Barcelona appoint Luis Enrique as first-team coach

Barcelona have appointed Luis Enrique as their new first-team coach on a two-year deal.The 44-year-old former Barca player, who managed the club's B team between 2008 and 2011, left his role as Celta Vigo boss last week.He replaces Gerardo Martino, who left after Barca finished second to Atletico Madrid in La Liga.Sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta recommended Enrique, who has also managed Roma, to replace the Argentine.Martino succeeded Tito Vilanova, who has since died of throat cancer, last summer, but his two-year deal was ended by mutual consent.The 51-year-old was unable to prevent the club from losing the La Liga title for only the second time in six years as they drew with champions Atletico Madrid on the final day, in a game where a win would have clinched them the title.Enrique's arrival had been widely expected because of his strong links with the club, although he said he did not know who he would be managing  next season upon leaving Celta, who finished ninth in La Liga.Celta, meanwhile, have appointed Eduardo Berizzo, who was coaching O'Higgins in Chile, as their new boss on a two-year deal.After succeeding Pep Guardiola as B team boss, Enrique secured promotion to the Spanish second division for the first time in 11 years in 2010 with a record points haul.He left the role to join Italian side Roma for a season but, after a year at Celta, he returns to the Nou Camp for a third spell.A versatile midfielder and attacker, Enrique made 300 appearances for Barca between 1996 and 2004 which included a two-year spell as captain.After joining the Catalans from rivals Real Madrid on a free transfer, the Spaniard won two La Liga titles, two Spanish cups and the Uefa Cup.His return to Barca as first-team boss sees him follow in the footsteps of Guardiola, the only other man to be the club's captain, B team coach and first-team manager.(BBC)Bakudaily.az