Luis Enrique has confirmed he will stay on as head coach of treble winners Barcelona by signing a contract extension.
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He is now committed to the club until the end of the 2016/17 campaign.
A degree of doubt had surrounded the future of the former Spain midfielder before Barcelona club president Josep Maria Bartomeu said that a deal due to expire next year had been increased by a further 12 months.
Enrique, who played for both Barcelona and Real Madrid before turning to coaching, led Barcelona to Champions League, Primera Division and Copa del Rey titles in the 2014/15 season.
Barcelona stated on Twitter: “President Bartomeu has announced Luis Enrique’s contract extension for another season.”
Bartomeu was quoted as saying in a ‘state of the presidency’ address: “The treble symbolises more than any other thing, the unity of the Barcelona family.”
Renewals of Luis Enrique and Dani Alves had me like: pic.twitter.com/3RbjaxiryW
— Maro (@AddictedToBarca) June 9, 2015
Enrique replaced Tata Martino last summer and made a spectacular impact as Barcelona became the first club ever in Europe to win a treble twice. Pep Guardiola steered Barcelona to their first Primera Division, Champions League and Copa del Rey haul six years ago.
Despite matching that haul, Enrique had been reluctant to commit even to next season, for which he was contracted.
Being hailed by Bartomeu on local radio this week as having done “a magnificent job” would have encouraged Enrique to stay on.
And rather than look elsewhere, the man who left Celta Vigo to take up the job at the Nou Camp will attempt to follow the heroics of the last 12 months with achievements in a similar vein.
He was able to bring in Luis Suarez last summer to form part of a three-man frontline, alongside Lionel Messi and Neymar, that terrorised defences in Spain and across Europe.
The treble was secured by Barcelona’s 3-1 win over Juventus in Berlin on Saturday.
