BARCELONA, Spain – Barcelona announces Argentine coach Gerardo Martin will take over for Tito Vilanova, who stepped down last week to proceed with a cancer treatment.
The 50-year-old Martino, who has never coached in Europe before, signed a two-year deal.
Martino said that he would tweak the team he has inherited, looking to improve on something that was already working well.
Martino will travel later Friday to Oslo, Norway, where Barcelona is getting ready to play a friendly against Valerenga on Saturday. The Spanish league begins Aug. 17-18.
Vilanova led Barcelona to the league title last season and helped Guardiola guide it to 14 of a possible 19 titles as his assistant from 2008-12.
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