Pep Guardiola to leave Barcelona

FC Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed in a press conference earlier today that he will not be renewing his contract with Spanish giants at the end of the season, and will be stepping down. The 41-year-old discussed the decision with his players this morning, as he led his sides training session.

Many of the clubs star players, including Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta and Cesc Fabregas were present at Guardiola’s moving press conference, where he apologised numerous times, but expressed his need for a break from the game as he feels “drained”.

Guardiola, who made 263 appearances for the Catalan club as a player, is Barcelona’s most successful manager, winning an amazing 13 trophies in just four years at the club. It is truly an end of an era.

Guardiola's record as Barcelona boss compared to previous boss Frank Rijkaard

In accordance with the Barcelona philosophy, the club have ended all speculation linking numerous different big names with the job, by appointing Guardiola’s right hand man, and a very popular name amongst the Barcelona squad, Tito Vilanova as the new man who will take charge in the summer.

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African Cup of Nations Preview: Group A

Welcome to Real Talk Football's African Cup of Nation's preview. Here you'll find all you need to know about each team in this years tournament which gets under way on the January 21st. 


For news, listings and all you need to know, make sure you follow me on Twitter.

Group A

Iban Iyanga

Equatorial Guinea

Best finish: First time qualifiers

Key Man: Iban Iyanga

Winger who plays for Las Palmas, in Spain’s Segunda Division, he is 24 years old and has 6 caps for the co-hosts.

Coach: Gilson Paulo

Took over as coach on the 3^rd of January due to former coach Henri Michael quitting due to a protest at “third party” interference. Paulo had previously worked as Sports Director at the Vasco da Gama football academy.

Qualification process: Co-hosts

Previous appearances: 0

Fixtures:

Vs. Libya – 21/01/12

Vs. Senegal – 25/01/12

Vs. Zambia – 29/01/12

Libya

Best finish: Runners-Up 1982

Key Man: Samir Aboud

National team goalkeeper and captain. The most successful player in Libyan football history, winning 18 different titles with Al-Ittahad, the 39 year old brings vast amounts of experience.

Coach: Marcos Paqueta

Brazilian coach, 53, has previous experience coaching in United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and in his native country. Managed the Saudi Arabia national team at World Cup 2006. With the Arab uprising, and new found patriotism, the national team are riding on the wave of emotion and new found optimism, and the football teams qualification has created its on piece of history. New kit, new flag, new colours, they'll hope to cause some history and be dark horses for the ACN title.

Qualification process: Top Two Runners-Up

Previous appearances:  2

Fixtures:

Vs. Equatorial Guinea – 21/01/12

Vs. Zambia – 25/01/12

Vs. Senegal – 29/01/12

Senegal

Best finish: Runners-Up 2002

Key Man: Moussa Sow

The Lille striker has been subject of a bid from Turkish side Fenerbahce which could hamper his preparation for the ACN tournament. The 26 year old will link up with fellow in-form striker Demba Ba, and could make up a feared front pairing.

Coach: Amara Traore

Been in charge since December 2009, he was a member of the historic 2002 squad which reached the World Cup quarter final, however he didn’t make a single appearance. His only other managerial experience was with second division Senegalese side ASC Linguere.

Qualification process: Group E Winner

Previous appearances: 11

Fixtures:

Vs. Zambia – 21/01/12

Vs. Equatorial Guinea – 25/01/12

Vs. Libya – 29/01/12

Zambia

Best finish: Runners-Up 1974, 1994

Key Man: Colin Mbusema

This name may be familiar to a few Portsmouth fans, he made 4 appearances for the south coast club between 2005-07. He’s been a numerous clubs from Turkey to Portugal, but has found his feet again in South African football, now plying his trade with Golden Arrows, and has hit 11 goals in 14 appearances. Renowned for his poor behaviour, Mbesuma has a chance to prove his worth on Africa’s biggest stage. He has 14 goals in 36 appearances.

Coach: Herve Renard

Former defender who spent his career playing in France. Now, 43, has previously managed in England with Cambridge United, and is taking up his second stint as Zambian head coach.

Qualification process: Group C Winner

Previous appearances: 14

Fixtures:

Vs. Senegal – 21/01/12

Vs. Libya – 25/01/12

Vs. Equatorial Guinea – 29/01/12

Scroll down for part two!

African Cup of Nations Preview: Group D

Group D

Ghana right-back John Paintsil with his nations flag

Ghana

Best finish: Winners 1963, 1965, 1978, 1982

Key Man: Asamoah Gyan

Who else but Baby Jet!? Ghana’s undoubted star man is one of the biggest characters on and off the field in African football. Gyan now plays in the UAE, where he has been on top form scoring 12 goals in 10 appearances.

The 26 year old has 27 goals in 54 appearances for Ghana, and proved himself as one of the most coveted strikers in the world, after his superb performances at World Cup 2010, and more recently at Wembley, scoring an excellent goal in the 1-1 draw with England. He could lead Ghana to glory again, along with the Ayew brothers, and an array of hard working technical players, the pre-tournament favourites tag is well deserved.

Coach: Goran Stevanovic

He took over from fellow Serb Milovan Rajevac in January last year, and navigated Ghana undefeated to the top of Group I. The 45 year old has previous experience managing in his native Serbia with one its most famous clubs; Partizan.

Qualification process: Group I Winner

Previous appearances: 17

Fixtures:

Vs. Botswana – 24/01/12

Vs. Mali – 28/01/12

Vs. Guinea – 1/02/12

Botswana star Dipsey Selolwane

Botswana

Best finish: First time qualifiers

Key Man: Dipsey Selolwane

Botswana’s all time top goal scorer with 15 goals from 35 appearances. The versatile 33 year old, can play central midfield, or as a striker where he is expected to start for the side nicknamed “The Zebra’s”.

Coach: Stanley Tshosane

The 54 year old was named CAF African Coach of the Year thanks to his achievements in getting relative minnows into the African Nations Cup. He has called no fear in his sides approach to the tournament, and is in the mood to cause an upset.

Qualification process: Group K Winner

Previous appearances: 0

Fixtures:

Vs. Ghana – 24/01/12

Vs. Guinea – 28/01/12

Vs. Mali – 01/02/12

Mali players celebrate coming from 4-0 down to draw 4-4 with Angola

Mali

Best finish: Runners-Up 1972

Key Man: Modibo Maiga

The Sochaux forward has well and truly put himself in the shop window, after pining for a move to Premiership side Newcastle, which eventually fell through, will use this as a chance to showcase his talent with the option to make a summer transfer. The £7 million rated forward can play wide left or centre forward has 4 goals in 12 appearances for his club side this season.

Coach: Alan Giresse

Former French international footballer and member of the Euro 1984 wining side. He spent five years managing in France, before heading into international management with the Georgian national side, Gabon and then taking over the “Eagles” in 2010.

Qualification process: Group A Winner

Previous appearances: 6

Fixtures:

Vs. Guinea – 24/01/12

Vs. Ghana – 28/01/12

Vs. Botswana – 01/02/12

Captain Pascal Feindouno set to show his abilities to find a new club

Guinea

Best finish: Runners-Up 1976

Key Man: Pascal Feindouno

The 30 year old forward was in the headlines recently due to his club side Sion being deducted 36 points due signing six ineligible players due to a transfer embargo set on the club, which he was one of. He has subsequently been released, is a free agent and this is a chance to find himself a new club. He has 21 goals in 55 appearacnes, and is the national team captain.

Coach: Michel Dussuyer

His second stint in charge of the “National Elephants”, the 52 year old was a former goalkeeper who spent his whole career playing in France. He was the assistant manager of the Ivory Coast at the 2006 World Cup, and is a former manager of the Benin national team.

Qualification process: Group A Winner

Previous appearances: 6

Fixtures:

Vs. Mali – 24/01/12

Vs. Botswana – 28/01/12

Vs. Ghana – 01/02/12

Remember to follow me on Twitter @RealTlkFootball and don't forget to vote in my poll, let me know who you think will win the tournament.

Mark Hughes appointed Queens Park Rangers manager

New boss Mark Hughes at Loftus Road yesterday

Yesterday Mark Hughes was named new manager of QPR. The West London club have had a turbulent return to the Premiership to say the least, with off field issues such as ownership issues, and race rows, have been an ever presence in the background at a club who had a reasonably good start to the season before going on an alarming slide going nine games without a win, last beating Stoke 3-2 away on the 19th of November. This saw Neil Warnock, a little surprisingly losing his job.

Warnock saw QPR not win for nine games

The egos in the dressing room haven’t caused the major problems as some pundits predicted, with the combustible characters at Loftus Road, including names such as Adel Taraabt, Jay Bothroyd and of course, not forgetting, Joey Barton have yet to caused any headlines in the national newspapers. Unfortunately, the notably poor on field performances have been the subject of much criticsm and caused Warnock his job.

Now, enter a similar person with a no nonsense approach to management, adding to the name of combustible names in that dressing room; Mark Hughes. The 48 year old former Barcelona, Manchester United and Chelsea striker has managed at many different scales, beginning his career as Wales’s national coach, then spending four good years at Ewood Park as Blackburn manager learning the ins and outs of Premiership football, then taking the coveted Manchester City role, somewhat controversially due to his ties with the red side of Manchester.

He signed a majority of the players who are still currently at the club, and fighting for the title. These include the current club captain Vincent Kompany, Pablo Zabaleta, Gareth Barry, Kolo Toure and Nigel De Jong.

He made some excellent signings as Blackburn boss as well, signing Christopher Samba for £400,00 from Herta Berlin, Benni McCarthy from Porto for just £2.5 million, David Bentley from Arsenal for £500,00 (who went on to be sold to Spurs for £15 million) and even brought in Ryan Nelsen on a free from DC United. Proof that he has an eye for a bargain, and knows who is and isn’t good enough to play in the Premiership.

Mark Hughes signs Vincent Kompany from Hamburg for £6m in 2008

Crucially for QPR fans, ignoring his odd tenure as Fulham boss, Hughes will add some discipline to the squad and hopefully some more stability. He is ultimately more tactically astute that Warnock, who was more of a motivator. He’s signed a three year contract, and those dreams of managing a “big club” have hopefully gone from his system, and he should look to create his own success.

Another plus, which I have to praise Hughes for, is that he has a proven he has a knack for making good purchases when there is a little amount of money available (at Blackburn) and with lots of funds available (at Man City). At QPR where there are a reasonable amount funds available, Christopher Samba and Alex are both names who have been linked, as a centre-back is the top priority. A striker is needed as well, with Andy Johnson linked, and possibly another central midfielder, as Alejandro Faurlin is out for the rest of the season.

QPR have a good range of players in the squad, the likes of Joey Barton, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Anton Ferdinand with lots of Premiership experience, with some raw potential in Adel Taraabt and Armand Traore, adding to a side who are good enough to stay up, it’s just up to Hughes to get the club back on the right track and steer them clear of relegation.