Football
Sam Marsden, Barcelona correspondent 7y

Luis Enrique plans year-long holiday after Barcelona stint

Luis Enrique has said he is planning to take a break from football after leaving Barcelona in the summer.

Luis Enrique said he is not thinking about joining another team after leaving the Catalan giants and wants a year to recover from his time at the Camp Nou.

Although Barcelona have been successful in his reign -- with two La Liga titles and the 2015 Champions League triumph, among other trophies -- he said the job has taken a toll on him.

The former Roma and Celta Vigo boss said in a news conference on Tuesday: "If I'm leaving Barcelona, my home, where I have a great relationship with the club and the players, it's purely for tiredness. I need to recover. I'm not thinking about other teams.

"It will be a year to recover, but now what's left to do is to end the season with all our objectives achieved."

Barcelona are still fighting for the Champions League, have booked their place in the Copa del Rey final and trying to overtake Real Madrid at the top of La Liga.

On Wednesday night they host Sevilla, who recently announced they would be losing sporting director Monchi. 

Asked if he would like to team up with the Sevilla man, Luis Enrique joked: "I don't see Monchi on the beach in Escalerona [in Gijon], where I will be. I don't see him planning that.

"I will go there to rest and to the beach when there's good weather. If he comes I'll invite him for a drop of cider.

"This isn't a new thing. I'm not going to coach next season and then in the future, we will see."

Luis Enrique's assistant, Juan Carlos Unzue, has been tipped to replace him as coach, but the incumbent does not want to interfere in the club's selection process.

"We will see if Unzue comes cycling with me in the summer. If like normal I leave him behind, it won't be a problem," he joked.

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