Thu May 8 21:07:15 2008

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Barcelona fires coach Rijkaard

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Barcelona, Spain (Sports Network) - Barcelona fired coach Frank Rijkaard on Thursday, less than three years after he guided the club to the UEFA Champions League title.

Rijkaard will officially step down on June 30. He will be replaced by reserves coach Pep Guardiola.

Rijkaard, an ex-Netherlands national team star, led Barca to the La Liga crown in 2005 and both the La Liga and Champions League titles the following year.

"Hes done an excellent job and behaved excellently. We will remember Frank Rijkaard as the coach who led the recovery of the team and in three years took it to the glory of Paris," Barcelona President Joan Laporta said.

Barcelona lost the league crown on a tiebreaker with Real Madrid last year and can finish no higher than third this season. Barca will still qualify for the Champions League, but the down year was enough for Rijkaard to be fired.

In addition to the disappointing season in Spain, Barcelona was eliminated in the semifinals of the Champions League by Manchester United this month.

Guardiola, who has coached the club's reserve team since last June, played for Barcelona from 1990-2001.

"We believe in Guardiola to lead the new sporting project," Laporta said. "He guarantees renewed continuity in the ... style that has given us success."