Parting ways

Van Gaal agrees to step down as Barcelona coach

Louis van Gaal's Barcelona did well in Europe but poorly in Spain. Dave Rogers/Getty Images

BARCELONA (Reuters) -- Dutch coach Louis van Gaal agreed to leave Barcelona on Tuesday, just eight months into his second spell in charge at the Nou Camp.

Van Gaal, who resigned as Barcelona coach in 2000 after three fraught seasons, said he had decided to move on again because of his side's poor results in the Spanish league.

"After reflecting on the recent performances of the team and speaking with [Barcelona] president Joan Gaspart we have decided that it is in the best interests of the club that we go our separate ways," van Gaal told reporters.

"At this time, the atmosphere surrounding the club is having more effect on the team than I am, and for that reason I have changed my mind and decided to leave because I don't want to damage Barcelona."

The club's directors decided late on Monday to negotiate an amicable departure for the former Dutch national team coach after a 2-0 defeat at Celta Vigo left Barcelona 12th in the first division, just three points above the relegation zone and heading for their worst-ever league finish.

In complete contrast, Barcelona's European form was brilliant with van Gaal steering them to a record-equaling 10 successive victories in the Champions League. He leaves them joint top of second phase Group A with Inter Milan.

Barcelona have never finished lower than 12th in the Spanish league and that was back in 1942.

Disappointed fans

Since then, they have always finished in the top half of the table and have never failed to qualify for European competition. Both those records are in clear danger this season.

Van Gaal steered Barcelona to league titles in the first two seasons of his original three-year spell from 1997 to 2000 and also landed one King's Cup and a European Super Cup.

"I am really upset that as a coach I haven't lived up to the expectations of the Barcelona fans...but I would like to appeal once again to everyone involved with the club, especially the media, to lend their support to whoever is the next coach."

Van Gaal's decision to accept a negotiated departure will allow Barcelona to save at least part of an estimated six million euros (US$6.48 million) owed to the Dutchman for the remainder of his contract which expires in June 2004.

"Barcelona Football Club is more important than any individual," said van Gaal. "Despite the fact that the players were with me and that I feel I am the most appropriate coach to take the team forward, perhaps it is better for me to leave."

Gaspart highlighted van Gaal's "professionalism and honesty" and insisted that he had made the right decision in bringing the the Dutchman back to the club in May.

"I don't regret what I did last summer and I am certain that if I had the chance I would do the same again."

Gaspart said that the club's sporting director Carles Rexach, who coached Barcelona last season, would analyze the situation and decide who would succeed van Gaal until the end of the season.

Rexach himself is favorite to take over as coach, at least on a caretaker basis.

Surprise return

Van Gaal was an unpopular figure among Barcelona fans and news of his return in May 2002 came as a huge surprise, particularly as in the interim his Netherlands team had failed to qualify for the 2002 World Cup finals.

One of his first decisions on returning to Barcelona was to let Rivaldo go on a free transfer to AC Milan, thus avoiding a repeat of the damaging spat between the pair during his first spell in charge.

He accepted the arrival of Juan Roman Riquelme as Rivaldo's replacement, however, even though he was unconvinced about the Argentine's suitability for the Spanish game.

Van Gaal also signed Spanish midfielder Gaizka Mendieta on loan from Lazio and German goalkeeper Robert Enke but none of the three new arrivals was able to hold down a place in the first team.

The first doubts about the quality available to van Gaal second time around arose in the fourth game of the season, when a talented young Real Betis side dealt them a humiliating 3-0 defeat.

The club continued to slip down the first division standings but van Gaal's hand was strengthened by the team's excellent European form.

A 3-0 defeat at home to Sevilla in December had van Gaal against the ropes but the Dutchman was saved by a 4-0 win away to Real Mallorca in the next game.

Barcelona followed that up with victory over Recreativo Huelva and a draw at Malaga only for a 4-2 home defeat by defending champions Valencia to put the pressure right back on the coach.

This time there was to be no miraculous escape and Sunday's bad result against Celta Vigo turned out to be van Gaal's final game in charge.

Rexach ready to take over as Barca coach

BARCELONA (Reuters) -- Barcelona sporting director and former coach Carles Rexach said that he was the favorite to take charge of the team after Louis van Gaal agreed to leave the Catalan club on Tuesday.

"The most logical, normal thing in football would be for me to take over as coach," Rexach told reporters at the Nou Camp.

Rexach said his inside knowledge made him the obvious choice for the job, but he also added that other considerations meant that he may not return to the post he held last season.

"I know van Gaal," he said. "We have talked a lot about football together.

"I have traveled with the team, know how the players work and, in fact, signed many of them myself. But there are also other factors to take into account that may mean that this doesn't happen.

Daily debates

"I don't think the controversy at the club is healthy and it is not a good thing to enter into daily debates over the future of the team as it ends up affecting the players."

Earlier on Tuesday, van Gaal had agreed to part ways with the club following the board's decision to negotiate a deal to terminate his contract and bring to an end his second spell at Barcelona.

A 2-0 defeat at Celta Vigo on Sunday left them in 12th place in the league, 20 points behind leaders Real Sociedad and just three points above the relegation zone.

Rexach, who was van Gaal's predecessor as Barcelona coach, took over the team after Llorenc Serra Ferrer was sacked in April 2001.

Barcelona went on to finish fourth in the league that season and clinched a place in the Champions League thanks to a 3-2 win over Valencia in the final game of the season.

In his second season in charge Rexach helped guide Barcelona to the semi-finals of the Champions League, where they lost out to eventual winners Real Madrid, and once again finished fourth in the league.

Rexach continued to work for the club as sporting director after van Gaal was appointed to replace him at the end of last season.

 

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