Guardiola to replace Rijkaard as Barcelona coach
9/5/2008 17:27
Spain's Barcelona soccer club's president Joan Laporta announced yesterday
that Joseph Guardiola will replace Frank Rijkaard as Barcelona's coach at the
end of this season in the Spanish soccer league.
Laporta said, after the
four-hour directive board meeting, praised "the excellent behaviour and work"
carried out by Rijkaard, a coach that "has made history" in the club.
"I
personally" told Rijkaard that he will not continue next season, and Rijkaard
obeyed the decision "elegantly and with lots of feeling," said Laporta.
Dutch
native Rijkaard coached Barcelona in 2003, winning two consecutive League
championships and the Champion's League in 2006, although he has been unable to
win any title in the past two seasons.
On Wednesday, Barcelona also suffered
a humiliating 4-1 defeat against Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabeu
stadium.
This defeat implies that Barcelona will at best obtain third place
in the Spanish League, while not accomplishing a direct pass to the Champions'
League.
Guardiola, 37, will become Barcelona's coach after
coaching
Barcelona's B team heading its group in the Third division and
seeking to pass to the Second B soccer division in Spain.
Xinhua
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