体坛英语新闻：Guardiola announces departure as Barca coach

MADRID, April 27 (Xinhua) -- FC Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola confirmed this Friday that he is leaving the club after four years in charge.

Guardiola gave the news at a packed press conference in the Camp Nou Stadium at 13:30 hours local time.

He explained his decision by saying that four years was a long time as Barcelona coach and that he needed to develop other possibilities given that his epoch had finished given that he didn't believe any more.

Guardiola said that a coach needed energy to carry on his job and that he would only be able to have energy after a rest and taking time away from the club. He said he had told club President Sandro Rosell that his period was coming to an end in October last year.

The coach said it had been a privilege to coach the club and the players under his command.

Meanwhile Rosell made a speech giving his deep gratitude to Guardiola for his time at the club.

Guardiola's decision comes just six days after Barcelona virtually said goodbye to the BBVA Primera Liga title following a 2-1 home defeat against bitter rivals Real Madrid and three days after his side was knocked out of the semifinals of the Champions League following a 3-2 aggregate defeat to Chelsea.

He has always preferred to extend his contract on a year-by-year basis and speculation over his future has been growing since February, given that in previous years he had always signed a contract extension by the end of that month.

Guardiola, a former Barcelona player, was named Barca coach in the summer of 2008 by former coach Joan Laporta following a successful season leading the club's B-team.

His first season in charge saw Barcelona win an incredible treble of Copa del Rey, BBVA Primera Liga and the Champions League and he followed that up by taking Barca to the Spanish and European Supecup titles as well as winning the World Club Championships, making Barcelona the first and only club in history to win every possible title in a calendar year.

He has won a total of 13 titles in his four years at the club, and although this season can be considered a relative disappointment, considering that Barca are out of Europe and barring a miracle will finish behind Madrid in the league, the club has managed to win the Spanish and European Supercups and the World Club Championship once again.

Barcelona also have the chance to win the Copa del Rey and will play Athletic Club Bilbao in the final of that competition on May 25th. That will be Guardiola' s last game as Barcelona coach and the chance for him to leave the club with the conquest of another title.

Rosell then named Guardiola's assistant Tito Vilanova as his replacement as the new coach of FC Barcelona.

Despite insisting he needs a rest, Guardiola's future will also provoke much speculation with rumors he could move to England, where he would coach Chelsea, ironically the side who knocked Barca out of Europe just three days ago, next season.