Football News : Guardiola to quit as Barcelona coach

Pep Guardiola will reveal his reasons for leaving Barcelona at a press conference on Friday.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Josep Guardiola will stand down as coach of Barcelona at the end of this season


• The 41-year-old will explain his reasons at a press conference on Friday


• He had been the world's most successful coach during his four-year tenure


• Barcelona's European and Spanish title defenses crumbled in past week

(CNN) -- He has created one of the most successful teams in football history, but Josep Guardiola will be standing down as Barcelona coach at the end of this season.

His agent and brother confirmed to CNN that Guardiola would explain his reasons at a press conference later Friday.

The decision comes at the end of a disappointing week for the Spanish club, whose European title defense came to a halt just days after a defeat by arch-rivals Real Madrid all but ended its three-season domestic reign.

The 41-year-old presided over an unprecedented treble in his first season in charge, winning the Champions League, La Liga and the Spanish Cup, having been promoted from his role as coach of the Barcelona reserve side in May 2008.

Misfiring striker Fernando Torres comes on to secure Chelsea's place in the Champions League final, giving his side an improbable 3-2 aggregate win over defending champions Barcelona.

After Barcelona miss several chances, Sergio Busquets puts them ahead on the night and level on aggregate after 35 minutes.

Chelsea suffer what looks like a critical blow when captain John Terry knees Alexis Sanchez from behind and is sent off in the 37th minute.

Chelsea, who have already lost Gary Cahill to injury, look set to fall apart when Andres Iniesta finishes off a typically slick Barcelona move in the 44th minute to put the Catalan side 2-1 up.

But Ramires runs through a static Barcelona defense and brilliantly chips Victor Valdes to put Chelsea ahead on away goals just before half time.

As Barcelona push forward, Torres goes clean through, rounds the keeper and Chelsea wrap up a 3-2 win.

Torres seals Chelsea win

Barcelona score at last

Terry sees red

Iniesta makes it 2-0 on the night

Chelsea's half time hope

Chelsea through to final

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Chelsea stun Barcelona to reach final

He won the Champions League again last season and also a third successive Spanish title, followed by success at the Club World Cup for a second time in December 2011.

However, he never signed a long-term contract and said when he renewed his deal 12 months ago that he would not stay longer than a year.

Guardiola's team has the reputation of being the most attractive to watch, spearheaded by the sublime goalscoring exploits of three-time world player of the year Lionel Messi.

Spanish football expert Begona Perez told CNN World Sport that Guardiola's imminent departure had sent shock waves around Spain.

"It's almost like a prime minister leaving his post," she said. "He's almost God-like in Barcelona. What he has achieved has been amazing.

"The most successful thing at Barcelona is the philosophy at the club. He didn't invent this style of football but he made it perfect. We've seen in the last four years what they achieved and the style has been amazing."

Perez explained that four grueling seasons at one of the world's most high profile clubs had finally taken its toll on Guardiola, who had always maintained it was a job that no-one could do indefinitely.

He has also had to contend with serious illnesses to defender Eric Abidal, who recently underwent a liver transplant, and his assistant Tito Villanova, who had a tumor.

"It has been a very difficult season," she added. "There are personal reasons behind this, they lost to Real Madrid and Chelsea in the last week, but it's been difficult for personal reasons.

"Especially with the illness to Abdial and his number two Villanova. Basically he needs a break. We expect him to take a sabbatical year because it has been emotionally very hard this season.

"He's a person with other interests -- he is football obsessed but he is the kind of person who likes to read a book, go the cinema and obviously his family. He has made many sacrifices and he wants to make the most of it now."

As for Guardiola's replacement, Perez pinpointed Marcelo Bielsa, who led Athletic Bilbao to the Europa League final on Thursday, as a strong candidate.

Ernesto Valverde, who played for Barca and recently left Greek side Olympiakos after securing their third title in four years, is also a favorite, alongside France coach Laurent Blanc.