Rijkaard out, Guardiola in
Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard will be replaced by former player Pep Guardiola in the summer, according to club president Joan Laporta.
Rijkaard has come under increasing pressure since failing to any deliver silverware following their domestic and European double in 2006, and the writing was on the wall well before the humiliating 4-1 drubbing at Real Madrid after their bitter rivals' consecutive Liga title win.
The Dutchman joined the club in 2003 and turned around the fortunes of an underachieving side while playing expansive, attacking football based around Brazilian star Ronaldinho.
But as Ronaldinho's form and commitment dipped, Rijkaard's control over his charges waned and he was widely expected to leave the club in the summer.
However, the real surprise is the appointment of Guardiola, who has no senior management experience although has coached the club's B team since retiring as a player in 2007.
A former Spain international midfielder, Guardiola spent the majority of his playing career at Barca before an ill-fated spell in Italy with Brescia and Roma that was marred by a six-month drug ban in 2001 that was successfully appealed six years later.
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