Guardiola is a legend in and around Barcelona. He was born and bred in the Camp Nou, coached by Joan Cruyff and having played with the likes of Romario, Ronald Koeman, Hristo Stoichkov Ronaldo, and Luis Enrique. He’s been running the second team for Barcelona and he’s now been promoted – he’ll take over for Frank Rijkaard.
From ESPN:
Former club captain Pep Guardiola will replace Frank Rijkaard as Barcelona coach at the end of the season, Spanish media reported on Tuesday.
Newspapers said that Barcelona’s delegate commission, which includes club president Joan Laporta and sporting director Txiki Begiristain, had met on Monday and recommended that Guardiola should replace Rijkaard as first team coach.
Guardiola, although nearly a saint in the land of Barcelona football, is not with out some controversy:
Guardiola left Barcelona in 2001 to join Serie A side Brescia but his career in Italy was disrupted when he tested positive for nandrolone in November 2001.
He served a four-month ban but strenuously denied any offence and went through the courts to clear his name, finally winning his case in October last year.