On Saturday, the starting gun sounded on the search for the next Barcelona manager after another coach was, as one source described it to ESPN, "chewed up and spat out" by the club's incredibly demanding, political and complex machinery.
It took four years to wear Pep Guardiola down, three for Luis Enrique to call it a day and, just over two years after taking charge, Xavi Hernández unexpectedly announced he will leave the club at the end of the season after a 5-3 defeat at home to Villarreal in LaLiga.