FILE - In this Wednesday May 27, 2009 file photo Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola is thrown in the air in celebration, at the end of the UEFA Champions League final soccer match between Manchester United and Barcelona in Rome. Pep Guardiola will not continue as Barcelona's coach after this season, according to Spanish news reports. Guardiola, whose contract expires at the end of the season, is scheduled to announce his decision on Friday in a news conference at 1330 local time (1130 GMT) with club president Sandro Rosell and sports director Andoni Zubizarreta. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, File)
FILE - In this Wednesday May 27, 2009 file photo Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola is thrown in the air in celebration, at the end of the UEFA Champions League final soccer match between Manchester United and Barcelona in Rome. Pep Guardiola will not continue as Barcelona's coach after this season, according to Spanish news reports. Guardiola, whose contract expires at the end of the season, is scheduled to announce his decision on Friday in a news conference at 1330 local time (1130 GMT) with club president Sandro Rosell and sports director Andoni Zubizarreta. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, File)
FILE - In this Tuesday, May 3, 2011 file photo FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi from Argentina, front, and coach Josep Guardiola celebrate during a semi final, 2nd leg Champions League soccer match against Real Madrid at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona. Pep Guardiola will not continue as Barcelona's coach after this season, according to Spanish news reports. Guardiola, whose contract expires at the end of the season, is scheduled to announce his decision on Friday April 27, 2012, in a news conference at 1330 local time (1130 GMT) with club president Sandro Rosell and sports director Andoni Zubizarreta. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, File)
FILE - In this May 28, 2011 file picture Barcelona's coach Pep Guardiola holds the trophy after winning the Champions League final soccer match against Manchester United at Wembley Stadium, London. Pep Guardiola will not continue as Barcelona's coach after this season, according to Spanish news reports. Guardiola, whose contract expires at the end of the season, is scheduled to announce his decision on Friday April 27, 2012, in a news conference at 1330 local time (1130 GMT) with club president Sandro Rosell and sports director Andoni Zubizarreta. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, File)
FC Barcelona's coach Pep Guardiola, reacts against Chelsea during a semifinal second leg Champions League soccer match at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday, April 24, 2012. Chelsea drew 2-2 with Barcelona to win the match 3-2 on aggregate. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) ? Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola will not continue as coach of the Spanish club after this season and assistant Tito Vilanova will take over.
Guardiola's contract ends at the close of the season and the former player rejected Barcelona's offer to extend his deal. His last game in charge will be the Copa del Rey final against Athletic Bilbao on May 25.
"The reason is simple, four years are long and they wear you down," Guardiola said Friday after president Sandro Rosell announced he would not continue. "I think that sincerely that the next person will have things to bring that I can't.
"Every day during four years, the demands are very high, the pressure, the necessary energy to push the players and enjoy it. I need to rest and move away."
Rosell said Vilanova, who has served as Guardiola's assistant since he was promoted from B-team manager, would take over the coaching duties.
The 41-year-old Guardiola has led Barcelona to 13 trophies since replacing Frank Rijkaard at the beginning of the 2008-09 season, including two Champions League crowns and three Spanish league titles.
The coach's decision Friday ends a difficult week for the team, with its defeat to Chelsea in a Champions League semifinal on Tuesday coming on the heels of a loss to Real Madrid that likely will cost it a fourth straight Spanish title.
"I'm very sorry for all of the uncertainty I created over this time over my future, maybe that was an error of mine," Guardiola said. "I didn't mean to create this kind of mood."
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