BARCELONA HAVE ANNOUNCED Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino as the club’s new first-team manager.
The Argentinian, who managed Newell’s Old Boys last season, is set to sign a two-year deal to replace Tito Vilanova at the Camp Nou.
Martino, 50, becomes the fourth Argentinian manager in Barca’s history following in the footsteps of compatriots Roque Olsen, Helenio Herrera and César Luis Menotti.
“The agreement is still pending the drafting and signing of his contract,” a statement from Barcelona said this morning.
“The schedule for his trip to FC Barcelona, signature of his contract and official presentation will be announced in the next few hours.”
Martino first started coaching in the Argentinian lower leagues in 1998 and most recently managed Paraguay from 2006 to 2011, a spell which included a run to the quarter-finals of the 2010 World Cup.
He left after the 2011 Copa America to take over at Newell’s and led them to the semi-finals of the Copa Libertadores earlier this year where they were beaten on penalties.
