager. During his spell he coached Gerard Deulofeu, Patric and Rafinha, whom eventually starred for the senior team. Recreativo Barjuán was handed his first job in the professionals on 22 May 2012, signing for three years with Recreativo de Huelva in the Segunda División. On his debut on 18 August, he lost