Barça unveil new boss
Former Netherlands manager Frank Rijkaard was unveiled as the new coach of Spanish giants Barcelona at a press conference at the Nou Camp on Monday afternoon. The announced comes just hours after the Catalan club revealed that former boss Radomir Antic would not be getting a new contract.
In a day of hectic activity on the north-east Spanish coast, other news has emerged that Ronald de Boer has been released, and a move to England may be on the cards. The Dutch defender has expressed an interest in playing in England in the past with Blackburn Rovers a possible target.
"I believe I have two or three years at the top level and I am thinking of England and Holland next. I will go on holiday and then we will see," De Boer said. Meanwhile Barcelona have reached a verbal agreement with Phillipe Cocu over an extension of the midfielder's contract.
Rijkaard can expect more frantic transfer activity in his early days at the Nou Camp helm, as the club look to rebuild after a desperate season.
Rijkaard has only had two major managerial positions since he hung up his boots in 1995, as Dutch coach, replacing Guus Hiddink in 1998, and with Sparta Rotterdam in the Dutch league in the 2001/ 2002 season.
With Holland he was a relative success; guiding them to the semi-finals of the Euro 2000 after a series of bad friendly results leading up to the tournament had put his future in doubt. However he failed to keep Sparta Rotterdam from being relegated, in the end stepping down from his position after his family had received a live bullet in the post with a message attached that threatened the lives of him and his family.
If Rijkaard thought that things were getting a little hot for him at Sparta, he could be in for a shock at the Nou Camp.
Despite securing a place in the UEFA Cup on the final day of the Spanish season on Sunday, they have fallen further and further adrift of long-time rivals Real Madrid in recent years and the supporters are demanding that the gap in class between the two be closed fast.
The supporters fury was hardly placated by seeing Madrid steal David Beckham from under their noses, and newly-appointed president Joan Laporta must know that his choice of coach could determine his own future.
With the new presence of Rijkaard, the obvious Dutch connection may prove either a blessing for the club, particularly in keeping players like Marc Overmars and Patrick Kluivert, but it may also be a hindrance. Former Barça coach Louis van Gaal was heavily criticised by the fans for putting such a heavy emphasis on Dutch connections by bringing in a new influx of players from Holland.
If Rijkaard opts for a similar tactic, he had better hope for results quickly or those white hankies could be out before he has even warmed his seat on the bench.
Former Netherlands manager Frank Rijkaard was unveiled as the new coach of Spanish giants Barcelona at a press conference at the Nou Camp on Monday afternoon. The announced comes just hours after the Catalan club revealed that former boss Radomir Antic would not be getting a new contract.
In a day of hectic activity on the north-east Spanish coast, other news has emerged that Ronald de Boer has been released, and a move to England may be on the cards. The Dutch defender has expressed an interest in playing in England in the past with Blackburn Rovers a possible target.
"I believe I have two or three years at the top level and I am thinking of England and Holland next. I will go on holiday and then we will see," De Boer said. Meanwhile Barcelona have reached a verbal agreement with Phillipe Cocu over an extension of the midfielder's contract.
Rijkaard can expect more frantic transfer activity in his early days at the Nou Camp helm, as the club look to rebuild after a desperate season.
Rijkaard has only had two major managerial positions since he hung up his boots in 1995, as Dutch coach, replacing Guus Hiddink in 1998, and with Sparta Rotterdam in the Dutch league in the 2001/ 2002 season.
With Holland he was a relative success; guiding them to the semi-finals of the Euro 2000 after a series of bad friendly results leading up to the tournament had put his future in doubt. However he failed to keep Sparta Rotterdam from being relegated, in the end stepping down from his position after his family had received a live bullet in the post with a message attached that threatened the lives of him and his family.
If Rijkaard thought that things were getting a little hot for him at Sparta, he could be in for a shock at the Nou Camp.
Despite securing a place in the UEFA Cup on the final day of the Spanish season on Sunday, they have fallen further and further adrift of long-time rivals Real Madrid in recent years and the supporters are demanding that the gap in class between the two be closed fast.
The supporters fury was hardly placated by seeing Madrid steal David Beckham from under their noses, and newly-appointed president Joan Laporta must know that his choice of coach could determine his own future.
With the new presence of Rijkaard, the obvious Dutch connection may prove either a blessing for the club, particularly in keeping players like Marc Overmars and Patrick Kluivert, but it may also be a hindrance. Former Barça coach Louis van Gaal was heavily criticised by the fans for putting such a heavy emphasis on Dutch connections by bringing in a new influx of players from Holland.
If Rijkaard opts for a similar tactic, he had better hope for results quickly or those white hankies could be out before he has even warmed his seat on the bench.
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They're living in the past... which is fine by me, cuz I hate that club :fero:
