Barca appoint Frank Rijkaard as new coach
Monday, 23 June 2003 18:38Barcelona have ended a torrid week for the club by parting with coach Radomir Antic. Former player Frank Rijkaard has been named to take over from the man that lead the Catalan giants to a place in next season's Uefa Cup.
Rijkaard is a former Barca player and Dutch international and becomes the fourth Dutch man to coach at the Nou Camp following in the footsteps from Johan Cruyff, Louis van Gaal and Rinus Michels.
Rijkaard was No 3 on new crowned president Laporta's wish-list. Laporta failed to persuade either PSV Eindhoven coach Guus Hiddink, who coached South Korea to the World Cup semi-finals last year, or the former Barcelona player and present Ajax coach Ronald Koeman to come to Catalonia.
"This is a big chance at a wonderful club," Rijkaard said as he was presented at the Nou Camp.
"We are in a moment when we have to work hard for the future. A wonderful club like Barcelona deserves that."
Antic was told earlier on Monday his contract would not be renewed, despite his achievement in guiding Barca to a UEFA Cup place for next season.
Antic replaced Louis van Gaal at the end of January when the club were three points off the relegation zone, but four successive wins at the end of the season took them up to sixth.
Filed by Ciaran Walsh
