Pep Guardiola will stand down as Barcelona manager at the end of the season after deciding not to renew his rolling one-year contract.
The 41-year-old, who was appointed in 2008 and has led the Catalan club to 13 trophies, will be succeeded by current assistant Tito Vilanova.
Barca look set to miss out to Real Madrid in La Liga and were knocked out of the Champions League by Chelsea.
"The reason is simple: four years is enough," said Guardiola.
"I'm drained and I need to fill up. The demand has been very high and a manager must be strong."
It is understood the former Spain international will take a year away from football after relinquishing his duties to Vilanova.
"At the beginning of December I announced to the chairman that I was seeing the end of my era at Barcelona," he continued.
"Time has taken its toll - I rise each day and don't feel the same. I am going with the understanding that I have done my duty.
"You can only recover by resting and getting away from everything. It would have been a bad idea to continue. Perhaps it would not have gone wrong but I have the perception that it would. It is my time to go.
"Now we are out of the two main competitions it is a good time to announce this. I did not want to continue with the confusion. "I want to thank my players who are responsible for everything that has happened here." Guardiola was speaking at a news conference attended by many of his players and received rapturous applause at the end. The likes of captain Carles Puyol, Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Cesc Fabregas looked emotional as their coach announced his departure. Guardiola is the most successful coach in Barca history, with three league titles, two Champions Leagues and a Copa del Rey among his haul.
He has overseen the rise of three-time world player of the year Lionel Messi, Xavi and Iniesta, while signing Fabregas from Arsenal. Guardiola was particularly close to Messi - describing him as "the best ever" player - while the Argentina forward suggested Guardiola was the main factor behind Barca's recent success. A former Barca captain, Guardiola has always maintained he would do what was best for the club.
27 April 2012 Last updated at 12:52
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17855980
"Now we are out of the two main competitions it is a good time to announce this. I did not want to continue with the confusion. "I want to thank my players who are responsible for everything that has happened here." Guardiola was speaking at a news conference attended by many of his players and received rapturous applause at the end. The likes of captain Carles Puyol, Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Cesc Fabregas looked emotional as their coach announced his departure. Guardiola is the most successful coach in Barca history, with three league titles, two Champions Leagues and a Copa del Rey among his haul.
He has overseen the rise of three-time world player of the year Lionel Messi, Xavi and Iniesta, while signing Fabregas from Arsenal. Guardiola was particularly close to Messi - describing him as "the best ever" player - while the Argentina forward suggested Guardiola was the main factor behind Barca's recent success. A former Barca captain, Guardiola has always maintained he would do what was best for the club.
27 April 2012 Last updated at 12:52
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17855980
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