Ricard Ares, new Barça roller hockey coach
Ricard Ares is the new Barça roller hockey coach for the next three seasons. FC Barcelona and Ares have reached an agreement for the Bilbao native to take over until 30 June 2028.
The 50 year old joins the Club after a long career as a coach both on a national and international level and is excited by this new challenge.
"It's a dream to coach Barça and I am really looking forward to it. I am ambitious and I want to work hard to represent the Club's values, which is to try and win every competition in which we take part."
Great experience at club level
Ares comes to Barça from Portuguese side Porto where he has spent the last four seasons. In Portugal the coach collected a total of nine trophies - including three league titles, 2022, 2024 and 2025 - a Champions League in 2023, the Intercontinental Cup in 2021, a Continental Cup, 2 Portuguese Cups and an Elite Cup.
His coaching career started at CP Vic as assistant from 2006 to 2009 before becoming head coach at CP Voltregà from 2010 to 2016.
Experience as national team coach
Ricard Ares also has international experience having coached the Spanish women's team to two World Championships, in 2017 and 2019 and to a European Championship in 2018. Whilst women's team coach, Ares was also assistant coach at the Spanish men's team, helping them to a World Championship in 2017 and a European Championship in 2018.
Between 2019 and 2021 he was head coach of the Spain men's squad prior to moving to Porto.
Past as a player
Ares began his playing career in 1992 at Reus Deportiu before moving on to Cambrils CH in 1994. After just a season he moved to CP Voltregà before spells with Vilfranca and CP Vic. In 2002 he moved to the Canary Islands with CP Tenerife. In 2006 he returned to Catalonia with Vilafrance before playing his final season at Cerdanyola CH in 2008/09.
Ricard Ares' coaching staff
The new Barça coach will have Moi Escudero as his assistant and Jordi Arboix will continue as fitness coach. Blaugrana from 2010 to 2015, the recently retired Marc Torra will join the Club as the technical secretary, working as the link between the players and the coaching staff and assisting sporting manager Gaby Cairo.