26 May 2012

Guardiola ends with 14th trophy in four years

12:23 pm on 26 May 2012

Barcelona gave coach Pep Guardiola a fitting end to his glittering four-year reign as coach of the Spanish football giants, winning the King's Cup final against Athletic Bilbao 3-0 to send him off with a 14th trophy.

Pedro scored a brace and the outstanding player of the Guardiola era, World Player of the Year Lionel Messi, added the other to finish with an unprecedented 73 goals in all competitions this season.

Guardiola hands over to his assistant Tito Vilanova for next season, as he goes off to recharge his batteries, after winning three consecutive La Liga titles, two Champions League crowns in 2009 and 2011, and two King's Cups.

His 14 trophies matches Johan Cruyff's tally from eight years as Barca coach, and of the 19 competitions he has competed in, it is easier to list the five he has failed to snare.