MADRID: Former midfielder Luis Enrique has signed a two-year deal to coach Barcelona, the La Liga club said yesterday.
The 44-year-old replaces Gerardo Martino, who stepped down on Saturday after just one season in charge having failed to win a major trophy.
“Luis Enrique has been chosen as the new first team trainer having been given the backing of sports director Andoni Zubizarreta,” Barca said in a statement.
“Luis Enrique will sign a contract with FC Barcelona for the next two seasons.”
Barcelona also confirmed the signing of keeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen from Borussia Monchengladbach and the return of Rafa Alcantara and Gerard Deulofeu who have been out on loan at Celta Vigo and Everton respectively.
Meanwhile, Barcelona striker Lionel Messi insisted yesterday he remains committed to the club despite a disappointing trophy-less season but would only stay on as long as it felt “affection” for him.
Messi agreed a new contract with the club worth a reported 20m euros ($27.4m) net a year just last week. However, he was booed by certain sections of the Camp Nou crowd as Barcelona narrowly missed out on winning La Liga on Saturday in a 1-1 home draw to Atletico Madrid, who took the title for the first time in 18 years in a dramatic title decider.
“It is the people of (Football Club) Barcelona who will decide my future but my decision is to continue since I still sense that they feel affection for me,” the Argentine star wrote on the Chinese online messaging platform Weibo.
“But if that were not the case I would look for a solution, because I will always want the best for this club.”
Barca ended the season without a major trophy for the first time in six years forcing coach Gerardo Martino to quit after just one season in charge.
Messi said it had been a “hard year, personally and as a group.”
Agencies
