(PA) Friday 27 April 2012
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Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has confirmed that he will be leaving the club at the end of the season.
Guardiola's contract was due to expire at the end of June and he informed the players at training on Friday that he would not be extending his stay at the Camp Nou.
Guardiola explained that after giving “everything” he needed time to rest: "I would like you to understand that this is not an easy decision for me. But I would like to explain my reasons for this decision.
"I have always wanted short-term contracts. Four years is an eternity as Barça coach. In the month of October I announced to the president and to the sporting director that I thought my spell was coming to an end.
"The main reason why I have taken this decision is because four years is many years. I have given everything and I have nothing left and need to recharge my batteries.
"The demands have been great and I have not been able to rest much. I have to recover and the only way I can do that is by distancing myself. Otherwise, we would have ended up damaging each other.
"I know that I'm leaving the best place to work in. I am very satisfied with the result we have achieved. I have had the great privilege of coaching fantastic players. I want to thank them."
Guardiola stepped up from Barça B to the first team in 2008 and has gone on to become the most successful coach in the club's illustrious history.
He has led the Catalan club to two UEFA Champions League crowns, three La Liga trophies, one Copa del Rey, three Supercopas, two UEFA Super Cups and two FIFA Club World Cups.
At a press conference, president Sandro Rosell said: "We have called you today to announce that Pep Guardiola will not continue in charge of the team next season. Thank you Pep for all the happiness you have brought us and for bringing a model of football that can never be questioned."
Guardiola has operated on short-term deals throughout his tenure but had usually renewed before this stage of the season, prompting speculation he was ready to walk away.
His decision comes just days after Barça were eliminated from the Champions League by Chelsea. That setback came just 72 hours after their hopes of retaining their La Liga crown were dashed following a 2-1 defeat at home to arch-rivals Real Madrid.
That loss left them seven points behind Jose Mourinho's men with four games remaining and also ended their domestic dominance in Spain.
Immediate success
Guardiola led Barça to the La Liga crown in his first season in charge after masterminding a squad overhaul which saw the likes of Ronaldinho and Deco leave and a greater emphasis placed on youth.
The results were immediate. Not only did Barça win the league - the highlight being a 6-2 thrashing of Real at the Bernabeu - but they also claimed the Copa del Rey and Champions League crowns.
The 2009/10 campaign kicked off with further success in the Spanish Super Cup, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup as Barça became the first club side to claim six trophies in one calendar year.
They failed to defend their Champions League crown after being eliminated by Mourinho-led Inter Milan at the semi-final stage but retained their La Liga title with a record points total of 99.
With Real hiring Mourinho with a view to ending Barça's run of success, the 2010/11 season was supposed to pose new challenges for Guardiola.
But the former Spain midfielder, having signed David Villa to replace Zlatan Ibrahimovic, guidedBarça to the league title once more and they backed that up by claiming the Champions League crown by defeating Manchester United at Wembley.
Cesc Fabregas joined from Arsenal in the summer of 2011 as Guardiola again placed his faith in products of the famed La Masia academy and while the free-flowing football remained, long winning runs were punctuated with surprise defeats.
The Spanish Super Cup and UEFA Super Cup were claimed, as was the FIFA Club World Cup, but La Liga setbacks against the likes of Getafe and Osasuna undermined their title challenge.
Barça have qualified for the final of the Copa del Rey, in which they will meet Athletic Bilbao in what is set to be Guardiola's final game in charge. The 41-year-old is now expected to take a sabbatical from the game despite being linked with numerous jobs across Europe.
Rosell also announced that Guardiola's assistant Tito Vilanova will become first-team coach for next season. Sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta felt promoting from within, as they did with Guardiola, was the best way forward. He said: "We've always said that if the team needs players, we look at home first. Who do we have here at home? Tito."
Guardiola's contract was due to expire at the end of June and he informed the players at training on Friday that he would not be extending his stay at the Camp Nou.
Guardiola explained that after giving “everything” he needed time to rest: "I would like you to understand that this is not an easy decision for me. But I would like to explain my reasons for this decision.
The main reason why I have taken this decision is because four years is many years. I have given everything and I have nothing left and need to recharge my batteries.
Pep Guardiola
"I have always wanted short-term contracts. Four years is an eternity as Barça coach. In the month of October I announced to the president and to the sporting director that I thought my spell was coming to an end.
"The main reason why I have taken this decision is because four years is many years. I have given everything and I have nothing left and need to recharge my batteries.
"The demands have been great and I have not been able to rest much. I have to recover and the only way I can do that is by distancing myself. Otherwise, we would have ended up damaging each other.
"I know that I'm leaving the best place to work in. I am very satisfied with the result we have achieved. I have had the great privilege of coaching fantastic players. I want to thank them."
Guardiola stepped up from Barça B to the first team in 2008 and has gone on to become the most successful coach in the club's illustrious history.
He has led the Catalan club to two UEFA Champions League crowns, three La Liga trophies, one Copa del Rey, three Supercopas, two UEFA Super Cups and two FIFA Club World Cups.
Thank you Pep for all the happiness you have brought us and for bringing a model of football that can never be questioned.
Sandro Rosell, Barcelona president
At a press conference, president Sandro Rosell said: "We have called you today to announce that Pep Guardiola will not continue in charge of the team next season. Thank you Pep for all the happiness you have brought us and for bringing a model of football that can never be questioned."
Guardiola has operated on short-term deals throughout his tenure but had usually renewed before this stage of the season, prompting speculation he was ready to walk away.
His decision comes just days after Barça were eliminated from the Champions League by Chelsea. That setback came just 72 hours after their hopes of retaining their La Liga crown were dashed following a 2-1 defeat at home to arch-rivals Real Madrid.
That loss left them seven points behind Jose Mourinho's men with four games remaining and also ended their domestic dominance in Spain.
Immediate success
Guardiola led Barça to the La Liga crown in his first season in charge after masterminding a squad overhaul which saw the likes of Ronaldinho and Deco leave and a greater emphasis placed on youth.
The results were immediate. Not only did Barça win the league - the highlight being a 6-2 thrashing of Real at the Bernabeu - but they also claimed the Copa del Rey and Champions League crowns.
The 2009/10 campaign kicked off with further success in the Spanish Super Cup, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup as Barça became the first club side to claim six trophies in one calendar year.
They failed to defend their Champions League crown after being eliminated by Mourinho-led Inter Milan at the semi-final stage but retained their La Liga title with a record points total of 99.
With Real hiring Mourinho with a view to ending Barça's run of success, the 2010/11 season was supposed to pose new challenges for Guardiola.
But the former Spain midfielder, having signed David Villa to replace Zlatan Ibrahimovic, guidedBarça to the league title once more and they backed that up by claiming the Champions League crown by defeating Manchester United at Wembley.
Cesc Fabregas joined from Arsenal in the summer of 2011 as Guardiola again placed his faith in products of the famed La Masia academy and while the free-flowing football remained, long winning runs were punctuated with surprise defeats.
The Spanish Super Cup and UEFA Super Cup were claimed, as was the FIFA Club World Cup, but La Liga setbacks against the likes of Getafe and Osasuna undermined their title challenge.
Barça have qualified for the final of the Copa del Rey, in which they will meet Athletic Bilbao in what is set to be Guardiola's final game in charge. The 41-year-old is now expected to take a sabbatical from the game despite being linked with numerous jobs across Europe.
Rosell also announced that Guardiola's assistant Tito Vilanova will become first-team coach for next season. Sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta felt promoting from within, as they did with Guardiola, was the best way forward. He said: "We've always said that if the team needs players, we look at home first. Who do we have here at home? Tito."
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