Picture of the day: Rijkaard

Former Barcelona manager Frank Rijkaard started yesterday the pre-season
at his new club Galatasaray.

Ex-Barça: Rijkaard to Galatasary

Turkish club Galatasaray has today officially announced the appointment of former Barcelona manager Frank Rijkaard (46) as their new manager.

Rijkaard had been away from coaching since he left Barcelona in the summer of 2008 and is expected to sign later today a two-year deal with Galatasaray.

After being dismissed by Dutch club Sparta Rotterdam in 2002, Rijkaard arrived in Barcelona in the summer of 2003. Rijkaard stayed five years at the club before leaving last year. With Barcelona, Frank Rijkaard won two Spanish leagues in 2005 and 2006, two Spanish super cups in 2005 and 2006 and one Champions League in 2006.

Read more:
Ex-Barça: Koeman to AZ Alkmaar
Ex-Barça: Stoichkov to Abu Moslem
Ex-Barça: Van Gaal to Bayern Munich

Rijkaard: "Messi can only get better"

Former Barcelona manager Frank Rijkaard gave an interview to FIFA's official website.





Barcelona are in the final of the UEFA Champions League. How do you fancy their chances against Manchester United in Rome?
This final is extraordinary, it features two of the world's best teams. It's going to be a very interesting game to watch. You have some of the world's best players playing against each other. Manchester United have been looking good lately. They have Cristiano Ronaldo, a good quality player who is able to win games for them. But there is Barcelona, they play beautiful football. They are good and are attack-minded. I think it's going to be about goals, and more goals. However, if Barcelona defend well, I think they can beat United. If they can keep their shape and not make mistakes, then I can't see how they can lose it. But this is football, you never know.

People are raving about Lionel Messi. Just how good is he?
He is an exceptional kid. I saw him a few years ago and I was amazed with what he could do with the ball. The way he handles and controls the ball is outstanding and very few people can do that. Messi is still very young and that is good news, because that means he can only get better as a footballer. Football should make people happy and that is what Messi does: he makes people happy, he makes people enjoy the game. I like him a lot.

It was during your early years at Barcelona that Ronaldinho flourished. Do you think he can return to his best?
Ronaldinho is another special player, probably amongst the most talented players I have worked with. At Barcelona, he was outstanding. His dazzling skills and his movement on and off the ball was remarkable. I hear some people say he will never be able to rediscover that form, but I don't think that's correct. He needs to refocus on his game, he needs to get his mind on his game and then I have no doubt that he can be at his best again. Like Messi, he brings so much happiness to football.

Can you single out the best player you have ever worked with?
That's a hard one, I have been fortunate because I have worked with some of the most remarkably talented individuals in the world. At Barcelona, I was exposed to talent. You had Ronaldinho, who was a marvel to watch. Deco is skilful and talented. Then there are players like Xavi, a good and hardworking man who gave his all. Iniesta is another. Then the name of Messi will come up in that list. I think it's unfair for me to single out one individual; there are other players I haven't mentioned, players I respect.

You had a great career both as a player and a manager. Who had the biggest influence in your football career?
There are lot of people, but maybe I can mention someone like Johan Cruyff. I remember watching him as a kid when he was playing for Ajax, I admired him a lot. Then he came in to coach me at Ajax, that was a great moment for me and I learned so much under him. He had so much knowledge and respect for the game.

There has been a lot of speculations about your future. Have you made up your mind about your next move?
My future? Well, there will always be speculation. The newspapers will always make their predictions. But as for me, I can't say exactly where I will end up. I can't talk about that now, maybe in the next few weeks. I can't say I want to go to that particular club, because at the moment that particular club might have a manager and I have respect for fellow coaches. But if someone comes up with an offer, then we can talk. I still want to coach, but at the right time.

Do you ever consider becoming a national team coach again?
(laughs) I was once in charge of the Dutch team - and then I was introduced to club football! At the moment, no, I think I enjoy coaching at club level. But in football you never say never, you never close the door.

read the complete interview here


Read more:
Rijkaard's last interview
Txiki: "Champions win couldn't save Rijkaard"
Chelsea or Milan for Rijkaard

Transfer history: Guus Hiddink (PSV Eindhoven)

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has said at a press conference that Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink (52) was one of the candidates to become the new Barcelona head coach in the summer of 2003:

"I've always liked Guus Hiddink for his attitude and his way of being. I remember that, when he was the manager of Valencia, he ordered to withdraw a nazi flag with a swastika sign from the stands.

It's a coach of the Dutch school and a lover of total football. We've always liked him. When we were negotiating with Rijkaard, Hiddink was coaching the national team of South Corea (note: this is not correct, he was the manager of PSV Eindhoven in 2003) and he was one of our options if Rijkaard would have said no."

Catalan sports paper Sport nevertheless claims that Hiddink was actually the preferred option of the new board that came to power after the elections of 2003. Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain and then Barcelona sports vice-president Sandro Rosell would have met twice with Hiddink but the Dutchman asked a too high salary. And with Ajax asking a fee to let Ronald Koeman go, it was in the end Frank Rijkaard who was appointed as new Barcelona manager.

Hiddink, who had joined PSV in 2002, stayed with the Dutch club until the summer of 2006, combining the job during his last season with coaching the Australian national team. After the World Cup in Germany, Hiddink became the coach of the Russian national team.

Read more:
Transfer history: Ferguson (Manchester United)
Chelsea will try to sign Alves this summer
Transfer history: Cristian Karembeu (Sampdoria)

Rijkaard won't return to the bench this season

Asked about the rumours linking former Barcelona manager Frank Rijkaard with several clubs, his agent Perry Overeem is quoted by British sports site Sky Sports as saying that Rijkaard has decided not to take on a new job until at least next summer:

"The decision is clear. Frank will not return to management this season. Next season? It is possible. But the decision will depend on what is on offer at the end of May."

Over the last weeks, the Dutch manager has been linked to clubs like Newcastle, CSKA Moscow and Sunderland.

Read more:
Chelsea or Milan for Rijkaard
What's next for Rijkaard?
Txiki: "Champions win couldn't save Rijkaard"

Chelsea or Milan for Rijkaard

Spanish news site El Confidencial claims that former Barcelona manager Frank Rijkaard (46) has reached a verbal agreement with English Premier League club Chelsea.

Rijkaard would have agreed to take over next summer if current Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari cannot win a trophy with his team this year.

Catalan sports paper Sport meanwhile claims that Rijkaard could join Italian club AC Milan next season, together with former Barcelona player Johan Neeskens (57), who has been Rijkaard's first assistant at Barcelona from 2006 to 2008.

Neeskens recently signed a contract with the Dutch football association (read more here) but would have said he could only sign until the end of June because he already has a deal with a club for next season.

Read more:
Rijkaard candidate to replace Ancelotti at Milan
What's next for Rijkaard?
Rijkaard rejects Newcastle approach

Txiki (3): "Champions win couldn't save Rijkaard"

In his first interview to a paper in two years, Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain talked to Catalan sports paper Sport about the past months and the current situation of the club.


(you can read the earlier part of this interview here and here)



Players out, manager out... But you're still there although there are people who point at you.
I don't run away from my responsibilities. I'm in part responsible for the failure of the last seasons.

After everything that has happened, you didn't think about styepping down?
I never thought about it. What I did was analyzing the problem and making a proposal to get out of the crisis. And I received the support of the whole board.

President Joan Laporta has gone through very difficult moments: an institucional crisis, a confidence vote... If the preseident would have left, would you also have left?
I would have felt so desorientated that I sure wouldn't have the powers to continue.

How do you see Laporta now?
He's extremely motivated. For him, like for all of us, this is the start of a new era. New manager, new board members, new project. He wants to regain the time we've lost.

You're talking about the past two years?
Only if we look at the football level, because the club kept growing and kept getting better in the other aspects.

When did you get aware that things were going wrong?
After the 4-0 against Getafe in the Spanish cup.

So why didn't you act then?
We thought that the people who had led us to winning two leagues and one Champions league deserved another chance. We gave them our confidence but they failed.

Ronaldinho was the symbol of both the best and the worst of that team?
It was very hard to tell him that he wouldn't be able to stay at the club. If you think about everything he has given us... But we thought we couldn't get him back on track. We needed change at all levels and we had to do this.

You also had to inform Rijkaard that he would have to leave. This was the most difficult decision you 've taken as Barcelona sports director?
Yes, it was. I suffered a lot, it was an unpleasant moment, very hard. I would have wanted to tell him at the end, in June. But the 4-1 against Real Madrid forced us to accelerate the decisions.

Would Rijkaard have stayed if the team would have won the Spanish cup or the Champions league?
No. Both him and the players we had selected had to leave the club because their cycle had come to an end.

When was this decided?
In February or March. It hurt to let Frank go because he had done so much for Barcelona. Every club in the world was jealous of the wonderful coach we had. He gave us some excellent years, with great football, with trophies... The end was very hard.

It has been said that he, Deco and other players had a bad influnce...
I respect everything they gave us and I don't want to hit out at anyone. They were great, we won trophies, so you have to thank them and say goodbye in an elegant way.

Wasn't it a shame that this team only shined for two years?
Without any doubt. That squad was able to even surpass the Dream Team. I though they could win four consecutive leagues - the third was was actually one goal away - and several European cups. The collapse of that team happened too early.


This was the third part of this interview. The fourth and last part will follow in the coming days with Txiki talking - amongst other things - about the situation of Henry and the summer events surrounding Eto'o.

You can read the earlier parts here:
Txiki (1): "Messi is the best player of the planet"
Txiki (2): "The players are very loyal to the coach"

Rijkaard rejects Newcastle approach

North East England regional newspaper Sunday Sun claims that former Barcelona manager Frank Rijkaard (45) has been approached in the last week about becoming the successor to Kevin Keegan as Newcastle United manager.

Believing that Rijkaard, who left Barcelona at the end of last season, was looking for a coaching job in England or Italy, a United director, thought to be Tony Jimenez, made contact with him through a third party. But Rijkaard refused even to meet the Newcastle board to discuss a deal.

A close friend of Rijkaard is quoted as saying that the Dutchman is not planning for a quick return to the bench: "Frank says he is enjoying what he calls 'a calm life' after five years at Barca. He is dividing his time between Barcelona and Amsterdam, and not even doing much media work. He wants to wait until next season before seriously looking to return to football."

Read more:

Rijkaard candidate to replace Ancelotti at Milan

Goodbye gift for Rijkaard

Portsmouth and Newcastle in race for Gudjohnsen

Rijkaard candidate to replace Ancelotti at Milan

Italian sports paper La Gazzetta dello Sport claims that former Barcelona manager Frank Rijkaard (45), who was replaced by Guardiola last May, is the dream candidate of the Milan board in case current Milan manager Carlo Ancelotti would be dismissed in the coming days or weeks after a very bad season start.

But with Rijkaard apparently having planned a sabbatical, former Italian national team coach Roberto Donadoni looks at this moment to be in pole position to take over.

Italian television channel Sky Italia claims that Rijkaard and Donadoni are the two main candidates. Italian tabloid Leggo claims that Rijkaard could be the one on top of the list.

Read more:
Goodbye gift for Rijkaard
Rijkaard wanted all over the world
The bench candidates who did not make it

News of the day - Sunday

(This post will be updated throughout the day.)


After Milan pulled back because Barcelona asked 45 million euro, Eto'o's agent Josep Maria Mesalles talked with Real Madrid president Ramón Calderón to know if they were interested, but Calderón rejected the offer (Sport)
read more

Rijkaard has decided to take a sabatical year and therefore rejected offers from Chelsea, Ajax and Spartak Moscow, he will start listening to offers next year, Milan (as manager) and Ajax (as sports director) will probably be amongst the interested clubs (Sport)
read more

Rijkaard's last interview

In an interview with the club's official media, former Barcelona manager Frank Rijkaard has looked back at his time in Barcelona. Some quotes:

The five years

"Often the feelings and emotions we have inside are stronger than a word. These five years have been very intense. You could compare it with when you get on one of those really fast trains: one day you look back and you’re amazed at the way time has flown."

The strengths of the team

"Coaches can say as much as they want, but without the team nothing works. Let's take Puyol. He’s the captain and stands for the spirit of the team and generosity. And I would also like to mention Ronaldinho. He has been crucial in getting people excited again and making them happy. He has been really important. Barça has won and lost with him. But without Ronaldinho we haven't won more than before."

Read some more extracts here

Read more:

What's next for Rijkaard?

Edmilson's last interview

Caceres' first interview

Rijkaard top candidate for Mexico job

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona manager Frank Rijkaard (45) is at this moment the first choice candidate to become the next manager of the Mexican national team (read more here).

The president of the Mexican football federation, Justino Compeán, is in Europe together with secretary general Decio de María to close a deal with a manager who is now active in European football. Both officials are expected to travel to Barcelona in the coming days to talk with Rijkaard, who they contacted for the first time a few weeks ago.

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo nevertheless claims that Rijkaard has almost taken the decision to take a sabbatical (read more here). After five years in Barcelona, the Dutchman thinks it's time to disconnect for at least one year, giving him the chance to reload his batteries before accepting a new offer. Chelsea would nevertheless still be convinced that they can make Rijkaard change his mind (read more here).

During the sabbatical, Rijkaard and his family are expected to keep on living in Barcelona although the manager would spend more time in Amsterdam, the city where he was born and raised, and in the United Stated, a country he always had a lot of sympathy for.

Read more:

Rijkaard candidate for Mexico

What's next for Rijkaard?

Rijkaard wanted all over the world

Goodbye gift for Rijkaard

The Catalan press yesterday handed Barcelona manager Frank Rijkaard, who will leave the club after five seasons, a goodbye gift: a shirt with the phrase "Mai fumaràs sol", which is Catalan for "You'll never smoke alone". Rijkaard, who was known to be a chain smoker, thanked them for the gesture but added that he had quit smoking since a few days.

Rijkaard wanted all over the world

The agent of Barcelona manager Frank Rijkaard (45), Perry Overeem, has said in an interview with Dutch football weekly paper Voetbal International that the interest in Rijkaard is starting to grow: "The interested parties come from all corners of the world. At this stage, we're just getting inquiries. We didn't receive any formal offers yet."

Asked about the rumours linking the Dutchman with the national teams of Ghana and Mexico (read more here), Overeem said: "I don't know anything about the interest from African countries, but there has indeed been a contact with Central America. Also from Asia we have been sounded out."

The agent doesn't know where Rijkaard will end up next season and suggests he could well take a break: "We're dealing with all the interest in a passive way. Frank still has a contract with Barcelona until the end of June and after five season at Barcelona, he doesn't yet have a concrete idea about his near future. The chances are that he'll take some months of before he starts something new."

Read more:

What's next for Rijkaard?

Rijkaard co-favourite for Chelsea job

Rijkaard candidate for Mexico

What's next for Rijkaard?

Barcelona manager Frank Rijkaard (45) reacted for the first time to his dismissal earlier this week at a press conference yesterday and he did it with class, taking his part of the blame, not accusing anyone and concluding: "It has been an honour."

In an open letter in the official club magazine Barça Camp Nou the Dutchman today says goodbye to the fans, thanking them and the club for the support and wishing his successor all the best.

The future of Rijkaard is at this moment not clear and he didn't want to enter the question yesterday. Briefly linked with the Mexican national team (read more here), the English press is now putting his name forward as possible successor of Manchester City manager Sven-Göran Eriksson (read more here) or Chelsea manager Avram Grant (read more here).

Chelsea owner and Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich is said to be an admirer of Rijkaard and would dream of teaming him up with his former assistant Henk ten Cate. Chelsea chief scout Frank Arnesen is a close friend of Rijkaard.

Catalan sports paper Sport, who reports that Portuguese top club Benfica is also interested, claims that Rijkaard is seriously considering not to accept any of the offers he will receive but to take a sabbatical year. The Dutch manager would keep his residence in Barcelona and would spend his time watching a lot of football games and travelling, far from the daily media pressure.

pep's opinion:

it will be interesting to see where his career is going from here. wherever rijkaard will end up: if you can survive five years in Barcelona, you can survive anything anywhere. he made decisive mistakes over the last fifteen months, but i think it won't last long before we start to miss him.

OFFICIAL: Rijkaard out, Guardiola in

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has announced at a press conference that current Barcelona manager Frank Rijkaard will leave the club at the end of the season and that he will be replaced by Barcelona B manager Josep Guardiola (37). The decision was unanimously taken by the Barcelona board during a five-hour meeting.



pep's opinion:
my choice was mourinho. this is a huge risk, both for the club and for Guardiola. if he succeeds, it will be better than another manager succeeding. but if he fails, it will be worse than another manager failing. this could be too much too soon but i believe very much in Guardiola, in his qualities as a human being (in the first place) and consequently as a manager. gràcies frank, visca'l pep, visca'l barça! (and let me now look for a new nick, suggestions are welcome...)


Full name: Josep Guardiola Sala
Date of birth: 17 January 1971
Age: 37
Place of birth: Santpedor (Catalunya, Spain)

Position as player: central midfielder ('pivote')
Clubs as player: Barcelona (1990-2001), Brescia (2001-2002, 2003), AS Roma (2002-2003), Al Ahly (2003-2005), Dorados (2006)
Clubs as coach: Barcelona B (2007-2008)

Honours as player: 6 Spanish leagues (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1998 and 1999 ), 2 Spanish cups (1997 and 1998), 4 Spanish super cups (1992, 1993, 1995 and 1997), 1 Champions League (1992), 1 European cup winner's cup (1997), 2 European super cups (1992 and 1997)

Read more:
Guardiola to be the new manager
The Guardiola report
Guardiola backed by board but not by fans

Read everything on the Guardiola story here

Guardiola backed by board but not by fans

Although Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain said yesterday in an interview with the official club television channel Barça TV that Rijkaard has done "an extraordinary job" in the last five seasons and that he is "a man of the club", it seems almost certain that current Barcelona manager Frank Rijkaard (45) will leave the club at the end of the season after the Chamions League elimination on Wednesday. This has been confirmed today by Jil van Eyle, a personal assistant of Rijkaard, on his Teaming blog. Which means that the final discussion on his successor is breaking loose.

All media seem to agree that Barcelona B manager Josep Guardiola (37) is being backed by the majority of the Barcelona board. Guardiola knows the club inside out and stands for an attacking, dominant way of playing. The former Barcelona captain has the strong support of Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain and Barcelona president Joan Laporta.

Madrid sports tabloid As even claims that Guardiola is already planning for next season under the supervision of Begiristain and is composing the new squad together with former Barcelona player Luis Enrique (37) and José Ramón Alexanko (51), the head of the Barcelona youth academy, who would act as his assistants.

The board is nevertheless divided on the issue and it is expected that the debate could be reopened in the coming days. Some board members believe that former Chelsea manager José Mourinho (45) is the best candidate to replace Rijkaard because he would bring organization and a strong hand to the team. They would now try to put the name of the Portuguese back on the table during a board meeting on Thursday, one day after the match against Real Madrid.

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that a third candidate is Villareal manager Manuel Pellegrini (54) cause of his experience, his handling of the Riquelme case and his choice for quality play. The paper estimates that the chances of Guardiola to become the next Barcelona manager are 50 per cent, the chances of Mourinho 30 and those of Pellegrini 20.

An opinion poll by Catalan television channel TV3 meanwhile indicates that around 80 per cent of the Barcelona fans would not support the choice of Guardiola. Catalan sports paper Sport says that the club itself is monitoring all kinds of polls to know the opinion of the fans. Mourinho is generally having a wide lead on all other candidates. Former Barcelona player and manager Carles Rexach supports Guardiola but thinks that the board has put his name out there to know the opinion of the fans and the press before they make a final decision.

As claims that the results of several polls have made Guardiola doubt if he should accept the job or not. El Mundo Deportivo says that Guardiola would have preferred another season with little pressure but that he could not say ‘no’ if the formal offer comes. Francesc Aguilar, sub director of El Mundo Deportivo, relaunched today the idea of making Guardiola the assistant of Mourinho.

Read more:
The race to the bench
Board member leaked Guardiola preference
Principal agreement with Mourinho

Rijkaard co-favourite to coach Manchester City

British newspaper The Times claims that Barcelona manager (45) is, together with Portuguese national team coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, on top of Manchester City's wish list. Rijkaard and Scolari are being lined up as high-profile candidates to succeed Sven-Göran Eriksson when the latter is sacked by Manchester City at the end of the season. Russian national team coach Guus Hiddink and Croatia national team coach Slaven Bilic are also option that are looked at.

Although Eriksson has achieved the objective of a top-ten finish this season, Manchester City president Thaksin Shinawatra is understood to have told him that he is not the man to take the club forward during talks on Sunday, prompting the Swede to inform his players at a meeting the next day that he would be dismissed after ten months in the job. Eriksson, who has two years left on his contract, has said that he will not resign himself.

Read more:
Rijkaard co-favourite for Chelsea job
Rijkaard candidate for Mexico
Rijkaard wants to finish Barcelona job

Rijkaard feels exit coming

Asked if his dismissal could be the solution to the problems of his team, Barcelona manager Frank Rijkaard (45) left all options open at a press conference after the Chamions League against Manchester United: "Conclusions will have to be drawn after the season. By myself and by the club. Barcelona is a big club and they have people who will make decisions. Now it's no the time to talk about this. I don't think about leaving the club at this moment. Another thing would be if the players would say that they want me to go."

Read more:
Decision on Rijkaard in May
Barcelona president wants to retire with Rijkaard
No second year without a trophy, Frank

Rijkaard co-favourite for Chelsea job

Asked about his plans for next season, Barcelona manager Frank Rijkaard (45) did not want to pronounce on his future at Barcelona in an interview with Catalan television channel TV3 and said that the issue will be discussed with the board after the season: "I am very motivated and at this moment I just want to finish what we have been working for. The club has always supported me a lot but we will have to look at what is best for Barcelona."

British tabloid The Daily Star meanwhile claims that Rijkaard is, together with Russian national team coach Guus Hiddink, the favourite to replace current Chelsea manager Avram Grant (read more here). Even if the Israeli coach would win the Premier League title or the Champions League, it is likely that Grant, who is not popular with the players or the fans, will be offered another job at the club when the Chelsea board will decide on his future in the summer.

Read more:
Chelsea wants Rijkaard
Decision on Rijkaard in May
Rijkaard brother denies Chelsea