Pique renews with Barcelona until 2019

BARCELONA - Agence France-Presse

A file picture taken on May 8, 2011 shows Barcelona's defender Gerard Pique celebrating after scoring a goal. AFP Photo

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique has reached an agreement with the Catalan side to extend his contract until 2019, the Spanish club said Tuesday.
      
The new deal will be signed "in the coming days", the club said in a statement posted on its website.
      
The 27-year-old's existing contract was set to expire on June 30, 2015.
      
The Spanish international has scored 20 times in 266 appearances for Barcelona since he joined the club in 2008.

Luis Enrique as new coach

Barcelona on Monday appointed their former captain and outgoing Celta Vigo manager Luis Enrique as their new coach to replace Gerardo Martino after a disappointing trophyless season, the club said.
      
Enrique, 44, scored 109 goals in 300 appearances for the Catalan team in eight years after joining from eternal rivals Real Madrid in 1996, and also had great success in three seasons as Barca B coach.

Now Barca board is betting on him bringing the 2012-2013 title holders back to glory after they ended this season without a major trophy for the first time in six years, forcing Martino to quit after just one season in charge.