Gerardo Martino and Luis Enrique are both suitable
candidates to succeed Tito Vilanova as Barcelona
coach as their philosophies chime well with the
team's playing style, captain Carles Puyol said on
Monday.
.
Martino, 50, who recently led Newell's Old Boys to
the "Final" title in his native Argentina, and the 43-
year-old Luis Enrique, a former Spain and Barca
player who joined Celta Vigo last month, have
emerged in local media as the front runners for the
coveted post.
.
Vilanova, 44, was forced to step down at the La Liga
champions last week as his treatment for throat
cancer means he will be unable to perform his duties.
.
Puyol told a post-training news conference he was
sure sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta and the
club's board would hire a coach able to adapt to
Barca's possession-based ethic.
.
"We know about his career, he is a very good coach,"
the shaggy-haired centre back said of Martino.
.
"He likes Barcelona's playing style," he said, adding
that he remembered Spain's quarterfinal against
Martino's Paraguay at the 2010 World Cup, which
they edged 1-0, as "a very difficult, very hard game".
.
On Luis Enrique, who may be a more controversial
choice given that he also had a stint playing for
Barca's arch rivals Real Madrid, Puyol said:
.
"Everyone knows that I have a very good relationship
with Luis.
.
"I think he has what it takes but that's the same for
the other candidates who have been mentioned.
.
"I don't know who will come ... we are ready to help
whoever comes in any way we can."
.
Barca need to move swiftly to appoint a successor as
they launch their bid for a fifth La Liga title in six
years in less than a month.
.
Dutchman Guus Hiddink, 66, is also reportedly in the
running after he unexpectedly quit as manager of
Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala on Monday.
.
One reason Martino is seen as a likely candidate is
that he is from the city of Rosario where Barca's
World Player of the Year Lionel Messi was born.
.
Messi started out in the youth ranks at Newell's
where Martino was also a player.
.
Luis Enrique's chances, meanwhile, may also be
hampered by the fact he only recently agreed to join
Celta as well as memories of an unsuccessful stint at
Serie A side AS Roma during the 2011-12 campaign.
Barcelona is definately a clubside that would do very well when it comes to coming in as a new player. Dope one