Who will replace Enrique?
BARCELONA. — Following Barcelona’s 6-1 demolition of La Liga relegation candidates Sporting Gijon at Camp Nou t his morning (NZT), Luis Enrique announced he will step down as manager of t he Spanish champions after t hree years in charge of t he Catalan side.
The 46-year- old - who has won eight titles since he became manager of t he club i n 2014, including t wo La Liga’s, t wo Copa del Rey’s, a Champions League title and a FIFA Club World Cup since 2014 - stated that he needs rest following his hugely successful spell, which has also seen him win FIFA World Coach of t he Year in 2015.
“I need to rest,” Enrique told t he post- match news conference.
“I won’t be the coach of Barcelona next season. It was a very difficult decision for me, very well- t hought out. The reason clearly had to do with t he way of l i fe I need to have in t his profession, constantly having to f ind solutions, constantly trying to improve my team.
“That means very little time to rest, very l itt le time to disconnect. After t his season it will be good for me to get some rest.”
The shock resignation of t he former Spanish i nternational has sparked a f lurry of activity amongst betting agencies across Europe, with many beginning to offer odds on who will take over t he managerial reigns of t he f ive- t i me European champions.
One of these betting agencies, Irish- based Paddy Power, has released an extensive list of potential cadidates to become the next head coach of Barcelona, with current Sevilla manager Jorge Sampaoli t he leading candidate, with odds of 3/ 1 to become Barça’s next head honcho.
There is a vast range of other managers and former players t hat have been l isted as potential candidates for t he job, varying from increasingly unpopular Arsenal man- ager Arsene Wenger (5/ 1), to Barcelona legend Xavi Hernandez (2 0 / 1 ), while even former Manchester United flop David Moyes ( 100/ 1) gets a mention.
Perhaps an even more surprising name to have been included in the list, however, is Guillem Balagué, with t he football journalist - who covers Spanish football for Sky Sports UK as well as having authored books on the likes of Cristiano Ronal do, Lionel Mess ian dPepGu ar diola-being listed asa 500/1 outsider to land the top job in t he Mediterranean cit y. Despite the tempting idea of winning $ 5000 off a $ 10 bet on Balagué becoming manager of one of t he most successful clubs on the planet, the immense unlikelihood of that actually happening means the Spaniard will more than likely stay on as a journalist for Sky Sports, while any ambitious punter contemplating placing a bet will probably be $ 10 poorer at the conclusion of Barcelona’s next manager announcement press conference. Arsene Wenger said he had no interest in succeeding Luis Enrique as Barcelona coach yesterday, but admitted his future as Arsenal manager remains up in t he air.
Wenger says he will have to make a “lucid and objective” decision on his Arsenal future at the end of the season.
It was another clear hint the Arsenal manager is ready to leave t his summer after 20 years in charge, although he admitted his preference is to stay at t he Emirates.
Wenger (67) made t he remarks yesterday when quizzed if he would be interested in taking over from Luis Enrique at Barcelona this summer as his current £ 8m- a-year contract expires t his summer.
“I have been here for 20 years and I had many times the opportunity to leave so I don’t think I have to convince you that my preference has always been Arsenal,” said Wenger.
“But of course I am objective and lucid enough to make the right decision for myself and t he club as well.
The club is free to make the decision it wants and I will respect t hat.
“My preference has always been t he same and will remain t he same.
Of course I am not looking for jobs in other clubs or jobs off other people, I am focused on me, getting to t he next level and trying to improve and always trying to see what you can do better and reinvent yourself and t hat’s what I try to do. That’s basically it.” Enrique has already publicly stated that he will stand down t his summer and Wenger has been under pressure to clarify his own position to dispel lingering doubts and also try to galvanise fans to help Arsenal’s run-in.
Wenger denied that a manager announcing he is leaving would mean the players take their eyes off the ball. — NZ Herald/
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