Barcelona confirm Messi's pick Martino as new manager on two-year deal
By David Kent
PUBLISHED: 10:55, 23 July 2013 | UPDATED: 11:57, 23 July 2013
Barcelona have reached an agreement for Argentinian Gerardo Martino to become their new coach.
The 50-year-old, who led Newell's Old Boys to the Argentinian Clausura title last season but recently severed ties with the club, has agreed a two-year contract at Barca where he will replace Tito Vilanova.
Barca announced on Friday night that the 44-year-old Vilanova was stepping down as he continues his battle with cancer.
VIDEO Scroll down to watch Gerardo Martino replaces Tito Vilanova as Barcelona coach
New man: Barcelona have sealed a deal to make Gerardo Martino their new manager
New man: Barcelona have sealed a deal to make Gerardo Martino their new manager
Stepping down: Tito Vilanova resigned from the Barca manager's post due to his continuing battle with cancer
Stepping down: Tito Vilanova resigned from the Barca manager's post due to his continuing battle with cancer
Argentine Gerardo Martino replaces Tito Vilanova as Barcelona...
'FC Barcelona have reached an agreement to appoint Gerardo Martino as the new coach of the football team for the next two seasons. This agreement is pending the drafting and signing of the contract,' a statement on fcbarcelona.cat read.
'In the coming hours [a programme will be planned for] his arrival in Barcelona, signing the contract and the subsequent presentation.'
A host of coaches were linked to the vacant position with the Spanish champions, including Luis Enrique, Andre Villas-Boas, Marcelo Bielsa, Michael Laudrup and Guus Hiddink, who yesterday resigned as coach of Anzhi Makhachkala.
Kindred spirits: Martino is from Rosario in Argentina, like Barcelona's talisman Lionel Messi
Kindred spirits: Martino is from Rosario in Argentina, like Barcelona's talisman Lionel Messi
Sanpped: Martino, pictured this week, has clinched a two-year deal at the Nou Camp
Sanpped: Martino, pictured this week, has clinched a two-year deal at the Nou Camp
However, Martino emerged as the favourite over the weekend and the former Argentina midfielder was today confirmed as Barca's new boss.
Martino had been in charge of Newell's in his native Rosario for the last two seasons, having previously also represented the club in three different spells as a player. He also played for Spanish side Tenerife as well as Lanus in his homeland, Barcelona SC in Ecuador and O'Higgins in Chile.
Prior to taking over at Newell's, Martino spent four years as coach of Paraguay, from 2007 to 2011.
He led them to the quarter-final of the 2010 World Cup - the nation's best-ever performance in the competition - before losing 1-0 to eventual champions Spain.
At the helm: Martino managed the Paraguay to the World Cup quarter-finals in 2010
At the helm: Martino managed the Paraguay to the World Cup quarter-finals in 2010
Watching: Barcelona players, including Carles Puyol, Messi and keeper Jose Manuel Pinto attended the announcement of Vilanova's resignation, given by president Sandro Rosell (below)
Watching: Barcelona players, including Carles Puyol, Messi and keeper Jose Manuel Pinto attended the announcement of Vilanova's resignation, given by president Sandro Rosell (below)
Rosell
Rosell
The following year, Martino guided Paraguay to their first Copa America final since 1979 but were beaten 3-0 by Uruguay. He stepped down from his post later that month.
The news of Martino's impending appointment is sure to go down well with Barcelona talisman Lionel Messi, who has spoken in glowing terms about his compatriot in the past.
The two men both hail from Rosario and many in the media see the appointment as deliberate move from the Barcelona board to keep the four-time Ballon d'Or winner happy.
Speaking a year ago, Messi told Diario Ole: 'I like Tata Martino. He is a great coach... He gets his teams playing well and we all respect him.'
WHO IS GERARDO MARTINO?
Born on Nov. 20, 1962 in Rosario, Argentina's second city, Martino was a midfielder and team captain with Newell's Old Boys where he spent the bulk of his career before reaching coaching heights steering Paraguay to the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time in 2010.
PLAYING CAREER
Martino, surprisingly capped only once by Argentina, spent most of his career at Newell's as a midfielder, playing a record 509 matches and winning three league titles, two under his mentor Marcelo Bielsa, with whom he added defensive discipline to his attacking skills.
He came through the junior ranks and stayed on as a professional for a decade before trying his hand in Spain at Tenerife, a short-lived experience.
Nicknamed 'Tata' (grandad), he returned to Rosario for another three years, had a season at Lanus in Buenos Aires, then saw out his career with brief stints back at Newell's and, perhaps a premonition, Barcelona of Ecuador.
COACHING CAREER
Began coaching in the Argentine lower leagues before moving to Paraguay where he made his name, winning four league titles in six years, three with Libertad and one with Cerro Porteno.
His club success in Paraguay earned him the appointment as coach of the country's national team in 2006. His side reached the 2010 World Cup, their fourth finals in a row, and qualified for the last eight for the first time, losing 1-0 to eventual champions Spain.
Martino steered Paraguay to the Copa America final in his home country in 2011 but then quit and also turned down a lucrative offer from Colombia to return to Newell's, where there is a stand named after him at the Marcelo Bielsa ground, to help them avoid relegation.
APPOINTMENT AT BARCELONA
Much more than just steadying a rocking boat, the 50-year-old steered Newell's clear of relegation a year ago and then led them to second place in the "Inicial" championship, first of two in the Argentine season, before winning the "Final" last month.
They were the most consistent side in 2012/13, playing the best football in Argentina along similar lines to those at Barcelona.
This success caught the eye of the Catalan giants where Martino will link up with Lionel Messi, who also comes from football hotbed Rosario.
Martino is the fourth Argentine to take charge at Barcelona after Helenio Herrera in 1958, Roque Olsen in 1965 and Cesar Luis Menotti in 1983.
GERARDO MARTINO: TIMELINE
1962: Born November 20 in Rosario, Argentina.
1980-90: The attacking midfielder joins Argentinian club Newell's Old Boys and makes 392 league appearances, scoring 35 goals in 10 years. He wins the Primera Division in 1988.
1991: Spends a year playing for Tenerife and earns his one Argentina cap under Alfio Basile.
1991-94: Returns to Newell's Old Boys for three years and wins two more Argentinian titles.
1994-95: Represents Lanus for one season before returning to Newell's Old Boys.
1996: Enjoys short spells with Ecuadorian club Barcelona Sporting Club and then O'Higgins of Chile.
1998: Takes first coaching job with Brown de Arrecifes.
1999: Joins Platense as coach.
2000: Works as Instituto's head coach.
2002-03: Leads Libertad to two Paraguayan titles.
2004: Claims his third Paraguayan title with Cerro Porteno.
2005: Spends a season with Colon.
2005-06: Returns to Libertad and wins his fourth Paraguayan title in 2006.
2007: February - Becomes Paraguay national team coach and is named South American coach of the year.
2010: June - Takes Paraguay to the World Cup in South Africa and guides the nation to the quarter-finals, where they are beaten by eventual winners Spain.
2011: After Paraguay lose the Copa America final to Uruguay, he steps down as national team manager.
2012-13: Returns to Newell's Old Boys as manager and wins the Clausura in 2013.
2013: July 23 - Agrees two-year contract to become head coach of Barcelona, replacing Tito Vilanova.
