Rijkaard to leave Barcelona

[livvy145]

Rijkaard to leave Barcelona
Reuters

May 8, 2008 at 1:50 PM EDT

MADRID — Frank Rijkaard will leave Barcelona at the end of the season and former captain Pep Guardiola will take over as coach of the team, club president Joan Laporta announced on Thursday.

Former Netherlands international Rijkaard took charge of Barcelona in 2003 and led them to back-to-back league titles and victory in the Champions League in 2006.

However, his side have failed to win any silverware for the past two seasons and suffered a humiliating 4-1 defeat by arch-rivals Real Madrid on Wednesday.

That defeat combined with Villarreal's victory over Recreativo Huelva means that the Catalans will miss out on automatic qualification for the Champions League and cannot finish any higher than third in the Primera Liga.

Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard leaves the pitch at half time during their Champions League semi-final second leg soccer match against Manchester United at Old Trafford in Manchester on April 29. (Phil Noble/Reuters)

"The cycle is finished because the results haven't gone our way," Laporta told a news conference. "The situation was very disappointing last season.

"We haven't been able to correct the errors that were committed then and we have decided that Frank should be relieved of his post at the end of the season."

Rijkaard's contract was due to run to 2009.

http://football.uk.reuters.com/european/news/L08303119.php

[andyinswinton]

So thats Rijkaard to Chelsea then!

[spud_gun]

The 06 vintage of Barca was one of the best footballing teams i've ever seen. Shame it had to end this way for Frank. No doubt Barca will spend big in the summer and ship out alot of their older stars.

[Joe King]

The 06 vintage of Barca was one of the best footballing teams i've ever seen. Shame it had to end this way for Frank. No doubt Barca will spend big in the summer and ship out alot of their older stars.

[ELNINO 9]

well they cant have our torres

[x0x]

he can come here as an assistant

[yukpo]

Reckon he'll be at Chelsea next season

[The Erectile Banana]

Reckon he'll be at Chelsea next season

I have a funny feeling that Grant will still be at Chelsea next season, especially if he wins the Champion's League.

[Rich]

I have a funny feeling that Grant will still be at Chelsea next season, especially when he wins the Champion's League.

[Johnny]

Will barca ever have a manager for more than 3 seasons?????

[Darkon]

Will barca ever have a manager for more than 3 seasons?????

Riijkard has been there for 5 seasons now, so that is an affirmative

[-V-]

Will barca ever have a manager for more than 3 seasons?????

More like, will Real ever have one for more than 1 season

[NICKZS]

Riijkard has been there for 5 seasons now, so that is an affirmative

[Vermilion]

Just thought about it for the first time in ages, & i,ve not seen the footage used too often either. But does anyone recall this fella spitting, & i mean spitting on Germany player Rudi Woltz, Long whiteish/blonde/then grey Curly hair, managed Germany later also i think. Rudi Woltz doesn't sound correct now, is that his name??.

Someone will know, the footage must be out there somewhere. It was disgusting, as dirty a thing as you'll see on the field of play 'IN A WORLD CUP'. or was it the euro's.??

Anyway it definately happened. A bit strange why our tabloids don't or haven't jumped on the story before a big game between Barca & an English team, Chelsea maybe, Maureen's time, knowing our press/media & their methods for stirring the ****e. As i said, just a thought.

[Marky]

Riijkard has been there for 5 seasons now, so that is an affirmative

Another well thought out post Johnny