Former Inter Miami star Sergio Busquets begins coaching journey at Barça Atlètic | OneFootball

When last we saw Sergio Busquets, he was riding off into retirement with Jordi Alba after helping former teammates Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez capture Inter Miami's first MLS Cup championship in December.

On Monday, FC Barcelona announced that Busquets, 38, would return to the Blaugrana as a coach, helping Barça Atlètic, its reserve side, while completing his coaching qualifications.

The four caballeros rose to fame as teammates at FC Barcelona between 2012-2020 (Suárez joined Blaugrana in 2013 and was the first to leave seven seasons later), winning 13 major trophies: five La Liga titles (2013, 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019), three Copa del Rey trophies (2015, 2016 and 2018), three Spanish Super Copas (2013, 2016 and 2018), the UEFA Champions League (2015) and a Club World Cup (2015). The 2015 team, which earned the team's second-ever continental treble (La Liga, Copa del Rey and UEFA Champions League), is considered one of the greatest club sides of all time.

Busquets, the architect of the modern defensive midfielder's role, wasn't the flashiest of the Barça Boys who joined Messi in Inter Miami in 2023 (Suárez was late again, joining the Herons before the 2024 season), but he is the one everyone knew was destined to coach. He wasn't an exceptional athlete, but his intelligence and composure helped him dominate matches from the back. His nicknames include El Pulpo -- "the Octopus" -- for his knack of always being in position on defense, and El Cerebro -- "the Brain" -- for his skill at managing the game's pace and sending long, precise passes through opposing lines to runners in transition.

Busquets holds the 2025 MLS Cup trophy after Inter Miami beat the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 in the championship match Dec. 6. | Elsa/GettyImages

Statistics don't show a defensive midfielder's value, but Busquets didn't care about numbers; he cared about helping the team win.

“I play in a position that demands hard work and generosity and little glamour, but I like it. I would rather intercept and steal 10 balls than shoot," he is quoted as saying. "That’s what I’m here for, to make everyone else’s jobs easier.”

Busquets played 880 matches in all competitions for Barcelona (675) and Inter Miami (106), scoring 21 goals (1 for the Herons) and assisting on 64 more (16 for Las Garzas). Although he played just 2 1/2 seasons in South Florida, his contributions to the Messi project won't be forgotten.

And, perhaps, his contributions to the Pink & Black will continue. Busquets is Catalan and was born about 12 miles north of the Catalonian city of Barcelona in Sabadell, so it's hard to imagine him leaving Blaugrana. But more than a few Herons supporters have suggested he should return to Miami as manager, but the Messi Project at Inter Miami has taught us to never say never.