a écrit le 27 avril 2012 à 16h51 Pep Guardiola to end reign as Barcelona coach in summer
Pep Guardiola will stand down as Barcelona manager at the end of the season after deciding not to renew his rolling one-year contract.
The 41-year-old, who was appointed in 2008 and has led the Catalan club to 13 trophies, will be succeeded by current assistant Tito Vilanova.
Barca look set to miss out to Real Madrid in La Liga and were knocked out of the Champions League by Chelsea.
"The reason is simple: four years is enough," said Guardiola.
"I'm drained and I need to fill up. The demand has been very high and a manager must be strong."
Who is new boss Tito Vilanova?
Francesc 'Tito' Vilanova was a friend of Pep Guardiola at Barcelona's La Masia academy
After progressing to Barcelona B, the midfielder left the club, spending three years with Celta Vigo
Following retirement in 2002, the Spaniard joined lower league Barcelona-based side Terrassa FC as technical director
The 42-year-old was brought back to coach Barca B when Guardiola took control of the side in 2007
He moved up to the role of Guardiola's assistant coach at Barcelona when Pep moved up to the top job in 2008
It is understood the former Spain international will take a year away from football after relinquishing his duties to Vilanova.
"At the beginning of December I announced to the chairman that I was seeing the end of my era at Barcelona," Guardiola continued.
"Time has taken its toll - I rise each day and don't feel the same. I am going with the understanding that I have done my duty.
"You can only recover by resting and getting away from everything. It would have been a bad idea to continue. Perhaps it would not have gone wrong but I have the perception that it would. It is my time to go.
"Now we are out of the two main competitions it is a good time to announce this. I did not want to continue with the confusion.
"I want to thank my players who are responsible for everything that has happened here. I don't want to manage at the moment."
Guardiola was speaking at a news conference attended by many of his players and received rapturous applause at the end.
Guardiola's significance
"The technical relationships on the pitch are the result of years of indoctrination and feverishly practiced drills. That's exactly why the recapture of Gerard Pique from Manchester United and Cesc Fabregas from Arsenal was so important"
Read Andy Brassell's view
The likes of captain Carles Puyol, Xavi, Andres Iniesta
Pep Guardiola will stand down as Barcelona manager at the end of the season after deciding not to renew his rolling one-year contract.
The 41-year-old, who was appointed in 2008 and has led the Catalan club to 13 trophies, will be succeeded by current assistant Tito Vilanova.
Barca look set to miss out to Real Madrid in La Liga and were knocked out of the Champions League by Chelsea.
"The reason is simple: four years is enough," said Guardiola.
"I'm drained and I need to fill up. The demand has been very high and a manager must be strong."
Who is new boss Tito Vilanova?
Francesc 'Tito' Vilanova was a friend of Pep Guardiola at Barcelona's La Masia academy
After progressing to Barcelona B, the midfielder left the club, spending three years with Celta Vigo
Following retirement in 2002, the Spaniard joined lower league Barcelona-based side Terrassa FC as technical director
The 42-year-old was brought back to coach Barca B when Guardiola took control of the side in 2007
He moved up to the role of Guardiola's assistant coach at Barcelona when Pep moved up to the top job in 2008
It is understood the former Spain international will take a year away from football after relinquishing his duties to Vilanova.
"At the beginning of December I announced to the chairman that I was seeing the end of my era at Barcelona," Guardiola continued.
"Time has taken its toll - I rise each day and don't feel the same. I am going with the understanding that I have done my duty.
"You can only recover by resting and getting away from everything. It would have been a bad idea to continue. Perhaps it would not have gone wrong but I have the perception that it would. It is my time to go.
"Now we are out of the two main competitions it is a good time to announce this. I did not want to continue with the confusion.
"I want to thank my players who are responsible for everything that has happened here. I don't want to manage at the moment."
Guardiola was speaking at a news conference attended by many of his players and received rapturous applause at the end.
Guardiola's significance
"The technical relationships on the pitch are the result of years of indoctrination and feverishly practiced drills. That's exactly why the recapture of Gerard Pique from Manchester United and Cesc Fabregas from Arsenal was so important"
Read Andy Brassell's view
The likes of captain Carles Puyol, Xavi, Andres Iniesta
