Roma's new coach Luis Enrique - the next best thing to Barcelona's Pep Guardiola

Former Barcelona B coach Luis Enrique announced yesterday that he has agreed to replace interim boss Vincenzo Montella at Roma, and though at least one notable figure in the Giallorossi hierarchy might have wanted Pep Guardiola himself to be brought in at Trigoria, it seems they have taken on a man of the same mold.

With their target of squeezing into the Champions League spots at the end of last season having not been met, 'L'Aeroplanino' always looked likely to be sent packing, and it is another rookie coach the club's new board have turned to instead. But, there are signs that the new kid on the block has the right kind of pedigree for the role.

Luis Enrique spent eight years as a player at Barcelona and is close friends with the Blaugrana boss. The Asturian took over from Guardiola as coach of Barca B in 2008 and now feels he has taken the team as far as it can go. In reality, he has. After winning promotion to the Second Division in his second season in charge, Luis Enrique led Barca B to a third-placed finish this term. That is the team’s best-ever return, but with promotion to La Liga not permitted (because two teams from the same club are not allowed to compete in the same division), he has decided to move on.