Barcelona have confirmed that Tito Vilanova will take over as manager from Pep Guardiola at the end of the season.
The 42-year-old has been assistant boss at Camp Nou since Guardiola took the top job in 2008, and has helped to guide Barca to 13 trophies in four years.
In a press conference on Friday afternoon, club president Sandro Rosell thanked Guardiola for the successes that he has brought the Catalonian side.
He told reporters: "Thank you, Pep, for all the happiness you have brought us and for bringing a model of football that can never be questioned."
The naming of Vilanova so quickly after the Spaniard's resignation on Friday afternoon was unexpected, with Laurent Blanc, Marcelo Bielsa and Ernesto Valverde among those thought to have been in contention.
Guardiola's last match in charge of the Blaugrana will be on May 25, when Barcelona take on Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey final.
The move to step down as Barca boss occurs mere days after being knocked out the Champions League by the 10 men of Chelsea.
Prior to that semi-final second leg, the current La Liga champions were all but eliminated from the top-flight title race by losing 2-1 to Real Madrid at Camp Nou.
Culled from
The Nation
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