FC Barcelona officially added Yann-Benjamin Kugel to its coaching staff in early July 2026, bringing in a German fitness specialist with nearly a decade of experience working with the German national team. The move is part of head coach Hansi Flick’s broader strategy to surround himself with trusted collaborators as the club prepares for the 2026-27 season.

Kugel’s resume reads like a European football tour. He’s held positions at Werder Bremen, 1. FC Köln, PSV Eindhoven, and Benfica before landing in Catalonia. His primary focus at Barcelona will be strengthening the physical conditioning apparatus for the first team, a role that Flick clearly views as mission-critical.

Flick took over as Barcelona’s manager in May 2024. Since then, he’s secured La Liga titles and earned enough institutional confidence to get his contract extended through at least 2028. Kugel’s appointment follows a similar playbook to the return of midfielder Thiago Alcântara in a coaching capacity. Flick is assembling a support system that speaks his language, literally and tactically.

Kugel’s nearly ten years with the German national team means he’s worked with elite-level athletes across multiple tournament cycles. The fact that Flick’s contract now runs through at least 2028 suggests Barcelona is committed to a multi-year project under his leadership.