Guardiola announces departure as Barca coach

 　　MADRID, April 27 (Xinhua) -- FC Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola confirmed this Friday that he is leaving the club after four years in charge.

　　Guardiola gave the news at a packed press conference in the Camp Nou Stadium at 13:30 hours local time.

　　He explained his decision by saying that four years was a long time as Barcelona coach and that he needed to develop other possibilities given that his epoch¹ had finished given that he didn't believe any more.

　　Guardiola said that a coach needed energy to carry on his job and that he would only be able to have energy after a rest and taking time away from the club. He said he had told club President Sandro Rosell that his period was coming to an end in October last year.

　　The coach said it had been a privilege to coach the club and the players under his command.

　　Meanwhile Rosell made a speech giving his deep gratitude² to Guardiola for his time at the club.

　　Guardiola's decision comes just six days after Barcelona virtually said goodbye to the BBVA Primera Liga title following a 2-1 home defeat against bitter rivals Real Madrid and three days after his side was knocked out of the semifinals of the Champions League following a 3-2 aggregate³ defeat to Chelsea.

　　He has always preferred to extend his contract on a year-by-year basis and speculation⁴ over his future has been growing since February, given that in previous years he had always signed a contract extension by the end of that month.

　　Guardiola, a former Barcelona player, was named Barca coach in the summer of 2008 by former coach Joan Laporta following a successful season leading the club's B-team.

　　His first season in charge saw Barcelona win an incredible treble of Copa del Rey, BBVA Primera Liga and the Champions League and he followed that up by taking Barca to the Spanish and European Supecup titles as well as winning the World Club Championships, making Barcelona the first and only club in history to win every possible title in a calendar year.

　　He has won a total of 13 titles in his four years at the club, and although this season can be considered a relative disappointment, considering that Barca are out of Europe and barring a miracle will finish behind Madrid in the league, the club has managed to win the Spanish and European Supercups and the World Club Championship once again.

　　Barcelona also have the chance to win the Copa del Rey and will play Athletic⁵ Club Bilbao in the final of that competition on May 25th. That will be Guardiola' s last game as Barcelona coach and the chance for him to leave the club with the conquest of another title.

　　Rosell then named Guardiola's assistant Tito Vilanova as his replacement⁶ as the new coach of FC Barcelona.

　　Despite insisting he needs a rest, Guardiola's future will also provoke much speculation with rumors⁷ he could move to England, where he would coach Chelsea, ironically the side who knocked Barca out of Europe just three days ago, next season.

1 epoch   

n.(新)时代；历元

参考例句：

• The epoch of revolution creates great figures.革命时代造就伟大的人物。
• We're at the end of the historical epoch,and at the dawn of another.我们正处在一个历史时代的末期，另一个历史时代的开端。

2 gratitude   

adj.感激，感谢

参考例句：

• I have expressed the depth of my gratitude to him.我向他表示了深切的谢意。
• She could not help her tears of gratitude rolling down her face.她感激的泪珠禁不住沿着面颊流了下来。

3 aggregate   

adj.总计的，集合的；n.总数；v.合计；集合

参考例句：

• The football team had a low goal aggregate last season.这支足球队上个赛季的进球总数很少。
• The money collected will aggregate a thousand dollars.进帐总额将达一千美元。

4 speculation   

n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机

参考例句：

• Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
• There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。

5 athletic   

adj.擅长运动的，强健的；活跃的，体格健壮的

参考例句：

• This area has been marked off for athletic practice.这块地方被划出来供体育训练之用。
• He is an athletic star.他是一个运动明星。

6 replacement   

n.取代，替换，交换；替代品，代用品

参考例句：

• We are hard put to find a replacement for our assistant.我们很难找到一个人来代替我们的助手。
• They put all the students through the replacement examination.他们让所有的学生参加分班考试。

7 rumors   

n.传闻( rumor的名词复数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷v.传闻( rumor的第三人称单数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷

参考例句：

• Rumors have it that the school was burned down. 有谣言说学校给烧掉了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Rumors of a revolt were afloat. 叛变的谣言四起。 来自《简明英汉词典》