Reports in Spain claim that former Barcelona B manager Luis Enrique and Argentine Gerardo 'Tata' Martino are bid favourites to replace Tito Vilanova after stepping down as Barcelona coach.
Due to the fact that Tito Vilanova has been battling with throat cancer, he was however forced to quit in order to continue receiving treatment, with latest speculation arising on who will fill the void
With the new
season looming, and not so that far anymore, there is need for quick reaction as to who will take the mantle of managing one of the Biggest teacm in Europe, Barcelona.
Different speculations have begin to spring up on who will take up the job. El Mundo Deportivo says a number of managers have put themselves forward for the role since the club announced Vilanova’s decision to step down on Friday. The paper says they include Spurs coach Andre Villas-Boas and former Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini.
However, it was also reported that Swansea’s Michael Laudrup, ex-Barca defender Ronald Koeman and retired former Bayern Munich manager Jupp Heynckes have all rule themselves out of the ring.
Some reliable source are in agreement that Enrique and Martino are favourites to replace Vilanova.
Enrique, 45, who only joined Celta Vigo as manager in the summer following a
season at Roma, is familiar with the Barcelona set-up, having spent
eight years in the Catalan capital as a player and three years as
manager of Barca B.
The 43-year-old had initially been considered the hot favourite for the
role, but reports from Argentina suggest former Newell’s Old Boys
manager Martino has emerged as a surprise name on the two-man shortlist.
The Barcelona board are trying to keep it calm, never in a hurry to pick, but
with speculations having that that the new manager could be announced on
Tuesday.
