Barcelona manager Luis Enrique. Pic/AFP
Barcelona: Luis Enrique has announced he will not be Barcelona’s head coach next season, saying: “I’ll need rest”.
The former Spain midfielder has been Barcelona boss since May 2014 and is in the final year of his contract. Barca have won eight trophies out of a possible 10 since Enrique succeeded Gerardo Martino as boss. Barca won the Champions League as part of a first-season treble.
But the 46-year-old’s position has been under scrutiny since Barca lost 4-0 at Paris St Germain in the Champions League last-16 first leg last month.
Enrique announced his decision after Barcelona’s 6-1 LaLiga win over Sporting Gijon which keeps his side in contention for his third championship title.
Enrique said in quotes reported by AS.com: “It’s a very difficult decision for me, one I’ve thought about a lot, but I think I need to be true to myself and fair to my way of thinking.
“In the pre-season I had a meeting with Albert Soler (Barca’s director of professional sports) and Robert Fernandez (Barca’s technical secretary) where I mooted the possibility that I might not renew my contract. They told me there was no rush to take the decision. That moment has arrived. I’m announcing it.
“The reason is I live my work looking for solutions and it gives me little time to rest. I’ll need a rest and that’s the main reason.
“I’d like to thank the club for the confidence they’ve shown in me over my time (here). They gave me the chance to coach the B team, I did that, and these three years have been unforgettable.
“I thank the club for all the support and professionalism and I’m not forgetting there are still three incredible months to go,” Enrique said.
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