Rijkaard will look to turn around Barca's fortunes
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Barcelona have appointed Dutchman Frank Rijkaard as their new coach.
He takes over from Serbian coach Radomir Antic, who ended a disappointing season on a high note on Sunday by clinching a Uefa Cup spot.
However, Antic was told on Monday he would not be offered a new contract by the club.
New Barcelona president Joan Laporta was under pressure to bring in a new manager and players after being outmanoeuvred by rivals Real Madrid for the signing of Manchester United's David Beckham.
Rijkaard, 40, was coach of the Dutch national team for two years, but he resigned after the semi-final defeat by Italy in
Euro 2000.
Rijkaard had a spell coaching Sparta Rotterdam, quitting in 2002 after
they were relegated from the top flight of Dutch football.
He becomes the fourth Dutch coach at Barca following Johan Cruyff, Louis van Gaal and Rinus Michels.
Cruyff is the most successful manager in Barcelona's history, winning four consecutive league titles and the European Cup during his eight-year reign.
Rikkaard won 73 caps for Holland. He played for Ajax, Sporting Lisbon, Spanish side Real Zaragoza and won three European Cups with AC Milan.
Meanwhile, defender Frank de
Boer is leaving Barcelona after more than four years at the Nou Camp.
The 33-year-old did not have his short-term contract renewed by the Catalan club and is now looking for another club.
"I believe I have two or three years at the top level and I am thinking of
England and Holland next. I will go on holiday and then we will see," de Boer
said.
"(Barca director) Javier Perez Farguell, Louis van Gaal and the former staff
promised me that if I played a number of games, I would continue but that has
not been the case.
"The new people have a different philosophy and they do not want me to
continue. I am angry with Perez Farguell because of that."
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MMIX
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