Barcelona: Gerardo Martino to step down as head coach 
Gerardo Martino has mutually agreed to step down as Barcelona coach after failing to win La Liga.Martino, 51,
replaced Tito Vilanova in July last year, signing a two-year contract at the Nou Camp club.
Barcelona lost the league title to Atletico Madrid after drawing with them on Saturday,
meaning they finished the season without a major trophy for the first time since 2007-08."I am sorry that I was unable to deliver," he said.
"I would like to thank the club for putting their confidence in me."
Martino's arrival at Barcelona last summer marked the Argentine's first job outside of South America since a six-month spell playing for Tenerife in 1991.
He oversaw 40 wins in his 59 games in charge of the 2012-13 champions, but failed to deliver league or European success.
Barcelona exited the Champions League at the quarter-final stage, when they lost to Atletico Madrid.
They also lost to Real Madrid in the final of the Copa del Rey.
"I deeply regret not having achieved the goals that this club has always been set and achieved," Martino added.
"These are great players. My greatest gratitude goes to the players. They have made me proud."
Barca's sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta said: "We are grateful to 'Tata'. This has been a tough season."
Former Barcelona player Luis Enrique, who is to leave his role as Celta Vigo coach this summer, has been linked with replacing Martino.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/27457239
Tata Martino announces that he will no longer manage FC Barcelonawww.FCBARCELONA.CAT 05/18/2014 00:01
The Argentinian announces the mutual agreement with the Club to step down as FC Barcelona's manager Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino stepped down as FC Barcelona’s manager after the match against Atletico Madrid.
The Argentinian, who was accompanied by Andoni Zubizarreta, announced the decision in the post-match press conference.
“I announce the mutual decision with the Club to no longer manage FC Barcelona,” he started. He continued by thanking, “regardless of today’s result,” the Club for the support he received throughout the season.
“I thank the Club for everything its given me, I thank President Bartomeu, Football Director Zubizarreta and Sandro Rosell for having confidence in me.”
He added: “I also thank the fans for their respect, and I thank everyone that worked with me and my staff, and I especially thank the players.” Martino expressed his sorrow for not winning the league title. “I profoundly lament the fact that I was not able to help the players to achieve the objectives of the Club.
We tried with dignity,” he said. He then went on to congratulate the new league champions: “I congratulate Atletico Madrid because they were our great rival this season,
they did a fantastic job and I’m certain they will continue to do well.”
The former FC Barcelona manager then focused on his players.
“We admire them from afar, we admire them from within and I will continue to do so from now on because the following years will be good ones for them,” he said.
“I don’t only admire them for their talent, but because they are good human beings. It has been an honour to lead this institution.”
FC Barcelona Football Director Andoni Zubizarreta also talked to the press. “We thank Martino for the job he’s done throughout this complicated season.”
Despite today’s result, Zubizarreta said “that despite the difficulties, the team fought until the end for the league and Copa del Rey.”
Lastly, the football director thanked Martino for his dedication and for “keeping the team competitive throughout the season.”
http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/detail/article/tata-martino-announces-that-he-will-no-longer-manage-fc-barcelona [ 此帖被羅力亞在2014-05-18 09:41重新編輯 ]
