Barcelona have announced that Gerardo Martino is to take over from Tito Vilanova  as the club's coach on a two-year contract.

Argentina Martino, led Newell's Old Boy to the Argentinian clasaura title last season and recently severed his ties with the club.
 Martino who hails from Rosario,where Barca's World Player of the Year,Lionel Messi was born and was a a favourite player of Messi's father during his attacking midfielder with the Newell's Old Boys.

He played for Spanish side Tenerife, as well as Lanus in his homeland, Barcelona SC in Ecuador and O'Higgins in Chile.


Martino nicknamed Tata,was manager of Paraguay from 2007 to 2011-guiding them to the quarter-finals of the World Cup before returning to Rosario,s based  Newells Old Boys as boss for the last two seasons.

A Barcelona statement reads" FC Barcelona have reached an agreement to appoint Gerardo Martino has the new coach of the football team for the next two seasons.

Tito Vilanova stepped down as  coach to continue his treatmet of a cancer throat after leading Barcelona to the la liga title in his first season in charge after the departed Pep Guardiola.

 A host of clubs had been linked to the Barcelona job,including former Barcelona 'B' coach Luis Enrique, Micheal Laudrup, Marcelo Bielsa and Guus Hiddink who resigned his position at Russsian Club, Anzhi-Makhachkala.