After a four-hour board meeting yesterday afternoon, Barça president Joan Laporta confirmed at a press conference that Josep 'Pep' Guardiola will take over from Frank Rijkaard as first team coach at the end of the season.

Mr Laporta thanked Mr Rijkaard for his "excellent work and attitude" and said that the Dutch coach "has made history" during his time at the club. Confirming that he had already informed Mr Rijkaard of the board's decision personally, Mr Laporta said that it had been accepted "elegantly, and with a great deal of sentiment."

With one year of his contract remaining, the Barça president was unwilling to confirm the details of the severance agreement, but did reveal that Mr Rijkaard's technical team - Johan Neeskens, Eusebio Sacristán and Juan Carlos Unzué - have also been sacked.

Reluctant to talk about individuals, Mr Laporta did indicate that at least some of the blame for the club's second consecutive season without silverware must be shouldered by the players, who "did not reach expectations and failed to respond to the coach."

Frank Rijkaard (45) was appointed in 2003 and took the club to back-to-back league titles in 2005 and 2006 when they also won the Champions League.

During his 17 seasons at the Nou Camp as a player (1984-2001), Pep Guardiola won six league titles and the European Cup in 1992. 

Guardiola set to replace Rijkaard at Nou Camp helm
By: thinkSPAIN
Tuesday, May 6, 2008

According to a number of separate reports in the Spanish sports and mainstream media, Barça president Joan Laporta is on the verge of unveiling reserve team coach, Pep Guardiola, as Frank Rijkaard's replacement.

The decision was apparently taken during a board meeting yesterday afternoon involving Laporta, Txiki Begiristain and the club's four vice-presidents, but will not be announced officially until Monday May 19th, the day following the final round of league fixtures for the season.

Guardiola (36) is a former Spain international and a key member of Johan Cruyff's legendary 'Dream Team' with experience outside Spain with Brescia and Roma in Italy, Al Ahly in Qatar and Dorados de Sinaloa in Mexico.

Though hugely inexperienced as a coach, Guardiola has been doing good work with Barcelona's B team, who are top of their third division group and already through to the playoffs for promotion to the second division B.