Ecuadorian side Barcelona Sporting Club have announced that former Real Madrid coach Benito Floro will take charge of the side in time for the 2009 Serie A Championship.The Spaniard, who has signed a two year contract, becomes the latest coach charged with returning Barcelona to their previous glories after years of relative obscurity.
The joint most successful side in the history of the Ecuadorian league are without a title in over ten years, and parted company with coach Reinaldo Merlo after missing out on qualifying for the 2009 Copa Libertadores on the final day of the 2008 season.
Barcelona club president Eduardo Maruri believes that, in Floro, they have got the right man to initiate a change in fortunes for the dolo del Astillero.
"We're convinced that Professor Benito Floro and his team will do a good job," he stated on the club's official website.
Floro, 56, had a two year stint as coach of Real Madrid between 1992 and 1994, and has also coached Albacete, Sporting Gijon, Villarreal and Real Mallorca in Spain, alongside spells in Japan and Mexico with Vissel Kobe and Monterrey respectively.
