Gerardo "Tata" Martino's the name -- and putting Barcelona back at the top of Europe's elite is the game.
Martino, 50, signed a two-year deal with the Spanish champions Tuesday after agreeing a move to Camp Nou to replace the recently departed Tito Vilanova.
The Argentine, who hails from Rosario, the same city as Barca star Lionel Messi, led Newell's Old Boys to the Clausura last season as well as to the semifinal stage of the Copa Libertadores.
Messi has been outspoken in his praise of Martino in the past and is likely to welcome the arrival of his fellow countryman.
Speaking to Olé last year, Messi said: "I like Martino, he's an amazing coach and you could see in the Clausura what he did for the team, the manner in which he finished and how he achieved it.
"He found the team, he made it play well and everyone respects him."
Martino has spent much of his career coaching in Paraguay where he won four domestic titles during his time with Libertda and Cerro Porteno.
He led the Paraguay national team to the quarterfinals of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa where it was beaten by eventual champion Spain, while it also qualified for the final of the Copa America 12 months later.
Martino has won praise from fellow Argentine Messi in the past and is a disciple of former Atletico Bilbao coach Marcelo Bielsa.
Martino, 50, signed a two-year deal with the Spanish champions Tuesday after agreeing a move to Camp Nou to replace the recently departed Tito Vilanova.
The Argentine, who hails from Rosario, the same city as Barca star Lionel Messi, led Newell's Old Boys to the Clausura last season as well as to the semifinal stage of the Copa Libertadores.
Messi has been outspoken in his praise of Martino in the past and is likely to welcome the arrival of his fellow countryman.
Speaking to Olé last year, Messi said: "I like Martino, he's an amazing coach and you could see in the Clausura what he did for the team, the manner in which he finished and how he achieved it.
"He found the team, he made it play well and everyone respects him."
Martino has spent much of his career coaching in Paraguay where he won four domestic titles during his time with Libertda and Cerro Porteno.
He led the Paraguay national team to the quarterfinals of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa where it was beaten by eventual champion Spain, while it also qualified for the final of the Copa America 12 months later.
Martino has won praise from fellow Argentine Messi in the past and is a disciple of former Atletico Bilbao coach Marcelo Bielsa.
The question is if Messi say Barcelona should play any match will Barcelona Oblige?
Your opinion counts, leave your comments bellow
barcer are just stupid, everything is on messi. useless team
ReplyDeletehahahahahahah make una leave barcer alone ooo
ReplyDeleteone day messi will tell them not to eat, stupid people
ReplyDeleteYou must be stupid for abusing a team,what is your problem on that or is it your father club?They are free to do anything as far as they are happy with it.
ReplyDeleteHahaha see mumu barcer fans, una forget say one messi go leave una club
ReplyDelete