Luis Enrique has agreed a new contract to stay on at Barcelona, a big coup pulled off by president Josep Maria Bartomeu as he formally stepped down ahead of elections due at the Camp Nou this summer.
Luis Enrique has led Barca to success in La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Champions League in his debut campaign, but he said at the weekend that his position at the club was uncertain despite having one year to run on his current deal.
The coach had overcome an institutional crisis in early January, when he appeared set to be fired amid a reported fall-out with Lionel Messi and director of football Andoni Zubizarreta lost his job.
Bartomeu was pressured into calling an early presidential election for this summer at that time but, just before stepping down on Tuesday, he was able to persuade the coach to commit his future.
"I want to announce that this afternoon, a few minutes ago, we have agreed to renew Luis Enrique's contract until 2017," Bartomeu said. "We have Luis Enrique for two more years."
Luis Enrique extends contract until 30 June 2017 http://t.co/CWqLFVTVdU pic.twitter.com/PKAWjHp4Um
- FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) June 9, 2015
Bartomeu also confirmed his candidacy for the presidential election, which is expected to take place in late July.
"I present my resignation to step aside for the elections," Bartomeu said. "In these elections, the club must choose a model for the club, a way to act and think. I will defend my model because I believe we have done well, because I believe Barca can continue to grow and win and keep being a leader in world football.
"I hope we are up to the task, and that the campaign is a model one marked by civic values."
He also praised the outgoing board's management of the club's finances through the last five years, allowing the club to sign superstars Neymar and Luis Suarez, and predicting they would next year pass Real Madrid to become world's highest-earning club.
"The prediction for revenues is €600 million, and we have reduced the deficit," he said. "We have grown a lot by generating profits and without selling our heritage or raising ticket prices. We have generated resources to sign the best players in the world, who today play alongside Messi, the best player in history."
The outgoing board have been busy tying up other loose ends during the last few days, with senior players Jordi Alba and Pedro Rodriguez signing new contracts, versatile right-sided player Aleix Vidal being signed from Sevilla for an initial fee of €18 million, before right-back Dani Alves ended speculation over his future by agreeing a new deal with the club on Tuesday morning.
Bartomeu stepped up from vice-president in January 2014, when predecessor Sandro Rosell resigned amid an investigation into the controversial signing of Neymar from Brazilian club Santos the previous summer.
That transfer is still being investigated by the Spanish court system, with prosecutors alleging falsified documents were used to hide the details of the deal and avoid paying all the taxes due. Rosell and Bartomeu, who are due to testify about the matter before a Catalan court, have maintained no wrongdoing took place.