Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola agrees contract extension

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has agreed to sign a contract extension to keep him at Camp Nou until July 2012.

The 40-year-old, who took over from Frank Rijkaard in 2008, has led the Catalan giants to eight major titles including a Champions League and back-to-back La Liga crowns.

A Barcelona statement read: “FC Barcelona announce that they have reached an agreement with Josep Guardiola to renew his contract with the club for another season, until the 30th of June 2012. The signing of the contract will take place in the next few days.”

Guardiola’s Barca are currently seven points clear at the top of the La Liga table and the Spanish giants resume their quest for European glory against Arsenal in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League clash next week.

His side will also take on Real Madrid in April’s Copa del Rey final as they continue their bid for a repeat of their treble-winning 2008-09 season.