Enrique signs two-year deal as Barcelona coach
Monday, May 19, 2014
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FC Barcelona's preparations for the 2014/15 campaign have begun with the club announcing the arrival of new coach Luis Enrique and goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen.
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Former FC Barcelona attacker Luis Enrique has been unveiled as the club's new coach, with goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen's signing from VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach also confirmed.
Most recently in charge at RC Celta de Vigo – whom he led to a ninth-place Liga finish this term – Luis Enrique arrives at the Catalan giants to take over from Gerardo Martino on a two-year contract. The 44-year-old's return to the Camp Nou marks the beginning of a third spell at Barcelona following successful stints as a player and youth-team coach.
Having started in the youth ranks of local side Real Sporting de Gijón, Luis Enrique joined Real Madrid CF in 1992. Following five campaigns in the Spanish capital – winning a Liga title – the attacking midfielder switched to Barça where he scored 109 goals in 300 appearances in all competitions. Capped 62 times by Spain, Enrique captured two more championships with the Blaugrana, as well as the 1997 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup and UEFA Super Cup among other titles.
After hanging up his boots, the 1992 Olympic gold medallist returned to Barcelona to take over coaching duties of the club's 'B' team from Josep Guardiola. Promotion to Spain's second tier was followed by a club-record third-place finish in the division, before AS Roma came calling. After a season in charge of the Giallorossi – who finished seventh under him in 2011/12 – the coach returned to work at Celta last summer and guided them to ninth, ending Real Madrid's title ambitions with a 2-0 win just over a week ago.
With Barcelona announcing the departure of goalkeeper José Manuel Pinto, who leaves along with Víctor Valdés, the 22-year-old German international keeper Ter Stegen arrives for an undisclosed fee from Mönchengladbach, for whom he made 108 Bundesliga appearances over four seasons. Stegen's arrival coincides with the return of Gerard Deulofeu and Rafinha Alcántara, who spent 2013/14 on loan at Everton FC and Celta respectively.
Barcelona will start next season's UEFA Champions League at the group stage after they finished second in Liga behind Club Atlético de Madrid.
