Barcelona agree to one-year extension for Pep Guardiola

Pep Guardiola, the Barcelona manager, will be at the helm of the Catalan club until the end of the 2011-12 season.

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BARCELONA // Barcelona said they have reached an agreement with Pep Guardiola, the manager, for a one-year contract extension.

Barcelona did not reveal the terms of a deal that will keep the 40-year-old former Barcelona player at the helm of the Catalan club until the end of the 2011-12 season.

Barcelona said the deal will be signed "in the coming days."

Barcelona are enjoying perhaps the most successful spell in their 112-year history under Guardiola, who took over from Frank Rijkaard in 2008.

Guardiola had said he preferred to sign one-year extensions over a long-term deal to maintain his motivation.

Since Guardiola took over, Barcelona has won eight major trophies, including two straight Spanish league titles, a Champions League, a European Super Cup and a Club World Cup.

They currently hold a seven-point lead over rivals Real Madrid at the top of the table after a league record 16th straight win, which surpassed the previous mark of 15 set by Alfredo di Stefano's 1960-61 Real side. Barcelona also went a club record 28 games without defeat.

The club are on course to set new league records for victories, points total and goals scored and conceded.

Lionel Messi has won two Fifa World Player of the Year awards under Guardiola.