Former captain and current Barcelona B boss Josep Guardiola has been announced as the new first team manager at Barça after current boss Frank Rijkaard was told that he will be released from his position at the end of this season.

"Frank has been the leader of the team that led us to glory in Paris, but the cycle is finished because the results haven't gone our way in the last two years," said president Joan Laporta following Barça's humiliating 4-1 defeat away to champions and arch-rivals Real Madrid.

"The situation was very disappointing last season.

"We haven't been able to correct the errors that were committed then and we have decided that Frank should be relieved of his post at the end of the season."

Assistants Johan Neeskens and Eusebio, one of new boss Pep Guardiola's former team mates, were also told that they will be leaving at the end of the season.

Laporta then went on to announce Guardiola's impending arrival at the Barça hot seat.

"We believe in Pep Guardiola because he is capable of leading this new sporting project. He is a man who guarantees the continuation of a footballing concept that has led this club to so much success.

"He has the knowledge, the enthusiasm, the self confidence and the love for the Club that are necessary," concluded Laporta.

Rijkaard's achievements

Frank Rijkaard will go down as one of the most successful managers in Barça's history, leading the club to two Primera División titles, two Supercopa de España titles and the biggest of prizes, the European Cup (UEFA Champions League) in the space of 5 seasons at the club.

Guardiola

37 year old Pep Guardiola has only been a manager since the start of this season when he took over the reigns of Barça's B team in the regional Trecera División (fourth tier of the Spanish football league pyramid) and has done a brilliant job, leading his team to the top of the league and into the play-offs as Barça B attempt to win promotion to the Segunda B División following their relegation from that league last season.

Before becoming manager of Barça B, Guardiola came through the youth system at Barça and was a key part of Johan Cruyff's dream team in the early 90's which won four successive league titles and Barça's first ever European Cup.

He was also Barça captain from 1997 until his departure from the club in 2001 when he left for Italian side Brescia and then AS Roma. His stay in Italy was an unhappy one and one which saw him banned for four months after failing a drugs test. He subsequently fought to clear his name and did just that in October 2007.

He then went on to have spells in Qatar and Mexico before finally hanging up his boots in 2006 and then one year later, taking up the reigns of Barcelona B.