Pep Guardiola to end reign as Barcelona coach in summer

[djaxster]

He has said he wants a year away from Football... He's going to The Spurts then..

[djaxster]

He has said he wants a year away from Football... He's going to The Spurts then..

[Zenith]

Apparantly he has told the players allready that he'll leave the club, there will be a press conference at 12:30 GMT or 13:30 GMT+1.

[Herrpoja]

unless my spanish is terrible sandro rosell has confirmed it on the press confrence

[Yorkyblue]

Well that didn't take long to sort out his replacement!

[Arsenal~Fanatic]

Guardiola leaves Barcelona

"Pep Guardiola will not continue as coach next season," Barca President Sandro Rosell told a news conference.

"Thank you for your work and your love."

Guardiola, who wants to recharge his batteries, added: "I'm sorry for the confusion in recent weeks. I've always wanted short contracts because the demands at Barcelona are so big.

"Now we were out of the two main competitions, it was a good time to announce it.

"The reason is simple. Four years, that gets everyone tired. The new coach will give things that I can't give anymore."

Speculation about the 41-year-old former midfielder's future intensified after holders Barca were knocked out of the Champions League by Chelsea 3-2 on aggregate in their semi-final on Tuesday.

That followed a 2-1 home loss to arch rivals Real Madrid on Saturday that meant they are likely to miss out on a fourth straight Liga title.

Spanish media reported that Athletic Bilbao coach Marcelo Bielsa, former Barca player Luis Enrique, now in charge at AS Roma, and Olympiakos boss Ernesto Valverde, who played for Barca and went on to coach clubs including Athletic, Espanyol and Villarreal were likely candidates to replace Guardiola.

Other names mentioned were Andre Villas-Boas, sacked by Chelsea last month, and Laurent Blanc and Vicente del Bosque, the coaches of France and Spain respectively.

Guardiola has enjoyed a hugely successful stint at the helm of the Catalan club, winning 13 trophies in four seasons while playing a style of football that has been widely acclaimed as the best in the world.

However, the longer he has delayed a decision on his future the more speculation has grown he might be lured to another club, with reports linking him to the Chelsea and Inter Milan jobs, among others.

Some suggested he was in line to become the next England manager or that he was planning to take a sabbatical.

He has preferred to renew his Barca contract on an annual basis and waited until February 8 last year before agreeing a new deal.

He then went on to capture a third consecutive Liga title and a second Champions League crown, as well as the Spanish and European Super Cups and the Club World Cup. Their success built on ball retention with team's fortunate to enjoy 30 percent of possession against them.

Barca have a chance to claim more silverware this season in the Copa del Rey and play Athletic Bilbao in next month's final.

http://asia.eurosport.com/football/la-l ... tory.shtml

[Yorkyblue]

Makes sense what they have done just promoting Francesc Vilanova, then if Pep wants his job back he can go back to assistant if he isn't interested in permanent management.

[Herrpoja]

Makes sense what they have done just promoting Francesc Vilanova, then if Pep wants his job back he can go back to assistant if he isn't interested in permanent management.

idd quite suprised really that they did promote him taught they were gonna try and get someone with new fresh ideas ,but dont think they want that, i guess

[Yorkyblue]

Makes sense what they have done just promoting Francesc Vilanova, then if Pep wants his job back he can go back to assistant if he isn't interested in permanent management.

idd quite suprised really that they did promote him taught they were gonna try and get someone with new fresh ideas ,but dont think they want that, i guess

Yeah makes sense what you say.

A bit like Terry Connor at Wolves. Although at Wolves they needed to change things so promoting Connor was pointless. With Barca though, I'm not sure they need to change much - but maybe they do.

One problem is more that Pep is one of the lads there. I'm not knocking his managerial skills, especially his man-management as I rate any manager who can keep that many top players happy.

I think Pep just needs a break. He's not really had a break from football for over 20 years. It will give him some real time with his family without the stress of work in his head.

[IMF]

Wouldn't it be quality if the new guy was shit and Cesc ends up with nothing?

[elkanofan]

so are they going to continue playing with 6 attacking midfielders then?

[elkanofan]

Makes sense what they have done just promoting Francesc Vilanova, then if Pep wants his job back he can go back to assistant if he isn't interested in permanent management.

idd quite suprised really that they did promote him taught they were gonna try and get someone with new fresh ideas ,but dont think they want that, i guess

Yeah makes sense what you say.

A bit like Terry Connor at Wolves. Although at Wolves they needed to change things so promoting Connor was pointless. With Barca though, I'm not sure they need to change much - but maybe they do.

One problem is more that Pep is one of the lads there. I'm not knocking his managerial skills, especially his man-management as I rate any manager who can keep that many top players happy.

I think Pep just needs a break. He's not really had a break from football for over 20 years. It will give him some real time with his family without the stress of work in his head.

They need a recognized striker

[Hammered Pizza]

Thread title changed accordingly

[Artillero]

Okay. Hypothetical. Wenger doesn't win anything next season and leaves.

Would you take Guardiola?

[Arsenal Tone]

Okay. Hypothetical. Wenger doesn't win anything next season and leaves.

Would you take Guardiola?

No